Posted by
Rich from Paso on Saturday, October 27, 2007 8:24:07 AM
Want to take a guess as to the number of elected representatives that are running for President this year?
Ten
From the Democrats you have: Clinton, Obama, Dodd, Biden, Kucinich
From the Republicans: Tancredo, Hunter, Brownback (already dropped out), McCain, Paul
I really think that the constituents from New York, Illinois, Deleware, Ohio, Connecticutt, Texas, Kansas, Arizona, Colorado, and California are being done a disservice by these candidates. On the one hand they are using their positions as Representatives and Senators to grandstand and self-aggrandize for the cameras during such events as the Petreaus Report to Congress and other things, they get to use the Franking Privilege and discounted air travel for "official" business that happens to coincide with a campaign stop. On the other hand, you have a bunch of second and third tier candidates that would never have even attempted to run if they didn't have the steady paycheck coming to them as a Representative or Senator.
Given all that, I propose that a law should be passed that would force all presidential candidates to resign immediately as a condition of candidacy for president. State laws would determine how the replacement would be selected or elected and a replacement to fill the seat would have to be named within 60 days. This would prevent a potential candidate from testing the waters for an extended period of time and then change their mind.
This would do several things. First, it would be a true sign of the depths of commitment the candidate has to be president. If they want it so much they would be willing to give up their job to campaign full time. Bob Dole did it, why can't they? Second, it would force out marginal or one-issue candidates from the race before it even started. Third thing it would do is ensure that every district and every state had a full-time, committed representative sitting in Congress, not trying to raise campaign cash or score a political point. Finally, if the law was in effect this year, there would be 10 new Representatives and Senators in Congress. The law would be an inefficient method of Term Limits. Since we don't have a Term Limits amendment to the Constitution, we have to generate turnover somehow or another.
I think this is another great idea that would go a long way to reshaping campaigns and making our elected representatives more accountable to us, the American people.
What say you?