Why should he?

I am just one of 654, 905 (give or take a business closing) constituents in Washington District 8.

Of the 455,009 Registered Voters in WA Dist 8, 357, 720 live in King County.  Only 97,289 of us live in Pierce. (data from WA Sec. of State website).

So I am just one little vote, out of 171,004 cast in the last election for the seat that Congressman (I refuse to call him my Representative anymore, as he doesn’t) Reicihert holds.

Given these types of numbers, it is not hard to grasp why many of us are begging to feel that our Congressmen and Senators are no longer in touch with us.  Indeed, they now act more like an elected Aristocracy, than representatives of the people.

Curiously, in England, which had a great influence on the pubescent colonies that would become the United States - a place which still has a true, blooded, aristocracy, it is quite a different story:

 

In the 21st century, capable, reliable, and transparent institutions are the key to success — strong parliaments; honest police forces; independent judges — (applause); an independent press; a vibrant private sector; a civil society. (Applause.) Those are the things that give life to democracy, because that is what matters in people’s everyday lives.

Was it Ronald Reagan, about Nicaragua?

Below is the canned (I assume, please correct me if I am wrong) email I received from the Pierce County GOP, concerning Reichert’s Cap and Tax vote (on Jun 29):

Thank you for your email regarding Congressman Reichert’s vote on the Cap & Trade legislation.

The passion that everyone is expressing is the grass roots of our political system and it’s good to see so many people involved.

I will be delivering all of your emails this Wednesday to the Congressman!

Please stay in touch with the County Party and all of your legislators from your school boards, city councils, county councils, state legislature to the congressional folks.  It is our responsibility to keep all of these elected officials informed of our thoughts and concerns.    The ability to communicate so freely is unique to our country and a freedom we need to use responsibly.

By now, if you are not aware that Sarah Palin is resigning as Governor of Alaska on July 26, then you simply are not paying attention.

From the Seattle Times:

Washington, DC - Congressman Dave Reichert (WA-08) released the following statement today after the U.S. House passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act:

“Energy independence and our national security are critical issues for America. These issues transcend politics. The future of this country is on the line and we can spare no effort when it comes to  leading on these issues at a global level.

“This bill is not perfect, but it is a vital step toward energy independence. America cannot maintain global leadership without innovation and new ideas, and we cannot lead if we increasingly depend
on foreign nations to heat our homes and move people and goods. The price of inaction is too great; America cannot stand on the sidelines while our competitors embrace new energy efficient technologies. It’s also important that we engage in a bipartisan discussion as we move forward - this bill has many other hoops to jump through before it becomes law and I will continue to work with my colleagues across the aisle and in the Senate to gain more tax relief for middle-income families.

Reading the Patriot Post this morning, I ran across this Michelle Malkin quote…

“There is no time to lick wounds, point fingers, and wallow in post-election mud. I’m getting a lot of moan-y, sad-face ‘What do we do now, Michelle?’ e-mails. What do we do now? We do what we’ve always done. We stand up for our principles, as we always have — through Democrat administrations and Republican administrations, in bear markets or bull markets, in peacetime and wartime. We stay positive and focused. We keep the faith. We do not apologize for our beliefs. We do not re-brand them, re-form them, or relinquish them. We defend them. We pay respect to the office of the presidency. We count our blessings and recommit ourselves to our constitutional republic. We gird our loins, to borrow a phrase from our Vice President-elect. We lock and load our ideological ammunition. We fight.”
— Michelle Malkin

Yeah, that’s right, Newt for President.

Like Reagan in the late 70’s, Gingrich is the spirit of Conservatism is the early 21st century.

Even if he chooses not to run for the Presidential nomination, he must certainly be intimately involved in reforming and re-energizing the GOP and the Conservative movement.

Spend some time at his website.  You’ll like it…

->  It should be glaringly obvious at this point that - as distasteful as it is, and what it says about our society - a winning candidate for President needs to be telegenic.  The more telegenic the candidate, the less substance they need to have to their platform.  I think the new generation of GOP leaders has this covered, from Palin, Steele, Jindal (ok, not quite so much), Romney and others.

->  For the most part, the election returns confirm that solid conservatives are still winning elections, and the country is still a right of center country.  But being a RINO (or Squishy Republican) is a recipe for roadkill.  You can’t out-Liberal a Democrat.  Again, the backbench seems to have it down.

(Hat tip to Scott at Powerline)

The Toledo Blade has some pieces on Obama, and FDR’s Second Bill of Rights.

Without further ado, here is that list of “rights” that the left want to append to the Constitution:

• The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or
  shops or farms or mines of the nation;
• The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing
  and recreation;
• The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a
  return which will give him and his family a decent living;
• The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an
  atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by
  monopolies at home or abroad;
• The right of every family to a decent home;
• The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to
  achieve and enjoy good health;
• The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old
  age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;
• The right to a good education.

Amazingly, this list shares many common points with the UN Declaration on Human Rights, which I have commented on before.

“Tax cuts for the rich!” That’s always the complaint whenever a Republican proposes reducing the heavy tax burden that we must share in order to fill the government’s coffers long enough to pretend that there’s a non-negative net balance. “Government can’t afford a tax cut!” That’s another refrain. “If you cut taxes the deficit will grow!” is another. All three of these statements, typically uttered by Democratic politicians are of course correct, but for the wrong reasons.