Killing Democracy, One "Rule" at a Time

Over the last -- I don't know it seems like forever -- couple of years, we've heard a lot of talk about the "Hastert Rule" in the dysfunctional belly of the House of Representatives.  When I hear it, I usually snort derisively and mutter something like, "And who the hell made that a rule?"

The "Hastert Rule" means that a bill can only be introduced in the House if a majority of the majority (read, republican majority) supports it.  This idiocy was the brainchild of the evil Newt Gingrich, who managed to alienate his House and lose the Speakership after he brought the government to a shutdown in 1995.  Hastert was chosen to be Speaker of the House when the other options were too sleazy even for the republicans (I'm sorry, my disgust is showing.)  Hastert was considered more moderate and reasonable.

Enter George W. Bush and his peaceable bunch of thugs.  Next thing, in 2004 Hastert makes this "rule" the official policy of his speakership.  Can you hear Democracy crying?

Well, today's wild bunch could not have wielded the wrecking ball quite so effectively without Boehner's insistence on following this nasty policy.  Except when public pressure got to be too much, like on votes for relief from Hurricane Sandy, the "fiscal cliff" deal, and reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.  I imagine the Tea Party brats were in such a frenzy over not being able to throw their weight around that Boehner had to promise them, "You can have the Hastert Rule again next time."

So last week when the republicans were starting to get the feeling that the American people maybe didn't like them anymore, for example blaming them instead of the president for the shutdown, and the bullies in the backroom were having a good laugh over the wrecking of the government, Boehner caved and let that old Hastert Rule go.

But before that happened, the Speaker changed House rules just a little bit to prevent a Democrat from bringing up a vote to pass the Senate bill that would reopen the government:





This amazing piece of sleaze should make alarms go off throughout the country.  But if Representative Van Hollen had not sent it out on youtube, we probably would have no idea.

We really need to ask ourselves why the media did not pick this up, and why every Democrat (and the occasional patriotic Republican) is not screaming bloody murder about this.

Not only have the republicans gotten away with a gerrymandering that prevents a majority of voters from choosing their representative, and then successfully made laws to limit voting by those groups more likely to vote Democrat, but with the "Hastert Rule" and House Resolution 368, they have taken steps to make certain that elected House Democrats are unable to participate in the workings of the House.

We need to know this is going on, and let others know whenever it happens.  This is the sound of our Democracy getting flushed down the toilet in the interest of power.

You've Got Mail

If you write to Senator Lindsey Graham, even if it's just to sign a petition online, he will give you the red carpet treatment.  You will receive, through the US Postal Service a letter on attractive letterhead stationery, telling you how important your letter is to him.  Then he will tell you why your opinion does not  make one bit of difference in how he is going to vote.  And the best part of all this is, you pay for this service.


I'm not sure if this is better or worse than Senator Jim DeMint's response to your letters and emails, which is no response at all.  However, before you are allowed to send him an email, you must give him your phone number, I imagine just in case he is totally impressed with your opinion and wants to give you a call.  Actually, what I really think is that he pretty much wants to eliminate the riff-raff who don't own phones.


Now today I got an email from John Boehner, in response to an email I sent him.  Unlike most other representatives, Boehner has to accept email from everyone in the country, because he is Speaker of the House.  So if you go to his website, www.speaker.gov (no, really), and then scoot down to the bottom of the page, to send a message you will be able to let John Boehner know what you are thinking.


And he will reply.


I received an email from Speaker Boehner today, which was distinctive, not in that I read it, but in that it was written in a font that one would use to communicate with a first grader.  He was quite warm and friendly in thanking me for writing and assuring me he really wanted me to keep in touch.


Sadly, I sent it to trash, and now only Google has a record of it, somewhere in cyberspace.  Otherwise, I would have included it.


Since I can't show it to you, you'll just have to contact Speaker Boehner yourself.  He will be delighted to hear from you, and I can assure you, he would love to hear your opinions.