Our Mobile Politicians

George Rebane

Our California Assemblyman Dan Logue just announced that he “changed his mind” and will no longer represent us.  He is moving out of our community – into which he moved just last year – to another city in another assembly district.  This makes sense for him when he considers his longer term prospects in politics.  Politicians make these moves on a regular basis.  Our congressman Tom McClintock is a transplant from southern California where it was harder for him to get into Congress.  And our state senator Doug LaMalfa is abandoning his California seat for a try at the House of Representatives this November.  Musical chairs to the max.

Now I’m not against anyone trying to make a good living and seek advancement in their profession.  No shame, no blame in all these moves.  But it does occur to me that we should bear such machinations in mind when we encounter and then decide to support our elected politicians.  Traditionally, since our school days these people have been presented to us as individuals of extraordinary abilities and character.  After all, when elected they become explicitly honorable and indicate that by appending ‘The Honorable …’ to their titles and names.

This feeling, or should I say aura, comes from our democratic roots.  In thousands of communities across the country, we imagine ourselves having always gathered together to discuss our local concerns, and then joining to select ‘one of us’ to run for high office.  And then, with our blessings and good wishes, to go off into some capitol to do battle in our behalf.  Those elected have always been viewed as ‘our people’ with roots that entwine with ours,  roots that go deeper into our soil and past than the new comer just off the stage upon whom we instinctively fix our gimlet eye.  But this is far from today’s reality as defined by ever shifting district lines, mass communications, rapid travel, multiple residences, and easy moves.

Here today, they all promise to bear our standard into the long fight – we must recall that every politician heralds intimate knowledge of our community and long tenure in complex legislatures as a part his strong suit for re-election – you just can’t send anyone ‘up there’.  But tomorrow better opportunity beckons, and off they go.  So in this day and age, how are we supposed to deport ourselves as we nervously finger our checkbooks when deciding whether to put our money where their mouths are?

Comments

[George Rebane]

An email from a friend and RR reader in response to this post reminds us that good politicians are fungible - they will still serve our interests when laboring from other districts and in other legislative bodies. True enough. In his own words -

You might keep one thing in mind when you see these guys move around; They are still representing us in the way we (conservatives) want them to, they are our voice in that cesspool, but they are in the minority. Our blessed state of California needs more of OUR kind to ever think about getting out of the sick mess we are in, and for that you can thank liberals. Sure, they are thinking about their own positions, but they are also looking to make a better situation for us by maneuvering to help others get elected. The longer we stay out of the majority the more messed up we become. I actually think we may be well beyond ever fixing anything.

Just remember back to that luncheon where I showed everyone those bar charts I made up. The "regulations" bar always gets taller. Either you get someone up there to make that bar smaller, or you have to generate so much money in the system where you can afford to get over it. The wealth and value bars are much smaller today, and the Governor wants to take more of it away from us through taxes. They don't and never will get it.

It's a shame but even some of our own don't get it. The more difficult you make it, before you know it, it goes somewhere else.

[Todd Juvinall]

I met the fellow from Lassen today.

[Douglas Keachie]

If the politicians represented us regardless of where they move to, then how come if you try to use the California or US email to a representative who is not "yours," after bagging all your information and letting you type on, they then turn on you, dump whatever you;ve, and tell you to go write to your zip code assigned politician.

Give me a break, they represent whoever lobbies them the best, and now, finally, an override, if enough people on Facebook are unhappy about something. SOPA is trashed, for now, thanks to a massive protest. The recording industry and the MPAA were merely carrying the major telcos water. Major telcos want to be able to meter out the download speeds for cold hard cash, paid by the Big Boys. Net Neutrality Forever! (forever is relatively short these days.)

[George Rebane]

Unfortunately as far as politicians are concerned, voters are not fungible. Only the ones who can vote for your opponent are important. The rest can go to hell. Now is that a bad way to run a railroad?

[Douglas Keachie]

It's a railroad without any ties to the foundations of our country, the people.

[Paul Emery]

We should select our reps through an employment agency.

"Help wanted, Republican with conservative leanings. No need to move. Local office provided by those who elect you. No regular office hours."

[George Rebane]

PaulE 1141am - But don't we already do that with our current method of politicians moving and the voters voting? An election is the analogue of an employment agency culling applicants. Does your proposal have a different method of evaluating candidates and picking the winner? Or are you saying that we should just remove the requirements to reside in the voting jurisdiction?

[Gregory]

Yes, George, we do, and the employment agency is each Party with ballot status that wants to run a candidate past the Management at election time.

The Dems have theirs, too. I've met the Democrat running for Herger's seat. Nice enough. AGW fanatics will need to rationalize away his ownership of a fairly fuel inefficient Cessna to fly instead of taking the bus.

[billy T]

Don't quite understand all the fuss. It is kinda like term limits. Many proclaim term limits as the solution to the ills created by the profession political class. I personally am glad to see Maxine Walters and Nancy Pelosi remain in office. Let's me know exactly where they are and what to except. No disappointments. Imagine what kind of havoc and twisted thinking Nancy's replacement would display. I shudder to even consider the possibilities. I am also relieved that Harry Reid is our Senate Majority leader. No surprises from Uncle "He is an intelligent Negro" Harry. Imagine the horror if Joe Biden was not around for us to feed on his very word. Life would be most dull indeed. At least Dan and Doug and the rest of our local politicians are street fighting the sewer rats here in California, no matter what title they hold. We can survive Obama and Jerry, but we can't survive the idiots that elected them without our street fighting warriors.

[Jim Carius]

Our representative system was engineered in a time where both transportation and communications technology meant that if you 'resided in a district' you probably had resided there for some time, and in order to have built a reputation and gained the confidence of the electorate you has most likely had been required to spend considerably time doing so. This is no longer the case. Perhaps residency requirements should be more along the lines of 'must have resided in the district represented for at least the term of the office sought'....

Mr. Rebane, if you have the time I appreciate you contacting me about an alternative candidate for District 1.

Finally, I find the comment "Only the ones who can vote for your opponent are important. The rest can go to hell." frighteningly insightful.

[Douglas Keachie]

Jim Carius, another sign indicating the truth of your last line:

"If the politicians represented us regardless of where they move to, then how come if you try to use the California or US email to a representative who is not "yours," after bagging all your information and letting you type on, they then turn on you, dump whatever you;ve, and tell you to go write to your zip code assigned politician."

[George Rebane]

JimC 1224pm - no contact info.

[billy T]

Hmm, no wonder they are leaving the Capitol. http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2012/01/21/mayors-chief-of-staff-calls-sac-economy-worst-in-hemisphere/

[Russ Steele]

From Barry Pruett's webpage:

BREAKING - Doug LaMalfa to Draw Sam Aanestad as an Opponent? [Updated at 3:21pm]

Right on Daily is reporting that Sam Aanestad is seriously considering a run for the congressional seat from which Wally Herger recently retired.

[Update from 3:21pm] FlashReport is also reporting via Twitter - "*Breaking* Just off phone w Sen. Sam Aanestad (Retd). He's exploring a bid for Congress. Would set table for showdown w Sen. LaMalfa."

Right on Daily states, "[T]here is no truer friend to Conservatives in Northern California than Sam Aanestad. Sam supported his mentor, Tom McClintock for Congress when Doug LaMalfa and 100 local electeds chose the establishment Moderate over now Congressman McClintock."