BernieHund: The Political Watchdog

The Democratic Presidential field is filled with so many quality candidates that it is impossible for the “nit pickin” not to be running full force.  And, so it is.

Hillary (I suppose we continue to refer to “Hill” by her first name only as a means of distinguishing her from Bill) has brought up Obama’s “present” votes, 130 of them, while he was in the Illinois Senate.  I say, “Hooray!”  Isn’t it far better for a man to be present than not? 

On a more serious note, I believe the “present” vote says more than we may have thought.  With so many “earmarks” running through our national Senate, I would love to see a “present” vote being instituted nationally.  For example a few years ago, and I don’t remember who, one of the senators voted against a major bill before the Senate because he thought the bill was not a good one.  Some time later, it came out that he had voted against funding breast cancer research somewhere.  Well, for heaven’s sake, folks.  That research “earmark” had absolutely NOTHING to do with the original bill.  But, during a campaign, the opposing parties used the “vote against cancer research” to lambast him.

So, as I see it, Obama is perhaps a little smarter than we may have thought.  A vote of “present” seems to say some of this is good and some of it isn’t. 

Even Hillary has admitted voting “for” some legislation because it contained “some” good measures.

Perhaps, we should look at the choices that would best suit us all…. either put a halt… and I do mean put a sudden stop to loading up good bills with earmarks and pork bellies or give our Representatives and our Senators a chance to vote “Present”.  Enough of those votes and maybe the Congress will change how they try to slide their personal interests past the rest of us.

Hillary needs to keep digging.  This little foray isn’t worth the effort.