More Fruit and Cake

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July 01, 2005

More Fruit and Cake

I feel like I should clarify some of my statements on Chris Newton and the Republicans, after mesh took me to task and after I read some other posts.

First, it goes without saying that the move to expel Newton from the House is nothing more than political retribution by party hardliners against one of their members who, in their eyes, has betrayed them.

Secondly, I did not mean to imply that only Democrats should ask for Democrats' resignations, and likewise for Republicans. I understand why a state party chair would only speak to his or her members; but a resolution to expel should theoretically be introduced by any member of the legislative body, regardless of political party, shouldn't it? And mesh's point about the parties NOT holding joint meetings to address this serious issue is a great one.

Let's imagine for a moment, as Bobby Wood is unable to do, that (for argument's sake) a "more established" Republican or two had been caught up in the sting (and it ain't over, from what I hear). Would Rep. Clem be as quick on the draw to try and expel them? I doubt it. Would Bob Davis have asked Ron Ramsey to resign, had he been one of the waltzers? Or would he hide safely behind the "not convicted of anything" sandbag like the Democrats are doing? Indeed.

No, my only point was that (for whatever reasons) the Republicans are in motion, even though they only (currently) have one pawn to sacrifice; and that the Democrats, who are dealing with a former Senate Majority Leader and a stalwart Memphis politico, seem to be stalling.

Now, my last point, which is prompted by a disturbing tidbit from Jeff Ward at TeamGOP:

I have been told dozens of times how the Republican Caucus has purposely kept Newton, and a few others, out of the loop on strategy and legislation for fear they would go running downstairs to the Speaker’s office.

This really underscores the unhealthy dominance that partisanship holds in our legislature over true policy concerns. I know everyone says that "politics is a game" but in my view that is only applicable, at best, to the campaign process. Once a representative is elected to office, that representative has a sworn duty to serve his or her citizens that supercedes (er, or should) all of this childlike game-playing. We, the People, really need to pay attention and to hold our elected officials accountable to rising above this silliness. In case it's not clear, I am saying this to members of both major parties, and to future representatives from other parties.

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