My Senators can beat up your Senators

Honus · #1 03-26-2009, 05:29 PM

IMHO, Virginia has the best two Senators of any state. We used to have the great John Warner, a first class public servant if ever there was one, but we also had the loathsome George Allen, whose mean-spiritedness was matched only by his inability to do anything productive as Governor or Senator. Then Senator Allen had his macaca moment - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r90z0PMnKwI - paving the way for the election of the excellent Jim Webb. John Warner has since retired, but he was replaced by Mark Warner (no relation), who seems to excel at everything he tries.

Now we have Senator Webb doing something we rarely see in Washington - trying to actually govern instead of playing silly political games:

Quote:

WEBB EYES PRISON REFORM.... Back in December, Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) said he'd launch an initiative to reform the U.S. prison system in the spring. Here we are in late March, and Webb is right on time.

Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) will launch an effort to reform the nation's prison system today at noon, his staff says, introducing a bill -- the National Criminal Justice Act of 2009 -- that would create a bipartisan commission no reform. The commission would undertake an 18-month review of the U.S. prison system, offering recommendations at the end.

Prison reform is a difficult thing to achieve, politically. Nearly every politician wants to be perceived as "tough on crime," and suggesting that too many Americans are being incarcerated can seem to run against that. (Webb has, in fact, pointed out that the U.S. has attained the highest incarceration rate in the world.) Add tough discussions of prison conditions, inmate crime, and abuse, and it's not an easy task for a politician to undertake.

That's certainly true, but if anyone is well positioned to try, it's Webb. If and when the right goes after Webb as "soft," one assumes the senator -- a decorated Marine veteran and former Navy Secretary under Reagan -- won't have to waste too much time proving otherwise.

Webb has reportedly considered this a key issue for many years, and is taking an approach that sounds a lot like common sense. He told the Washington Post in December, "I think you can be a law-and-order leader and still understand that the criminal justice system as we understand it today is broken, unfair, locking up the wrong people in many cases and not locking up the right person in many cases."

In speeches and in a book that devotes a chapter to prison issues, Webb describes a U.S. prison system that is deeply flawed in how it targets, punishes and releases those identified as criminals.

With 2.3 million people behind bars, the United States has imprisoned a higher percentage of its population than any other nation, according to the Pew Center on the States and other groups. Although the United States has only 5 percent of the world's population, it has 25 percent of its prison population, Webb says. [...]

Webb aims much of his criticism at enforcement efforts that he says too often target low-level drug offenders and parole violators, rather than those who perpetrate violence, such as gang members. He also blames policies that strip felons of citizenship rights and can hinder their chances of finding a job after release. He says he believes society can be made safer while making the system more humane and cost-effective.

It's obviously a crowded policy landscape, so no one should expect sweeping proposals anytime soon. Indeed, Webb's National Criminal Justice Act wouldn't recommend specific reforms, but rather, would establish a commission to launch an investigation and then recommend specific reforms.

That said, Webb is not only right to tackle the issue, he's showing political courage in addressing a problem most would prefer to ignore. Good for him.

http://washingtonmonthly.com/

So, I say my Senators can beat up your Senators.

dynalow · #2 03-26-2009, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dculkin

IMHO, Virginia has the best two Senators of any state. We used to have the great John Warner, a first class public servant if ever there was one, but we also had the loathsome George Allen, whose mean-spiritedness was matched only by his inability to do anything productive as Governor or Senator. Then Senator Allen had his macaca moment - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r90z0PMnKwI - paving the way for the election of the excellent Jim Webb. John Warner has since retired, but he was replaced by Mark Warner (no relation), who seems to excel at everything he tries.

Now we have Senator Webb doing something we rarely see in Washington - trying to actually govern instead of playing silly political games:So, I say my Senators can beat up your Senators.

No takers here. We have the late Frank Lautenburg and the wuss Bob Menendez. I can't criticize any other pair.

kerry · #3 03-26-2009, 05:46 PM

If your senator can't beat up our senator, Michael Bennett, former Denver School Superintendant with zero political experience appointed to the office by the Governor, you're in serious trouble.

TylerH860 · #4 03-26-2009, 06:47 PM

Would your senators please beat up my senators? Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback

It appears Brownback will be running for governor this election. I can't imagine the damage he will do.

Botnst · #5 03-26-2009, 07:25 PM

We usually send the class clown to the House or Senate.

The more I think about it, the more I think we should have a law AGAINST elected people spending more than 4 consecutive months in DC.

tankdriver · #6 03-26-2009, 08:21 PM

All it took was me leaving the state. I agree completely with your assessment.

LUVMBDiesels · #7 03-26-2009, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dynalow

No takers here. We have the late Frank Lautenburg and the wuss Bob Menendez. I can't criticize any other pair.

Yeah, but you can say that my Senators are more corrupt than your Senators...

(Former Garden Stater talking here)

NY has the Chuckie the clown and "What's her name?" the Hillary replacement.

WV has Senator Byrd (The Grand Duke of WV) and Jay Rockefeller (the other guy) At least Byrd brings home some pork.

t walgamuth · #8 03-26-2009, 09:40 PM

In indiana we have Lugar, R and Bayh, D. each are very principled honorable men, who both govern from the center. I am proud to have both of them.

We have some wing dingy congressmen though.

MTI · #9 03-26-2009, 09:48 PM

One of my Senators can bring home more pork, with just one arm, than any of your two Senators combined.

Botnst · #10 03-26-2009, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

In indiana we have Lugar, R and Bayh, D. each are very principled honorable men, who both govern from the center. I am proud to have both of them.

We have some wing dingy congressmen though.

I never cared for Loogie but I like Bayh.

LUVMBDiesels · #11 03-26-2009, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTI

One of my Senators can bring home more pork, with just one arm, than any of your two Senators combined.

Robert C. Byrd Vs Daniel K. Inouye.

Cage match for pork barrel rights.

Here only on CSPAN Pay Per View!

Botnst · #12 03-26-2009, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUVMBDiesels

Robert C. Byrd Vs Daniel K. Inouye.

Cage match for pork barrel rights.

Here only on CSPAN Pay Per View!

Hawaiian guy beats the Alzheimer's patient ... hands-down.

cmac2012 · #13 03-27-2009, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

In indiana we have Lugar, R and Bayh, D. each are very principled honorable men, who both govern from the center. I am proud to have both of them.

I like the two of them way better than most. I like Byron Dorgan pretty well, the two in Cal. are all right in my book.

On topic, I like Webb. I couldn't stand Allen. Before the Macaca moment. Good riddance.

LUVMBDiesels · #14 03-27-2009, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

Hawaiian guy beats the Alzheimer's patient ... hands-down.

Maybe right now, but in total number of dollars?

t walgamuth · #15 03-27-2009, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

I never cared for Loogie but I like Bayh.

why don't you like Lugar?

When he ran for president he took uncharacteristicly far right positions on various subjects but went back to normal after he dropped out.

He normally is centrist and willing to speak his mind even if it differs from an R pres.

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