John Fund has an op-ed in today’s Wall Street Journal about “The Obama-Pelosi Lame Duck Strategy.” The strategy is this: wait till after the mid-terms, when members of Congress don’t have to worry about an impending election, then pass all the contentious items left on Obama/Pelosi/Reid’s agenda (cap and trade, tax hikes, etc.). At HotAir, Ed Morrissey is more sanguine about the likelihood of passing any truly contentious items, but acknowledges that attempts at some shenanigans are likely.
There’s not much doubt that trying to get at least some mileage out of the lame-duck session is on Democrats’ radar. In response, right-leaning pundits, politicians, and various organizations are calling for Democrats to pledge that they will not pass any major legislation during the lame-duck session. I get the politics of this — forcing incumbents to take a stand on these issues before the election, or look like they have no regard for their voters — but it is meaningless in the long run.
There is no reason to stop calling for these pledges if they’re useful politics, but they are meaningless. There is no way to enforce them, and what repercussions are there for someone that has already been voted out of office?
What needs to happen is for anyone and everyone with an audience to call on Obama for pledge to veto any major legislation that comes out of the lame-duck session. This pledge is different, for several reasons. First, if he actually took such a pledge, that bare fact would make attempts to do anything in the lame-duck session far less likely. The threat of a veto, however unlikely in practice, would position Congress as not only working against the will of the people, but against their own president as well. A soon-to-be unemployed representative may not care about the former if he has a cushy lobbying job set up, but the latter might give him pause.
Second, this pledge would have teeth. A politician that is never going to have to face voters again can afford to give them the middle finger, but Obama will still be in office after the lame ducks have flown. He will have to face the polls, thoughts of his legacy, and an impending election that will be more and more on people’s minds as the Republican primary heats up next year.
The main effect of calls for a pledge to veto lame duck bills, though, would be to make Obama own anything that comes out of that session. He likes to hide behind Congress (and his attorney general, military commanders, etc.), so it is important that people focus on his actions, not those of the outgoing (hopefully) Speaker of the House. If he sees that he will get the full blame for the passage of any unpopular bills, he may be less likely to push for action during the lame duck session. Even if that doesn’t make him hesitate, he will own the negative consequences and publicity.
Keep hammering vulnerable members of Congress, by all means, but every call for restraint to a Democratic Senator or Representative should be coupled with a call for a veto from Obama.
UPDATE (7/24):
Why are people still asking for members of Congress to make this pledge? It’s utterly meaningless.
Digg…
While checking out DIGG yesterday I noticed this…
Its hard to find good help…
I am forever saying that its hard to procure quality help, but here is…
Tumblr article…
I saw someone talking about this on Tumblr and it linked to…
Just Browsing…
While I was browsing today I saw a excellent article about…
Tumblr article…
I saw a writer writing about this on Tumblr and it linked to…
Trackback…
[...]we like to honor other sites on the web, even if they aren’t related to us, by linking to them. Below are some sites worth checking out[...]…
Find a Financial Advisor…
Neat info; thought we might combine several not related info, but still worth taking a look,…
News info…
I was reading the news and I saw this really interesting info…
Yahoo results…
While searching Yahoo I found this page in the results and I didn’t think it fit…
Wikia…
Wika linked to this place…
Informative and precise…
Its difficult to find informative and precise info but here I found…
Yahoo results…
While searching Yahoo I discovered this page in the results and I didn’t think it fit…
Tumblr article…
I saw someone writing about this on Tumblr and it linked to…
Online Article……
[...]The information mentioned in the article are some of the best available [...]……
Recommeneded websites…
[...]Here are some of the sites we recommend for our visitors[...]……
Its hard to find good help…
I am regularly proclaiming that its difficult to find good help, but here is…
Led Bulb…
[...]I’ve also listed a cool website below, it is pretty well made, I hoped you would agree[...]…
aals…
ugg tall boots 5815 sandhelping you finish classy fashion statements without breaking the wallet.thomas sabo necklaces…
aboil…
We met in front of the Cafe Trieste yesterday as you were making your first strokes on a new painting…I look forward to seeing this new work. This morning I visited your site and am amazed to see your beautiful, vibrant colors and graceful forms. Tha…
Digg…
While checking out DIGG yesterday I found this…
Wikia…
Wika linked to this place…
Yahoo results…
While searching Yahoo I discovered this page in the results and I didn’t think it fit…
Just Browsing…
While I was browsing yesterday I noticed a excellent article concerning…
abrade…
moncler mens coats salewarm in non-pressurized planes at high altitudes.cheap moncler womens coats sales…
Yahoo results…
While browsing Yahoo I found this page in the results and I didn’t think it fit…
Tumblr article…
I saw someone talking about this on Tumblr and it linked to…
Looking around…
I like to browse around the internet, often I will go to Stumble Upon and follow thru…
Dreary Day…
It was a dreary day here yesterday, so I just took to piddeling around on the internet and found…
Tumblr article…
I saw a writer talking about this on Tumblr and it linked to…
Game site likes your page…
[...]It ѕеemѕ you сan find websites and blogs dedicated tо mаny activities, such tv, music, lives of celebrities, etc.. . However rеallу cаnnоt find websites аnd blogs devoted tо r…
Informative and precise…
Its hard to find informative and accurate information but here I found…
Found=> Links To Your Site…
[...]one of the visitors recently recommended these website[...]…
Wikia…
Wika linked to this place…
Digg…
While checking out DIGG yesterday I noticed this…
Informative and precise…
Its difficult to find informative and accurate information but here I noted…
Digg…
While checking out DIGG today I noticed this…
Wikia…
Wika linked to this website…
Just Browsing…
While I was browsing today I noticed a great article about…
iPhone 5 new’s and information…
[....]Thanks for taking the time to come and make sure we’re linking to your site! This message is only visible by you, the owner of[....]…
Its hard to find good help…
I am constantnly saying that its difficult to find quality help, but here is…
Its hard to find good help…
I am constantnly proclaiming that its difficult to get good help, but here is…
Xbox 720 new’s and information…
[....]Thanks for taking the time to come and make sure we’re linking to your site! This message is only visible by you, the owner of[....]…
Tumblr article…
I saw someone talking about this on Tumblr and it linked to…
Informative and precise…
Its difficult to find informative and precise information but here I noted…
Digg…
While checking out DIGG yesterday I found this…
Wikia…
Wika linked to this website…
Wikia…
Wika linked to this website…
News info…
I was reading the news and I saw this really cool topic…
Flash Website Builder…
[...] Fantastic news; reckoned I want to backlink to it… [...]…
Tumblr article…
I saw a writer talking about this on Tumblr and it linked to…