Ethics Watch

Progressive, Practical Politics.

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No surprise here

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Hagel Opposition Crumbles

I am proud that Chuck Hagel will be our next Secretary of Defense. Hagel's politically motivated obstructionist Republican opposition failed, both to fillibuster the nomination and then to shoot it down. Hagel will be the first former enlisted man to serve in the post, and the first Vietnam Veteran. He also should have been a bipartisan pick, considering he is a former Republican Senator from Nebraska. I suppose, however, that nothing will please Senators such as Ted Cruz as Lindsay Graham (whom I like to call "Neo-McCarthyists.") Hopefully, we can move forward on our International Policy now, and answer important questions, including ones about the use of Drones.

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GOP meeting to slam ‘gun free zones’ is a gun free zone.

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The GOP is for anything that doesn't apply to them.

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Random thought #4727

No statement that starts with the phrase, “I’m not a racist, but …” (or, I’m not a sexist, but… or a homophobe, but, or … or … or …) can possibly end well for you. 

Really. There’s no way to save yourself. Delete your keyboard dribblings and start again. Or, better, walk away.

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What Jesse Jackson, Jr. Means

There was a time when Jesse Jackson, Jr. had a bright future. The young congressman, who's father is a civil rights icon and a two time Presidential Candidate, was a rock star in Illinois and a hero to the Progressive Wing of the Democratic Party. Had Jackson decided to run for Senate in 2004, he would have won the Primary and the Seat, and Barack Obama would not be President; indeed, he was once talked about as the future first black President. Those days are over. Jackson plans to plead guilty for the misuse of campaign funds, and has already resigned his seat. So now we need to ask ourselves: What does this mean? This means that Bob Menendez, whose corruption inspired this blog, can see that nobody is above the law, and that those involved in the creation of laws should be even more bound to them than the rest of us. This means that today's promising young politicians can see that they can fall from grace, and that nobody is untouchable. This means that we, as civillians, can see that our representatives and our neighbors will be treated equally in courts of law. And that last point is really what this is all about. I created this blog not just because of the actions of Menendez, but because of the attitude that corruption is a fact of life. More specifically, the attitude that some people, be they Congressmen or Mayors or Businessmen or Celebrities, will either be immune to punishment, or be punished lightly due to their status. I believe that Congressman Jackson has proved otherwise. At least I hope so.

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I support Cory Booker

Yesterday, Senator Frank Lautenberg officially anounced he will not seek re-election in 2014. The 88 year old Senator has been a lion for the people of New Jersey, and he will be missed. But now it is time to look to the future, and I believe Cory Booker should be part of our nation's future through service in the United States Senate. Cory Booker has, in his service as Mayor of Newark, been a valiant fighter against the corrupt machine politics in his city. He has courageously faced opposition from the City Council, but his work has had results in reducing crime and creating jobs in Newark, though he still has a long way to go. Though he has not always gotten along with other Democrats in his city (which, like most big cities, has almost no Republican party), Booker has proven himself to be a man who refuses to play the ugly political games that plague Washington. As Senator, I believe he will be an excellent bipartisan dealmaker, fighting for the most progressive solutions that can realistically pass. But more importantly, he will, like Senator Bill Bradley before him, stand in contrast to the culture of corruption in New Jersey politics. With Bob Menendez committing immoral and illegal acts overseas (acts bad enough to inspire this blog), I believe New Jersey needs a Senator with integrity. And Cory Booker is that Senator. For these reasons, I endorse Cory Booker for United States Senate in 2014.

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I'm happy to say I was wrong

An hour prior to the State of the Union, I expressed my doubts about the president's willingness to mention, or even allude to, the use of Drones and our transparency in regards to that use.

Then the President, in his State of the Union, said the following:

"In the months ahead, I will continue to engage with Congress to ensure not only that our targeting, detention, and prosecution of terrorists remains consistent with our laws and system of checks and balances, but that our efforts are even more transparent to the American people and the world."

Though this fleeting mention of the issue does not, in my opinion, represent as in depth of a mention of the issue as I would like, I nevertheless must concede that the president was willing to acknowledge the policy, and is hopefully willing to reform it.

In this case, I'll take being wrong over being right.

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In Less Than One Hour...

The President will address the State of The Union, as has been the tradition of this nation. He will likely touch upon his goals regarding the economy, public safety, immigration, and foreign policy for the year 2013. Marco Rubio will then give the GOP response, in which the ideas of Republicans will be laid out.

I bet that neither will mention our terrifying drone policy.

Our drone policy, as I have mentioned, should disturb both Republicans and Democrats. The policy allows for the killing of US citizens under very loose criteria, and, in my opinion, threatens National Security in an attempt to protect it. By showing disregard for not just the constitution, but for basic morality and human rights, this policy should be a concern of every American citizen; regardless of age, race, religion, gender, state, and political affiliation.

Instead our representatives and our President have decided to take what will be the first and likely only act of bipartisanship of the 113th Congress. My fellow Democrats have decided to stand by the President, and Republicans have decided to stand by their constant opposition to civil liberties for anybody but corporations.

It needs to stop.

As I have mentioned, any elected official who ignores this issue is acting irresponsibly. I hope that the President announces, at the State of the Union, his plans to reform the policy. If he does not, I hope Rubio, as crazy as he generally is, acts responsibly and mentions the policy in his response. I doubt that this will happen, however.

Right now I'm looking to Washington to prove me wrong.

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think-progress: A Wisconsin NRA convention distributes literature calling for secession and civil war.  Why am I not surprised?

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Democrats Must Lead in Drone Policy Reform

Last week, a disturbing memo from the Department of Justice was released detailing our drone policy and that policy's potential for abuse. The policy is that of a Democratic administration, and the administration of a president who's fiscal and social policy I have almost always supported, and who's foreign policy I have generally supported. However, I believe that most people, especially progressive Democrats, should be able to see that this policy is wrong.

Democrats also, very likely, need to be the ones who fight for change.

For Republicans, who seem to hold the position that the government can do whatever they wish provided they don't wish to do anything involving their money, action is an impossibility.

For this reason I hope that Senate Democrats will investigate the matter throughout the second term of the President, and propose legal criteria for drone strikes. Hopefully they will also understand how irresponsible it would be to ignore excess violations of civil liberties under a Democratic administration that would have been harshly scrutinized under a Republican administration.

I am proud to be a Democrat because my party has, from Nixon to Bush, held Presidents accountable for the abuse of power of their administration. Today, the Democratic Party needs to treat Obama as they treated Reagan after the Iran-Contra affair; or as they treated Bush regarding the fiasco in Iraq.

It would be irresponsible not to.