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Let the Wave of Anti-Incumbency Finally Commence!

Today is sure to be an interesting day in the world of American politics. There are pivotal elections in three sites with each possessing a unique set of issues.

 

In Virginia, the Republican Bob McDonnell seems poised to defeat Democrat Craig Deeds and end an eight-year hold by Democrats on the governorship of the state (or commonwealth). Just one year ago, Barack Obama carried the state in the presidential election – the first Democrat to do so since 1964.

 

In New Jersey, first-term governor Jon Corzine, a Democrat, is in a tight battle with Republican Chris Christie. Also in the race is independent candidate Chris Daggett. New Jersey is generally considered to be a safe Democrat Party stronghold, but Corzine’s scandal-filled administration and high disapproval ratings are making that race competitive.

 

And in the 23^rd district of New York, an independent conservative candidate named Doug Hoffman has a narrow lead in the polls over Democrat Bill Owens – even after Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava withdrew from the race and then endorsed Owens. This is a special election to replace Republican John McHugh, who was named as Secretary of the Army by Obama.

 

What seems very clear from all three of these races is that the status quo is being challenged more so than any particular party identity or political affiliation. As a quasi-Libertarian and someone who has voted for the person and not the party, this writer is relieved to finally see others doing the same. In fact, I hope that this is just the beginning of what will become a wave of anti-incumbency that will carry through to the 2010 and 2012 election cycles.

 

When one looks at the dismal approval ratings of Congress these days (currently 24.8% according to realclearpolitics.com), one has to question whether or not we could do worst by simply voting every single Congressman and Senator out of office who is up for re-election next year. Included in that group would be three of the four Congressional leaders – Harry Reid (who trails in polls against an unnamed Republican), Nancy Pelosi and John Boehner. The Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell is not up for re-election again until 2014. 

 

That is a pretty pathetic quartet of leadership that could and should easily be replaced. I give some leniency to Boehner only because it seems that he is the only member of Congress who actually took the time to read most of the cap-and-trade bill before it was voted on in the House.

 

Beyond those in the leadership positions, also up for re-election will be two of the leading engineers of the financial industry collapse, Senator Chris Dodd and Congressman Barney Frank, as well as the alleged ethically-challenged Congressman Charlie Rangel. Throwing all of these types out will not only improve the ethical climate of Congress but also put in new members who are not beholden to the special interest groups from which they have been given campaign donations, special perks and insider deals.

 

Continuing on there are people like Congressman John Conyers, who seems to call for a special investigation of some random Republican on an almost daily basis, while simultaneously being married to a woman who recently plead guilty to bribery charges as a member of the Detroit city council. And of course there are all the scandals that plagued various Republicans over the past couple of years, but most of them are out of office already – Foley, Stevens and Craig come to mind. Seriously ask yourself the question suggested above:  Could we actually do any worse if every member of Congress was suddenly replaced in the next election???

 

So is the stage finally set to do what we have all dreamed about at one time or another – voting out every incumbent member in Congress and elsewhere? If this year’s elections are any indication then it certainly looks like it is close to that point. Now everyone just needs to get into the voting booth and make it happen.

 

And I am certainly not saying that everyone should switch parties, although I would certainly like to see far fewer ‘jackasses’ in office. However, if you are a Democrat and want a Democrat to represent you, then just vote the incumbent out of the race during the primary. If there is not a primary challenger then vote for none of the above, or nominate yourself just so everyone has an option to vote against the incumbent. 

 

Certainly I would like to see more Libertarians winners in next year’s elections. While that is not likely to happen, it is encouraging to see independents like Hoffman and Daggett polling so prominently today. The NY-23 race has been called the ‘Tea Party Race’ by some pundits given that Hoffman seems to be representative of all those who protested against bigger and more expensive government this past April.

 

And make no mistake, in that race and in New Jersey, it is somewhat of a battle between the Tea Party movement and the Obama administration. Hoffman is clearly a fiscal and social conservative, and Governor Corzine is clearly a big government proponent in the same mold as Obama. The stakes for Obama are the highest in New Jersey where a Corzine loss will definitely be viewed as a victory against big government activism – which explains why Obama has spent a lot of time lately in New Jersey trying to give a boost to Corzine’s campaign.

 

Last year the message was all about hope and change which has quickly turned into a return to the status quo with the only changes being in the form of more government, higher spending, higher taxes and higher unemployment - none of which is desired by the majority of the electorate.  The message of the next elections must be more about reversing that disastrous trend. They need to send a clear signal that career politicians, special-interest legislation, unethical (if not illegal) behavior, fiscal irresponsibility and poor oversight of the American taxpayers’ interests will no longer be tolerated. It is time that the rest of America do what it appears the voters in New Jersey and elsewhere are poised to do and finally rise up and throw the bums out!

 

Rob Binsrick