Townhall calls out Rockefeller Circus

[aikanae1]

Rockefeller is retiring this year.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/11/jay-rockefeller-resigns_n_2455812.html

I haven't double checked this but it seems there's a lot of retiring Dems involved in this. Nothing to loose? I don't think Rockefeller is the only one though.

 

[Kent C]

I haven't double checked this but it seems there's a lot of retiring Dems involved in this. Nothing to loose? I don't think Rockefeller is the only one though.

Senate:
•Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., 70, 2 terms
•Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, 74, 5 terms
•Mike Johanns, R-Neb., 62, 1 term
•Tim Johnson, D-S.D., 67, 3 terms
•Carl Levin, D-Mich., 79, 6 terms
•Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., 76, 5 terms
•Tom Coburn, R-Okla., 65, 2 terms

Notable House:
•Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., 57, 4 terms
•John D. Dingell, D-Mich., 87, 29 terms
•George Miller, D-Calif., 68, 20 terms
•James P. Moran, D-Va., 68, 12 terms
•Henry A. Waxman, D-Calif., 74, 20 terms

 

[StereoDreamer]

Senate:
•Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., 70, 2 terms
•Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, 74, 5 terms
•Mike Johanns, R-Neb., 62, 1 term
•Tim Johnson, D-S.D., 67, 3 terms
•Carl Levin, D-Mich., 79, 6 terms
•Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., 76, 5 terms
•Tom Coburn, R-Okla., 65, 2 terms

And if we're lucky, Babs Mikulski (5 terms- D-MD) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) will retire in 2016 as well.

And not a minute too soon, for these two treasonous, sociopathic harpies to hit the bricks...

 

[Lookout]

From the Dailykos - Democrats Stop the War on Vaping

This blog entry is fantastic and excellent read for everyone - no matter the political leanings

Wow. For once a DK column (mostly) makes sense.

 

[aikanae1]

Wow. For once a DK column (mostly) makes sense.

I still say it's due to the fact no one has brought the issue up. If you look at the comments, they are pro-vaping, even among non-smokers. I don't think many know this is going on. It's not on the agenda of top 100 things to worry about. I don't think there's been as much effort put into raising awareness which allowed so-called "public health" agencies to fill the void. Most legislators need to track 50+ issues, so they do depend on others informing them.

 

[DC2]

A scifi short story by Robert Heinlein was based on the political system operating in a future United States. A group of officials had the job of finding, among the general populace, the person who *least* wanted to hold a public office. That person was led kicking and screaming into the office and held it until the next cycle. It was extraordinarily successful; everything worked and the country flourished.

Perhaps we should consider something similar in the present...

There is an old quote by some Greek philosopher that said something along the lines of...
Only those who don't want to hold office are qualified to do so.

I have searched for that quote many, many times, and continue to be unable to find it.
But I learned about it when I was a Philosophy minor in college.

It continues to be one of my favorite quotes, even though I don't remember it, or who said it.
So if anyone knows it, PLEASE let me know!!

 

[wv2win]

................

I have searched for that quote many, many times, and continue to be unable to find it.
But I learned about it when I was a Philosophy minor in college.

...........................

Graduating from a Jesuit University (back in the day, lol), it was a requirement to take a YEAR of Philosophy. I would have actually enjoyed that year of Philosophy IF I could have taken the courses "pass/fail". Instead I had to sweat out the grades and spend many long nights (disproportionately so) studying the material. We even had "Philosophy Orals" in the second semester course that accounted for HALF your grade. All of us non-philosophy majors drank liberally just to make it through our Sophomore year and not jump off the roof of the dorm.

 

[DC2]

Graduating from a Jesuit University (back in the day, lol), it was a requirement to take a YEAR of Philosophy. I would have actually enjoyed that year of Philosophy IF I could have taken the courses "pass/fail". Instead I had to sweat out the grades and spend many long nights (disproportionately so) studying the material. We even had "Philosophy Orals" in the second semester course that accounted for HALF your grade. All of us non-philosophy majors drank liberally just to make it through our Sophomore year and not jump off the roof of the dorm.

Philosophy classes were the hardest classes I ever took, with organic chemistry coming in second place.
I also minored in physics, and that was a piece of cake next to my philosophy classes.

Understanding one philosopher's point of view was hard enough.
But critiquing one philosopher's point of view from the point of view of another philosopher was murder.

My brain doesn't stretch that far without a lot of pain and effort.

 

[Kent C]

There is an old quote by some Greek philosopher that said something along the lines of...
Only those who don't want to hold office are qualified to do so.

I have searched for that quote many, many times, and continue to be unable to find it.
But I learned about it when I was a Philosophy minor in college.

It continues to be one of my favorite quotes, even though I don't remember it, or who said it.
So if anyone knows it, PLEASE let me know!!

Chances are it's from Plato's Republic and in particular Book 1 in a section called "SOCRATES - GLAUCON". There are many quotes grabbed from this and some not right in words or intent, but this is likely the source. See:

The Republic/Book I - Wikisource, the free online library

As you may know, the dialogue is a continuum where certain concepts are evaluated, lead to other questions, etc., and to truly understand in context, you might want to take the time to read 'from the top' - if you have the time and desire.

And the implication isn't to 'not hold' office, but not to 'seek' it. "And this, as I imagine, is the reason why the forwardness to take office, instead of waiting to be compelled, has been deemed dishonourable."

Another paraphrasing and discussion here:

Talklato - Wikiquote

Go to: "The good are not willing to rule either for the sake of money or of honor."

And the true implication is this: "One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics, is that you end up being governed by your inferiors."

... more under:
"Misattributed, invented or "improved" quotes"

 

[AgentAnia]

While I can't hope to compete with Kent C, DC2, or wv2win in breadth or depth of knowledge, I did spend a pleasant hour this morning browsing quotation sites looking for "that" quote and came up with the following:

It is not in the nature of politics that the best men should be elected. The best men do not want to govern their fellowmen.
George MacDonald

Any American who is prepared to run for president should automatically, by definition, be disqualified from ever doing so.
Gore Vidal

No one ever teaches well who wants to teach, or governs well who wants to govern.
Plato

It is a well-known fact that those people who must want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it... anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.
Douglas Adams

 

[Kent C]

While I can't hope to compete with Kent C, DC2, or wv2win in breadth or depth of knowledge, I did spend a pleasant hour this morning browsing quotation sites looking for "that" quote and came up with the following:

No one ever teaches well who wants to teach, or governs well who wants to govern.
Plato

That's likely close if not it


“Politicians: Pinocchios with nose jobs.”
― Bauvard, The Darkness of Nature

“Politicians were mostly people who'd had too little morals and ethics to stay lawyers.”
― George R.R. Martin, Ace in the Hole

"In America, anyone can become president. That's the problem."
― George Carlin