During this election, when he is running against Elizabeth Warren, I have been listening to Scott Brown's political ads. I was PARTICULARLY impressed with the ad against Insider Trading by members of Congress, in which he concludes, "Politicians should live by the same laws as everyone else." (Click HERE to see this ad.)
When I heard this ad, I was ready to vote for Brown! Why not? That is something I sincerely believe in, and something he and Warren seem to agree on. "Politicians should live by the same laws as everyone else." YES!
I have always admired Scott Brown. I like that he appears to be an independent thinker, not a party-platform person (as was Bill Weld); he respects women's reproductive rights; he showed a lot of courage writing his book and speaking out about being molested at a summer camp, exposing a pedophile, but without naming names. In doing this, he encouraged others to speak up, which triggered a form of justice. He has demonstrated a strong sense of confidence as well as a quiet courage.
However, I was heart broken to discover that Scott Brown has signed Grover Norquist's "PLEDGE." After hearing about it, I couldn't quite believe my ears. So I did some searching and revisited the 60 Minutes interview both with Norquist (who crows about his ability to throw an election if any GOP members dare to break their pledge to him!) as well as one brave Republican member of Congress, Alan Simpson, who has the courage to speak out against Norquist and his "PLEDGE" (a.k.a. blackmail). Click HERE to see the 60 MINUTES interview with Norquist, and the outspoken courage of Congressman Simpson to call out Norquist for hijacking the GOP.
Isn't the real issue that our elected members of Congress are supposed to be respresenting their CONSITUTENTS? Not Grover Norquist, or a small but powerful group of individuals, who use mafia tactics.
NO elected official should be coerced or threatened by a single individual, or small group of uber-wealthy individuals, into voting and/or making decisions that may or may not impact the future of this country (and the world?)
If we cannot balance our budget without some (temporary, if necessary) increased taxes for these same uber-weatlhy individuals, many of whom made their wealth on the backs of the questionable profiteering from the sub-prime lending practices, and avoid the drastic cuts in either critical entitlement programs OR the military, we may suffer the same fate as Greece.
Regarding presidential voting, I am undecided -- teetering between the Democratic incumbant and Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson.
But, until the GOP declares their independence from the strong-arm tactics of Grover Norquist, and makes their #1 priority to FIX WHAT IS BROKEN, and not MAKING [FILL IN A NAME] A ONE TERM PRESIDENT, I cannot support any GOP candidates.
Last I heard, the voters are supposed to decide who is President of the United States. And Congress's job is to HELP FIX WHAT IS BROKEN! Sadly, it is Congress that is broken. However, I doubt that they will fire themselves.
BUT U.S. Citizens should lobby heavily to have Grover Norquist's pledge made illegal. If necessary, the Attorney General should investigate the legality of this pledge. One must question the legality of this pledge combined with Norquist's threats to throw elections of any GOP Congress person who breaks it.
Afterall, who are we pledging allegience to when we put our hand over our heart -- Grover Norquist or the United States of America? Shouldn't we be asking this question of our representatives in Washington?
PS - If Brown was able to rid the GOP of such influences as Norquist, The Koch Brothers, and Karl Rove, I would vote for him to be President of the United States!
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