There are less than 100 days before the 2014 off-year congressional elections. There are elections for the entire House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate. This election comes at an extremely critical time in the history of this country and, indeed, the world.
It would appear that after the record of the present administration, there is a need for change in Washington. Change can only happen this fall with a change in the control of the U.S. Senate and some change in the way the Senate functions. The late Senator Robert C. Byrd, the longest serving senator in the Senate, said, “[The Senate’s] purpose was and is to examine, consider, protect, and to be a totally independent source of wisdom and judgment on the actions of the lower house and on the executive.” Senator Byrd was right and reflected the intentions of the nation’s founders.
Unfortunately, these words uttered by Senator Byrd not too long ago become antiquated and, for too many members of the current Senate, forgotten. With critical matters both foreign and domestic nipping at the heels of American government in all parts of the globe, the United States Senate especially needs to change. A change which could come with the elections this fall. The Senate is the house of the Congress most likely to change leadership, with the Republicans continuing to control the House of Representatives.
A change in control of the Senate would herald the fall of the obstructionist Senator Harry Reid as Senate Majority Leader. This would eliminate the ability of chief apologist for the President to control the flow of legislation in the Senate.
It also might reduce the waste of time and resources Senator Reid has expended in the weighty issue of changing the name of the NFL team, the Washington Redskins. Let us hope that the Senate will pay more attention to Ukraine, Syria and Gaza.
A strong, effective Senate could perhaps help close some of the divides that have materialized in the United States and may even tear apart the fabric of democracy.
The use of the ballot box this fall is a much more realistic way to secure and initiate change in our government than initiating efforts to impeach the President. This effort would only exacerbate internal divides and perhaps derail the will of the people in participating in the free and democratic election process.
The change of even a few seats in the Senate would produce a profound and significant change in our nation’s capitol. In addition to the elimination of Harry Reid as Senate Majority Leader, the White House would be forced to operate as a lame duck administration, with the failure of new unrealistic and unworkable initiatives being foisted on the American public
Yes, this year’s national elections are important. Perhaps as important as those elections held in the 1860’s in the Civil War era, the 1940’s and the World War II era elections, and the 1920’s and 30’s, with the events leading to U.S. participation in WW I, “the war to end all wars.”
Today, the fight against terrorism and Islamic extremism challenges the nature and threat of issues affecting a myriad of serious legislative issues. Perhaps it is time to make a change through the use of the ballot box. Without change, there can be no progress.
Gren Whitman says
Is Mr. Hall advocating a Senate version of the House?
James Nick says
I suppose the best response to Mr. Hall when he characterizes Harry Reid and the Democrats as obstructionists is to quote the venerable statesman and renowned orator, John Boehner, when he said so eloquently: “Are you kidding me?” It is clear to anyone paying even a scintilla of attention to what’s been going on in Congress that it is the Republicans that are at the root of Congressional obstruction the likes of which has never been seen. On the very night of President Obama’s first inauguration the Republicans made a pact that they would resist virtually anything President Obama proposed. For six years now they have reflexively obstructed virtually anything Obama regardless of the merits. They have made historic and profligate use of filibuster to prevent him from adequately staffing his administration, prevent him from filling long-vacant judicial positions, and virtually stop any substantive legislation no matter the urgency or importance. Witness the recent clown show over trying to pass legislation to address the refugee crisis on our border.
At the same time, the Republican-run House is, by any objective standard, the most do-nothing congress in American history. They have spent more time renaming post offices then legislating. They have wasted more time and votes – I think it’s up to about 50 and counting by now – trying to repeal Obamacare. They even shut down the Federal Government over it In short they have taken every step they possibly could to sabotage President Obama, slow the economic recovery, and sow discontent. As a group they suffer from a massive case of oppositional defiance disorder.
It’s even more preposterous that Mr. Hall suggests that the divided Senate contributes to tearing apart the fabric of [our] democracy and derail the will of the people in participating in the free and democratic election process. Free and fair elections, he says!!!!! Right in front of our eyes Republican-controlled states, and only Red states I might add, are systematically setting about to undermine our democracy with breathtakingly obscene gerrymandering to create non-competitive safe seats, instituting voter disenfranchisement laws that are said to “solve” non-existent voter fraud, and limiting the number of voting days and poll locations in heavily Democratic districts. This is evidently their take on how Democracy should operate.
We’ll all need to buckle our seat belts if the Party of NO takes over the Senate next term. They can’t even agree among themselves what their agenda should be. They have been saying no for so long there is no one left any longer who remembers how to legislate and run a country.
Joe Lill says
….Yes….We’re off to the races and Mr. Hall’s “Delusion” is in the lead!
Ron Jordan says
James and Joe, your words hit the nail on the head. Fletcher should be more concerned with local politics and economic engines here in Kent Count and Chestertown. His opinion is just another hack job by a disgruntled conservative with no more imagination that the party he serves, “are you kidding me”, c’mon Fletch, get a grip and more importantly come from under the rock you have hiding under. I guess Mr. Hall, is another that wants to “Take back Maryland”, from who, Fletch?