You are correct sir!
Our carpetbagger, Elizabeth Dole, has done -0- for North Carolina. Bring her home.

Richard Burr at least went after low flush toilets--bring him home.

Howard Coble showed his a_s during impeachement.
Bring him home.

(yawn)

No partisanship there in your comment, is there, DD?

Why are we not surprised at the content of your message?

Mr. Ott, exactly why I urge all voters to push for term limits of 2 terms and putting an end to all lobbying by making , or actually enforcing the law that says to offer an elected official anything of value is considered bribery and is punishable by imprisonment and hefty fine.

It is time to end the days of career politicians and move back to the citizen representatives.

"Bipartisanship" is a dirty word but not for the reason most Americans have considered. Think about what it means--only two parties. The reluctance for Democrats and Republicans to work together is a big hoax perpetrated by them to make it appear that they are two parties who hate each other when in fact they're really one party who work great together. They have a few minor differences sometimes such as whether to increase spending by 6% or 4%, and some of them disagree on non-issues like abortion and gay marriage, but all in all, they are one unified party. The difference between Ds and Rs is about the same as the difference between Baptists and Methodists.

Meanwhile, they've rigged the elections by forbidding outright anyone other than Ds and Rs to appear on the ballot or else making it difficult for other parties and independents. They throw away any votes they don't approve of. They gerrymander the districts to assure themselves victory.

So "bipartisanship" is a dirty word not because they never engage in it but because ONLY two parties are allowed to have any say in this country. How about some quad-partisanship or deca-partisanship?

Additional comment on your LTE , Mr. Ott. Your last sentence should have read, and we RE-ELECT them over and over and over again without questioning the job they are doing just because they belong to one particualr party and come h-- or high water we gonna keep em in Washington to keep the other crooks out. That Mr. Ott is the reason for lack of bipartisanship. You see, we the voters don't demand it. Term limits is a large part of the answer.

Mr. P,

I agree the only way to fix our corrupt political system is to send them a super-strong message. We have the power to do that when election time rolls around. However, once we have put the buttholes in office, we really have little power to change things.

And as far as I can see, we definitely do not have any influence in restricting term limits and punishing lobbyists for bribing politicians. The crooks themselves accept or reject guidelines regarding these issues. Just how many of them are going to vote aganist anything that is to their advantage?

Paul is also right about the similarities of both parties. And I agree with him that another way to introduce choice into the American political system is by forcing a change in the two party system. While I fiercely disagree with Paul over some issues, I strongly support his efforts to get the LP back on the ballot in NC.

I have procured some signatures at my workplace to assist in his endeavor. He assured me their names would not go on a list to be sold and that the LP would not actively solicit their votes. They are only supporting a third party choice in NC. Although I have not mailed them in (because I want to send more signatures), I believe this is a way to effect change.

In the mean time, how do you suggest we proceed with trying to implement your proposals? I have limited time to devote but I truly want to be one of many who gets on this bandwagon. Like many of you, I am sick to death of the direction this country has been headed in for years.

I have just about decided I will not vote for anyone who is currently in office on any level. A whole new crew can't screw up worse than the present ones have.

Getting politicians to agree to term limits may seem a stretch for some. However I believe that there are a few that are open to this because of several reasons. 1. they are coming near to the end of their career and would be open to this since it would not have an effect on their future. 2. There are some who are just plain tired, fed up or realize that no matter what their agenda is, they are defeated by both sides before they start.
I believe however that term limits lie in the hands of the voters and it is up to us to convey the message that this is what "we the people" want. We can offer those in office and currently seeking re-election the option of either supporting this term limit agenda or being voted out of office. If they are supportive at least they stand a chance of being re-elected to one more term, if not the can pack up and be prepared to move on back home after election time.
Doing this requires that "we" the voters get over our mindset of going into the voting booth and pulling the lever on one side or the other just because it says Dem or Repub and that is the way we have voted forever and ever. We have to come to the point that if we are not willing to lay aside our long time party affiliations and vote to oust those who will not agree to term limits then we will continue with the same ole ,same ole until we finally come to the ruination of this country and we are on the brink of such now. Too long we have allow a bunch of do-nothings to be elected over and over to do nothing but bicker and sling crap at each other and ignore the real problems of this country.
We can't continue to vote for someone just because they ride on the back of an elephant or a donkey and that is the symbol we approve of. How many are willing to do such a daring thing? That is the question and that is the answer to the question of how to get term limits established. When enough get fed up enough to cross party lines and vote out all the old stock and put in new then "we" the voters will have once again taken control of politics and our country. It can not be done as long as people have the mind set that all Repubs or all Dems are evil and that h-- would have to freeze over to vote differently.
It only takes one election to show these career politicians that "we the people" are fed up with their do-nothing ways and feathering their own nest agendas. Actually it would only take one state to make a statement and then spread the word that this is the way it is and the rest had better fall in line. Why not let it begin with NC this fall. I am willing, now it only takes 51% more of the voters to get this ball rolling.
I personally have written to all those who represent me and those who represent the state in general and expressed my concerns and what I intend to do about the situation this fall. I gave them the choice but my one vote will not disturb them but your vote and your vote can and will make a difference.
It is time to put back the citizen representative and take out the career politician. Too long we have swallowed the line that we need experience in Congress to keep things afloat. Well we see now that this is a lie and we see what experience has gotten us. We think that only lawyers and bigwigs who own large companies or run large companies can effectively manage this country. Well, bull, why can't the person who owns the local hardware store , or manages the local drug store , or teaches 3rd grade at the local elementary school do just as good of a job. All lawyers and bigwigs have done is written laws to protect them and their longevity feather their nest and done it in such a way that most can't understand the gobblegook that is written or make sense of it until it is too late.
Well, that's my take on getting things changed Yvonne. It may not have answered the question totally but by golly it is a start. Like you said new ones surely couldn't do any worse than what we have now. Well, at least if they do we can vote them out and not allow them to become so entrenched that it takes a bulldozer or perhaps a nest of hornets to get them out. Me, I prefer a nest of hornets because that is what "we the voters" can become in this matter and all other matters concerning the operation of this country. Ain't nothing better than a nest of mad hornets to get things stirred up.

Mr. Produce,

I don't believe term limits is the answer to the problem you wish to solve, which is career politicians. What if the people of a certain district were actually happy with their representative? Placing a term limit on that representative would forbid the people from re-electing him or her. Forbidding the people from electing a certain person is not good thing, in my opinion.

The problem you want solved would best be fixed by:

1) Putting a stop to gerrymandering
2) De-rigging the elections in general by:
a) Opening up the ballot to all parties and independents
b) Counting all votes; no more throwing away write-in votes
c) Using a system of instant runoff voting
http://www.instantrunoff.com/
d) Having verifiable paper ballots

Implementing these measures would a MAJOR impact in making elections more fair, and there would be a lot less career politicians because most career politicians are produced by rigged elections.

Yvonne,

Thank you so very much for continuing to gather signatures for us. How many have you gathered?

By the way, you said:

"They are only supporting a third party choice in NC."

Actually, we're supporting many more than three choices. We're currently suing the state to overturn the law which forces new parties and independents to get signatures to appear on the ballot. It's not likely we'll win, however, since Demopublicans control the courts and are not about to rule against themselves.

If We the People in general would rise up and demand that they open up the ballot, however, we will get somewhere. Please write your state representatives and demand that they eliminate the ballot-access restrictions contained in G.S. 163-96.

Mr. Produce,

I didn't read all of your long post until now.

If you want to vote for someone other than Demopublicans in November, you're going to have to take some immediate action. Currently only Demopublicans are scheduled to appear on the ballot this November, and they won't allow you to write in anyone else. Actually, you might be able to write in someone, but if you do, they will throw away your vote.

You can do something about this, but you have to act fast and convince other people to as well. The Libertarian Party needs to collect about 63,000 signatures by June 1 in order to appear on the ballot this November. If you'd like to see us on the ballot, go this web site:

http://www.lpnc.org

Look to the right and download a petition form. Get everyone you know to sign it. Ask other people to circulate it too. If enough people would do this, then there could be at least one choice other than Demopublican on the ballot this November.

By all means, do the same for another party. It will take approximately 100,000 signatures, however, to qualify another party. Libertarians, you see, have already collected about 37,000, which is why we "only" need 63,000 more.

Something else you can do which may turn out to be much, much easier to get Libertarians and other parties on the ballot is to write your state senator and demand that the NC Senate put House Bill 88 back in its original form as written by Rep. Paul Miller.

This bill's original language would reduce the number of signatures needed for ballot access by a new political party by 75%, from 100,000 signatures to 25,000 signatures.

Demand that the Senate vote for it in its original form and send it back to the House as such. Then demand that the House pass the original form of the bill.

If that were to happen, then the Libertarian Party would qualify for ballot access this year, and all other parties would much more easily gain ballot access in the future.

Will you take the necessary action now to bring about what you desire? Please do so!

Paul, I believe term limits will stop the buying and selling of the elected representatives and that within itself takes care of many of the problems we have in the body of so called representatives of the people today. Once this issue is taken care of and we have true representation then perhaps your party will have a chance to get on the ballot. As long as we allow entrenched politicians to stay in power and be bought and sold like commodities, your party doesn't stand a chance in hades of ever appearing on the ballot with any impact.
As I said, if the people really like what they have then after he has had a one term rest and had to come back home to listen to the people and to live under some of the laws that he/she helped to pass then let them elect that person again, but only after the rest period. Lobbyist while they may attempt to bribe and apply pressure to the short term elected individuals they will find it much harder and perhaps even not worth the time and money they would have to invest to buy the vote and support of that individual. They will soon realize that when the word gets out ,that individual will not be coming back to DC again. If you were a lobbyist would you invest hundreds of thousands of dollars to insure that someone gets elected for maybe one 3 year term or possibly two 3 year terms? Where is the return on the investment? As it stands now it takes many terms and a pot full of dollars to insure that you have the representative in your pocket. Also with the enforcement of the law concerning bribery lobbying would soon become a hazardous occupation.

Sorry for the long winded post Paul and others. I am a speech giver not a speech writer and much prefer to speak out of the heart instead of off the paper.
The more charasmatic groups appreciate my style while those with lots of structure in the order of service don't. hahahaha.

OOps part of my last post got left off due to copy and paste from spell check.
As I was addressing the term limits and the lobbying Paul I also spoke of eliminating these professional and entrenched politicians. When these are removed, then and only then will your party have a chance in hades in getting on all the ballots not only in NC but across this country.

Is it not amazing at the mind-set of "career" politicians of today as compared to those of the past? What has happened? Do those of today see the "benefit" of being in office rather than the SERVICE of being in office which is contridictory of their predecessors.

Musing again.

Shalom

Greetings to one and all. Great comments saved me the time of writing.

I did not vote for Bush, Dole, Burr, Easley, or Kearns (did vote for Coble and keep hoping he will come through), so I did what I could and still have to live with their decisions.

Will sign the petition to get others on ballot. Keep sending suggestions..I have lots of respect for many who comment.

Darryll, your musing is actually quite correct. In the past most of those who represented us were there for the service and not the benefits. I remember many of the older politicians from over where I grew up who were dedicated to the people who elected them. B.Carroll Reece, Estes Kefauver, Jimmy Quillen to name a few from the Volunteer State.
I believe Mr. Coble is one of the remaining few that I am acquainted with in this day and time. The rest I would have to put a question mark beside of.

Statesman vs. Politician

Howard Coble IS the least of the evils out there, but even he took a foray into the Impeachment proceedings that crippled the country for two years. He could step up to the plate and knock the ball out of the park---if he wanted to be a statesman vs. a politician. Rather than kowtow to the GOP, Coble should come out and say publicly what he says privately about the Iraq war...that it has been mismanaged, and we should have a plan of exit. Let's face it, his years in Washington are not unlimited, so he should grow a set and be a maverick rather than a pawn on Denny Hastert's chess board. You say, WHY? Because he is not in danger of losing his seat and he can go out with a bipartisan bevy of support. Will he loose the chains of partisanship and become an AMERICAN? I doubt it.

DD I think we are seeing a shift with Mr. Coble and will see even more of a shift after the elections. He is poised to move to that next level but he will decide the time frame in which to do so. Having listened to him in small groups and having heard some of his close advisers talking to others within the state, I think it's coming soon. I believe that Mr. Coble will be right up there with those who have served honorably and served well. He also is one that I feel can and would support term limits. Why? Because I believe he actually thinks it is the right thing to do and perhaps he will also feel that this is the right time to do it. Even though I no longer live in his district I do plan on writing him a letter and sending and e-mail to his office on this subject. I would encourage all others to do the same thing. I have sent the message to the Dole, Burr camp and have received nothing from them in way of reply and don't really expect too. I received a call from Mr. Taylors office here in the western end of the state and should receive a reply from his shortly. No reply to me means no vote for them. All of us should take the same attitude no matter what political stripe we may wear.

They just don't make em like Jesse Helms anymore.

Now, there was a career politician who also was a servant to his constituents.

Many of us would completely disagree with his beliefs but he was the last Senator of this state who put his work ethic where his mouth was. He served on and chaired committee after comittee. He brandished power that few senators will ever attain. And he did it mostly through hard work.

A lot of folks, including me, had a special hatred for Jesse. But at least he tried. Look at the pitiful excuses we've had for representation since then: Dole (ultimate insider), Burr (boring), Edwards (used his office as a springboard for a grab at the whitehouse). Come on! And did we really have a choice? We could have voted for Faircloth or Erskine Bowles? Ouch.

BTW,

Of all the senators above, the only one who responded personally to a letter I wrote was Helms. (I didn't like his answer but at least he wrote me) All of the others sent no reply or a form letter reply. Dole had the nerve to reply with a form letter that asked for a contribution to the Republican National Committee.