Back in the early nineties, there was an episode of Star Trek TNG called "Chain of Command".
In it, Picard is captured by the Cardassians and subjected to intensive mental conditioning. Reminiscent of Orwell's 1984, Picard is shown four lights and told that in fact there are five. Every "wrong" answer results in torture after which the question is asked again. Picard of course does not succumb because the Cardassians are punks compared with the Borg.
I though of this episode because I feel like Picard sometimes when watching, listening to or reading Democrats. Byron York posted this press release on the Corner the other day:
The Campaign for America's Future moves to 1825 K Street today, joining several other progressive organizations that represent "the new K Street." Progressive Majority and the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center moved at the same time as the Campaign for America's future, joining Americans United and US Action, already in the building. The Campaign for America's Future signed a 10-year lease for the space to accommodate the organization's growth since its founding 10-years ago by a network of 100 prominent progressive leaders…The group waged a hard-hitting ad campaign to expose corrupt members of Congress who did not return to Washington, including former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, and Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, and helped lead an effort to defeat President Bush's plan to privatize Social Security. At the new location, the Campaign for America's Future will step up its mobilization behind the Apollo Alliance's plan to create millions of new jobs through energy independence and create a national conversation about providing health care coverage for everyone in America.
I see four lights...Five damn you!...Oww!
Even some nominal lefties see four lights. Zachary Roth notes that toothpicks don't a reform make:
When the Democratic Congress passed lobbying- and ethics-reform measures last month, it barred lawmakers and their aides from accepting almost all meals from lobbyists. But, as the Wall Street Journal reported [subscription required] recently, hors d'oeuvres—including any food eaten standing up and using a toothpick or one's fingers—remain kosher. The result, say some observers, has been nothing more consequential than a change in the menu. Out: pasta and steak dinners. In: risotto balls, and blinis with smoked salmon and crème fraiche. Congress feels cleaner already.
Roth goes on to note a host of other cosmetic changes that don't in fact disguise the hogs in Congress any better than an application of lipstick.
Still, the rules may be riddled with loopholes, but at least the new Democratic Congress isn't selling face time with its legislative leaders in return for lobbyists' campaign cash as nakedly as the GOP did, right? Not quite. Last week, the Washington Post reported that Democrats have begun an ambitious round of early fund-raisers, many of which are designed to bring key committee chairs together with lobbyists for the industries they regulate. For instance, according to the Post, Barney Frank, who chairs the House financial services committee, recently showed up for a fund-raiser in Charlotte—home to two of the largest bank companies in the country—to let donors in on his plans for upcoming banking legislation. The goal of the blitz is to raise between $650,000 and $1 million for each of the party's most endangered members—a lofty total for the end of an election cycle, let alone the start of one.
Roth uses this as an argument for public financing of campaigns, but more importantly its an admission that neither he or the public is buying the five lights business of lobby reform.
At very least, this is going to bite the Democrats in 2008.
Posted by Mick Stockinger on March 2, 2007 4:55 PM
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