Rush Limbaugh STILL is a big, fat idiot

[glatt]

But Bruce's point about the state level and the redistricting is a good one. Money makes a difference there because the press doesn't report on that level as much as the nonstop Trump/Clinton coverage for a year at the national level.

[Clodfobble]

It's not about who gets elected, it's about who they're beholden to once they get into office.

[xoxoxoBruce]

What do congress critters do in DC? Write and read proposed bills? Hammer out the nuances of legislation? Hell no, they have a huge staff smarties and flunkies to do that, and boil it down to one paragraph explanations. No, the elected elite spend the bulk of their time on the phone lining up money for their reelection. Selling futures as it were.

[Undertoad]

Way more money goes to incumbents who are guaranteed re-election... that's how you know it's not really about swaying votes...

[xoxoxoBruce]

Incumbents who spent their term selling their soul. What do they do with that "way more money"? they spend it getting reelected.

[Undertoad]

In modern days, most incumbent candidates don't need to spend anything to get reelected - so where is the money going?



source

[xoxoxoBruce]

If so many people are unhappy with the government, congressional approval rating is so low, how do these clowns keep getting reelected if not money?
Somebody else's clown must be the problem, it's not my clown?

[glatt]

Exactly.

[Griff]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

It's not about who gets elected, it's about who they're beholden to once they get into office.

Amen, sister.

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

If so many people are unhappy with the government, congressional approval rating is so low, how do these clowns keep getting reelected if not money?
Somebody else's clown must be the problem, it's not my clown?

My clown is definitely part of the problem.

[henry quirk]

"Apparently you do that with everyone."

No, only the long-winded folks who insist on telling me what's goin' on in my head.

[tw]

Originally Posted by Griff

My clown is definitely part of the problem.

Three things are necessary to create corruption. Gerrymandering guarantees extremists will replace moderates. That is a first requirement for corruption. Since corruption thrives with extremists.

Pay to play. A major law implemented in Philadelphia that bans "pay to play" has resulted in major corruption exposure and reduction. But state governments are so insulated as to never want 'pay to play' eliminated. After all, too many voters blindly vote their biases rather than learn what really happens. A rare exception was when virtually every major Pennsylvania newspaper exposed a massive pay raise for the most highly paid state congress in America.

Unrestricted Campaign contributions. With that Citizens United decision to intentionally quash ethics, one can directly purchase any politician. Unrestricted contributions have made reelections extremely difficult for moderates - the intelligent members of government (neither liberal nor conservative) who actually make government work.

[sexobon]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

If so many people are unhappy with the government, congressional approval rating is so low, how do these clowns keep getting reelected if not money? ...

Unwitting help?

[Griff]

*shudder*

Still un-electable.

[BigV]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

In modern days, most incumbent candidates don't need to spend anything to get reelected - so where is the money going?



source

What does your chart have to do with the money that is received by incumbents? Are you saying they don't get any money?

[xoxoxoBruce]

No, you haven't posted evidence that it doesn't, only that incumbents are more successful, not why.

Originally Posted by Undertoad

In modern days, most incumbent candidates don't need to spend anything to get reelected - so where is the money going?

I guess they declare it as income, pay all the taxes due, then use the balance to help charities and sponsor parks, libraries, and playgrounds.