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OPINION & EDITORIAL

Presidential dress rehearsal loses plot

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Also by Jason Smathers:

Your Christmas gift: Lighten up! (December 13, 2007)
America in dire need of education on gender identity (December 7, 2007)
Getting off or going down: Is porn destructive? (December 5, 2007)
Catholic group deserves funding, at least for now (November 28, 2007)

by Jason Smathers

Friday, August 31, 2007

This is only a test. Had this been a real democracy, you would have voted already.

But it is a thorough test. The eagerness of the Democratic candidates is an encouraging sign for a nation that's driven itself into a geopolitical ditch. The Republican candidates are less encouraging, but are at least entertaining when second-tier candidates like Sen. Sam Brownback and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee deny evolution.

Regardless of their approach, both sides of the political spectrum are finally challenging President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney's cycling "we'll know in three months" Iraq predictions. Voters, especially younger voters, are feeling quite empowered by this prospect. In the last few weeks, Students for Obama started a full campaign blitz of the UW campus, while other groups — Students for Hillary, Students for Giuliani — are quickly following.

Yes, voters are ready for change. So are the candidates — as long as it's in 2009.

Never mind that 10 of the candidates are members of Congress. They're so concerned about the diminished integrity of the executive branch, they've decided to take time out of their busy schedule to debate the issue. Since Mr. Bush has increased his brazen attacks on the Constitution and maligned the integrity of the Oval Office, the Democratic candidates began to mount their defense a little early — Sen. Obama announced his official candidacy in February, Sen. Hillary Clinton announced her "exploration" of the candidacy in January.

The passion for change is admirable, but the execution is fatally misdirected.

Our senators and representatives running for the presidency still have roles in Congress. It's ambitious to try and represent a constituency of 300 million, but their duties to their districts come first. What damages their credibility isn't what they have voted for or against, it's how often they've voted. Since this session of Congress started, they've had some problems with attendance.

Ms. Clinton and Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, actually deserve the least criticism here, with Mr. Kucinich missing only 8 percent of House votes and Ms. Clinton miraculously missing only 3.5 percent of the Senate votes.

Other records are a bit spotty. Mr. Obama, branded as inexperienced by his critics, has missed 19 percent of Senate votes, but did find time to vote against the $120 billion appropriated for the Iraq war. Mr. Brownback, whose constituents in Kansas have suffered through devastation by tornados, has missed nearly 40 percent of Senate votes. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., formerly a paragon of virtue worthy of frontrunner status, has missed nearly half of all Senate votes this year. Perhaps that's why current polls show him losing his Senate seat to a Democratic challenger in 2008.

These voting records might be forgiven if Congress ran with the efficiency of a hybrid car. Instead, Congress wastes more energy and money than a Hummer while eeking out the speed of a Geo. Attempts to reject the military surge, exit Iraq, reform immigration and border security, and lift restrictions on stem cell research have all failed — despite the fact a majority of Americans supported most of these issues, with a notable disagreement on immigration. The initiative was there at the beginning, but without the most prominent voices — namely, those running for higher office — dedicating themselves to immediate legislative change, the congressional engine stalled.

Yet, candidates make a more problematic assumption that Mr. Bush's policy blunders will be waiting for them two years from now. The Democrats are planning another congressional vote on withdrawal from Iraq and the Associated Press is reporting Sen. John Warner, R-Virginia, an inflexible supporter of the war, is considering voting for the resolution. If Congress ends the war before 2009, the candidates may have to craft an entirely new foreign policy, military and economic platform. That means the repeated question of "What do we do about Iraq?" may be rendered irrelevant, along with this pre-election fashion show.

Yet, they're holding fast and so are states like Kansas, North Carolina and Florida, which are just eager to anoint the two candidates. In an attempt to take a larger role in the primary process, Florida moved up its primary date to Jan. 29, 2008. While Iowa and New Hampshire mull over an even earlier date to retain their spot as the first caucus and primary, the Democratic National Committee is toying with the idea of stripping Florida of delegate votes, completely. Perhaps they still hold a grudge over the 2000 election, but disenfranchisement is hardly indicative of a functioning democracy.

Until recently, the constant schedule of debates and fundraising has at least assured us that emptied wallets would reduce the field of contenders, making it easier on the American public. However, a recently discovered loophole in fundraising rules means those who've donated the maximum amount to presidential campaigns might be able to do it all over again in 2008. With Al Gore keeping quiet about his intentions and current New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg sitting on a potential $1 billion war chest for an independent campaign, the presidential picture is more muddled than ever.

In short, we've wasted millions of dollars, months of congressional opportunities and the patience of your average voter on an elaborate, bloated and inconsequential practice run.

Again, this is only a test — of patience, sanity and democracy. Let us hope we fare better when the actual election hits.

Jason Smathers (jsmathers@badgerherald.com) is a senior majoring in history and journalism.

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