US politicians decide to be less accountable

[mrswdk]

Fresh from the news that only 10% of Americans actually approve of the work they do and the subsequent election of anti-Establishment populists to the White House, American politicians have decided the time has come to start dismantling the system of checks-and-balances.

Republicans in the US House of Representatives have voted to weaken the body that investigates claims of misconduct against members of Congress.

Under the change, the independent Office of Congressional Ethics would come under the control of the House Ethics Committee.

Republican leaders in the House had opposed the change. The newly elected Congress meets later and the full House will vote on the proposed new rules.

Democrats reacted angrily to the vote.

Democratic leader in the House, Nancy Pelosi, said the amendment to the rules would effectively destroy the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE).

"Republicans claim they want to 'drain the swamp,' but the night before the new Congress gets sworn in, the House GOP [Republican Party] has eliminated the only independent ethics oversight of their actions" she said in a statement.

"Evidently, ethics are the first casualty of the new Republican Congress".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38494455

[Bernie Sanders]

Shameful! There should be an outpouring of outrage!

[saxitoxin]

Donald Trump has vetoed the move via tweet.

The lawmakers' surprise vote to strip the Office of Congressional Ethics of its independence prompted public outcry and a tweet from Donald Trump.

"Focus on tax reform, healthcare and so many other things of far greater importance!" the president-elect tweeted.

The proposal was then dropped in an emergency meeting at the new Congress, unnamed lawmakers told the US media.

Donald Trump's tweets have teeth. The president-elect took to social media to express his displeasure with the move and within hours those legislative efforts were abandoned.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38499284

In a complete reversal, the House GOP moved to withdraw proposed changes they approved the day before to official rules that would rein in the Office of congressional Ethics (OCE). Instead, the House will study changes to the office with an August deadline.

The about-face came hours after Trump took to Twitter to slam House Republicans for voting behind closed doors Monday night in favor of immediately weakening the independent ethics office. The vote defied House GOP leaders and complicated Trump’s “drain the swamp” campaign mantra.

“With all that Congress has to work on, do they really have to make the weakening of the Independent Ethics Watchdog, as unfair as it . . . may be, their number one act and priority. Focus on tax reform, health care and so many other things of far greater importance!” Trump wrote on Twitter Tuesday morning, hours before the new Congress convened.

He added the hashtag “DTS” — shorthand for “drain the swamp.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpos ... f557c0b26e

[mrswdk]

Was just about to post that same BBC story. Trump stamping his authority all over the Party, draining the swamp!

[saxitoxin]

Was just about to post that same BBC story. Trump stamping his authority all over the Party, draining the swamp!

#DTS bitches!

[riskllama]

anyone else smell the foul stench of publicity stunt?

[mrswdk]

Hillary fan detected.

[riskllama]

pfft.

[muy_thaiguy]

anyone else smell the foul stench of publicity stunt?

Probably.
Surprised mrswdk and saxi aren't rooting for this to go through. You know, to become more like Russia's and China's governments and all.

[saxitoxin]

anyone else smell the foul stench of publicity stunt?

Probably.
Surprised mrswdk and saxi aren't rooting for this to go through. You know, to become more like Russia's and China's governments and all.

In China, politicians who violate ethics laws are executed.

[riskllama]

anyone else smell the foul stench of publicity stunt?

Probably.
Surprised mrswdk and saxi aren't rooting for this to go through. You know, to become more like Russia's and China's governments and all.

In China, politicians who violate ethics laws are executed.

unless you happen to be the current rulers man/woman, then you get promoted. lol, china...
saxi, what's the best deal you've ever gotten whilst buying some dead falun gongers organs? i would like to know what a good deal is and what isn't.

[saxitoxin]

saxi, what's the best deal you've ever gotten whilst buying some dead falun gongers organs? i would like to know what a good deal is and what isn't.

You in the market for a bigger dick?

[riskllama]

if i wanted to purchase a bigger dick, i wouldn't be buying it from a dead chinaman.

[mrswdk]

anyone else smell the foul stench of publicity stunt?

Probably.
Surprised mrswdk and saxi aren't rooting for this to go through. You know, to become more like Russia's and China's governments and all.

In China, politicians who violate ethics laws are executed.

After the current president - Papa Xi - came to power, he initiated a wide-ranging anti-corruption crackdown that netted (among others) one of the previous administration's most powerful politicians. In American terms, what he did would be like Obama getting in to power and immediately prosecuting Dick Cheney for war crimes. Talk about draining the swamp!

[riskllama]

I agree w/your comparison, mrs - but how many of Xii's allies/friends had he sent to prison. all he's really doing is removing his rivals and you're trying to make it out as some noble cause. it isn't, and anyone who thinks otherwise is clearly an idiot.

[TA1LGUNN3R]

I agree w/your comparison, mrs - but how many of Xii's allies/friends had he sent to prison. all he's really doing is removing his rivals and you're trying to make it out as some noble cause. it isn't, and anyone who thinks otherwise is clearly an idiot.

[mrswdk]

i thought I already replied to this but apparently not.

I agree w/your comparison, mrs - but how many of Xii's allies/friends had he sent to prison. all he's really doing is removing his rivals and you're trying to make it out as some noble cause. it isn't, and anyone who thinks otherwise is clearly an idiot.

Would you rather Obama started rooting out corrupt public servants and took the opportunity to fell a few senior Republicans in the process, or would you rather Obama did nothing about corruption at all?

The majority of the hundreds of officials sacked and/or arrested under the anti-corruption drive have been people of little or no national importance, punished only because they were corrupt. Sure, the really big names to be taken down by Xi's anti-corruption campaign also happen to be factional rivals of his, and they may well have been deliberately targeted, but this has been more than just a handful of arrests of Xi's rivals. This is a national anti-corruption drive.

[xtratabasco]

Fresh from the news that only 10% of Americans actually approve of the work they do and the subsequent election of anti-Establishment populists to the White House, American politicians have decided the time has come to start dismantling the system of checks-and-balances.

On Wednesday, President Obama added another prestigious medal to his Nobel Prize collection when he had Defense Secretary Ash Carter award him with the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service.
Secretary Carter awarded his boss with the medal on January 4 during the Armed Forces Full Honor Farewell Review for the President held at Conmy Hall, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Virginia.

Carter insisted that the medal was a token of appreciation for Obama’s service as commander in chief, the Associated Press reported.

[Bernie Sanders]

if i wanted to purchase a bigger dick, i wouldn't be buying it from a dead chinaman.

For once Llamaboy stated a fact!

[saxitoxin]

[Dukasaur]

I suppose it would be pretty difficult for them to get less accountable.

[riskllama]

I suppose it would be pretty difficult for them to get less accountable.

if you will it, it is no dream - Theodor Herzl

[TA1LGUNN3R]

I suppose it would be pretty difficult for them to get less accountable.

if you will it, it is no dream - Theodor Herzl

What the f*ck you talking about, man?

-TG

[riskllama]

I suppose it would be pretty difficult for them to get less accountable.

if you will it, it is no dream - Theodor Herzl

What the f*ck you talking about, man?

-TG

took you long enough...

[xtratabasco]

Shameful! There should be an outpouring of outrage!

no

Everybody gets an award in Obamaworld.


Obama called Biden “the best vice president America has ever had,” in large part because of his ability to give him unvarnished advice about some of the biggest decisions he’s had to make.


http://www.thehill.com/homenews/adminis ... of-freedom