Category Archives: Politics

No Labels says “Enough”

There’s a bipartisan group called “No Labels” that has been making the argument that it’s time for Republicans and Democrats to stop playing partisan games. Among its leaders is Dave Walker, the former comptroller general under Presidents Clinton and Bush who was featured in the movie “I.O.U.S.A.”

The group is going on the air with the ad, “Enough,” shown above.

Here is the No Labels website.

And if you have never seen the movie, “I.O.U.S.A.,” here is the link. It called attention to the national debt problem way back in 2007, when the debt was $8.7 trillion. It’s now $14.3 trillion.

Readers offer “crazy” ideas for fixing broken political system

Two weeks ago, I wrote a column for the Arkansas News Bureau offering four “crazy” political reforms: replace the Electoral College with the popular vote; creating a four-year election cycle for the House, Senate and president; creating optional public financing of congressional campaigns; and reforming the redistricting process. I asked readers to present their own crazy ideas.

The response was pretty good, actually. Among readers’ suggestions: awarding electoral votes by congressional district; only one six-year term for all federal officials (my wife, by the way); and more transparency for political “bundlers” who combine contributions into one large gift.

I thought some of the readers’ ideas were good, while some were completely unworkable. But that wasn’t the point. The point was, first, to recognize that the entire system obviously needs an overhaul and that our problems go beyond which party is in power. And second, to brainstorm ways to reform the system.

All kinds of crazy ideas were contemplated by our Founding Fathers when they wrote the Constitution. Democracy itself, in fact, was a crazy idea. It’s become a cliche, but they were thinking outside the box on a historical scale.

It’s time to think outside the box again.

Here are the readers’ responses.

Here is the original column.

Ross not running for re-election

Rep. Mike Ross announced today that he would not seek re-election, citing a desire to spend more time with family and frustration with Congress as well as conflicts that would occur if he were to run for governor in 2014.

Ross said he made the decision yesterday. He spoke with Gov. Beebe that morning.

Ross explained the sudden nature of his announcement by saying that if he didn’t do it now, there would not be an opportunity for several weeks while Congress is in session. Several fundraisers are scheduled in upcoming weeks, he said. Those have been cancelled.

Ross indicated that he thought he would have won re-election in 2012 but did give some hint as to the difficulties of doing so. He described his district as “Republican-leaning” and said he would not have beaten Jay Dickey had he not run in 2000, a presidential election year, when he said Democrats have higher turnout than in nonpresidential election years.

He said he has given strong thought to running for governor but has not made a decision. He said that, given the time demands of serving in Congress, it would have been very difficult to run for governor 2014, when Beebe will be term-limited.

Independent Rogers would have joined the Democratic caucus

D’James Rogers, who placed second in the July 12 District 54 special election to represent Crittenden County, said today that he would have joined the Democratic caucus if elected.

Rogers ran as an independent because he wanted an African-American to represent the majority-minority district rather than the eventual winner, newly sworn in Rep. Hudson Hallum (D-Marion). Hallum, who is caucasian, had defeated two African-Americans in the Democratic primary.

Hallum won the July 12 special election held after Rep. Fred Smith (D-Crawfordsville) resigned following a felony conviction.

According to unofficial returns, Hallum received 987 votes, while Rogers received 437. Republican John Greelan received 415 votes.

Rogers said that, if he had won, he would have governed as a Democrat. He has been actively working with Democrats since 2000 and was the regional field director for last year’s coordinated campaign.

Rogers said that running as an independent was difficult in a district dominated by Democrats. Naturally, he received no help from the Democratic Party and struggled to raise money. “I didn’t get any support from them,” he said. “It was like, ‘We’ll talk to you once the election is over with.’”

He campaigned with the help of family and friends and used social media to communicate his message. He said African-American leaders in the district did support him.

He said he would run again some time in the future and would do so as a Democrat.