This interview with Senator Chambliss is like all interviews with experienced politicians, you can ask the question, but the answer is totally his territory. Saxby is as good as they get when it comes to answering questions. After doing this for a few years, I have come to the conclusion that we need to pass a law that requires all elected officials to submit to cross-examination by an experienced trial attorney for at least 24 hours as part of qualifying to run for re-election.
For example, anyone (anyone other than a totally fervent partisan) who knows much of anything about what goes on in Washington would laugh at the idea that Saxby is a fiscal conservative, having served in Congress under the greatest deficit spender ever, George Bush, who more than doubled the national debt. And yet, Saxby unashamedly claims to be a fiscal conservative. You couldn’t get him to admit otherwise if you had a photo of him spending $750 for a hammer.
Saxby defends his Senate record and denies that he has been a “Yes” man for Bush. His position is that he supports the president unless it’s not good for Georgia. There are, of course, many that would disagree with that. I remember last year when he was supporting Bush’s “immigration reform” and amnesty until a grassroots effort convinced him that he needed to vote for what was best for Saxby.
What is amazing about Saxby (and many politicians, for that matter) is that he has no consistent philosophy of government that guides his votes. Hence, he makes fiscal conservatives angry when he votes in favor of Medicare Drug D, in favor of the farm bill and other such big expense items that garner votes from large constituencies. And yet, he will vote against healthcare for kids (SCHIP) because it is “big government.” I just don’t get it!
He is not in favor of the baleout of the auto manufacturers. He distinguishes this position from his vote in support of the Wall Street baleout. The $25 billion the car manufacturers want is a band-aid that will only last till February or so. Then what? More money? The sad thing is that we baled out the money changers, but can’t help the guys that do real work on a production line. Of course, unions are getting blame for all the sins of the industry. Everyone wants the auto makers to file bankruptcy and break the unions and their expensive contracts. I don’t know enough to say this isn’t necessary, but the shame is that this country almost rejoices in the destruction of the American dream: a good job, with good wages and good benefits. You will not see those 3 things coincide in many jobs for a long time.
And let’s not forget Iraq, the War that is and shouldn’t be. Saxby still insists on victory, a word that has no objective definition, is incapable of being accomplished, but which people that don’t have a clue (like Bush) still assure us is worth the death and maiming of more young Americans. What more can I say!
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