Quitting: all the cool policticians are doing it

[30ashopper]

I said Nixon was the Father of modern conservative quitters. I really believe, like most people, that when you are elected to political office you are fulfilling a trust given to you by your constituents. That is what democracy is all about. You elect your representatives, for good or bad (and it works both ways) You don't elect the "Joe the Plumber", who is appointed when he runs out the door. Florida is now not fully represented in the middle of one of the worst Senate battles in recent history. Not so funny anymore...is it?

You're playing politics here - trying to demonizing a particular political party by singling out one member. FYI you're not adding to the discussion, your subtracting from it.

 

[Lynnie]

I could be wrong, but Nixon didn't have much choice, did he? His violation was serious and he had already been impeached. He was facing the next hearings of removal from office. Palin and Martinez, respectively, were not and have not been impeached.

 

[Lake View Too]

I'll admit to a good portion of snarkiness with the Nixon reference. He had no choice. If impeached, he would have lost his pension. I guess I was quite irritated by these apologist that say quitting a public office is the same as quitting a job. It simply isn't the same.

 

[scooterbug44]

Exactly how is limiting the amount of time ALL possible candidates may run for a specific office violating someone's individual rights?

 

[Lynnie]

I'll admit to a good portion of snarkiness with the Nixon reference. He had no choice. If impeached, he would have lost his pension. I guess I was quite irritated by these apologist that say quitting a public office is the same as quitting a job. It simply isn't the same.

Really? If he had been removed from office after the impeachment, he would have lost his pension? I didn't know that. Would he have lost Secret Service Agents for life as well? Was his resignation along this strategy? I've never really considered this, but it does make sense. Thanks for enlightening me.

I view a politician as quitting a public service office as probably a good thing. I have no desire to question their decisions and look forward to the new blood coming in..........wahoo~~~~~~ ;-) Change is a good thang!

 

[Lake View Too]

Don't get me wrong. I'm completely in favor of term limits. I just see a problem with quitting in midterm just because you feel like it. The vacuums that this would create would lead to even more incompetence than we see right now. Do you really want "Joe the Plumber"as your Senator?

 

[Lake View Too]

I'm not completely sure of the pension for Nixon, but this was something that was talked about a lot at the time. I'm about 90% sure. However, strange as it may seem, I'm about 95% sure that U.S. Senators get a pension for life no matter how short their careers are. I heard this a while back, my jaw dropped, and I'm hoping some of you political whizzes can back me up on this (or correct me). Thanks.

 

[Bob]

The solution to corruption does not involve restricting individual freedom. Your view is very pessimistic - you're claim infers we are all flawed and incapable of good deeds. I say that's bull****. Elect me to congress and I can assure you I will not take a single dime from a lobbyist. We are not inherently evil creatures who need to be watched over and managed. If you're tired of politicians who are at the beck and call of special interests, try voting for different politicians.

Generally I feel the rights afforded to us by the Constitution should not be infringed, under any circumstance. You probably feel this should not be the case, you probably think there are special circumstances where we should flush our rights down the toilet. That's typical of social democrats. I personally disagree with that view.

i would wager my life in front of a serbo-croation slingshot firing squad that the highest concentration of well educated, narcissistic, greedy, sociopathic neer-do-wells in the world toil and conspire on wall street. they are the group that orchestrated the latest financial takedown. regulating criminal behavior was apparently beyond the realm of greenspan and the know-nothing sec. how this gets you up in arms is mystifying.

 

[Lynnie]

i would wager my life in front of a serbo-croation slingshot firing squad that the highest concentration of well educated, narcissistic, greedy, sociopathic neer-do-wells in the world toil and conspire on wall street. they are the group that orchestrated the latest financial takedown. regulating criminal behavior was apparently beyond the realm of greenspan and the know-nothing sec. how this gets you up in arms is mystifying.

Big part of it. But not all of it. Many Big Dogs involved in the US Gov't had a hand in this as well.

LVT, I just found this on Nixon's resignation and pension. As a result of this, President Ford sought a 'Transition Expense' for Nixon for $850K. This was ultimately slashed to $200K, maybe less. This is interesting as I thought he resigned to avoid actually being removed (fired) after the impeachment hearings.

According to a 1974 opinion by the Department of Justice concerning President
Richard Nixon?s resignation from office, a President who resigns before his official term
of office expires is entitled to the same lifetime pension and benefits that are authorized
other former Presidents. However, a President who is removed from office by
impeachment forfeits his pension and related benefits. The ruling states that:​

The FPA [Former Presidents Act] provides certain benefits to ?former Presidents.? A
former President is defined in Section (f) as a person who has been President, is not
currently President, and who was not removed from office pursuant to impeachment
and conviction in the Senate. The statutory language is unambiguous and Mr. Nixon​

clearly meets the statutory definition of a former President.1

 

[Lake View Too]

Interesting. I'd still like some kind of word on Senator's pension plans, because there are a shotload of them and I'm not sure most of them should live handsomely for the rest of their lives on my dollar.