From your keyboard to God's eyes.
TLAlbert
Palm Springs, CA Desert Sun
Interesting word. Vetting. First used to refer to having a vet look over a horse before a race so that the people could have additional information to make decisions about wagering. Seems to fit pretty well.
But I am assuming that you are totally tongue in cheek on this piece as some of the things that you propose are a tad invasive.
nerdgirl1968
St. Cloud, MN Times
[It's only invasive when the target of the vetting is unaware that he/she is being vetted. Does the candidate want to be governor badly enough to submit to a vet? Almost everyone has to pee in a jar and have a credit check and/or a visit to the company shrink these days before they're given an employee handbook. Why should those who are entrusted with the power to govern us be any different? -ED]
Which party are you talking about. It appears to me that Democrats will have to be let out of jail to make room for Republicans.
BromIsHere
Asbury Park, NJ Press)
[I don't recall naming a party. Lighten up. Corruption and inappropriate behavior is a multi-partisan problem. -ED]
Any qualification suggestions for the dense people that voted these clowns in?
MiddleRelief
Rochester, NY Democrat and Chronicle
We have a vetting system. It's called elections.
hookster
Cincinnati, OH Enquirer)
Maybe it's time to change the qualifications of what determines if an organization is a newspaper. The key word here is news.
WdRGR
Salem, OR Statesman-Journal
There are a few persons who, as governor, are not receptive to the offers of favors or money for taking an action someone or some group wants. Every governor is faced with this decision, whether to accept or not to accept a bribe. It is the nature of the beast, to offer a bribe to get what one wants from some decision maker. The best way to combat this is to require that every decision, to be effective, has to be made available to the public, including the press. No secret deals in my state can become effective and enforceable. And all secret deals can result in a criminal penalty if made. Fines and imprisonment have a powerful effect on governors, mayors, commissioners, judges, all of whom have to consider this as a consequence of their acts. What is done must be done in the open and above board. Agree?
Caponer
Staunton, VA News Leader
[In a perfect world of course I agree. But what if the political machine that got a bad apple like Blago elected is rotten to it's core -- like all of the state officials in charge of oversight are just as bad as him and/or owe their allegiance to him and/or to the machine? - ED]
This is the truest statement I have ever read. To do what this person says would cut down on the press/media thinking they are the determiners of our electoral process.
CindyVashti
Tallahassee, FL Democrat)
Thought provoking idea, the only problem I see is that who would be left to govern? We might have to "breed" future governors in a sterile environment somewhere (ala boys from brazil). And what's this business about the Presidential process working okay? We just elected a President that couldn't pass the background investigation to be in his own cabinet, or even get a mid level security clearance.
huntdeer57
midwest (late of cedar city)
Great points Ed. If people approached political candidates the same way as employers looked at potential employees, things would be very different in the political industry. Its unfortunate that many those who are supposed to be the elected leadership of the country, would unlikely be able to pass an actual interview for a similar position in the real world.
GLer56304
St. Cloud, MN
Times
Ed while I normally agree with your rants, this one, I think, is over the top. Here's why:
FBI. Not no but HELL NO! Keep the Federal Government out of our State's Business. That statement should take care of most everything in your blog except recent Gubernatorial actions.
Also, I think one should be added to your list. That being, He/She signed on for Xyears. Stay for the duration.
gas hog
Austin, TX
American-Statesman
[Folks in SC would disagree as their self-confessed malfeasancer refuses to hand in his resignation. -ED]
For every politician is my vote and a public caning for letting the citizens down. Well, maybe not a caning, but some news organization that can tell the whole story so everyone knows.
the glimmerman
Great Falls, MT
Tribune
[Like perp walks and the sexual predators list? How about a website like corruption.gov? -ED]
I would add one thing to your list: A full and public disclosure of the source of ALL camcaign funds. I do, however, agree that the Federal Government has no place in this process. They are as or more crooked than state Governors. Unfortunately, there would still be no way to make the Sheeple read and/or understand what they were reading, so most would still vote party line as directed.
justmeiguess
Lansing, MI
State Journal
[Not so much a fan of fed involvement in any other area, I don't believe that state investigators would do the most impartial job given their unionization and their proximity to politics. The FBI or some private out-source are left but FBI is already on the payro9ll and has all of the resources. -ED]
If you took all the corrupt politicians out of government, we wouldn't have anyone left to run the state or country. Why would an honest, hard-working citizen subject themselves to the brutal world of politics? It turns angels into demons, the innocent are blamed for the troubles, and the guilty get the rewards. Politics is dishonest work, it brings out the worse in people.you took all the corrupt politicians out of government, we wouldn't have anyone left to run the state or country. Why would an honest, hard-working citizen subject themselves to the brutal world of politics? It turns angels into demons, the innocent are blamed for the troubles, and the guilty get the rewards. Politics is dishonest work, it brings out the worse in people.
ColdMockingbird
Montgomery, AL
Advertiser
Why should a female
candidate be required to prove she is the
biological or adoptive mother of any offspring
born before or during her term??
Anonymous
Bullhead City, AZ
[So we don't
have another situation like we had in the 2008
presidential election wherein it was rumored
that Sarah Palin's infant son was actually her
daughter's baby. A hard copy of a
candidate's birth certificate would also help
eliminate wasting time that could be spent on
other issues.. -ED]
That's
some list. And you say you're a member of the
Constitution Party? Thanks for supporting my
claim that that political party has little use
for the Constitution.
dan_d
Des Moines, IA
Register
[I've never claimed to be
the member of any party. I'm a registered
Conservative and consider myself fiscally
conservative. I'm one of those guys who's tired
of having his tax dollars wasted. Your
"claim" is just that -- your claim. - ED]
Obviously
the saying "POWER CORRUPTS" is true. But one
could also say that a BIASED media ENABLES
FURTHER CORRUPTION and ENDANGERS FREEDOM. so why
not VET an organization calling themselves the
news? Without a NEUTRAL media corruption CAN run
wild.
rocco0607
Great Falls, MT
Tribune
If knowledge is power and
power corrupts, then it is a natural progression
for us to become ignorant.
casualty
Great Falls, MT
Tribune
Very good Ed; "Whatever
investigative process applies to the hiring of
the state's chief state police officer should
also be applied to the potential commander of
that individual." says it all!
BEENAROUNDSOME
Palm Springs, CA
Desert Sun
Eddo,
with regulations like you propose the poor
rascals will never get the chance to be served
by the people. Saints belong in Heaven,
not in politics. If we accept purity tests for
pubic office, how long will it be before we all
are subjected to such draconian scrutiny? How
about vetting bloggers? Oops, can't do that,
there is that pesky "freedom of speech" thing.
What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the
gander, so don't turn up the heat and be forced
out of your own kitchen. When lies,
hypocrisy, and random unfettered fornication are
threatened, so Is our great and noble way of
life.
Judge Crater
Phoenix AZ
[Some of my bullet points
are obviously over-the-top. Nonetheless,
before I pay someone to clean my bathroom I need
to know that they're not going to let my
toothbrush fall on the dirty floor.
Starting the negotiations a bit high leaves room
for both the employee and the employer to
compromise. Corruption and malfeasance is
epidemic and aggressive treatment is just what
the doctor ordered. -ED]
You make it sound like
all politicians are bad. I believe most
politicians are good. I may not agree with them
but that doesn’t make them bad. We already have
a good way to get rid of politicians that is
called elections.
Anonymous
Wausau, WI
[All of those good
politicians should be happy to step up and get
vetted to eliminate the possibility of bad ones
getting elected instead of them. -ED]