A Good Democrat
by digby
This is why I was proud that Blue America supported Barbara Buono for Governor of New Jersey even as Democrats — despite the fact that it allowed arch conservative Chris Christie to become the phony avatar of bipartisan centrism — decided to sit out the race. As you can see in this segment with Chris Hayes last night, she tells it like it is:
I especially enjoyed her response to Chris’ recitation of the emerging beltway CW that we need to re-introduce earmarks so that politicians can be bribed into bipartisanship. (“We do?”) I’m going to guess that because of her experience in New Jersey politics she knows very well that this sort of thing usually only accrues to the benefit of corrupt politicians who can always find reasons not to support government — unless they get a pay-off.
In any case, she’s right. There’s a difference between “transactional” politics and compromise. The first is form of legalized corruption and the second is the normal process of democracy. But when you’re dealing with a corrupt system that’s awash in money, the first may be the only way you get anything other than gridlock. What a racket.
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