Do members of the super committee deserve to be re-elected?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
The super committee is a disgrace, and there should be a price to pay for their negligence. Their failure will cost all of us. The national debt continues to spiral out of control, and they did nothing. They knew the consequences of their actions and still chose to do nothing.
They were charged with agreeing on $1.2 trillion in cuts to the national debt over 10 years. Congress borrowed $1.3 trillion just this year alone. It wasn't too much to ask.
Actions are supposed to have consequences. Most of the time they do, unless you're a member of the federal government.
The super committee is just the latest group of politicians to lie to us about reducing government spending. The Simpson-Bowles commission put forth a program for cutting the debt. It was ignored. Likewise the Gang of Six.
Even before the super committee failed, one poll showed Congress' approval rating at an all-time low of 9%. It was the first time Congress scored in the single digits in this poll since the question was first asked in the 1970s.
This same survey shows Americans have less trust than ever in government to do the right thing. And with good reason.
The members of the super committee didn't even have the guts to face the public and tell us they failed. They handed reporters a piece of paper announcing their failure and then disappeared into the woodwork like so many cockroaches.
But the real crime in all this is that most of these 12 people on the committee will probably be re-elected the next time they run for office. And that's something of which we should all be ashamed.
If you or I failed so miserably at our jobs, we would be out on the street. And that's exactly where these folks belong along with the rest of their colleagues who make up our broken government.
Here’s my question to you: Do members of the super committee deserve to be re-elected?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Bob:
Jack, We are becoming a third world nation that is controlled like a puppet government by unseen forces. Your question should be: Do we need a new set of founding fathers while discarding what has been created?
Mike in Minneapolis:
Considering that this went on behind closed doors and I was not invited, I am going to stay calm and admit that I do not know what happened. I do know that half of the super committee no longer pledges allegiance to the flag but, literally, to Grover Norquist, for which the offense is much greater than a matter of not simply not getting re-elected.
Peter:
No one in the current Congress should be re-elected. Members of the so-called super committee should have all their pay returned to the people. This committee did do one thing: It showed the politicians are in it for themselves and to hell with anyone else.
Daniel:
It was setup for failure. You can't have an equal number of members from each party and expect them to budge. We need a new president. How many days till the election again?
Jen in Seattle:
Some just got re-elected. How do you counter immoral representation of negotiations when they are in office screwing things up for another 6 years?
Michael in Dallas:
Did I miss something? Wasn't this another fight over extension or expiration of the Bush tax cuts? Or, at least a debate over government subsidies for private jet owners? I think half of the committee should be sent packing.
Curtis in Philadelphia:
To be brief: no! To be verbose: hell no!
@jackcafferty on Twitter
They fail at their jobs, why should they be.
know they dont, if they cant do the job,fire them ,they would me
Hey Jack.
The thing is, the Republicans on the Super-Committee all signed Grover Nordquist's moronic "no-new-taxes-at-any-cost" pledge, and subscribe to the policy of "starving the beast," whereby deep budget cuts may be forced upon the federal government by means of choking off funding. So the Republicans went in believing that no compromise constituted victory.
Conversely, the Democrats went in believing that a compromise with unreasonable hard-liners was attainable. Which left them negotiating with themselves.
So, for very different reasons, both sides deserve not to be reelected.
No-none of them did their job and it's not President Obama's responsiility to do their job for them.
The Super Committee was and is unconstitutional. When you isolate other congress members from debate and voting rights, the citizens of that respective elected official have no voice in the decisions that will effect them. In my opinion only Ron Paul should be re-elected. With runaway spending, huge defect, violating oaths of office in regards to allowing the 4th and 5th Ammendment rights to be killed under the cloak of National Security, and the bailouts of the banks with 1.6 Quatrillion in bad derivatives world wide. I have no faith in my government anymore.
Does anyone in Congress? No. They have failed us all. But most of them will be, sadly. The best democracy money can buy.
Absolutely not!!! If I was as insubordinate and incompetent to my employers, I'd be dismissed with cause. The same standard should hold to these birds. The failure of these entrusted elected officials boarders on the treasonous. They will be lucky to serve their terms. They didn't get the job done and then thanked and congratulated each other. Now that's chutzpah!!!
They should not be reelected; the committee should have comprise independent citizens at the inception so far, partisan politics has been injected to a dire situation. Inability of the committee to reach a compromise is reminiscent of debt ceiling war we saw few months ago; it is unreasonable for the committee to allow politics in their decision to turn around the economy by agreeing on a budget deficit plan. Shame shame shame.
Adeyemi
Brooklyn, NY
Quite honestly, I can only think of one person in the entire Congress who deserves to be re-elected: Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. He cares about people more than money and that's a rarity in the current Congress.
supercommittee = superbozos , it just never ends how much taxpayer money was spent on this failure i believe we should as american taxpayers bill these bozos for their complete failure and let them foot the bill maybe if these people have to be accountable for the mess they are making out of their own pockets things may start to change. let's blame the republicans oh wait lets blame the democrats. its a shame i can lose my job tomorrow for a performance like that but guess what lets form another committee and show it live on comedy central.
Honestly? I don't think most of Congress deserves to be reelected... but especially the Tea partiers. They've made a bad situation hundreds of times worse with their poisonous rhetoric and that stupid pledge sponsored by Norquist.
Jack you have to understand that half of the committee did what they were supposed to do. At least in their own minds they believe their whole purpose is to obstruct. A federal government that does nothing is good governance. The other half of the committee has to maintain their common sense ideas and not get sucked into the abyss of the radicals. Do you suggest that the Democrats should compromise their core ideas away just to get a deal. Any solution is not always the right solution.
NO ONE in the current congress should be re-elected. Members of the so-called super committee should have all their pay returnedto the people. This committee did do one thing. It showed the politicos are in it for themselves and to hell with the anyone else.
Don't know, Jack. Ask Grover Norquist.
Dear Jack,
no, they do not deserve to be reelected! America's present government is a bad joke. A fascist dictatorship would be preferable. At least then the government would actually govern. Today's bunch does nothing and costs too much.
When this country's epitaph is written, it will say: "Died from an overdose of freedom ." Witness the 1960s.
Emmett Smith
Mobile, Alabama
Absolutely not. Its not like there weren't several studies and plans already produced for them to draw from. The problem isn't that difficult to solve, the only thing lacking is courage to put the needs of the nation first, and for that simple reason, they all deserve to be shown the door.
Jack: The short answer is "no", and the long answer is "no". They need to be shipped out of office, today. But President Obama needs to keep their feet to the fire an allow the cuts to take place. Let this nation suffer from the inability of 12 members of Congress to compromise or make a decision.
This one's easy. They're incumbents, they need to be replaced. These 12 and the other 523.
Jack, of course they deserve to be re-elected for their meritorius service to our country – just like those in the full Congress that gave them the 'death sentence' to serve on a committee that was doomed from the beginning by special interest groups. Remember Jack, this is the same group (slightly different membership) that gave us the Do Not Call legislation that seems to work so well! I'm thinking TERM LIMITS for all of them! Have to go now... phone ringing with another great telephone offer.
Why not send the super committee to the space station and not bring them back until they have all agreed. Even if they never do, is this world any worse off without them?
Of course they don't. I can probably count on one hand the Senators and Representatives who show an understanding of public service. My guys aren't included in that count. We pay these people an incredible amount of money, when you include all the perks, to do absolutely nothing. The institution has become a joke, and not a good one. Wasn't it you a few years back that said throw all the bums out? That's what we need to do. They're worthless. Don't believe me, take a look at their poll numbers.
Jack it doesn't matter if the 12 or all of the 535 are re-elected we have a DO NOTHING CONGRESS and until we find away to get the Special Interest Groups and Lobbyists out of Washington it will continue.
Absolutely not Jack. Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona was a member of that inept little mob and is not running for reelection but, if he were, I'd dump him in a heart beat. I can only hope there's an entire revolution of Congress in November 2012.
Gary in Scottsdale, Arizona
Considering that this went on behind closed doors and I was not invited, I am going to stay calm and admit that I do not know what happened. I do know that half of the super committee no longer pledges allegiance to the flag but, literally, to Grover Nordquist, for which the offense is much greater than a matter of not simply not getting re-elected.
Yes but in some other country.
no and no one else in congress should be or the white house dem or repb
I'm for throwing all 535 of these bums out on their ears especially the heads of both parties. An old line from a Joni Mitchell song goes "Send in the Clowns, Never mind there here." It sums up my impression, and probably the rest of the world's, of our Congress and the need for a massive infusion of a different kind of politician. The two party system served our nation well for many years but now is more of a burden than an asset, and an embarrassment on the international stage. Neither major party wishes to serve the American people but to rule, another unacceptable circumstance. The twelve people on the (less than) super committee are just symptomatic of the problems that face this nation that neither party are capable of dealing with constructively. So yes send them packing along with the rest.
Mr. Cafferty:
Most of us predicted they would do nothing and they have not. Thus thereis no aftershock. We most all understand that committees are given a task with no responisibilty and no consequences, thus this super committee is a super do nothing group, and they accomplished this with great ease in the time allotted. They have kicked the can back to their beloved parties wanting no part of liability to the voters, patriots and taxpayers of this country. You could say we're screwed !
Good thought, wrong question. Do any members of Congress deserve to be rre-elected? What have they accomplished? Why are they being paid? We have one party that is placing politics above country so they will continue to rake in campaign contributions from their monied masters. Can we please re-visit term limits?
Why stop with them? The super committee was made of members whose sole purpose was to defend their respective parties pre-conceived political position. If the Democrats were so keen on compromise at any cost, the agreed upon solution would of sounded a lot like the Repubs dollar to dollar cut in spending to revenue increase proposal. We have a congress made up partisan hacks who do not want to work for the good of this country, but only for their own party's propaganda talking points.
Jack, We are becoming a Third World Nation that is controlled like a Puppet Government by unseen forces? Your question should be. Do we need a new set of Founding Fathers while discarding what has been created?
No! And it's long past time for the people who choose not to vote to get off their butts and into the polling booths so that the interests of the MAJORITY of Americans can finally be represented. Voter apathy put us in this position, only the voters can get us out of it.
It was setup for failure. You can't have an equal number of members from each party and expect them to budge.
We need a new POTUS. How many days till the election again?
Congress is constipated and needs a laxitive to clean out all of the stuff that has corrupted our country. Let's We the People clean house and vote them out.
Uhhh no, none of them deserve to be reelected but that won't stop some of their brain dead constituents from voting for them.
None !! These Coporate owned Bozos the Parties keep putting up sold America out when they passed right to work, let
alone NAFTA, and WTO. We need to fortet Democrats and Republicans and ELECT a few Americans to office.
Question: Do members of the super committee deserve to be re-elected?
Let's see. The economy is on one knee trying to get to its feet and to gain some momentum. It would be a very bad idea for Congress to start tinkering with the public side of the economy at this critical time. In spite of a lot of pressure and spin and hysteria, the committee managed to do the prudent thing. Yes, I'd say they deserve a shot at re-election.
There are a lot of things they deserve, but re-election is not one off them. Instead of coming to the rescue of their nation and doing the work of the people, they have only served to demonstrate how truly corrupt and in-effective they really are. The Norquist Republicans have been traitorous in their actions and the Democrats have been complicit and cowardly in failing to assert themselves. They should all at resign in shame and disgrace, but their massive egos won;t let them.
Are there enough openings 12 dog-catchers?
No one in congress who doesn't compromise with the other members of congress to solve our nations' problems deserves to be re-elected, subpar committee or not. We need solutions, not grousing.
I don't think ANY of them should be re-elected, period. Short of everyone "occupying" every major city, it's the only real way we can make a clear statement to these bozos. It's time to completely drain the swamp and start over. Oh, and anybody besides me think "term limits" is a good idea?...
WHO CARES??? Our state of democracy is dying before our eyes and you want to ask if these people should be re-elected? Re-electing them will yield more of the same, ousting them with new candidates will create more inconsistency and place anxiety on if there will be any effective leadership. Now more than ever before is true leadership needed from the Executive Branch and not this legislative tolerance. All they have to do is start taking examples from FDR and at least force some momentum.
I am afraid we are way beyond whether the perm and tint set imbeciles, deserve their offices. We are lost as a country, and not a single soul, that has been elected in the last 50 years or less cares. Doug, Pepperell, MA.
The Democrats on the committee deserve re-election: they actually tried to negotiate in good faith and also tried to protect the middle class.
The Republicans–since they obeyed a pledge to Grover Norquist instead of their Oath of Office–I'd toss out on the garbage heap. Maybe they could go beg at Grover's door: I certainly don't know why the hell we should pay their salaries when they refuse to do the people's business!
The super committee was never anything more than a sham devised by the Republican leadership to disguise their true agenda; make Obama a one term president even if they have to destroy the economy to do it. So simply being unfortunate enough to sit on that committee should not exclude anyone from re-election. However, anyone who signed the Norquist pledge should never be elected to any political office again. That accounts for half the SC members. As for the others, let the voters in their states or districts decide. One more thing; this whole concept should be dumped on the scrap heap of history.
no , actuelly super comitee should be disbanded.. super friends comitte isn't even constitutional.. one group of congress overunning other views in congress .. a disgrace to our constitution and our founders..
Anyone that subverted their constitutional oath of office to allow a rich lobbyist to lock in a certain way of voting immediately doomed the committe's deliberations before they started. They don't deserve their positions. The same is true for anyone who refused any sort of adjustment to Social Security or Medicare.
No current congressman deserves to be re-elected. The current Republican congressmen are being bribed by wealthy tax payers to make sure that taxes are not increased. This means that only 1% of citizens controls congress and the USA. The 99% have little input. Donations should be limited and disclosed.
Absolutely not Jack! Neither do all those other folks who are responsible for voting for all the big spending. As Thomas Jefferson would say, "When a man assumes a public trust he should consider himself a public property." We should all be entitled to know what motivates these people, then we will understand why they make the decisions they do.
If I don't do my job, I get fired. They didn't do theirs, the voters in their districts should fire them.
The Democrats, who were all willing to cut benefits if revenues would've also been on the table, deserve to be reelected, The Republicans, who all pledged their allegiance to Grover Norquist, don't deserve to be reelected.
Those who consider their pledge to Grover Norquist superior to the interest of the United States should not be re-elected.
Jack, it's NOT the super committee that's the problem or the fact that they couldn't agree on a policy. They're congress after all, they never agree on anything. Do they deserve re-election? About as much as the rest of congress does.
Congress should not have their own social security and pension plans that they voted in for theirselves. This is un-ethical.
They should be included in the citizens plans then maybe they would help protect and preserve it.
How did this happen? They are supposed to be woking for the citizens, not against them.
Re-elected HeLL! The doors should have been nailed shut and those worthless hacks not allowed to come out until they had reached a deal on what to CUT.....starting with their own salaries!
They didn't deserve to be elected in the first place. Please fellow American–Do Not Return these incapable people to congress where they cannot do their jobs. Surely in this great country of ours there must be more qualified people willing to perform their duties in a responsible manner.
They should be fired!
Unfortunately, congressmen are not re-elected for altruism:
for sacrificing their state's needs (great, or even slight) for the critical survival of their country.
Instead, congressmen are re-elected for being excessively greedy for their state.
Our country's survival is passing critical.
Your arithmetic is so way off ,Jack. We don't want to get rid of 10 members of Congress and keep 425. We want to get rid of at least 425 members and keep maybe 10.
ABSOLUTELY NOT JACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This scam of the good ole boys lying to the American people on a daily basis has crossed the line.The whole super committee was one big lie.This has passed the word pathetic........................just pathetic.If we do not wake up we'll have no country left Jack
David
Sadly Jack, None of them, "Congress", deserve to be Re-elected. But, if we kick em all out and elect the same percentages
of Republicans and Democrats, same old problem. And why is there a problem? Well this country thinks that it is just a difference in philosophy. It's not, someone is wrong! And it's the Republicans! Money cannot continue to flow to the top of the pile, it just won't work!! republicans say don't tax the """Job Creators""", oh BS!!! Where have they been with their Tax Breaks over the last decade, creating jobs OVERSEAS so they can have more money!
We can't kick 'em all out, there has to be some Corporate Knowledge left especially in Defense Committees and Security and Foreign Affairs. And the Democrats are no saints but I think we can fix them with, several Tools. Line Item Veto, and Lobbying has to stop!!! Really! The no tax the rich deal came from a lobbyist who fooled the Republicans into signing a Pledge and ignoring everything else and that is exactly why the Super Committee failed! The Democrats have given up tons during this year and the Republicans have done NOTHING!
If nothing else, Boehner, Cantor and Mitch McConnell have to go, maybe Reid too!
Jack,
Nope. Our country would be better served if Wyoming brought back Alan Simpson, (as a former Wyomingite, I have met him and respect his ability to compromise), clone Tip Oneill, and elect compromising Governors like Dave Freudenthal of Wyoming who is so down to earth, when he was Governor, he preferred to be called Dave.
John Kerry should surf board into the horizon and never return, go buy an island with his lucky sperm club wife's money and let an intelligent person take his seat in the senate. That's for starters....the rest need to be greeters at Walmart.
Jack, I'd say that depends where we want to be led.
No, they should not. They didn't do their job. They didn't do what was in the best interest of the people, therefore we need people in office that will get the job done.
No, No and No!!!! Not just the panel but the whole congrss and Senate.
Jack none of the GOP candidates has any character or need to be in the White House
They deserve to be locked in a closed room with no food, water or sanitary facilities until they do their jobs. Maybe the best thing to do though is herd all 538 members of congress into a giant commode and press the "flush" button.
No, but they will be....
Vote Boehner, pelosi, reid out. Vote out the whole darn pack in Congress, useless waste of space.
No one in congress deserves to be re-elected.
Telling it like it is, absoutely they all need to go.
Does anyone in congress deserve to be re-elected? The answer is a resounding NO! The problem? Who else do you vote for? The kind of people we should be voting for aren't on the ballot because honest people aren't drawn to political careers; or if they are, they are rarely successful. If you can't be bought, those who pay for politicians will do everything in their power to see to it you lose. As long as money and politics go hand-in-hand, we're doomed.
No, they absolutely should not be re-elected nor should the balance of the incumbents who do not have the intestinal fortitude to do the right thing for the country. The problems we face are not new, nor is the "kick the can down the road and get myself reelected" focus of our politicians. They have to stop kowtowing to the special interest groups make the tough decisions to get us out of the ditch. I think we all know that we will have to cut spending and raise taxes to ever see the light… just wish the congress could see beyond the next election.
Absolutely. I believe every single member, no matter the party, should be fired. Personally, I will work my hardest to get Dave Camp, my Republican Representative and failure-committee member, removed from office, even though I most often vote Republican (right leaning independent), I would vote for any Democrat over him.
What foolishness leads you to believe you can cure a cancer one cell at a time?
Our nation’s government is diseased, and only decisive action will matter now.
Term limits and publicly funded elections won’t guarantee a corruption free government, but taking no significant action against this debacle of a Congress guarantees it.
Broad brush stroke judgments are never a good thing for policy. But if you don't complete a job, you shouldn't be paid. They didn't get the job done.
They absolutely should ALL be ridden out of town on a rail.
Deserve? Probably not. Unfortunately, while approval for the entire congress is 9%, approval for "your" individual congressman is statistically more than 50%. As long as representatives keep bringing money to their district, working solely for that district, and representing that district only...the people there will vote for them. Until voters as a whole look at the big picture and become willing to vote out their beloved congressman, we'll be in the same ship we are today.
As far as I'm concerned, NO member of Congress should be re-elected.
one word...NO....there should be a recall on all of them, now, don't wait until memories fade, drum them out NOW!!!
Only the freshmen should be spared...all others need to go.
It is too bad we are out of landmasses to steal from indigenous people...starting over (again) is the only hope as nothing can fix this disaster of a government.
You're kidding, right? I'm ready to throw them all out - the super committee, the entire Congress, and the president. This is the sorriest bunch of irresponsible reprobates I've ever seen. If they'd rather play politics than tend to the nation's most pressing problem, then let 'em play on someone else's nickle. I'm through with paying them for a job not done.
Susan
Denver
They should be like George Washington...leave for the good of the country after two terms....
They all need to be fired, as well as the replacement of nearly every Congressman/Congresswoman and Senator, along with our incompetent and failure of a President! We need a clean slate to start moving our country in the proper direction.
Naah. Just vote out the Republicans. Its not the Democrats that have signed Grover Norquist's blood oath. Since the Republcans put an idiotic oath ahead of what's best for the country, then the Republicans should pay the price for their inflexibility. To suggest that both parties are equally culpable in this is nonsense. The GOP is hamstrung by the Oath they signed. It made for good theater and good politics, but it has prevented the US from moving forward. Throw the bums out, and its the Republicans who are the bums.
"I wonder what be the response if you asked Obama this question? I know you're still pro Obama, but let's say I'm wrong. What has happened under Obama's watch? Europe is being pounded with rejection because of Obama's greed for Wall Street's funds! The whole of the Aran nation has collasped because they think tyhery have a fellow-muslim in control of a super-power. Your own credit rating is worse. more jobs are being lost. Your health system is worse! What have you to say that you believe about Obama? Of clourse these guy's should be re-delected if the people still want them!""
They did their job by continuing to kick the can up the road, 2013. And guess what they are going to do in 2013?
Unfortunately, they deserve what we, the voters give them. If we are all too dumb to get them the heck out of Washington, then we deserve to become the next Greece.
That's why it is important for informed voters to vote!
Of course not, but with gerrymandering and safe seats it's likely that 75% of this congress will be back next term. And with the only loud voices being the bookends of our society getting real change for the real majority is highly unlikely. This president has suffered because of a lack of understanding of how Washington works: reasonable, moderated, compromised-focus debate – with leadership willing to take on the bookends – no longer exists. Buckle up, this election cycle will be "extremely" ugly and will yeild nothing hopeful.
They should all be fired and replaced. The deficit reduction process should go on with a new bunch. If they fail then fire them. I assure you eventually some of them will figure it out. WHY HAVE THEY STOPPED???
Election day needs to come quickly. We need to get rid of ALL the incumbents. This has to be the LEAST productive Congress ever!!!!
It took up to 10 days for electricity to be restored in a recent power outage in the State of CT. The utility CEO resigned as a result of his company's unacceptably poor response. Congress should follow his example. Shame on them.
They need to all be subject to recall elections right now Nd voted out immediately.
I wonder if these members were naively selected or if there was purpose in their selection. I have come to the conclusion that these members were probably too entrenched that they were doomed from the start. They were so busy worrying about looking to avoid betraying their party that they indeed betrayed their country. I even wonder if they realize our true scorn.
Uh, No they do not deserve to be re-elected.
I'm looking out the window right now for flying pigs because I find that, for the first time, I actually agree with what you wrote....every word.
These 12 people should be placed in the public stocks for personal ridicule by the masses. Then tarred and feathered and run out of town on a rail!!!!
Pledge signers need not apply.
They derve to be elected out and there should be a freeze on their pensions. They acted just like a traitor to the country. Menain go a traitor is putting selfish motives ahead of the interest of the country.
Perhaps they do need to be voted out, but perhaps so do all of the journalists who have turned objectivity into a meaningless word. Clearly, the Democrats are prepared to compromise, and the Republicans are not. Let's get real here, if the President was not named Obama, was a Republican, had slick hair and fair skin and proposed 3 dollars of cuts for every dollar of revenue, the GOP would be singing his praises. This is politics at its worst.
In the next election,the taxation factor as to the bush cuts will determine the vote. As of this moment, supporters of the tax cuts will be defeated.As in Canada, tax cuts to the rich do not create jobs.
No, the ones who did not want to increase taxes for the wealthy should not be reelected. The majority of Americans are in favor of the weathy paying their fair share and those who go against the will of the people should not get our votes again. Those bums take their pay and all their perks and they don't do anything. throw the bums out!
Don't just blame the committee, blame the selfish voters who elected them.
Americans get the government they vote for. Want to know where the problem
is? Uninformed, unthinking voters, who seem to be getting dumber every election year.
Why were there only seven members of the committee at the last meetings.
Hell no, they should be immediately removed from office and band from running for any elected position or for anybody affiliated with lobbyists. We need term limits on Congress!
They deserve to lose their jobs, Jack, but likely won't. It's been proven time and again that, while Americans dislike Congress as a whole, they have no problems re-electing their own Representative or Senator for another term.
RE-ELECTED? R U CRAZY? It is PAST TIME the American people open their eyes to what is happening in Washington! TERM LIMITS on the Congresspeople. This 'supercommittee' ,,, toss em all out!
All 535 members of Congress deserve to be fired. In fact, they don't even deserve the dignity of running a campaign- they should be ousted by a mob of their furious constituents. But this won't happen any time soon, because the American people are too soft and too stupid. Look at all the opposition to the Occupy movement coming from the "53%" idiots. Things will have to get worse before a majority of Americans cease to be retarded.
No Jack they dont deserve to be re-elected... President Obama has bee much maligned since he has been elected....but this body Called Congress is the real problem.....the Repubs/ made no bones about their goal from the get go......it was to defeat obama at all costs, and by George, it looks like they meant it......even if we go down too......Dont blame the president for Congress,s short comings.....they are the law makers.......sorry lot that they are.......
K.C. MO.
Who cares what we want? It's once again apparent that Politicians are truly untouchable, and we are as usual powerless to do much about it. Vote? We do that every 4 years, and every 4 years we get a new set of mistakes. Coke and Pepsi don't care which you drink, you'll drink one and like it.
2 party system, and the public is not invited...again.
Can you say bankrupt third world country? That's what we'll be when the rest of the world smartens up and stops lending money to a country that won't be able to pay them back.
Oh, and hey Jack, the problem obviously continues to be the lack of term limits. Keep the clowns and the circus stays in town.
While I agree these jokers need to go, they are just a sample of the larger group of fools. Congress imposed term limits on the President to ensure a constant stream of ideas in the executive branch; it's time they took their own advice and instituted a two term limit for Congressional representatives. Moreover, it is high time they endure the same pay and benefit cuts the public endures. Tie their benefits, retirement, and pay into the same systems they force everyday Americans to endure.
All 535 members of Congress deserve to be fired. In fact, they don't even deserve the dignity of running a campaign- they should be ousted by a mob of their furious constituents. But this won't happen any time soon, because the American people are too soft and too stupid. Look at all the opposition to the Occupy movement coming from the "53%" idiots. Things will have to get worse before a majority of Americans awake from their slavish, idiotic slumber.
Hell, yes they all need to be thrown out next election. By the way, as punishment, NO ONE should get a pension AND they should be forced to live by the MINIMUM wage at least for ONE WEEK. Game over, Washington!! Pack your bags. You're all FIRED!!!
Nobody in congress deserves to be reelected.
Yeah, vote them all out for sure. And also every single other politician who ever gets on television or in the news and says that their philosophy of government is more important to them than fixing what is wrong with the country. Every time I see one of these talking heads claiming they will never raise taxes when clearly raising taxes is an important component of reducing the debt and when there are plenty out there not paying their fair share, including the wealthy, it makes my blood boil. Stick to your philosophy on your own time thanks, right now is a time for ACTION. If you can't act, let someone else try.
NO, but no one in congress should be returned. You know Jack, if we had true election reform and term limits, these jokers would never run to begin with.
And, Perrys only smart idea, part time congress, half pay and benefits, and half staffs makes good sense. For all they get they accomplish less then a part time legislature in Indiana does.
Throw the bums out.
NOBODY in Congress deserves to be re-elected. Absolutely NOBODY.
I agree completely, Be warned...I have a current list of congressmen/women, .If you are in office today, I plan to vote you out ASAP. I hope the rest of America will join me.
Jack, you don't usually ask such blatantly silly questions. Only the super committee members would answer yes to this one.
The sad truth is there are a lot more than the super committee that don't deserve to be elected. The super committee is like the field goal kicker who misses an OT field goal. There is a lot more that goes in to a loss than that poor kicker missing one play. Why didn't the offense (Congress) get it in the end zone ( a budget deal) in regulation so we didn't need OT (the Super Committee)?
Jack–
I couldn't agree more. Nothing would put an end to the "play-statesmanship" our elected representatives have been shoveling for years that a dose of the reality that their actions have imposed on the rest of us.
Unfortunately, we seem to have a short memory except where you (the press) keep us focused. I'll suggest shortening the turn around...I believe there should be an enormous editorial outpouring of criticisim. Further I think you should begin a dialogue on whether Senate leadership will consider replacing these incompetant party shills on committees that they serve on and immediately replace them as leadership of committees. They have failed and we need to let leader step up who are interested in leading. Clearly these folks are nowhere near up to the task.
Threaten to take away the members of congress lifetime pensions and medical care and we'll start to see some budget cutting!!!
Jack, It depends on who did what during these 'transparent' meetings to determine if they should be re-elected. If they aren't re-elected,would they even care? After all,they now have a nice healthy pension 'to get by on' and lifetime healthcare on our dime,and all for not getting their job done. In the private sector,they would all be looking at unemployment benefits which would likely run out long before they found a new job due to their job reference comments. You tell me Jack,now who appears as the fool(s)? Greg M. FL
Not only do all 12 members of the "super committee" deserve to lose their jobs, but so do all of the other members of the House of Representatives and the Senate. It was the failure of the House and Senate to do their jobs that created the need to resort to a "super committee", which in effect is the House of Representatives attempt to abdicate their responsibility. Americans should vote against ALL incumbents in the next election. As for me, I will be voting for independents who value service over party loyalty.
Jack –
Absolutely not. None of them. We are at a crossroads in this country, and serious solutions are needed. When all the democrats and republicans can do is pander to the extremes of their party and point fingers at each other, none of them are doing the job they were elected to do. Americans should be disgusted by the situation, and you're right, we should be ashamed if we continue to re-elect these buffoons. Of course, you know we will, and we will continue to have the government we deserve.
Of course they don't deserve to be re-elected. Until there are amendments to our Constitution to rid ourselves of the electoral college, to address gerrymandered congressional districts which have been grossly manipulated to assure re-election even in the face of gross imcompetence and even crimes, and to overturn Citizens United by calling for publicly funded elections that allow PACs and soft money, this disgrace of a government will continue to embarrass us all.
Congress has had an abysmal reputation for as long as I can remenber. This Super Committee debacle is why. If I had the millions of dollars I'd run for Congress myself. I couldn't possibly do any worse. I think we'd be better off if ALL Congressional meetings were broadcast on national television.
If they had a shred of honor they would all resign. Unfortunately they are politicans and will not. In fact all 537 of them (all members of Congress and the Predientet and Vice President) need to be replaced. Tthe country needs to start over. It is disgusting that the needs of the Parties outweigh the needs of the Nation. Greece move over, here we come!
When it was your agenda from the start to make our president look bad, making an agreement was never an option. Both sides see failure as a way to point the finger at the other side and play the blame game up to 11/2012. In addition to the super foolies, congressional leaders should be added to the chopping block.
From Waccabuc, New York: More than six out of ten Americans say there should be higher taxes on the wealthy to help address our nation's debt issues. The Repubs on the Super Committee still refused to entertain that option and, in so doing, killed the chance for a compromise. It is the Repubs who should be thrown out of Congress. They're the ones holding back our government's ability to heal our economy.
This is also a failure of the citizenry.. We failed to participate in the process, think seriously about the issues, let our representatives know what we think and vote our conscience. We created a vacuum into which lurched the idealogical boneheads who's views now predominate. How foolish it is for any elected official to ever say "never" or "always." This is simply abdicating options and responsibility. Yes, let's throw the bums out. I will vote against anyone who signed the Norquist pledge or any other document of abdication.
The super committee was a stupid idea, Congress passed the buck. It is the responsibility of Congress to pass the laws, and yes, every one of them should be thrown out, especially the Republicans. The GOP stated that all they wanted to do was get Obama out. In order to do that, they have tied the hands of government. They should be impeached. Congress is bought and paid for by the wealthy 1%. The voters should vote against every incumbant.
Vote them out. They failed to get the job done. Congress should be voted out too.
I couldn't agree with more with you on your comment about re-electing the Stupidcommitee(not a typo). They think the American Voters are all dummies. If anyone votes for these people, they deserve the consequences, but of course they will, and then be the first to complain about things not going right.
No, the members of the super committee do not deserve to be re-elected, In fact, most of the members of congress do not deserve to be re-elected. The sad fact is that virtually all will be re-elected because very few races a actually competitive anymore. Due to gerrymandering virtually all districts favor a particular party.
If the wicked witch of the west was in charge of this committee I know what she'd have said, "Don't make me get my flying monkeys!"
We send representatives to Congress to compromise and reach consensus. These 12 reps and senators could not do the job the people sent them there to do. If they were in the private sector, they would be fired. These 12 can't do the job they told us they could do when we elected them. They do not deserve the honor of representing us again.
What did you expect when both parties appointed hard-liners who were not open to negotiation?
I do not believe they should be re-elected but I must choose to vote for them or elect a member of the opposing political party who I do not identify with. I think the two party system here is were we are let down. I wish we can re-elect party nominess now.
Yes. Not only these 12 men and women should be voted outn those who appointed them should also be gone.
They behaved like immature kids and now deserve a timeout. All representatives and senators should seek re-election as no one can get the job done. What a disgrace !
Ganesh
Virginia
I hope no members of the 112th Congress are re-elected to the 113th.
If the agreement was that all members of the "super committee" had to resign if they failed to reach an agreement then we would have an agreement.
Michael in Texas
I wish the American people were smart enough to vote the entire Washingto crowd out in order for us to start over.
These 12 failed after 523 of their buddies failed, so their failure is somewhat less spectacular. Personally, the whole lot should go along with the staff on the Hill.
Cafferty, here is my question to YOU: Do you HONESTLY think the Democrats involved didn't make a concerted effort to meet the GOP in the middle? I am seriously upset with media coverage of this...everyone is reporting that both sides are at fault! In reality, the GOP stated DURING NEGOTIATIONS that tax increases are out of the question! It is Grover Norquist, the unofficial 13th member of the "SuperCommittee" that is to blame for this mess, and ANYONE with half a brain can see it!
Personally, I am VERY happy with my Senator (Patty Murray) for the work she has been doing in Washington! She has dedicated herself to helping veterans of our armed forces, and has been an outstanding member of the Senate for years. If you want to point blame, and vote people out of office...look at Boener, Cantor, McConnel, McCain, and the other i.d.i.o.t.s. in the GOP who are killing this country, one blocked vote at a time!
P.S. McCain is in the list because he recently promoted the repeal of the "trigger" cuts, even before the official failure of the SuperCommittee!
"This same survey shows Americans have less trust than ever in government to do the right thing."
Sorry...I would settle for ANYTHING! They are totally worthless and self-serving.
The only thing 'super' about the committee is it's shamless and artful ability to keep a straight face in the wake of its inaction. I would resign via e-mail or letter if I failed so miserably to achieve such a key result, probably never to show my face in public again. And while I think it's largely due to Republican intransigence on tax cuts for the wealthy, none of these men and women deserve re-election, and we should be equally shameless if we cast a vote in favor of their continuing service.
Englewood, OH.
If they can't do their job vote them out!
I can not believe these clowns in Congress. How dare they come back to the American public with nothing. Throw them all out immediately, and cancel all their benifits. Gab another (24) and give them 5 working days to get the job done. If they fail, FIRE THEM TOO! Then grab (48) give them 3 days to work it out! If they fail, FIRE THEM TOO. I could do a better job than these clowns. They think that the American public is a bunch of idiots! They work for us!!!!!! I say fire them now! No severance, no benifits, nothing! Oh I forgot! Ban them from doing anything that has to do with our Government.
If my employer paid me for 4 months to complete a task, and in the end I handed him a piece of paper saying "Sorry, nothing to show", I would absolutely be fired. As the employer of those in the pathetic-committee, I plan on doing the same!!
Jack,
These guys were martyrs ... volunteers who looked the lions in the eye! They were doomed before assembly; as long as the GOP is fixated on no new revenues as part of the solution, there will be none! The Dems have offered or accepted many cuts, but made some 'new revenue' a condition. They're not wrong in their belief that the sacrifice should be shared!
Rick,
Medina, OH
They should probably all be fired, but, the super committee was never designed to accomplish anything. Anyone who has followed the two parties knew that the odds of a deal were very low. The Republicans had sworn off tax increases, the democrats had sworn off any spending cuts. How would one expect to get anything out of either party when they both had drawn a line in the sand before the committee even met? The only winner in this is (unfortunately) Obama, because now he will campaign against the entire congress, saying that he is the only one who can accomplish anything and therefore he should be re-elected. This was a setup from the get go.
Not only should they not be re-elected, no incumbent member of congress should get receive any campaign contributions. The American people should band together to withhold funds from both parties and
donate it to pay down the deficit.
Houston, Texas
I am a life long republican and I am now throughly ashamed of them. It is necessary to comprise in order to begin the economic healing of our great country. The republicans should have embraced some revenue enhancers (tax increases). I wish we had independents running in every election next november, that way we could vote for them and throw out all the democrats and republicans!
NO! Congress, you are fired!
If you put ten Christins on a Bible commitee would they agree on how to interpret it.? They would probably have a shouting match and maybe even come to blows.
As an independent I am pretty sick and tired of politicians that prioritize their self-interest, and the interests of their party ahead of their constituents. I will exercise my rights to express my opinions when I next get the chance. If Washington cannot be effective as a two party organization then I will select 100% one party.
Polls make it pretty clear what the majority of Americans (the 99%) seek and what they prioritize. This includes less military adventurism, not being held hostage by healthcare companies or banks “too big to fail”, and a more progressive tax structure (not regressive). As a representative democracy all political leaders are to be held accountable to the oath to uphold the constitution and faithfully represent the interests of their constituents and not lobbyist.
Substandard intelligence, ideological inflexibility, egoism, a lack of strong conviction, and a failure to compromise and negotiate are not skills we need in government. We want a government of the people, for the people, and by the people. An no corporations are not people too.
Solution: Defeat all incumbents, regardlless of party or populartity. They all have too many loyalties, connections, and buddies - we need a fresh start with all new people. And keep repeating this via term limits. No founding father ever envisioned career legislators, they envisioned citizen legislators.
Your statement brings out an important issue in all of this. We are responsible for this behavior. Those of you who voted them in and those of you too lazy to vote. Shame on you!
Do we have a choice? Both republicans and democrats are awful. If only we had a third party…
Absolutely NOT....Americans need to treat members of Congress for what they are, EMPLOYEES. Forget about party, if they don't do the job, then let them go, and find someone that will. This is how it works in the real world, so please begin the movement to bring them back down to earth. It's SO overdue to let them know they put on their pants they same way everyone else does!
This failed for one reason and one reason only. The Repulcians have signed a pledge that they honor above their pledge of office. They are bought and paid for by Norquist and they answer to him. Every single economist plan for fixing this mess included raising taxes on those that have thrived during the recession. The people want it, the wealthy have even said it is a good idea, but the Repulicans are beholden to lobbyist control and special interest money. If the T party was not a complete and total Fraud, they would be screaming the loudest, but since it is thier party we get nothing but failure and hypocrisy. Vote out the obstructionist party of NO.!
Not the republicans, no. They went in with zero intent to work. They went in with the sole purpose of wasting more time and making Obama look even more weak and foolish.
They all have their money, their retirements, their after congress jobs lined up. What do they really care. They have the time in the world to break this country sos big biz can take over once and for all.
Starve the beast. That is the goal. Make a crisis. Bring the middle class to its knees so we will give up our unions, our OHSA, etc. etc. They want to take us back to 1800s. David Copperfield, Bleak House...Charles Dickens anyone
My answer is no! But more importantly we need to vote a totally new congress into office, get rid of all of them good or bad. That message would be heard for decades. We also need to get rid of lobbyist, everyone of them because they are the real problem. Along with the people keeping the gas falsely inflated, I guess they are called speculators?
Nope when career politicians put their personal agendas ahead of the people they represent it is time for them to go. One must ask at what point are elected congressman will be held accountable by the same standards we the citizens and taxpayers are held too. It is time we need to consider should "politician" be allowed a career choice.
No, they do not deserve to be re-elected. I was discussing with someone the other day exactly what is written in this article. If I were to fail at my own job similar to how the super committee has failed at their job, I would be out on the street looking for employment. I'm 26 years old and have lived in America my whole life. I love our country but am absolutely disgusted with how our "leaders" in congress would rather point fingers at the opposing party like small children rather than act for the greater good of the country.
-Michael
~Chicago, IL
I have already written to my Senator K. B. Hutchinsen to expect pink slips to all of the committie.
Vote out everyone of them on capitol hill. They don't speak for me. None of them have ever asked me what I think. So, now its too late for them..VOTE THEM OUT!
FIRE THEM ALL! And not just the super committee. Every single member of Congress needs to go.
I could not agree with u more. They had a mandate and a tesponsibilty to cut at least $1.2 trillion and failed miserable ay the task because all they think about is re election. If u are an incumbent Member of Congress in 2012 u will not get my vote. Period.
Herb Gray Bridgeville, DE
Nope when career politicians put their personal agendas ahead of the people they represent it is time for them to go. One must ask at what point are elected congressman will be held accountable by the same standards we the citizens and taxpayers are held too. It is time we need to consider should "politician" be allowed as a career choice.
Absolutely vote them out of office and while we are on the subject, term lImits must be implemented.
Putting six extremists from each party on this committee was stupid from the get-go. If Congress really wanted to do anything useful, they would have looked for middle-of-the-road guys from each party. Of course neither party would have wanted to do that because the other party would have overloaded their side with extremists just to be able to win. Sounds more like a fantasy football game then a political shoot-out.
We should not stop with the 12-member super committee . We should look at our party leaders and also hold them accountable. It is time to clean house.
Jack certainly not, and there are several others who should join them in forced retirement. We can only hope that America has become educated and more aware of the incompetence and dysfunction of this the worst Congress in our history and will show it at the polls in 2012. We need elected representative who will do the job for all Americans not just the 1%.
Why wait for the next election cycle. They should all be fired immediately!
They were elected to represent the best interests of the people of the US. They proved they are incapable of compromise. Time to clean house and put the people's interests and needs before party and ideology.
The govt. Has been broken for decades fire them all im all for a vote of no confidence and immediate general elections after the mass recall. Also why does no one ever talk about all the foreign spending and the electoral college? The popular vote doesnt even matter doesnt count. Politicians voting in politicians is wrong and illegal. Anyway best article ive ever read on cnn or anywhere thankyou fom danville kentucky.
They all should be reelected, let's review... Republicans stood by the 'no new taxes' and Democrats stuck with 'we can blame it on Republicans'.
Democrats knew when it failed (not if) they could use it to blame the Republicans, I offer the interview just conducted by Wolf Blitzer earlier today, it was all "blame it on the Republicans", it was well rehearsed, but you can bet it's a speech that was written and polished before the failure.
Everything Obama does in the next year is not designed to get people jobs or solve problems, it's to make the other branches of government look bad so he can blame all the problems on them and get reelected.
So yes, reelect the Super Committee, they all did their job as ordered, just not the job you as a voter asked them to do.
It's very sad that nobody in Congress gets it! They think they can do whatever they want! Term limits are the only way to go. Change Reps and Senators terms to 4 years. Then all anyone can do is serve a total of 8 years in each. We only allow a president to serve a max of 8 years. Why should Congress be any different! Franklin once said that it's a privledge to serve in Congress and that it should only be for a short time so someone else can have a turn. It was never suppose to be a career!!! It was never suppose to include benefits for life either!!!!
Jack same players, diffrent game, except we the people and our country will feel the pain in the end with all this nonsense.
Not only should these failures lose their jobs, but most (if not all) of congress should as well. The founding fathers never meant for there to be "career politicians." It used to be an honor for people to serve their country for a term or two and then go back to their normal lives and jobs. It's too bad term limits for congress weren't included in the original draft of the constitution, because there's pretty much no way congress would ever create an amendment now to stop their personal gravy trains.
Nope when career politicians put their personal agendas ahead of the people they represent it is time for them to go. One must ask at what point are elected congressman will be held accountable by the same standards we the citizens and taxpayers are held too. It is time we need to consider should "politician" be allowed as a career choice.
Seward, Alaska
Well of course they shouldn't be re-elected; but the same dim wits in their districts will vote the same way, and they will once again be rewarded for their failures.
No Jack. Likewise with the others the Congress and Senate. Here's their new moto:
" A National Disgrace – the US Congress and Senate!"
Why are they entitled to a raise? They have done nothing for years.
Not only the Super Committee members but all members of congress whose voting record indicates
more that 90 percent with their own party should be removed. The super committee should have been comprised of lawmakers who frequently oppose their party linea, such as the 2 republican senators from Maine and some Blue Dog Democrats. we are not seeing the beginning of a New 3rd party of centrists.
Heck no, they don't deserve to be re-elected! 11 out of 12 of them probably should have not been elected in the first place. The so-called super committee just seemingly went through the motions of trying to reach a solution while secretly doing the same old political pandering behind closed doors in smoke filled rooms. But, as usual Jack you are probably right; they will plaster on a fake smile and give a couple of great speeches and end up back in Congress for a another term of partisan ship and gridlock. Oh joy!
Terry
Newport News, Virginia
No, they don't deserve to be re-elected. Neither side seems willing to give an inch. I'm a steadfast Democrat and I lay most of the blame for what's (not) happening in Congress at the feet of the Republicans, but next November I'm voting for someone else to represent me in the Senate and House. Surely there's someone out there who can find a way to solve our nation's problems. The current crop of do-nothings can't seem to do anything but bicker.
The super committee deserves the same fate of the rest of Congress, no more, no less. Congress should of never allowed such a thing to exist. Congress is elected to create and balance a budget. The United States does not have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem. There was a last second offer from Toomey that crossed party lines in increasing revenue and the Democrats refused such a measure, only further pushing their already failed offer. Obama 2012 better recognize that his Democrats failed just as miserably as the so called "do nothing republicans."
Newtown Square, PA.
I am disgusted at these politicians. They put their own careers ahead of the country's. And they are mostly millionaires, so they have no fear of consequences for their economic policies; they are plenty comfortable.
Rochester, MN
The super committee is a super disgrace. I don't understand this outcome at all. Fortunately for me, I am employed, but if I was given an asssignment by my employer with a specific deadline and I failed to report on time, I would suffer consequences (disciplinary action) maybe including being fired. Let's look at it another way. If I was the subject of a government inquiry and failed to respond to the government agency by the deadline, I would be potentially subjected to fines, penalties or even imprisonment. I can't understand why the Super Committee isn't subject to "real world" consequences for real world failures. Each member of the committee should be subjected to some form of discipline. Fines, penalties, loss of employment as prescribed by their employer the American people. Waiting for an election doesn't seem like a real time response for their real time failures! The American people need to have an alternative way to discipline or fire poor performers and we shouldn't have to wait for an election cycle to occur.
No.
Big boy pants are required to make tough decisions and cut spending when you are out of cash.
These folks don't have any to put on, and if you can't convince someone that you can't spend what you don't have, than you have a lack of will.
Only big boy pants in the closet, so get rid of the adults in the room without them.
Absolutely not. In fact, if we working folks fail at our task we can get demoted or fired. There needs to be some accountability which does not seem to apply to Congress in any manor!!!
Jack not only the members of the super committee but all the republicans who signed Norquist's pledge to keep the rich from paying their fair share gotta go too! Boner, Mitchell, and Cantor at the top of the list. I think congress is going to be very surprised in next years elections. Occupy is growing and so is discontent with our vacationing, profiteering, and lazy ass congress. Wake up America, it is time to OCCUPY Congress and change EVERY single one up for election for the next 2 election cycles. If INCUMBENT you are out. If you support lobbyists, U are out, if you take money from corporations, U are out, and finally if you do not support changes the supreme nazi ruling of Citizens United to reflect corporations are not people, THEN U ARE OUT!!! It is time to hold all these criminals gulity of direliction of duty and it is time for them ALL to pay the price.
Probably, but this problem was nearly half a century in the making. In a way they did reach a compromise, both sides were able to protect their primary values and avoid making the choices that are no only unpopular, but would do real damage. The GOP was able to avoid new taxes and the dems were able to avoid the total dismantling of the welfare state. Everyone is already freaking out about the broad military cuts, so I can't imagine they would've cut more there. Nobody wants to axe grandma and there's no way the dems would drop care for poor children or the disabled. So no entitlement reform. There are a bunch of discretionary programs but those already got pillaged. All that's left is revenues and they've got pledges against that in the GOP. Frankly, it's got to be obvious that new taxes would bust the economy, so I don't think anyone on either side really want to do it. Basically, we're stuck and it'd be a disaster either way.
This was a big failure, Jack, but the failure happened long before this. Democrats have taught the Republicans that they'll blink first, and it's going to take a few more failures like this for Democrats to shake that reputation. However, I'll take that failure any day over continuing to cave to the GOP's counter-productive demands. I say vote the whole lot out (the spineless Democrats and the idiotic Republicans), not just those on the committee.
Jason – Santa Barbara, CA
The side that would not agree to Revenue increases is about 90% to blame. Don't make this like its shared blame here. One side was willing to negitiate, one side was not. So, let's not re-elect the party of NO members of this committee. Have you figured out which side is at fault yet, Jack?
Jack,
Call me naive, but I think with a 9% approval rating none of the members Congress deserve to be re-elected, members of the super committee or not. If there was ever a group of dysfunctional politicians who made the case Congressional terms limits and neutral re-districting this group would be it.
yes they deserve to lose their jobs.i hope they take grover norquist with them.
If the GOP just says no to everything, then how could the committee have succeeded? It was doomed to fail from the start. My senator, Patty Murray has done a lot of good things. Her entire career should not be judged by the unwillingness of others to cooperate in the interest of the better good.
I am the average American with a family to support and fortunately a job to do. Its simple math – if I do a bad job then there are consequences for me and the family! If these politicians are doing a bad job, there should be consequences! It should be that simple.
It's easy for the rest of to judge who should be removed from office. Unfortunately, it's their constituents who vote. Look at Rangel, Pelosi, etc. It's shameful...but it's our system.
Nothing will ever change this gridlock until the citizens of this once great country enforce TERM LIMITS and even if you don't do your job, as almost all of the representatives presently don't they will only be infective for a short period of time. The present bunch of bums are a disgrace to those who have given their all to make this nation great.
No question they should be defeated in the next election. The leadership of both parties should suffer a defeat also for selecting committee members that are known for their loyalty to party lines. Let the newly elected polititcians have more of a leadership role, they haven't been entirely emerged in the Washington brainwashing.
Hell No! Its time our elected officials start paying for their self serving politically aligned do nothing posturing. The next time any of these clowns decides they want to be on a committee this serious their should be consequences for failure. I say if they fail to reach an adequate compromise they should be forced step down from office immediately.
From Chandler Arizona
I agree that all members of this committee should ne voted out of office. The full body of congress should be sequestered and be made to go through the budget, program by program, until the cuts are found.
For most jobs, if you don't perform, your bosses decide to "let you go." And in some societies, leaders resign in shame if they have not done the work expected of them and have disappointed. Why not raise a cry for these twelve to resign?
They should get rid of every one of those worthless twits. They are all silver spoon cases that never had to do a days work in their lives. I'm tired of hearing about the do nothings on the hill. They think this is funny. All they are worried about are the perks that come along with their job. Cater to the rich and don't wory about the little people. It's all about me attitude. When are people going to learn that These people just don't care.
If they cannot or will not govern they should resign NOW!!! All of them. We as US citizens need to vote these people out of office. I'm from Iowa and am 49 years old. I earned the right to vote in 1981 at 18.. The same year Grassley and Harkin got elected as Senators. 30+ years later I have never had a choice. Once in they stay in. You can't get them out!! We Americans need to wise up and vote all these people out. It's that simple. WE as Americans must now get this done.
No they do not deserve to be reelected. Nor do any of the candidates running for the republican nomination deserve to be president. I am a Moderate Republican I tend to speak my mind and I tend to not blindly follow Conservatives that for over 30 years have for reasons of there own basically destroyed our middle class still think they should get there way.. Every thing should be on the table. Bush's folly of tax breaks for the rich should be gone. Loop holes should be gone. But all they seem to do is blame anyone else. And say cut spending and no new taxes. They say run the country like a business. Well if a business was run like they want it run it wouldn't be in business very long. So I would say it's time to clean house. To call our elected represenatives and tell them not to run...if they do vote them all out of office. That is what needs to be done.
If our government refuses to work, can we overthrow them legally?
They should be reelected as soon as Hell freezes over!
Since we American are stupid and don't know what is going on. Yes, Yes they deserve to be elected.
Jack, since they are not doing their job their pay should be stopped. If they are not getting paid they surely will not run again. Saves money for the defecit and paying them what they are worth.
Pennsylvania
All of them went into these Super Committee meetings singing in unison "failure is not an option!" Somewhere along the way that story changed and they forgot to tell us that failure is an option. But when is failure an option in our jobs, schools, and other activities? The message they send to the rest of us is appalling. I believe that we will never have a fully functional congress until those in office are concerned more about the country than their re-elections. The only way for that to happen would be term limits for congress. That will never happen in my lifetime because Congress would have to vote themselves out of jobs, meaning that we are stuck with getting rid of someone holding the job today in favor of electing a different person who want the job for the rest of his/her life. Ugh!! What a mess.
No more, no less then any other member of Congress. Bring on the term limits.
Yes, these members were all from reliably partisan districts (except for a couple of senators not up for reelection). Reliable partisans are thrilled the supercommittee didn't come to a compromise. They did their constituents' bidding, thus deserve to be re-elected by those constituents. Don't blame Congress for doing their actual jobs, representing their own district!
they should be put in jail..all they do is steal from the public
Those that pledged alegance to Grover Nordquist, a lobbyist, over their Constitutional commitment to this country should be tried for TREASON!!!!
Absolutely not, Jack. As you said, they are all cockroaches, and as the myth goes: you can't kill a cockroach. Unfortunately, they'll be in for another ten or so years.
No they should not be re elected. The unwilling, leading the unknowing, to do the impossible. It is our fault too for electing, and re electing our leaders.
Rick Batista
Milford, PA
The super committee and all members of congress needs to take a hike. They think its more important to do nothing than to compromise and get our country moving. They are an embarrassment to America. Congressmen should not be able to take a penny or earn a penny other than their salaries and maybe they might work for the people and not to line their pockets.
I can't believe anyone thought the super committee would succeed, Nobody in Congress deserves re-election.
If you put 6 regular citizens locked in a room and told them when they came up with $2 or $3 trillion in cuts they could go home; my guess it wouldn't be more than 2 days!!! The politicians have too much baggage and have no common sense left.
Are you kidding? The Republicans continue their same ole game. However, the Democrats arn't looking too good either. Send em all packing.
The guy who shouldn't be re-elected is Grover Norquist. Oh, that's right, he wasn't elected.
No. They certainly should NOT get re-elected. For starters, they had the choice to be on this committee or not. Second, once they agreed to be on the committee they knew the risks, goals, and consequences. One reason they were picked was that their re-election term is longer than a lot of the other congress people up for re election. They seem to think that as more time goes bye we, the voters, will forget their time on this committee. I'm waiting to see if this happens.
Of course they don't deserve to be re-elected but who would take their place? More of the same, and possibly worse, in my opinion. The people in the banking arena are still around (most of them) and they don't seem to be suffering for their decisions. Just like these congresspersons, they won't suffer either. I am very discouraged with the voters in the US of A.
The committee wasn't set up to do anything. They were to give the appearance of doing in order to keep the U.S. credit rating top notch. And now, do you actually think that those cuts will go into effect in 2013? Not a chance. Congress will get around those triggers as easily as they sllithered away from this task. Of course, NONE of them deserve to be re-elected. But money talks and they've all been listening.
JACK, The SUPER committee needs to get SUPER fired. Americans rightfully expect a good amount of progress to be done in Congress and Congress' bitterness to budge is terrible. If you ask me, it's 100% due to the Republicans because of their adamant myth that tax hikes kill jobs, they don't.
Jack,
We're getting what we deserve by electing those self-serving millionaires to positions of power. They would rather see America become a third-world country than to agree that everyone must pay their fair share for the cost of living in America. The middle-class pays all of America's bills and the lower-class pays for America's freedom with their lives. How do the wealthy pay?
The members of the Super Committee, and a growing number of Congress, are about as useful as a teat on boar hog. No they do not deserve reelection.
I think that we, the taxpayers, should institute our own term limits and vote every incumbent out of office... including the President, Sentate and House. We keep waiting for Washington to change while allowing incumbents to remain. We have the power to make the boldest statement ever... produce positive bi-partisan change for our country or get fired. In this case, we must fire our congress and give a complete new group a chance to make some progress.
Thank you for sharing my thoughts on NOT re-electing them> Shall we vote every incumbent out and reject both parties??
In a word, NO!! In fact, the People of the United States should sue all 535 members of Congress for FRAUD - they are taking their fat salaries and doing NOTHING in return. Congress is a miserable FAILURE, and they do not earn their salaries!!!
Why won't you say it????????????? TERM LIMITS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Recycle Congress
Get Grover for sedition
If any of the Supercommittee's members signed Norquists "pledge", they should be tossed out on their ears!
They all should be booted out in 2012...this is an embarasment to America..with all the worlds problems such as the arab spring this would not encourage any country to become a democratic one...and where was Obama? I only wish Hillary would run against him!
politics as normal, but they live in a bubble, one day soon and i mean soon, with how we are all connected to each other they will be gone! do I have a second?
No Jack. Absolutely not. Not only should they not be re-elected, they should be publicly shamed. I think its time to re-evaluate term limits for senators.
We have watched as the very people who engineered the economic collapse were give multi-million dollar bonuses, thanks to the taxpayer bail outs. Why should congress be any different?
Help us get them all out. We need to replace them all, From speaker to mosy junior politician. Along the way get rid of the lobbyist
The democrats don't want cuts to social programs and the republicans want tax reform.The dems offered 2 trillion in cuts and the republicans offered zero in revenue from taxes. Sounds to me like the republicans just keep saying no to compromise. But then again the republicans are keeping their pledge, (not the constitution pledge) to that lobbyist dude.
I for one am glad that the democrats didn't cave in...it's about time they stood up to these rediculous Republicans.
Unfortunately, the only thing that they have been successful at is gerrymandering. So it will be nearly impossible for any of them to loose their seats unless they leave voluntarily to get a prime job on K street.
They all need to be fired. We need an entirely new government with single term limits so that our representatives to Congress can concentrate on doing their elected duty during their term with no worries about getting re-elected. If this most recent failure doesn't prove the need, I don' t know what else would. The two party system is a failure. We need a government of smaller parties that would have to compromise to each get their agendas to pass.
If we fail to get them out, we need to at least be the ones to vote on what their compensation is. They should be required to take a 15% across the board pay cut and lose their 'entitlements' i.e., expensive haircuts, free flights across the nation, and they should be required to be on the same health care package they shove down our throats. I'm tired of them pushing what they think is a good package on us but refusing to take the same.
Maybe if nobody in congress got a paycheck until they fixed this mess as well as the jobless situation they'd get something done. Very unlikely, but maybe.
The 99% will feel that the Democrats deserve re-election for not giving away the farm to the 1%.
The 1% will feel that the Republicans deserve re-election for not raising taxes on the rich.
Looks like a Democratic landslide to me!
We are in complete dissaray! We the people have allowed this country to be flushed down the toilet because we blindly followed our leaders! It is so heartwrenching to see what a SMALL GROUP OF IDIOTS has steered our country into...Where are you Superman (or woman)???
Line em up and fire them...for not doing what they were asked to do...On the flip side, its time to get a new set of folks into these jobs...ones who can lead and bring down government spending and without "raising taxes on the wealthy" which will only kill the golden goose. Without the wealthy folks' taxes being paid into the government, there would be a lot less money to spend and a lot less for all these idiots in DC to fight about.
Simple solution: sequester them just like a jury. Lock them up in a hotel every night, and put them back in the same room for 12 hours a day until they come up with some verdict other than "we failed." Oh, but can't you just hear the cries from the Republicans about how un-American such "kidnapping" would be
No. Not at all. I can't think of a single person within the Legislature that deserves to be re-elected. We need to get over the idea that our guy does ok and everyone else is the problem. Every last one of our elected representatives is at fault. What happened to the paradigm of the revered statesmen in a team of rivals who passionately debated issues, but were still able to come to a compromise to make this great democratic experiment work? No incumbents 2012.
A lot of anger on this page and rightly so. The members of the "Super" committee should all be given a one way ticket to a cardboard condo on skid row. They might be lucky to find work as Dog Catcher or street sweeper. They do not deserve our support again. A taste of their own ignorant medicine would do them all a lot of good! Sorry I couldn't be more eloquent in my script. A lot of anger on this page!
Every single member of our Government needs to be sent home for good. We have a worthless bunch of insider traders running our government. They can sure take insider trading information and act on it with no problem, but when the country is spiraling out of control financially they sit on their collect behinds and do nothing.
My Congressman, Xavier Becerra, is on the "super-committee," and I sure don't blame him for what's happened! He's been an asset to our community and I think he represents me in Washington very well - I probably couldn't reach a deal with this bunch of Republicans either!
Lucia Chappelle, Los Angeles, CA
They should be voted out . That's brutal, but it's the best weapon we, the citizens, have now. Please keep a list of their names in the news, so thay we do not forget by the next electon. I have already emailed my representatives to state that I expect to vote them out next electon after the debt crisis quagmire.
Government must be built on "trust". Rather than writing my congresspersons all the time, I should be able to "trust" that they will do the best for the people and will not kowtoe to special interests.
The word it "trust". Some amount of trust is vital in every business deal. The United States government has lost our trust. If government does not regain our trust, we and they are toast.
Before the opportunity to vote and bounce them out, I wouldn't pay them. If you go for a service, say a hair cut, flat tire repair, whatever, and the work is not done the employee doesn't get paid. Part of the problem, they're making the rules. Its a lose-lose situation. Just disgusting!
A big NO! I just wish at least one of them was from Minnesota so I could see that they weren't! Frankly, I think it's time to eliminate Congress....both houses. Back in the day, we lacked the ability to communicate our wishes to Washington. That is no longer the case. I would support a constitutional amendment to eliminate Congress. Think of all the money and aggravation we would save!
Since when did government only become about staunch boxers fighting over their polar ideals. Where are the good ole days of a nation undivided, communal responsiblity,fiscal concern and policies that enforced them. The main role of a politiian should not be to be the lone voice proponent in a crowded room, but a negotiator that can manage compromise to effect a greater change for the country (and not just the supporters of his/her campaign). Where is the devotion to country and its people. Is it not still called "public office?" Our country sits at the crossroads, and so far all practicing officials can do is complain about their so-called "opponents." I only have one piece of advice for them, moderate is not a vulgar word.
Every Republican on that committee should not be re-elected!!! They ALL signed a the pledge to not raise taxes on the wealthiest of Americans. Their reason being that job creators need that money to invest and create jobs. Well Republicans there have been 10yrs of tax cuts where are the jobs? The trickle down theory does not work, the American people want taxes raised on the rich, they are not doing the work of the people. Democrats can do only so much and I am glad that the Democrats in this committee refused to give in because the burden should not be placed upon the poor. Obama has promised a veto, which is a great move, the Republicans can either do what's right or be voted out of office. If they think any of the people in the occupy movement and everyone that supports that movement is going to vote for them they have another thing coming!!! Ashley Nicole Lee, Emeryville, Ca
Jack : Hell No !! I didn't vote for Grover Norquist: the President of the Republicans OR Rush Limbaugh: Speaker of the Republican House. Throw all the bums out and vote Non-Incumbent !
The answer is absolutely no we are the most powerful country in the world yet we can't get our fiscal house in order. Not only should the twelve members not be elected we sould wipe out everyone in there because rather then helping our country they are making it worse. Its a shame!
This was no surpise! and this is why Congress should only have two terms,no pension,only social security after their retirement age like all the rest of American,s
Term limits for congress.......Time for TERM LIMITS for congress......STOP THE LIFETIME GRAVY TRAIN!!!!!!
The POTUS is limited to, two 4 year terms. The founding fathers never intended elected office become a career path, but that is exactly what we have created in Washington. Congress is not working for $174,000, Congress is working for the millions that land in the campaign coffers, year-over-year. America is owned by the wealth and the corporations. I am growing more fearful that Americans are going to forget the ballot box and begin to riot like we see in Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and other countries where folks are tired of ruling class dumping their garbage on the middle and lower classes. We need a new country, from the top down.
Jack, these goof balls should be kicked out of office before their term ends! they were put in charge with coming up with the best debt reduction plan for our country and they did squat! I'm sick of republicans blaming President Obama over congressional failures. How about we blame the leader of congress, John Boehner? he hasn't lead on anything since hes been speaker of the house.
I agree with you. They should be booted.... But you are the newsman and know who the super committee are?
Expose them for what it's worth.
What's wrong with exposing them to the public? They wouldn't get my vote in the future!!
NO – We need term limits!!
Jack you hit the nail on the head the problem we have it that the "super committee" is the mirror of the rest of the congress and this further exemplifies the problem in Washington, both leaders in Congress have failed this nation and the rest of the flunkies that have followed a misguided power hungry group in the name of taking the presidency. I urge you and Wolf to help hold these disrespectful people who we expect to do what is right and time and time again they do what is good for the party at the cost to the citizens who pay their salaries and elect them into office. WE THE PEOPLE no them the few need our representation not the dysfunction of democracy.
I am sick of these freaking losers. we should drag them out into into the streets and beat them. they would reach a decision fast if they were told they would not be paid till they did reach a decision, revolution,revolution...
JACK, The SUPER committee needs to get SUPER fired. Americans rightfully expect a good amount of progress to be done in Congress and Congress' bitterness to budge is terrible. If you ask me, it's 100% due to the Republicans because of their adamant myth that tax hikes kill jobs, they simply don't.
They have missed used their power in office since day one, Insider trading, accepting bribes etc. Why get cranky over this little fiasco, it's Thanksgiving week they want to get home and kick back.
I say kick the bums out right now. Cut their pensions and stop them from running again. Then they will know the sufferings of jobless. Make all the candidates republicans, democrats and independents sign a pledge to increase the tax on one percent and limit their terms to two terms
Yes, vote them out, and all other incumbents who are contributing to this mess. Children could do a better job, by employing an old schoolyard trick. Flip a coin to see which side goes first. They put an item on the table, and its budget improvement value. Then the other side does the same. Back and forth it goes, until the desired number is reached. No one will like more than half of the items, but it will get the job done. Dems will get their tax increases, Repubs will get their cuts. When the number is reached, simply call it done, and do not waste time on a vote, because a simple majority will not be reached. Implement the plan. Both sides will be able to go to their constituents and say they did what they were elected to do.
The blame for this complete disaster we call Congress rests with the American people and our tolerance for the idealogues we elect, the huge sums of money money we put in their coffers; and the special interests we continue to tolerate. Unless we wake up and elect people with an eye on America versus winning re-election, this country will not survive in a form we will want to hand over to our children.
We the People need to throw all the bums out. I believe that the American voters should take on the objective of voting all current members of Congress "Out of Office." Don't know if the next group will be any better, but I am sure that this bunch is not representing the best interests of "The People."
"If you or I failed so miserably at our jobs, we would be out on the street. And that's exactly where these folks belong along with the rest of their colleagues who make up our broken government." I feel we just don't get it. A superintendeant of a school district was rewarded with a contract extention as well as a raise after the school board gave him a failing grade... Only in America
No Jack, termination of every member of Congress involved in the Super Com mittee debacle will show the resolve of the American Voters to get rid of members of Congress who do nothing, can accomplish nothing, are not leaders, and who jeapardize the Unites States. Congress has turned into a Country Clubn. Put them on time-cards, cut staffs, stop buying them cars, and go to performanmce-based evaluations. Shift them to Social Security, and ANYmoral or legal infraction loses them their jobs.
Washington set up Amertica for a sucker punch when the debt limit debate was going on a few short months ago. The "stupid" committee just delivere it. We as a culture need to get back up and take to the ring for the next round but throw our punches in the ballot box. Re-elected??? I wouldn't even let them back into the Congressional washroom.
No. And you're right Jack....We, the American voters, are the problem. It's always the other politicians, not our own, that are the problem. All members of Congress, not just the Super Committee, that have been there over 8 years should not be able to run for re-election. They can run for other office, but not the same office for over 8 years. We need term limits to keep a constant rotation of fresh minds and ideas.
Most of us don't even have to do a terrible job to lose our job. Millions have lost their job in spite of doing a good job. The fact that the super committee members didn't even do their job at all, and will probably be re-hired by their constituents, further underscores the injustice. The biggest reason that they will win their next election is all the corporate money they will receive. It's time to overturn the Citizens United ruling and pass a constitutional amendment that prohibits any and all corporate donations to political campaigns. And vote the deadbeats out of office.
Country before party or get rid of Obama? Republicans have only one agenda and it seems to conflict with what's good for America. Democrats don't fall behind, either. They seem weak and don't seem to have enough weight behind their words. I guess things will be better when people rally around the idea of FAIR TAX and more money in their pockets. That's a way to take power away from the Government.
They don't deserve to be re-elected; however, as long as the media hands them a Microphone time to lie and smile at us on Sunday Mornings they will wiggle their thru. There is always a newsperson willig to play their morsel of sound clip instanctly without calling them out for errors and lies beforebroadcasting it.
No they don't. None of them do. But it's our fault. When electiona come along, there's miserable turnout, and we're afraid to try the new guy–ya know. The guy with no money or fancy ads, etc. It's easier to stay with the devil you know, and then stand around shocked and outraged when they do the same old thing. WE have to take a stand. Throw them out!
Nirquist deserves to be tried for treason, along with the Congressmen who signed his pledge and violated their oath to serve the United States
I wish there were some way to give all these Bozo's a pink slip. Obama is no better...he should fire them all, pick twelve others, and sit them in a room over Thanksgiving, and tell them they have a week. Then if there is again no budget cuts, hand out more pink slips. Then twelve more...with the same results. If they can't do their jobs, they should have the same result happen to them as in the private sector. Fired without health care, no pension plan, let them get along with unemployment like the rest of us. Oh, maybe just 25 weeks worth.
Dan, Colorado
No, they should not be reelected. What is sad is that the people don't go vote. Low voter turn out. In my state, 36% went to the polls this last election. There was a time when elected officials were afraid of the voter. This is no longer true due to the voter turn out. Remember America, there is more power in numbers. Lets throw them out.
I heard the quote from the Congress person that stated, This doesn't mean that democracy doest work, it just means that we have to work harder.
She had most of it right, democracy does work !
Where her mistake came was that Congress doesn't work !
And thus we, the people, have to work harder!
I agree that they, any incumbent congress person should be sent packing. Without the severance package that they vote for themselves.
Will Mr. Kerry get another Purple Heart for just showing up ?
I don't think any Congressman deserves to be reelected whether a member of the super committee or not. They have all failed to do what is best for their country.
The Super Committee is not entirely to blame. Nevertheless, the voters need to send a message to Congress, and dumping this committee may be one of the few chances we have to send them a relatively clear message. I say vote them out as well as every republican on the ballot since I view them as contributing more to the impasse than the democrats.
Good Evening Jack,
Absolutely, positively NOT. None of our current 'representatives' are deserving of re-election in 2012, not just the 12 members of the stupid committee. They have continually failed the American public who put them into office. All of Congress has demonstrated a continuous inability to do their jobs. I would be out of a job if I performed in my profession as poorly as these individuals. It is insulting to think of what they have accomplished (nothing) compared to what they are getting paid (lots). NO INCUMBENTS IN 2012. Let them learn what unemployment is like.
None of them deserve to be re elected. They were put in place to do a job and have proved un able to do so. It is funny that Romney blamed the failure of the committee on President Obama. Last time I checked all those on the commitee are grown adults not children. Obama is their President not their daddy. All of congress seems to be acting like bickering children, maybe they do need a daddy not a President.
Why worry about it – if you look into how redistricting works and the % of incumbents re-elected, they know their jobs are safe. That is why they don't worry about performance.- Dave from St. Louis
The super committee turned out to be a gutless bunch of robbers for those of us who had faith they would
do their job. The names of all members of the super committee should be on billboards for all of us to
remember their names at election time.
Not only should the Super Commitee not be re-elected, but both party's members up for re-election should be voted out. And don't give them any benefits either, like retirement & medical! There voted in FOR THE PEOPLE, NOT the Lobyists!
Do not reelect,do not pay for failing, no pension, perhaps they would take their jobs more seriously, but probably not, they are all born with silver spoons in their mouths.
Rey in San A ntonio, tx
Jack – I think you asked the wrong question. It should have been "Does any member of Congress who owes his allegiance to Grover Norquist and his 'Pledge' , rather than to the betterment of the nation deserve to be re-elected?"......and the answer is NO!
SeasiderWR.......White Rock. BC
NO !!!! i wish they were all up for reelection this time around so we could elect ANYONE ELSE! Is there a way to get rid of them midterm? cuz we NEED to. I am so sick of their focus on kicking eachother in the nuts..its all they care about! GET TOGETHER AND DO SOMETHING ! they're killing us
A small committe should not take the fall for Congress and Obama!