Why are U.S. Democrats backing out of campaign promises and breaking their own rules?

Question

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070603/D8PHA8LG0.html

To Magma H: So they're breaking their promises to help the ones who put them in office? That makes no sense. Didn't their supporters expect them to keep their promises?

Answer 1

Reform does not occur overnight, unless there is a coup; it is a gradual prcess, involving patience and compromise.

When the president has the veto power to kill all bills, forcing a 2/3 majority to override the veto, bills have to be restructured so that they can be passed.

Throw the battle, win the war.

Answer 2

Why would you expect a Democrat Congressman to behave differently than a Congressman from any other party? They are Congressmen first, Democrats second.
In 1994 Republicans took over Congress with a specific promise to impose terms limits. Every see any? [In fairness they DID perform on other aspects of "the Contract", though.]

Answer 3

And the President uses signing statements to exempt himself and his administration from having to comply with legislation that he signs into law, ...

And the Republicans are using tactics like motions to recommit to block legislation, ...

And Democrats and Republicans alike threaten to fillibuster, ...

And Democrats don't have enough votes to override a veto because they aren't a big enough majority, ...

And Republicans don't have enough votes to do anything because they are the minority, ...

If you read the article referenced in the question, you would have read that the Appropriations Committee has already received 36,000 requests for earmarks (that's a lot of "pork") and I doubt that they are all from Democrats.

It's also my recollection that Republicans opposed having to put their names on their earmark requests.

Lets get real folks, this isn't about Republicans vs. Democrats, reds vs. blues, or conservatives vs. liberals, its about a problem on both sides of the aisle -- its about politicans who are more interested in playing political games, pandering to special interests, and voting a party line than they are about doing what's best for this country.

It isn't just a problem with Congress either -- its a problem with our system of government that starts at the top and trickles down. Nobody is looking out for us, they just send us the bill.

This is about them keeping us at each others' throats so we're not paying attention to what they are or aren't doing. We need to stop bickering with each other and start holding them accountable.

Answer 4

Apparantly you are quite young. If you got all the democrates promised you, you would probably not like it. As Will Rogers Said, "be glad you aren't getting all the goverment you're paying for."

Answer 5

The democrats in control only want what is good for themselves. Look at Sheehan, she finally gave up the ghost because they wouldn't back her. They don't care about the people.

Answer 6

That headline is easy to beleive about Democrats. But what I cant beleive is that the very liberal Yahoo featured it as a headline on their homepage.

Answer 7

Because they know that being good has no rewards. They tried to end the war and the President shot it down.
It's about time they do some good for the people who supported them in their states. That's the least they can do for their supporters.

Answer 8

I hate to say this but all parties do this they will say what you want to hear, and turn around and do the opposite, this practice has been going on for hundreds of years.

Answer 9

What's the problem, do we feel like we were lied to???

I hate to bust your bubble but a politician that lies is nothing out of the ordinary.

Answer 10

I send them emails all the time to the dnc.