Watching the Senate Rot in Slow Motion

[marmar]

from AlterNet's PEEK:




Watching the Senate Rot in Slow Motion

Posted by Matt Stoller, Open Left at 8:44 AM on February 16, 2008.

Staffers have no choice but to adopt a defensive and insecure posture, their limited range of motion gets constrained by those at the top.



First of all, I'm really glad we elected Jim Webb a Senator from Virginia. He has worked on some essential topics, including military contracting, Iran and prisons, that few politicians will touch. And he's far better than the racist and somewhat sadistic George Allen, who in his youth apparently used to beat people with pool cues.

That said, Webb has been incredibly underwhelming as a Senator; his response to the State of the Union last year was stunningly good, with a promise that Democrats would show Bush a different path if he refused to change policies on Iraq. Unfortunately, there was no follow-through whatsoever, and Webb's credibility has been shot full of holes, with bad votes on FISA, tax policy, and censuring Moveon members like me (AliceDem in the comments reminds us of his poor votes on the Peru Free Trade agreement and his letter asking the FCC to allow more media consolidation). He has in some ways become a sad joke of a figure, a heroic figure neutered by his own deference to the authoritarians he ran against and at one point in his life, worked for. He endorsed George Allen and George Bush in 2000, and in some ways, he still does.

I expect him to be a great Senator one day, but as of yet, this environment is designed precisely around his weaknesses, not his strengths. Though he is willing to take on tough issues, he is unable to make any progress. Military contracting, Iran, the Webb amendment on Iraq - all have been stymied, with record disapproval from the public against Democrats for their failures. It's as if he cannot bring himself to use actual leverage against the Commander-in-Chief, because that's not how one does business.

What I find especially interesting is how his failed leadership has had such a devastating impact on his staff. Mark Levine details a conversation he had with a Webb staffer on the FISA legislation. It's a long and interesting conversation, and it shows how frustrated this staffer really is at the pressure received about his vote on this and other matters. As it happens, I have worked a bit with this staffer, and I like her very much, but it is clear that the lack of dialouge from Webb with the liberals who got him elected has created a tense and difficult environment and filtered down.

Levine's post is worth a read to see how staffers tortuously try to handle the moral inconsistencies of their bosses. It's like watching a slow motion real of how bad habits and a fear of honest dialogue with constituents gets embedded into the culture of the Senate as an institution. But what is clear is that staffers and advisors have no choice but to adopt a defensive and insecure posture, as their limited range of motion does get constrained by those at the top.

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/77254/

[whistle]

1. Like dead fish, the rotting process begins at the head

[annabanana]

2. a thoughtful & provocative article. . . .n/t

[KharmaTrain]

3. He's Also A Freshman...

Anyone who had seen Webb's record knew he was no left wing barnstormer...he is a pro-military moderate...but in these days and ages, a moderate was viewed as being on the left. He was a "Nixon Repugnican" who got squeezed out of that party in the 90's and found common cause within the Democratic party.

Also, the Senate is a byzantine place...as we are seeing. Being a freshman means that he's the last in line in the committees and faces the dilemna many first termers face of being all but ignored by the older, more vested. I've heard the first two years called the "apprentenceship" and that many are even lucky to get a bill moved to the floor. Webb couldn't take the stand a Feingold or Dodd could as the seniority system holds a lot of power in the Senate.

I see him biding his time...and it may come sooner than later. With Warner resigning (and the other Warner becoming the junior senator) he'll move up quickly in the next term and I could even see him tapped for a more active role in the committees he is on. Operating in this Senate has been extra difficult due to the deep divide and partisan games played by McConnell and his cronies.

No question, there needs to be better communications among the Netroots and many politicians. This has frustrated many out here as they aren't familiar with how the beltway games are played...but played they must be at this point.