I will not vote for anyone, Democrat or otherwise, from this day forward

[Peacetrain]

who signs a damn pledge prior to being elected other than the pledge of allegiance.


People who sign away their ability to deal with issues before they even get in the seat.. have put a stranglehold on themselves that they might not have the courage to get out of.

Look at the republicans who signed that Grover Norquist pledge.

They need to lift the debt ceiling to save the country, but how many of them now have the courage to actually do what they need to do. So far I am not seeing any.

[Lifelong Protester]

1. I know what you mean, this whole 'pledge' thing takes away

any chance at critical thinking by anyone.

[Peacetrain]

2. The republicans seem to sign pledges at a drop of the hat..

which makes me question this whole meme that some in the media have going around about them being "authentic"

[Cosmocat]

8. It is because they are cowards ...

it has been building very clearly for two decades now, since AM radio started to sink its teeth in - republicans inceasingly bow to the extreme elements of the party. Everything their sound machine calls the evil liberal is what they are - power hungry, craven and completely controlled by the fringes of the party, and what they claim unions are, is what corporations and big business are.

[JohnnyRingo]

3. Imagine if Move On or Care insisted on a signed pledge before issuing an endorsement

This absurd practice has to be ended before every focus group in the country print up their list of demands. I can't imagine any Democrat allowing his or her term to be served basically from a handbook of rules.

These pledges are a way of expressing distrust for Republican politicians, and they may have a point.

[onenote]

4. the no-pledge pledge

I like it.

[robcon]

5. Obama pledged to get us out of Iraq.

You mean you won't vote for him in '12?

[RaleighNCDUer]

7. Yeah, but he lied. nt

[vaberella]

10. How when troops are coming out and 50,000 already came out last August? n/t

[tekisui]

19. 50,000 did not come out last August.

2010:
July 65,000
August 49,700
September 49,700
October 48,000

Currently there are about 46,000, plus around the same number of private military contractors.

[JuniperLea]

12. No he didn't... you are lying...

There ought to be a DU rule about lying.

[tekisui]

20. We aren't out of Iraq and they are working hard to keep some

troops beyond 2011.

We are also still engaging in combat.

[vaberella]

9. Did he a sign a pledge...I believe there was a requirement.

Secondly, he is getting troops out of Iraq...You're point makes no sense.

[JuniperLea]

11. And he is...

So I'm guessing that would be a yes.

[daa]

14. No he cuts social security and he gets no support from me nt

[Maven]

6. I won't vote for anyone, Democrat or otherwise, who DOESN'T pledge to preserve SS and Medicare.

That means no benefit cuts, not even through COLA accounting trickery that screws over future generations.

[bvar22]

13. I'll support THAT pledge!

:patriot:

And it is pathetic to even imagine that the above pledge would be necessary.
I've ALWAYS taken that one for granted when I voted for a "Democrat".

"I've seen it happen time after time. When the Democratic candidate allows himself to be put on the defensive and starts apologizing for the New Deal and the Fair Deal, and says he really doesn't believe in them, he is sure to lose. The people don't want a phony Democrat. If it's a choice between a genuine Republican, and a Republican in Democratic clothing, the people will choose the genuine article, every time; that is, they will take a Republican before they will a phony Democrat, and I don't want any phony Democratic candidates in this campaign."
---President Harry Truman

QED:2010

[Fearless]

17. +10000

[Yavin4]

15. So, If A Candidate Signs A Pledge Vowing To Never Sign A Pledge

You still won't vote for that candidate?

[kiranon]

16. Wonder if signing a pledge to act in only one way in advance of

the issue arising in Congress violates the Congress person's oath of office and could result in -- impeachment? criminal charges? perjury for lying when they took the oath to uphold the Constitution but privately promised to not do so by signing a pledge to only act in a certain way without regard to the facts, needs of the country and so on? Certainly makes for a huge conflict of interest situation for the Congress person who signs such a pledge and results in the advancement of private rather than the public interest. Does it also violate their ethics' code/House/Senate Rules?

[MadMaddie]

18. We should be using this to attack the Republicans

day in and day out...

They give us plenty of tools to destroy them we just don't use them.

[brooklynite]

21. What is the difference between a promise and a pledge?

I don't object to signing a pledge; I object to signing an absolutist pledge.