Change (In the House of Lords)

The strict constructionist/classical liberal libertarian in me has always been intrigued by the movement to repeal the 17th Amendment, the alteration to the United States Constitution that mandates popular election for each state representative to the Senate.

Previously, Senators were designated by the individual state governors -- providing a real contrast to the populist House of Representatives and making Congress more of a model of a traditional parliamentary system. The concept was simple and logical -- a Senator beholden to the governor would fight more fiercely for his/her state and not be as motivated by personal or special interests.

Now, though, I see the shenanigans ongoing in both Illinois and my own New York and think, my gosh, I wouldn't trust the judgment of these state leaders to pick a dog catcher, let alone the top federal advocate for each of the several states.

Over here, first came the rhetorically and experientially challenged Caroline Kennedy, whose greatest claim to fame aside from sitting under her father's desk as a small child was getting a decrepit bridge named after her uncle. Fortunately, after realizing what a lightweight Kennedy revealed herself to be -- even stating that she would never run for the seat and would only want to be appointed! -- Governor Paterson has hopefully moved on.

Unfortunately, "moving on" meant perhaps creating a "caretaker" position for the seat...a dignified elder statesman who will hold the seat in his trustworthy hands until such time as the seat naturally comes up for reelection. The choices there? Former Governor Mario Cuomo (!) or...former President Bill Clinton (!!).

I give up. The thought of the smug, disbarred, and impeached Slick Willie once again stalking the halls of government, eyeballing and sodomizing every intern to come within fifty feet of his office, makes me ill. Almost as ill as watching Bill and Hillary put on their worst, ugliest display of faux-love last evening for New Years Eve in Times Square.

17th Amendment For Life!