Class Action Fairness Act of 2005

[lefthandedskyhook]

Jeff Bingaman has let us down again.

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00009

I have tried to rationalize his voting record for a long time now. He responds to calls and letters with meaningless blurbs or not at all. I just can't trust him any more. This issue has nothing to do with fairness and everything to do with political funding.

[Yuugal]

1. How does the class action fairness act help or hurt?

I noticed Hillary is in one corner and Schumer in the other.

[lefthandedskyhook]

3. Quite simple, really...

Lakoff spells out this "strategic maneuver" in Don't Think of an Elephant pp29-30 (This is a must-read book)

Paraphrase:
The businesses that benefit from this legislation repay cooperative legislators with financial support. Tort lawyers provide important democratic funding. These cases are not destroying the court system or the industries involved. This is a strategic maneuver to undercut our side and perpetuate conservative power.

Public Citizen http://www.citizen.org/ is up to speed on this subject.

Class Action "Judicial Hellholes": Empirical Evidence is Lacking http://www.citizen.org/documents/OutlierReport.pdf

[Warpy]

2. Bingaman is a walking definition of the word "drab."

He's largely invisible, doesn't try to stand out, isn't worried about a legacy. He voted for Rice but against Gonzales, which is about as mixed as the rest of his record is. He's pretty much a place holder for the Democratic Party.

I think NM can probably do better. However, I see no one who's willing to run against him.

[lefthandedskyhook]

4. Yeah, its pathetic

I can't take his lack of resolve any more.