C-Span mic catches US Senator’s candor: The Senate ‘is all rigged’

[Donnachaidh]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/11/hot-mic-catches-senator-bennets-frustration-senate-is-rigged/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed


Is the US Senate "rigged"?

It may be, at least according to one Democrat whose words of candor were picked up by a hot microphone on the Senate floor, the audio of which was broadcast live by C-Span 2 on Tuesday afternoon.

"Because -- because ... It's all rigged," Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) said, speaking to a female colleague as fellow Senators voted.

"I mean, the whole conversation is rigged," he went on. "The fact that we don’t get to a discussion before the break about what we’re going to do in the lame duck, is just rigged. This stuff's rigged."

The Senator appears to have been commenting on how Democrats formulated their lame duck agenda, not the nature of the Senate itself.

Contacted by Raw Story, an aide to Sen. Bennet refused to comment. A message was left seeking clarification.

More at the link ---

[kestrel91316]

1. Kabuki theater?? Color me shocked. Not.

[EFerrari]

2. Is he new or something? Senator, you're on CSPAN Theater!

lol

[baldguy]

3. It is in the sense that the most important work doesn't happen in full view of the public.

What said by members on the floor or in committee has nothing to do with how decisions are made. The debates presented to the public are largely set-pieces intended appease the rabid base rather than construct a mutually beneficial compromise.

The real work is done one-on-one and face-to-face. Which is perfectly fine - as long as you can trust the person you're dealing with. Unfortunately, the GOP is entirely untrustworthy.

[TheWraith]

5. Exactly.

It's "rigged" in the sense that everything is decided long before it comes up for a vote. The day is long past of "uncommitted" votes and people running around to pass things at the last minute.

[Divine Discontent]

6. good post. the GOP is utterly false and reprehensibly against the people, in favor of the lobbyists

that they represent.

[otohara]

4. He Who Wants To Extend Bush Tax Cuts

for at least another year - mamby pamby whiny

[Hannah Bell]

7. This "Democrat" is an ed deformer & agent of the fundie winger billionaire Phil

Anschultz.

http://bennet.senate.gov/about/