Sen. James Inhofe's odd theory of representative democracy

In now threatening a filibuster, Oklahoma's impeccably detestable Sen. James Inhofe yesterday again revealed his depth of understanding our democratic system, of which he himself is a part: "I don’t trust this president to make the right appointment, I don’t think that Hagel is the right appointment."

Inhofe is a peculiar miracle. He consistently comes across as the dumbest man alive, yet he almost daily proves that he's even dumber than we thought. I don't know how he does it, but he does it quite well, almost as though, as noted, he is in some way inspired beyond our earthly comprehension.

However, assuming that Inhofe isn't really some sort of politically idiotic savant, we should explain to him that many of us don't trust the presidential candidate we oppose to make the right appointments, and that--ding-ding-ding--is why we're permitted to vote against that candidate (just as U.S. senators are permitted to vote against a president's nominees). But you see, Senator, if he wins anyway then that means he should get to make the appointments he wishes to make, because, theoretically at least, a majority of us do trust that presidential candidate.

Sure, it gets a bit more complicated than that, but for heaven's sake let's not confuse Sen. Inhofe any more than he already is.

Comments

[Robert Lipscomb]

Here's to hoping Obama spends a couple of weeks daily making this point. The senate fillibuster, and much worse - the one-man hold, deprives all Americans the right of expressing their wishes in the form a a vote by all their democratically elected representatives.

Not to get all Capraesque, but when the senates, we are all voting. They are us. To take away their right to vote is to take away the right of all of us to vote..

While the constitution allows for every senator to have his say, it does NOT give any senator the right to stop everyone else from voting.

This is what the non-constitutional holds and clotures do.

I wih someone would point out to Americans that they are being deprived of their votes.

[Suzanne Holland]

Perfectly, and well, stated Robert! Thank you!