“You want to filibuster MY bill? I’ll see you at dawn, sir!”
I can see it now. Replace the Sunday morning talking head shows with the Political Duel of the Week.
What if we re-introduced dueling to Washington?
No more dueling press-release rhetoric harmlessly flying across Capitol Hill. No more interminable floor debates or town halls producing empty promises that go unfulfilled anyway. Presidents would be exempt, of course, because it costs so much money to buy them.
But if, say, some Democrat senator called a Republican president a liar, the chief executive could designate a second. So, Harry Reid vs. David Petraeus at sun-up.
Dueling could helpfully whittle down one side’s ruling majority without waiting for tedious and expensive elections. Quicker even than term limits. And Sarah Palin’s certainly qualified for this! Be good TV ratings too probably.
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Have those elected political folks put their own bodies where their overblown rhetoric is. See if that tones things down a bit on the sound bites that pass for political dialogue these days. A Republican leader insults Reid’s secret healthcare legislation deals and in his own Nevada dialect Harry could challenge a duel.Reid’s a much smaller target than Republican Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell. And they both wear spectacles.
You’ve got to be kidding me! You really think there’s more than a few grams of balls working in the entire US government? These guys only get worked up on what rhetoric to use to achieve their ends. What happened with Dick Cheney was a hunting accident, he looks stupid enough to shoot towards the other members of his hunting party.
Two guys face to face willing to fight to the death to prove a point, even if it were legal I’m sure our congressmen wouldn’t be participating. Nice fantasy though. I get some satisfaction in knowing that when it all goes to hell they’ll get lined up against the wall and shot. ‘Sa shame too, they’re gonna miss the hell they’ve been creating for the rest of us.
Dueling wouldn’t work today. The politicians would find a way to cheat.
If I get to watch politicians shoot each other I am all for it.
It would create jobs for would-be seconds as the politicos would not risk their own lives. Then we have the working poor dieing for the privileged and that is the American way.
#13, Then the States should have some roll in saying how much of our tax dollars they can siphon from State revenues. And of course, deficit has to come to a complete halt.
This could easily be remedied by repealing the 17th amendment.
I think we should just enact a rock-paper-scissors solution. Unlimited appeals. Which are then settled with . . . rock-paper-scissors.
Eventually, someone will get tired and admit defeat.
In the meantime, congress can’t get anything done — which I consider a good thing considering what they managed to do to this country when they ARE getting things done.
Why limit the duel to pistols? Do it right and allow the challenged to choose pistol or sword. Can’t you just see Senator Byrd trying to lift his rapier.