A Do-Nothing Congress Explained

This has been one of the most do-nothing congresses in quite some time. I think I now know why. Its leadership is significantly to the left of the rank and file. This is why the congress does nothing, and when its forced to do something, it calls a recess and goes on vacation as it did when drilling was such a big issue. Nothing the leadership wants to do would be acceptable to the rank and file and so either the leadership gets defeated by its own party, or the leadership caves to the rank and file.

Barney Frank and Chris Dodd craft a bailout plan with the approval of Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and the OK of Obama, and 40% of democrats vote against it. The leaders don't control the party. They know it. They could dodge a vote on the drilling issue, but not on the bailout issue. Even when Reid, Pelosi, and Obama provide cover, 40% of Dems turn and go the other direction.

Looking at the Missouri delegation, its the far left that voted no, and most of the Republicans. Roy Blunt is the outlier, I suspect because he is part of the leadership that negotiated the plan.

Using the scoring method of voteview.com, here is the Missouri Delegation again, in order of their voteview score, with their bailout vote and party affiliation.

* Dist. 1 - Rep. William Lacy Clay No 49 D
* Dist. 5 - Rep. Emanuel Cleaver No 113 D
* Dist. 3 - Rep. Russ Carnahan Yes 133 D
* Dist. 4 - Rep. Ike Skelton Yes 212 D
* Dist. 8 - Rep. Jo Ann Emerson Yes 256 R
* Dist. 9 - Rep. Kenny Hulshof No 286 R
* Dist. 7 - Rep. Roy Blunt Yes 342 R
* Dist. 6 - Rep. Sam Graves No 362 R
* Dist. 2 - Rep. Todd Akin No 407 R