I'm Not a Brain Surgeon, But I Did Sleep at a Holiday Inn....

There are times this blog is frustrating for me, because there are things going on in the world that I want to write about -- nay, rant about.  But I must refrain from commenting lest it appear I take a politically partisan view of whatever issue is boiling in my brain.  This means that a lot of things are off limits -- the Iraq War, Congress, the White House, state and federal elections, public attitudes about all of the above, etc. Pretty much anything Congress touches -- or anything that touches Congress, I won't be writing about. And if I do write about something Congress touched, that post ain't being written the week they touch it.

So, yes, things are going on in my head that I can't write about.  In lieu of that, and in light of today's lawmaker death, I offer a political question I think I can get away with asking, because it transcends party lines: Why are so many widow(er)s and other random family members elected to fill the seats of dead lawmakers? I am serious about this. You see it a lot in Congress -- Joe Blow dies in a plane crash, skiing down a mountain, driving his car off a bridge, and who get stuffed in his seat? His wife. Why? Does living in the same house as a politician really qualify a family member to do the job? Are voters really such sheep they just vote for the name they recognize? Or is it a mercy vote? "Oh, that poor person lost their spouse, let's give them the dead dude's seat!"

Note, I'm not saying the filler-inner is necessarily a bad lawmaker -- in many cases they do just fine, go on to get re-elected in their own general election, etc. I just wonder why it happens. I was thinking about this today as I read the umpteenth lawmaker profile about someone who got into office this way, and it struck me: How many people out there feel qualified to do the job of their spouse/signifcant other/parent/whatever? I mean, if I got hit by a bus, I can name three people off the top of my head who are better qualified to do my job than my husband. And likewise, if a flowerpot were to fall off a balcony and on to his head, there's no way I'd get stuffed into his chair with his salary.  So why is it different for politicians? Surely their top aide -- or hell, a press secretary -- would have a better grasp of the job than the person who just gets to hear the lawmaker bitch about their day over the dinner table.

Thoughts?

Comments

[Sparkling Cipher]

I admit I don't pay as much attention to politics as a responsible voting-age citizen should, so I have refrained from commenting on this. I figured the lack of comment from those more knowledgeable on these matters must mean that I have missed some vital factor in the decision. However, this practice has struck me as kind of funny.

A few years back Mel Carnahan died in an accident. After his death, Mel's name wasn't taken off the ballot and he was elected (sympathy vote for Jean or people not realizing Mel was dead, I don't know) and Jean got to serve his term.

Nobody explained it to me, and I still don't understand how she, having never held office at that time, could be handed that power within the government like some inherited right. Obviously she's a smart lady and didn't screw it up, but still, it just blew my mind. Isn't there a line of succession even in that odd circumstance?

[Jurgen Nation]

Oh, H to the N. I just choked on my gum. I can't really say what Matt does, but it takes a whole lotta smarts in something I don't have. I could never, nor would I ever kid myself into believing I could do what he does. Awesome point you make; I never thought of it that way.

[Angela]

I'd argue that the spouse might be a more logical, immediate replacement than you'd think for political office. I mean, yes, your husband might lack the skillset to do your job, and vice versa, but for a couple in politics, they may share much of the same ideology/values that voters approved in the election. so many couples campaign together that both could know the constituency in equal measures. plus, there'd probably be a continuity in the staff and coterie to advise on procedures and issues, to make the substitution legit enough...until the next election.