GOOOH: A New Way to Choose Our Representatives
Along with two-term limits, GOOOH targets the system’s dysfunction by changing the candidate selection process. Any American can participate in the GOOOH candidate selection process with a $100 fee. The fee is a small enough amount of money for anyone to raise (e.g., borrow $20 from five of your relatives), but high enough to discourage the participation of those not serious about the GOOOH process. The $100 collected eventually goes towards the chosen candidates’ campaign costs.
GOOOH also recognizes that money is one of the underlying problems tainting the system. Money has been a main factor in determining the fate of many bills in Congress. Over and over, the House has defied the Constitution for special interest groups, selling its citizens down the river in the name of campaign finance. According to a recent Rasmussen poll, 81% of Americans believe members of Congress are more interested in their own careers and special interests than the people they represent.
GOOOH seeks to remove money from the political process by not allowing candidates to raise their own money. They do not want any ties between their candidates and donors in order to preserve the integrity of the candidate’s representation of the people over campaign contributors.
Instead, both GOOOH’s national board and each local district will raise funds for candidates. GOOOH does not take money from special interest groups and requires candidates to sign a confirmation letter with a similar pledge.
Along with special interest control, each party largely controls their Republican or Democratic representatives. Because the parties hold much of the reelection campaign funds, they can easily cut off representatives who do not vote according to the party’s agenda. That’s why, as strange as it initially sounds, GOOOH does not have a platform other than to seek true citizen representation.
Lack of a platform does not dissolve GOOOH candidates of accountability. In fact, their plan for accountability is unprecedented because it requires representatives to be honest — a shocking proposition for most politicians. They begin by having each potential candidate fill out a questionnaire, answering questions about how he or she would vote on particular issues. Examples of questions asked are: “Will you vote for or against United Nations recommendations or dictates given to the United States?” and “Will you vote for or against funding nuclear power plants to help address our energy needs?”
Then, according to GOOOH.com, each perspective GOOOH candidate must “sign the commitment letter confirming (he or she) will vote according to (his or her) questionnaire answers.” The commitment letter also requires candidates to resign from office within 72 hours if a commitment is broken. If a bill comes through that violates even 1% of the elected official’s contract, the representative must vote against the bill.
GOOOH hopes that it can get enough members elected to the House to pass a single-bill act. This will mean that every bill must pertain to a single issue — no earmarks or unrelated, hidden agendas concealed in thousand-page bills.
With endorsements from Lou Dobbs and many tea party chapters, GOOOH is gaining traction. They have meetings and mock candidate selection sessions across the country. Their founder, Tim Cox, says their website receives between 3,000 and 4,000 unique hits a day, and they have 210,000 members and watchers. But their success depends entirely on the people. Whether or not Americans have the courage to break with the two-party system remains to be seen.
Many have said that the current political climate has awakened a sleeping giant. Regrettably, the giant has failed to wake up the Republican and Democratic Parties. As modern-day Paul Reveres, tea partiers and conservatives have been waiting for a George Washington or Thomas Jefferson to emerge. GOOOH may just be the nation’s best chance at finding one.
GOOOH for it. We can start right now, however. Each primary provides many opportunities to review records of incumbents and, if prudent, vote them off the ballot.
Is this post by Glenn Beck? At the present time we only have the GOP as a viable alternative to disaster. If we can rectify the current fiscal time bomb and restore some sanity to government then we can dream about the perfect political party. Maybe in Xanadue.
Unfortunately, the end-game plan for both national political parties is the same: One World Government (AKA New World Order). The differences are in how we get there. With the Democrat National Committee driving the bus, we surrender our sovereignty, erase our borders, give away our wealth, surrender our control over our natural resources, and enslave our people. Conversely, with the Republican National Committee in charge, we bludgeon the rest of the world into submission to our national will, etc. Either way is plainly wrong to any true believer in the Constitution of these United States of America and founding principles and philosophies (including faith in our Creator.
Pedrostrito, you are not thinking. GOOOH is not a political party! It is only a process to change the way we choose our representatives! It is the answer to this mess – unless you’ve got a better one?
Sounds interesting, will keep watching. . . anything to get rid of ol Lapdog Lindsey is good with me. . .
If there weren’t laws that regulated everything from A to Z, there’d be no need for Lobbies and Special Interest Contributions to campaigns.
If it works, this might be a good stopgap, but it’s getting Government to be protectors of our Security, and no longer intrude in business or be our Nanny, is what will rid us — as much as is possible — of government corruption.
Getting back to the original original idea.
This is brilliant. I also recommend a second GOOH. This one would get rid of all current wives and replace them with ones who actually meet the logical and reasonable expectations of American me – Playboy model beauty, constant interest in pleasing her husband physically, a good housekeeper, willing to leave the room during important sporting events, an active libibo, appreciative of male bodily sounds, a high sexual appetite, an appreciation of vacuuming, good looks, etc.
This makes sense right. As much sense as getting rid of the very real strong conservatives we have now who are trying with all their power to defend us against the loons on the left – some of whom are where they are because doofus conservatives have sat out elections because the perfect candidate was not. Of course we should do all we can to elect conservative candidates wherever possible. But that also includes defending the real conservatives who are already there.
Sarah Dumond – are you ready for your husband to replace you because you are not meeting his every need?
This GOOOH project is fundamentally flawed. It tries to cure the ills of politics with more rules and regulations. Our political system needs more freedom and more informed voters.
There should be no restrictions on American citizens donating to political efforts except there should be full disclosure.
Pledges are worth nothing. They are easily broken and forgotten on both sides.
Enterprises such as GOOOH would be more helpful to our Republic if they spent their time and energy educating the population and pushing for true election reform (more freedom). A freer and better informed population automatically makes fewer errors in voting.
The pathological lying and deceit of politicians will continue as long as they are rewarded to do so. It is the Constitutional putsch of 1937 by the New Deal US Supreme Court that has given unbridled licence to ferocious rent-seeking and rent-extraction. As was forewarned by the radical Whigs of the 18th century, the philosophy of the Founders, the ability of politicians and bureaucrats to hand out privileges has not only magnified political corruption, but has led to the inevitable corruption of society. As the rules of the game determine how the players will play the game, nothing short of returning the limited government philosophy to US Supreme Court decisions will the trend reverse.
Thanks for putting this on Pajamas Media. Good information and a timely organization.
“Leader” Howdy Doodie McConnel, Bean-er, Bozo McCain and the whole dam bunch must get scrapped.
Time the GOP grew a pair. Take it over 100% with copies of Joe the Plumber.
Nice idea.
But.
Two words: Winston Churchill.
Winnie was the great-grandson, grandson, nephew, first cousin, and first-cousin-once-removed of various Dukes of Marlborough, was a rich fat cat, a son of an almost-prime-minister, and sat in various safe seats of the House of Commons from the reigns of Victoria to Elizabeth II, was “Father of the House” (65(!) years in Commons!) when he died.
And we’re not having this conversation in German largely because of him.
Maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to throw out our elders. Maybe they know something after all.
Our “elders” have gotten us into this mess. Thet get corrupted the more elderly they stay in DC! Wake up!
Brilliant! If GOOOH can help with the logistics and legal issues with starting a campaign, I can see many ordinary citizens signing up. I wish them the best of luck.
The only issue I see is with committing to vote according to the questionnaire. These are single issue questions; it would be possible to commit only if they are successful in passing the single-bill act. But that will never get passed until enough independently minded conservative candidates are elected.
Sounds like a plan for complete and total disaster. Apparently these people have not realized that the left is full of multibillionaires who spend multihundreds of millions of dollars in every major election, and love to do it through AstroTurf means. That means, if you allow anyone to participate, then Soros will drop $100 per person to effect the change he wants, and do it to the republican party. Even if the first few elections all turn out well, every last large organization with leadership is extremely vulnerable to infiltration by the enemy, that is willing to work its way to the top.
This whole Idea is bunk and BS, and while it is nice to imagine perfection, perfect is always the enemy.
The concept that “money taints the system” is BS. Thats tantamount to saying the “Free Speech” taints the system.
“GOOOH” can GOOOH to hell.
Saying that “money taints the system” is tantamount to saying that “Free Speech taints the system.”
GOOOH can “GOOOH” to Hell.
I think it is worth the effort.
Banks?
Thomas Jefferson said in 1802
‘I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered..’
Really want to improve our representation? Change from electing officals (which has led to the two party system, dependence on contributions, gerrymandering, a congress consisting primarily of wealthy lawyers etc.)and simply draft our representatives in a similar manner to juries. Better to have a congress which truly represents the US population with folks from all walks of life, who are not considering ‘politics’ as a career and who are not beholden to campaign contributions and a party hierarchy to further that career. Folks who understand the concept- love to be able to do it but I CAN’T AFFORD IT! Get rid of the civil lawyer mentality that the way to get money is to find someone who has it and identify a reason to take it away from them.
When one finds a need the they find a way to get.
Here’s a cause that the Republicans should take up:
THE WAY to Really Call The Democrats’ Bluff and Save Us in the Process
Barak Obama just wants to give granny a pain killer, not treat her condition. And the state of Oregon would rather assist suicide than give one of its residents cancer treatments/medications.
In response, here’s what we do:
Introduce and pass legislation that would prevent the Federal government, or any of its agencies, from harming us, killing us, or otherwise prevent us from receiving life-preserving treatment, as a matter of its operating any sort of health care system.
Push for a constitutional amendment. Really raise as much stink as possible.
Credit Rose Pappas, senior citizen, Chicago, Illinois.
Let’s get behind this. I have a premium membership with Rush and have already emailed him. If you have access to Glenn Beck and/or Sean Hannity and/or Mark Levin through premium membership, please email them.
Also, if any of you are friends with Congressmen or Senators, please copy them.
Others have made a good point about throwing principaled conservatives out along with the unprincapled rascals and liberal/progressive types. Goooh sounds good on the surface, but deeper inspection reveals a flaw that may help the liberals.
I prefer a candidate by candidate review, not an indiscriminant flush. Believe it or not, there are some very good long serving conservatives who need to stay in the house.
A Democratic Congress can’t walk the straight and narrow when all of their leadership is crooked.
Great idea, now lets see if it actually happens. The ridiculous mindset that we can not start all over again is the mindset of the loser. The Founding Fathers started from scratch and for a few years we did terrific, only when those who wanted to play it safe got into power did we start to lose our creative edge.
Pedrosito – if you believe the GOP can “fix it” and is a viable option – please enlighten us to the plan the GOP has that is different from anything they have done in the last 20 years… I’m thinking Sarah is 100% right and they are not going to change anything fast enough…. I say out with the career politicians and power to the people!
Samizdat – The party is corrupt, and there is no time to wait for it to fix itself! I agree with the idea that you have to get rid of all of them to get rid of the corruption from both parties! I’m joining GOOOH today!
Right Wing Chic at 21,
You have every right to be cynical about those in power, I am too. I do, however, recognize that there are certain conservative Congress people who have proven their worth over time. To name a few, Bachman, Pence, and Cantor have generally been reliable conservative votes. I don’t want my anger to overcome my ability to recognize the usefulness of a sitting member of Congress, if they are a reliable conservative.
Understand that opening all seats to removal may lead to unintended results. In this election climate an open seat competition where the incumbent conservative has lost to a primary challenger raises the chances of the Democrat gaining the seat. The Democrats are the opponent that must be defeated. I want to max out the chances of that happening. Sometimes that is going to mean a conservative incumbent should be supported.
Please think about this carefully. I will bet you and I agree on a lot of issues. Let’s be careful not to throw the good out with the bad. There are some allies we need to retain. If you are a true conservative I don’t see how you could possibly oppose Bachman.
If they are that good and serving the needs of their district they will be reelected. The GOOOH candidate will lose along with any others competing. Yes, there are some good Congressmen and women, but very few. Agian, if the good ones are that good, they can still win.
Cynical critics and stealthed Trolls say:
What makes you think you can make this work,
when it never has before ?
I say: Two new factors:
1) The Web\] Everybody can watch the show,
call fouls on the players, and pay-per-vote,
in_real_time_running; No waiting for elections.
2) The Economy. Tax-and-Spend politics as usual,
with infinite do-overs _is_ over. The preening
peacocks in power (Male pheasants in orifice ?:)
are totally incapable of coping with hard times,
hard choices, and a people in economic pain;
They are already starting to desert the sinking
ship of state.
Sorry, this plan is wasteful, self-defeating overkill. Minimally, I’m not down with anything that insists on pushing guys like this out of office (here’s an example of why).
Please consider applying all the money, effort and PR this program will consume toward the following:
1. Ensure that every American voter is aware of the fact that the Democrat Congressional majority has exploded the federal deficit by a factor of TEN TIMES in only three years. Make clear the fact that GWB’s “compassionate conservative” – Socialist Lite® – pen had a guilty hand in that process, as well as in the bailouts and government takeovers which will only further degrade our economy and our liberty.
2. Educate every American voter regarding the limits placed on government by the U.S. Constitution. So-called “moderates” typically share one dangerous trait: they don’t know what is and what is NOT in the federal government’s job description. This is how a nation that is overwhelmingly conservative keeps electing leftists to office and sits still for the prospects of economy-destroying fiscal policies and extra-Constitutional, liberty-destroying systems like socialized medicine.
3. Stay ENGAGED and encourage others to get engaged. Don’t stop at being engaged – get active. The federal government’s worst nightmare is an engaged, aware, responsive electorate. Start holding these people accountable in systematic, consistent, organized ways. After November, demand an inquiry into Geithner’s laundry list of excesses, as well as the unconstitutional actions taken with respect to Chrysler and GM, for instance. Beat the drum until hacks like Rangel are forced to resign in disgrace. With enough of this, the criminals in Congress will soon tire of the heat and move on to corrupt activities in some other venue. The only reason corrupt individuals gravitate to government is because Americans have lost interest in holding that body accountable. That has to change or you can kiss this Republic good-bye, no matter how many times you turn over the Congress’ membership.
Do those three basic things and GOOOH is unnecessary, as are term limits (though they may ultimately be a reasonable fallback). You said it yourself: D.C. changes people, no matter who is sent there. What needs to change is the American electorate. Either way, we’ll get the government we deserve.
Talk about a fanticyland! If millions of uninformed voters were informed, you be right. But they are not and never will be. That’s why it is so critical to put honest candidates in office who will honor their committments to their constituencies!
Thanks, but no thanks. I’d like to help re elect my current Republican Congress, Jeff Flake from Arizona. They’re not all bums you know…
If Jeff Flake is that good he will still be on the ballot. GOOOH does not exclude incumbents from the process until after the election! Afraid of a little HONEST competition???
A Congress of career politicians will NEVER allow us to constitutionally term limit them by an amendment. But, we can IMPOSE term limits on them in Congressional elections (‘2010, 2012, 2014……):
1. Never reelect your Congressman or Senator.
2. Always vote, but only for the strongest challenger , regardless of party .
If Congress has not passed a term limits bill by 2014, repeat this in 2016, 2018….
Our only intelligent choice is to NEVER REELECT anyone in Congress!
The only infallible, unstoppable, guaranteed way to get a truly new Congress, AND a new politics, is NEVER REELECT ANY INCUMBENT! DO IT EVERY ELECTION until term limits is ratified. In other words, don’t let anyone serve more than one term until Congress passes a term limits bill!
NEVER REELECT ANYONE IN CONGRESS. DO IT EVERY ELECTION! … until we ratify term limits.
Nelson Lee Walker of tenurecorrupts.com
Republicans are slowly learning that “not as bad as democrats” is not a sufficient party platform. Voting out incumbents on a regular basis is the only, as well as sufficient, cure for an out of touch two party system.
Forget Goooh. The constitution has most of the answers and all the laws that have veered away from it have endangered our liberties.
If you want some ideas of how to take back the Republican party and return government to we the people go to DownsizeDC.org.
We all want an easy way to undo what we’ve allowed to happen. Politics can no longer be put on the back burner. We will need to continue an un-relentless struggle for control of our government. First we need as many conservative Republicans elected in 2010 as possible to take back the House and Senate. Then we need to hold them accountable with what ever measures it takes to do it. Does any one think Republicans even at their worst were as bad as the communist overlords now in control? I didn’t think so. We have some conservative leaders in both the House and Senate that we must not lose. They can show the way to any newly elected we send.
If we have Rino’s elected we need to pay attention and vote them out in the next election, replaced with a constitutional conservative. If we really want our country back we need to start at the local level, especially school boards and State officials.
Unfortunately 2010 is only the beginning not the end of this game.
I think this is great! Why didn’t someone think of this sooner?! Samdazit – you’re in the dark, what exactly has bachman or any of the rest done except say a few things that they new the voters wan tto hear, I’m looking for action and haven’t seen any from the career politicians- and PT Bull – we don’t have time to wait for this to turn around or the repubs to shape up. I have waiting to hear something, anything we can do this year, and GOOOH sounds like it to me! Thanks for sharing Sarah! I’m passing this on to friends.
Fire ‘em all! Let’s GOOOH!!!
bad idea, conservatives shoot themselves in the head, in the hopes that rinos, and Dem’s will feel guilty for causing them to suicide
first off, saying that there are no congressmen, or senators worthy of the office they hold for the people, is an insult to those who resisted the trend in Washington, and who’s record in office is truly blameless
a better idea than going down in third party flames is to become the Republican party by, in all cases supporting, campaigning for, and voting for the true conservatives in the republican primary (this means supporting the incumbent if he is the most conservative), not only do many rinos go away, those remaining will be nervous, and are also less likely to hold party leadership positions (which moves the republican party back to its conservative roots),
after the primary’s, we should support, and campaign for our chosen conservative candidates, and support the re-election of those republicans with proven conservative voting records.
the first president i ever voted for was Renoldus magnus, since then i have not seen one third party movement that ever did anything but advance the progressive agenda.
i have witnessed those who, stubbornly refusing any pragmatism in order to stand on principle, bring about the destruction of the very principles they stood for
two proverbs i learned from my dad, always work smarter, not harder. and, its a good thing to learn from your mistakes, its far better to learn from the mistakes of others.
Bad idea. You’re advocating tossing out good congressmen with the bad. The last thing I want is a staunch, smart fiscal conservative like Paul Ryan turfed out. It’s better to change the parties from within and make it clear to candidates that they will be held accountable for their votes, including being challenged in the primaries if need be.
Sarah – I agree with Phinea @ 31: Bad idea, and eman @ #6 is spot-on as well. The problem is not in thre representatives. It is that our federal government has grown so much as to intrude on everything we do. That is not what the founders envisioned. My own pet ideas are to repeal the 16th and 17th amendments, but alas I doult that will ever happen. Their are too many special interests that live off the federal government (which is just what FDR envisioned would happen and wanted it to happen). It will take a special political will of the American people to return to a pre-FDR federal government, and so far, for their ?itching and moaning, that political will does not seem to be there.
Jack, How do you think “government has grown so much they intrude on everything we do?”
Maybe the 98% incumbent retention has something to do with it. Go read Sanford’s book The Trust vVested in ME.
I’m not big into joining somesuch movement or signing onto some set of pledges as a substantive device for remediating and strenghtening the Republic.
I’m not moved to get a potential congresscritter to sign some list of pledges, either.
Any individual is capable of abrogating some pledge once they’ve gained office.
A candidate must have the right stuff in his or her soul and convey that to the voting public. Otherwise, what good are they ?
I’m glad to see the incremental moves in NJ, VA, MA. And to know that The People can still speak and be heard.
American politics has really suffered so much from becoming about money and lobbying.
(An aside: last year, nancy pelosi was calling Tea Partiers astroturfers and alluding to their Nazi connections, this week, getting an inkling that even her district in Bay Area may have had enough of her, she is making noises about having things in common with tea partiers)
ugh ugh and more ugh.
This GOOOH pledger came to one simple conclusion: that a group of randomly selected citizens could do a better job at governing than political careerists. In other words a group of clueless public servants is preferable to a group of experienced self servants. My Rep is the poster girl for BIGSPITWAD (Big Government SPend and Tax Weak on Defense liberal)so any change would be an improvement.
Skeptics of the complete flush would do well to remember that the goal of achieving 100% removal is highly improbable and GOOOHERS can vote to keep their guy. Here in Wisconsin we would lose a rising star like Paul Ryan but I am confident it would not mean the end of his career, because here in Wisconisn we know cream rises.
Sometimes the whole septic tank needs to be flushed, cleaned, and rebuilt. This is one of those times.
@34. Frank: – … GOOOHERS can vote to keep their guy.
Well then that kind of puts the lie to the whole proposal, doesn’t it.
Unaccountable government is a symptom. The cause is electoral apathy. You can replace Congress every year until eternity and that will never improve this government. What needs to change is the American electorate. Either way, we’ll get the government we deserve.
Goy:
Yes, it does. Mea culpa. Just trying to instill a thread of reality into a fantastical idea. What I am hoping is that more conservatives will glom onto the idea than liberals and tilt a lopsided result to the right. Always respect your opinion and enjoy your writing but to my mind changing the American electorate is at least as much of a fantasy as a complete house-cleaning. GOOOH can be a tool to help force the change you advocate.
you have a good point (@35.Goy),
in the California legislature we have had term limits for years, so essentially we have a regular “complete house enema” but because of California’s demographics, that is gerrymandering, a one party bureaucracy, the politics of voter ignorance and voter apathy. once the old filth is termed out, the new filth walks in. term limits have been a disaster here. because we can’t hold on to the good guys.
take back the party part two.
first off it been mentioned that the two party system is broken, ive herd this song repeted for 35 years, and that may or may not be true (take note of multy party parlimentary governments). but, right or wrong, weather you like it or not, the governance of America is set up to favor the democrats, and Republicans. IT IS WHAT IT IS, Live with it.
to win one must play the game within the established Rules ,whining about how bad the rules are, and framing your strategy contrary to the rules of the game, and playing against the rules, just gives your opponent free reign on the field.
how to win the game? tea party Conservatives need to take over the republican party’s political support network.
In the electoral cycle for the next decade, effective volunteers can become great staff, advisers, and campaign managers qualified, and willing tea party Conservatives need to sacrifice, step up to the plate, and join the legislative, and campaign staffs of candidates they have put in office. we need to get rid of the old Nixon holdouts, the run to the right, rule to the left Washington weasels.
me, for victory in 2010 and beond, I will place my bet on the GOPBYCRS
(Give Our Party Back You Crooked Rino Sycophants)
STUPID waste of EFFORT and MONEY! GOOOH should position themselves inside the Republican party. Nothing wakes up politicians like bundled funds and you could be influencing Republicans the same way as pretending a third party won’t generate a Democratic majority forever. You might be willing to point to the Republican party as a successful third party venture but you are forgetting there was a great moral outrage in the world then that they were able to embrace. GOOOH is a goner.
This is not well thought out…why do you want to replace Paul Ryan with some sniveling Racine socialist and/or RINO? What good will that possibly do?
Awesome idea! But where is the pledge from the founder that the money will be spent on the canidates? The site will hold canidates to the fire, but what about the founder who recieves $100 pledeges? I’ve researched this site and see no accountability for the money. Why? Scam?
Did you know? ~ GOOOH uses JP Morgan CHASE as the bank that holds all donations, and is in their new financial system? If GOOOH is “for the people, by the people”…then why do they place their funds in a HUGE corporate bank that was involved in the Bernie Madoff and ENRON scandals? I thought they WANTED the corporations out of government…..