Dartblog

Just received the Senator’s speech, to be delivered to the state legislature in just a bit, and like most of them this is a solid piece of political announcement. It is a broad policy address on good governance. Senator McCain goes after the government bureaucracy—a tender target—and congessional earmarks. A few highlights:

“I am a conservative, and I believe it is a healthy thing for Americans to be skeptical about the purposes and practices of public officials, and refrain from expecting too much from government. But it worries me when healthy skepticism becomes widespread cynicism bordering on alienation; when the people come to believe that government has become so dysfunctional that it no longer serves basic constitutional ends; our politics have become so polarizing we’re incapable of addressing national priorities; and their elected leaders so devoted to their personal interests they ignore the public’s.”

“I won’t tolerate congressional earmarks — which have encouraged not only additional wasteful spending but public corruption, and led to the depressing spectacle of members of Congress being led off to prison. Nor will I allow other procurement tricks that divert funds from national priorities.”

“The civil service has strayed from its reformist roots and has mutated into a no-accountability zone, where employment is treated as an entitlement, good performance as an option, and accountability as someone else’s problem.”

The Senator probably should have moved on the immigration bill—either by defending it or distancing himself—but no one wants to touch the thing.