(Community Matters) Of course I think Lloyd Doggett should be reelected. And, I’m not voting for him this time.
If he had a credible opponent or the race was otherwise tight, I would vote for him. However, this may be the only way to express our displeasure with his failure to show courage in the House bailout vote two weeks ago.
He’s right, I and many others did originally write to him and ask for Congress’ leadership in improving the dismal legislation originally offered up by Bush and Paulson. And, Congress did. They added oversight, equity participation, increased FDIC limits and latitude for the courts to allow modification of mortgages for borrowers who had not lied but had been defrauded by unregulated mortgage lenders.
Yet, unable to show leadership against understandable populist angst, Lloyd refused to support perhaps the most important financial legislation of our time. I’m optimistic that this legislation will inject the liquidity and confidence into our economy that will save tens of millions of jobs and trillions of dollars in men & women’s savings. Lloyd Doggett is an important member of Congress. Most of the time, he’s been a courageous representative. Unfortunately, when leadership demands taking an unpopular stand even against record voter telephone calls, Lloyd fails to rise to the occassion as we came to expect under Congressman Pickle’s leadership (aka voting for civil rights legislation while risking his own popularity).
This is why I plan to skip Lloyd’s race on the ballot. Send Lloyd this message that we do love him and expect more courage from our representative.