Bill Maher did a piece about the former CA Representative Henry Waxman and how much legislation he got done. Waxman was never a media star and turned down most news show interviews but was one of the most influential Representatives. This was part of a larger point that Maher was making that it's the people like him, wonks, who actually get most stuff done in DC and not the people who make the most noise even though most of our political debates are dominated by those people. To honor Waxman and those like he created the Baldy Award, a bust of Henry Waxman.. A man he noted the camera didn't love and the feeling was mutual. Although he didn't name them this was also a swipe at progressives and he brought up a point that has been frequently brought up in debates between the "Progressives" and "Moderates" that it often is about the boring unrecognized work of writing legislation line by line and late night negotiations that get things done rather than revolutionary change.
Most of the legislation is written up by aides and lobbyists. They're almost like eunuchs during China's imperial dynasties, except maybe the Chinese were savvy in chopping their balls off to hold back their aides' selfish ambitions
Yes, although it was primarily one in particular, working in a fluorescent lit office deep under the Capitol. His name is Wendell Oliver Compromise and the gentleman has been retired for some time. Some think his absence is reflected in the dearth of good legislation passed during these last two decades.
Not sure I agree with Maher on this one. Bernie has almost single handily softened America on many policy positions that wouldn’t have even been touched a decade ago. He might be viewed as a failure legislatively but if Biden gets a public option passed, it’ll be on the back of Bernie softening up America on healthcare. Then there’s Trump. Horribly unsuccessful legislatively as a president. One flipping bill passed in 4 years and it was a piece of crap. But the guy softened up half of America’s view on Democracy entirely. Pushing them to literally support and shed blood to install a Dictatorship. All of that by using his bullhorn of hate.
Yes that is true and one problem with legislation is that it is frequently so complicated that it takes aides to get through it. Maher's point though is that members of Congress like Rep. Waxman were themselves willing to get into the weeds of writing legislation.
I will agree with you that Maher is out of touch given that we've seen so much polarization in Congress to the point that we have members threatening the lives of others. This is why we've seen such a reliance on EO's because of the difficulty of getting legislation passed. That said to get any substantial change passed we are going to need policy wonks to navigate the horse trading that will be required. Even if the filibuster is done away with still doesn't mean that 50 +1 Senators and / or VP are going to be in lockstep. Chances are even if there might be broad agreement but some sharp divisions on the specifics. That is where someone like Waxman will be very valuable.
He really is. Everyone knows the bills are written by lobbyists and most Congressmen never actually read them because they're too busy schmoozing people for money to get re-elected. My breaking point with him was when he had on Rahm Emanuel and never asked him about all the murders in Chicago. Of course he also routinely lets right wing nuts spew their nuttery on that show. He's a softball blowhard who's funny from time to time. The days of a guy like Tim Russert holding everyone to account no matter their political persuasion are sorely missed.
