Obama's Shiny New Year

Obama rings in the new year with a WaPo op-ed:

We must stop any and all practices that would lead a reasonable person to believe that a public servant has become indebted to a lobbyist. That means a full ban on gifts and meals. It means no free travel or subsidized travel on private jets. And it means closing the revolving door to ensure that Capitol Hill service -- whether as a member of Congress or as a staffer -- isn't all about lining up a high-paying lobbying job. We should no longer tolerate a House committee chairman shepherding the Medicare prescription drug bill through Congress at the same time he's negotiating for a job as the pharmaceutical industry's top lobbyist.

Think he doesn't mean it? Of course you don't. You're probably numb to the endless litany of bullshit pouring from the mouths of politicians. You probably didn't think he meant this, either, until the Colburn-Obama Transparency Bill actually passed last September:

Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, which passed the Senate last week. This is an important bill that will bring badly needed transparency to Federal spending. The bill creates a user-friendly website to search all Government contracts, grants, earmarks, and loans, opening up Federal financial transactions to public scrutiny. By helping to lift the veil of secrecy in Washington, this website will help make us all better legislators. It will help make reporters better journalists. And it will help make all Americans more informed voters and more active citizens.

And don't think the rank and file were too happy to see this pass, either. There were secret holds placed on the bill by not one, but two Senators, including Ted Stevens (R- Alaska) and Robert Byrd (D - West Virginia). The holds were only released when a combined lefty-righty blogosphere effort smoked out the anonymous Senators and shamed them into submission.

If you continue to expect the worst from your congressmen, that's what you'll continue to get. Start demanding the best! I'll say it again to all you non-believers: Obama Ba-ROCKS.