# On Bruce Braley's gaffe **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 6, 2014, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bruce-braleys-gaffe/685462 "2014-04-06T04:44:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bruce-braleys-gaffe/685462/61 "2014-04-07T18:16:36Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > My own opinion is that politics is what successful people should do when they’ve accomplished their goals in the private world. It should be the cream of the crop, not just those who happened to decide from an early age that they wanted to accrue power to themselves by lording it over the rest of us. What would be the point of that? Not this, certainly: > [@adaher](#): > > That’s probably why politicians tend to have the same types of pathologies: > > [Narcissism: Why It's So Rampant in Politics | Psychology Today](http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolution-the-self/201112/narcissism-why-its-so-rampant-in-politics) You really think successful businesscritters are any bit less narcissistic?! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bruce-braleys-gaffe/685462/62 "2014-04-07T18:20:56Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I’m not sure career politicians are professionals in the sense of being able to govern a nuclear-armed superpower. Does Bruce Braley really have insights into this that you do not? Did his legal training give him expertise in all the facets of nuclear weapons policy such that he can be trusted more than you? No, but as a lawyer he has the sense which would tell him to listen to technical experts on the subject, but also to listen to them critically with an independent mind. A lawyer can do all of that better than you can, **adaher,** and more reliably will. > [@adaher](#): > > Basically your argument is that citizens can no longer govern their own country. We need to outsource it to professionals. Our FFs **were** professional pols and intended such to run things. > [@adaher](#): > > Of course, it could very well be that the real power in DC is the staffers. They seem to be the repositories of actual knowledge, which they spoonfeed to the officeholders when they have to pretend to be smart. That’s just how it should be. No one person can know everything related to government biz, but one can know where to look for the information when necessary, so long as there **is** a where to look. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bruce-braleys-gaffe/685462/63 "2014-04-07T18:23:52Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Not to egg you on in this matter – but a substantial portion of the electorate sees the issue differently. In fact, if Nate Silver is to be believed, the result of people holding the opposite opinion in November will be a majority of Republicans in both houses of Congress. But, N.B.: That will **not** result from more Americans voting R than D; it’s more complicated than that. (And shouldn’t be, but that’s another discussion.) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bruce-braleys-gaffe/685462/64 "2014-04-07T18:26:11Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > . . . introducing Democratic voters to the virtue of multiple parties(as well as politicians from backgrounds other than lawyer or activist) should be an important priority for Republicans. How do the Pubs do that without it backfiring on them? They certain don’t want to introduce **Pub** voters to the virtue of multiple parties. For that matter, they certainly don’t want to introduce Pub voters to the virtue of pols from non-traditional backgrounds – such might be too hard for the megadonors to control once in office. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bruce-braleys-gaffe/685462/65 "2014-04-07T18:33:48Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Actually, I’m just urging democrats to support a good Republican over a bad Democrat, rather than rationalizing voting for the bad Democrat. Who, [Grassley](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Grassley#Tenure)? Could be worse, I suppose – no Teabagger, at any rate – but that anti-flag-burning amendment does stick in the craw of all decent Americans. Also: > [@](#): > > In 2006, Grassley received a 14 percent rating from the LCV.[25] In 2009, Senator Grassley received a 10 percent rating on the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) scorecard. The League approved of his votes on the issues of renewable energy and farm conservation programs.[25] but disapproved of his votes on the energy conference report, global warming, natural gas facilities, increasing fuel economy, and various other issues.[citation needed] > > Grassley has been described in newswires as a “bulldog supporter” of biofuels such as ethanol.[26] Grassley has opposed conservative Senators like Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Jim DeMint (R-SC) for wanting to bring an end to ethanol subsidies.[27] > > Grassley was given the American Legion’s distinguished public service award for his support of a “strong national defense, service members, veterans and the American flag”, primarily due to his support for a flag protection amendment.[28] > > Senator Grassley has 100 percent ratings from the National Right to Life Committee,[29] Eagle Forum,[30] and Family Research Council,[31] an 84 percent rating from the American Conservative Union,[32] and a 20 percent rating from the Human Rights Campaign.[33] > > Grassley has campaigned to increase protection and provide support for “Whistleblowers”. He has supported a number of FBI whistleblowers, including Coleen Rowley, Michael German, and Jane Turner. Grassley received a lifetime achievement award on May 17, 2007 from the National Whistleblower Center. Kind of a mixed bag, don’t you think? C’mon, **adaher,** not even you want to be on the same side as the FRC or the Eagle Forum! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bruce-braleys-gaffe/685462/66 "2014-04-07T18:34:48Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > And you think this leadership capability is something we see a lot of in politicians? Yeah – that is, the rest of us are even **worse.** Just accept it. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bruce-braleys-gaffe/685462/67 "2014-04-07T18:38:45Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > Can’t speak for him, but I seriously think the death of the GOP would be beneficial. No, the death of American **conservatism** would be beneficial. The death of the GOP is pointless if another party emerges to carry that flag. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bruce-braleys-gaffe/685462/68 "2014-04-07T18:39:57Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Problem is, with 40% of the country being conservative, there will always be a conservative party. Unless liberals can persuade that 40% that they are wrong. Not necessary. They only need to wait. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bruce-braleys-gaffe/685462/69 "2014-04-07T18:43:15Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Lawyers don’t know how to run their own practices most of the time . . . Cite? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bruce-braleys-gaffe/685462/70 "2014-04-07T18:44:20Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Because bad Democrats, like bad Republicans, hurt the party come election time. Is the one seat really worth all the seats it costs in the next election because your guy went to jail? My understanding was that for purposes of this discussion we were defining “bad” in terms of ideology/policy positions, not character or personal conduct. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bruce-braleys-gaffe/685462/71 "2014-04-07T18:45:36Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Who the hell is Bruce Braley? A Dem candidate for Senate who is slightly better-known now that **adaher** has Pitted him. (Not that I’d ever let that stop **me,** understand.) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bruce-braleys-gaffe/685462/72 "2014-04-07T18:46:52Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I agree, but if that’s a standard we want to maintain, and there’s a case we should maintain it, then that means that lawyers shouldn’t head any other committees. There are no legislative committees to which a lawyer’s expertise is **not** relevant, but it is relevant to a judiciary committee most of all. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bruce-braleys-gaffe/685462/73 "2014-04-07T19:48:12Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > There are no legislative committees to which a lawyer’s expertise is **not** relevant, but it is relevant to a judiciary committee most of all. Indeed. I imagine that Congress also has a cafeteria, in which they cook meals for everyone who works for Congress. If they have a subcommittee that cooks especially for visiting judges, it might be good to have an attorney on that subcommittee, just as the subcommittee who cooks for visiting farmers might want a farmer on that subcommittee. But every member of every committee in the Congressional cafeteria ought to be an expert on food, since that’s what they’re responsible for making. Congress itself, however, isn’t responsible for making food. They need a different kind of expert. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bruce-braleys-gaffe/685462/74 "2014-04-07T23:34:57Z")
**BG** , I love ya baby…but really? 17 out of 18 posts, and 14 in a row? Those are like some serious John Wooden-era UCLA numbers. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2014, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bruce-braleys-gaffe/685462/75 "2014-04-08T00:07:07Z")
> [@andros](#): > > **BG** , I love ya baby…but really? 17 out of 18 posts, and 14 in a row? Those are like some serious John Wooden-era UCLA numbers. 😕 Don’t know, don’t want to know. But **adaher’s** pushin’ a lotta mah **buttons!** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bruce-braleys-gaffe/685462.md?page=3)