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I agree with the idea of term limits AND also outlawing for-profit lobbying groups. That way politicians would actually represent their constituents instead of Corporate special interest.

Should have had term limits years ago in this county. We'll lose some good ones, but most are greedy crooked career politicians that never should have been elected in the first place.

Good. We also need to change funding for candidates. They should be forced to get their money from supporters only.

I'm a democrat and I wholeheartedly believe in the need for term limits. There are so many representatives that have been there for so freakin' long that they have lost touch with what is going on in the country and they think they know what is better for the nation than the people of the nation do. This would get fresh faces and minds in Congress that understand the changes this country is going through AND the change that is needed to let the nation evolve within a 21st century world.

TERM LIMITS NOW!!!

Theoretically, strict term limits represents one of the powerful positive effects of a democratic form of government. Until recently, I was a strong supporter of low term limits.

Unfortunately, the term limits in California has backfired. Their intended purpose has been undermined by new legislators' inability to get much accomplished in California for several reasons. First, they don't know how to "work the system." It takes some legislators a couple of years to get going and to learn how to become an effective representative of their constituents.

Second, the pressure from lobbyists is now even more intense because of their desire to have an impact on new legislators and their votes. New legislators want to "get theirs" before they leave the state legislature or state assembly when they reach their term limits.

I love the idea of term limits, but it simply hasn't worked in California.

.....Try telling this to NYC. Mayor m. gloomberg. We, said No. Twice, and he bought a third term as Mayor..................

There is a great day for limiting a'coming in 2010! I can't wait to vote then and in 2012.

"And, if Demint cannot get this to pass now–he should DEFINITELY bring it up again-–once the Democrats lose their power/control in the 2010 and 2012 elections!"

LOL yeah, like the past 8 years when rethuglicans were in full control? Oh yeah, you sure know your party well. The problem aint long-term politicians. The problem is the money! It leads to corruption and greed. If you can't see that then you are blind or naive.

NO MORE TERM LIMITS!

Elections offer an opportunity to change the holder of an office.
NOT ALL change is desirable.
Saying "change everything" is like saying, "I'm in favor of abortion–abort every fetus!"

I hope that we do impose term limits. The country will always continue on the same old path of the same old thing if we are unable to get new people with new ideas in Congress. I fully support term limits. I see why members of Congress do not; but I believe those reasons to be selfish. If we ever want real change we would have to impose term-limits. Forget our greedy politicians. This is America. They are supposed to represent us anyways. How about they represent us and step down. The President has terms limits, and so should Congress.

Have always thought term limits should be in place for all politicians. That said, however, it's pretty naive to think that our congressmen and senators will vote for term limits when it means they will be out of a job and actually have to go back to work for a living.

Can you spell Barney Frank or Nancy Pelosi? Both will likely be re-elected due to their ultra-liberal districts even though 85 percent of the American people utterly disapprove of them!

America is a Nation of, Have and Have Nots. Continued Democratic rule is contingent upon making sure more and more Americans are dependent on Big Government. To all you Liberals out there,PLEASE open your eyes and realize that the true answer to your "Have Not" lot in life lies with YOU and what you personally do for yourself! Stop blaming Bush, Republicans and those that have prospered. You will reap what you sow not what power hungry Liberals promise you!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Any of the Senior Republicans sponsoring this measure are free to resign whenever they want to – They should work to improve their own caucus by riding themselves of Ensign and Vitter as soon as they can. What a disgrace.

add to the list of reasons why the US is a doomed empire, the entrenchment of its legislators in congress.. these people approach their jobs like our grandfathers approached working in the factory, as if it was their job til they died. if we can't do any better in EVERY state, than to continually return to office the idiots who have brought this country to the brink of collapse, we will have no one to blame but ourselves when we crash... we have met the enemy, and it is us !!!

Term limits are ANTIDEMOCRATIC and UNCONSTITUTIONAL

We must remove the Presidential term limits NOW

Having experienced politicos in place who are familiar with domestic and foreign policy issues is preferable. However, the result of having career "representatives" has been little if any representation of the interests of the constituents or the nation as a whole. If term limits are what it takes to rid Congress of special interest agendas and votes based on contributions, let's do it.

WOW...I think this is the first time ever I have agreed with a Republican. Bring on the term limits, the career politicans are killing us, most (in my opinion) are in the pockets of the lobbyists.

Term limits, and take the money out of politics! If they want to cap something, cap their salaries and how much money can be spent on political campaigns. The only people who run for office in this country, (at least the vast majority) are people who have money, and want more and the people who have money and want power to go along with it. There is no such thing as "public service" in our politicians. I seriously doubt there are many in our Congress who actually put the will of the people before their own party interests. Our federal government has moved so far away from our Constitution, but we have to make a start somewhere, and term limits seems a good jumping off point. Write your Congressmen/women.

Yea, its just like asking them to vote on whether they want/should get a raise or not! YES, Term Limits! If you can elect a new president who leads the parade of fools every four years, why not the cohorts? I have a better one: let WE THE PEOPLE get rid of them whenever we want to get rid of them. If they were elected to do what we want them to do and they don't, fire 'em. What would happen on YOUR job if you didn't perform your duties? Do you think they would wait for four, six or eight years and say, "OK, we're done with you. Bye...oh, and by the way, here's your severence pay, your back pay and a lifetime of insurance coverage at no cost to you."

Arbitrarily throwing people out of a job just because they've been there for a certain amount of years is DUMB!

There are some Congressional representatives and Senators who are doing a great job for their constituents, in part because of the experience they've gained on the job.

A more thoughtful – and less lazy – approach is needed to address this problem.

Such as real campaign finance reform that evens the playing field for candidates of all financial means.

In the meantime, people need to start thinking for themselves, do a little research, and stop voting the way someone else tells them to!

I agree with term limits, although I think it should only be one term. Campaign finance reform has to be an integral part of this. We need to get special interest and corporate money out of our politics.

Although the Senate was originally designed to be the aristocrats' American House of Lords (they weren't even elected democratically by the people until 1912), the House is supposed to represent ordinary citizens, so why shouldn't anyone be qualified to run and serve? There aren't any qualifications in the Constitution at all , other than citizenship and age, for being elected to Congress. Perhaps we would get better ideas out of those bodies if they were filled with ordinary Americans instead of millionaire lawyers, corporate puppets, and political operatives.

George Washington believed there should be no political parties at all...perhaps he was right.

The best way to ensure more average citizen and less big money/corporate involvement in the election process is by instituting real campaign finance reform.

Today, the biggest purse wins – not necessarily the best candidate.

Unless, like President Obama, you have a top-notch campaign team that knows how to organize in every state. They are the exception to the rule.

Here we go again. Every time the Republicans and conservatives lose their majority status in the House or Senate, the revive the term limits issue. When they become the majority, they forget about it.

The reality is that the politicians who seem to stay in office forever are the (mostly Southern) right-wing extremists who identify as Republican these days. Once again, the GOP seems to be cutting off it's nose to spite it's face.

Question: Does US Term Limits President Philip Blumel support a term limit for his job?

Take ONE day off from the Hate and Discontent people.......

We have term limits: it's called VOTING!

Why should we not applaud and support people who say they want to serve the public interest then live their lives flying in esteemed first class sections but push for better private jets, get driven in their own little limos, correct generals that they deem out of context -due to their own ignorance,try to direct the peasant classes for their high minded causes,accuse any opposition of their high mindedness of stupidity,become wealthy through their political contacts and savoir faire,issue though edit large quantities of worthless money for their pet projects, go from tennis shoes to italian classics,

I am just waiting for cake!!??? and some people wonder why the founding fathers were afraid of the uneducated voting

If the Republicans gain control they will quickly kill term limits and attempt to re-establish "Permanent Republican Majority" like what they tried when the criminal Bush administration was in power, only this time they will work hard to establish a facist state and persecute the impure.

Former Governor of MN is a classic example of serving the People and not the lobbyists.. Jesse Ventura.... He went in and served and got out of it.

Term limits plus separation of corporations and politicians. We call on other Nations for bribes! but lobbyist just spread the same !!

If you are not registered to vote, register now. 2010 elections is when almost everyone is uo for elections and we can vote them all out of OFFICE. It is time ti eliminate the corrupt, theiving lying politicians that have been against US, their employers. It is time to take back our Country from these arrogant , egotystical, bought off by lobbyists rather than support the American People. It is time for a revolution and take back our Country the only way we can with out a coup.

Get out and VOTE these law breakers out of office.

just like the old status quo crooks., ones like Byrd, or McCain or even Pelosi. All crooks, time to put limits on and Vote Them Out.

We already have term limits, they are called elections. Term limits will just make more people beggars from big donors. We need to have publicly financed elections so that the people who get elected don't owe any favors to big money.

We already have term limits, it called, "Vote for someone else."

Don't think much of DeMint, but term limits seem like a pretty good idea.

Strange how this idea only seems to come up when Democrats control Congress. If it's such a good idea, why didn't the Republicans pass it when they controlled Congress and the White House?

Besides, we have term limits now–they're called elections. If people don't like their senator or representative, they can vote him or her out. If they do like him or her, why should people from other states tell them they can't have the person they want just because he or she has already served x number of terms?

And don't forget the law of unintended consequences. Our system of goverment and our governmental departments are so complicated that it takes years for a new senator or representative to learn the ropes. Term limits would throw them out not long after they've learned this. As a result, unelected goverment bureaucrats would control our government more than they do now. Nobody really thinks that's a good idea, do they?

I'm a liberal dem and have never agreed with Demint but this is the first good idea he's ever had. Other idea is giving the states the power to decide what they want to do rather than the federal government. If states like their senators why let the federal government force them to replace their representatives?

There should be term limits. People like Pelosi , Ried,and Kennedy should be gone after two terms. They get in there and think it is their God given right to be there forever. That is crap!

The election of Obama is the PERFECT example of why term limits are necessary.

Obama-who couldn't even manage a lemonade stand--is now in charge of managing our economy, domestic threats/problems, foreign threats/problems, etc.--and his inexperience, lack of knowledge, etc. are definitely showing-–as our economy/country are now being destroyed!!!!

Imagine if there were no term limits for the president--we could be stuck with him forever!!!

Definitely voice your support for term limits!!!

If Demint cannot get this passed now--he should definitely be able to get it passed once the Republicans gain more power/control-- after sending many Democrats to the unemployment lines in the 2010 and 2012 elections!!!!

This desperately needs to be done. Don't give up senator and please, if the American people can do anything to help ......... just tell us what to do and we're there.

The inclination of politicians to serve themselves rather than the country is the biggest unspoken truth in America. So many use the word "patriotism" to try to deceive the masses as they rob, rape and pillage the earth for financial gain.

The entire election system needs critically reformed and in this lies our conundrum. How to get the wealth-seekers/lobbying/wrecking crew out of our government to give up their long-held advantage? How to get ethical folks to truly "Serve" the majority rather than these self-servers we mostly (my apologies to those who know they have Integrity) have now and for some long years-my entire life!? The Totalitiarian state is going Global and is controlled in the U.S. with Capitalism as it's Doctrine. This has been incrementally, deceptively and totally unregulated by this unethical bunch who have shaped these changes in Law. Two-Party System of 1 party! Two faces of the same coin! Who will speak out these truths that so many of us KNOW for certain? This is the cumulative result of the "activist judges" all along who dismantle our system to serve their real gods-MONEY, POWER, Control. Pretty scarey that those who govern use FEAR on the people as this IS their own Motivation. This is what will destroy us if we do not act NOW. Peace

Got to love the critics...."this leads to inexperienced politicians who cannot handle the complex issues". Isn't this a description of the man they support who was a freshman senator, was only "present" for votes and never sat on a committee of any national security interest, our president?

I'm all for controlling congress, but term limits isn't the way to do it. Term limits (among other things) have seriously screwed up California.

We don't need term limits, we need REDISTRICTING nationwide.

Well, for once I actually agree with a Republican. But it doesn't matter since term limits will never happen. Face the facts here, folks... There is just no way the fat cats in DC are going to vote themselves out of their cushy jobs. Only a fool would believe that is ever going to happen. I think in order for term limits to pass it will have to be up to the people of this country to make it happen, and that too will never happen, since the only way it would is if there was a national vote on it, and that will never happen.

Afraid of inexperience members coming in to in Congress todeal with complex issues?????? LOL Look who and what we have elected for a President!!! You can't get any more inexperienced than that. Term limit all of them at least we might have a chance to repeal most of these job killing mandates they are trying to push!!

I agree 100% with the term limits!!!

This is the ONLY way that politicians will remember that they work for us-–"WE THE PEOPLE"-–not the lobbyists!!!

This should have been done a LONG time ago.

And, if Demint cannot get this to pass now--he should DEFINITELY bring it up again-–once the Democrats lose their power/control in the 2010 and 2012 elections!!!!

It is HIGH TIME for this move! Serving your country as a politician should not be and NEVER was intended to be a lifetime career. It should be a sacrifice, like jury duty, instead of the free-for-all corruption merry-go-round that it has become.

GET THE BROOM, IT'S TIME TO CLEAN HOUSE.

Term limits will eliminate old antiquated ideas and theology from becoming new laws or reversing laws in our country. It will bring new ideas and make practical laws for our country in modern times and progress into the future. Hopefully with term limits this will fully enact all of the first amendment that no religion shall be established within our federal government. The people who represent our nations citizens should not make laws from thier own personal belifs, beliefs in thier personal faiths, or personal opinions. They should be non biased for all group of all peoples and religions in our country. Real fact gathering, true debate, and discussions of these facts with no bias will ensure all people are represented.

Term Limits is the one thing that we can do to finally get some NEW minds and Creativity passing legislation that reflects CURRENT concerns for everyone.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody ! ;- }

Why is it Republicans only push for term limits when the Democrats have in the majority? What a pack of self-serving hypocrites!

Isn't it funny the person that abuses the system blows it on his comrades....also the facts of the favors at that level puts anyone at risk term limits or not........

This is a tricky proposition regardless...the dogs in charge of the doghouse......

Term limits are not the answer, only public financing of political campaigns can get the moneyed interest on the sidelines. Term limits will only give more power to those already buying our politicians.

And you expect these people to cut their own throats by supporting this. Fat Chance! And anyway who would you get to replace them? The Palin brothers I suppose?

The United States Term Limits President????

Some people will do anything for money!!

How did he make up that job(and get people to actually pay him)?????

This is the first step toward TRUE DEMOCRACY, untainted politicians, serving all, not the few, the proud, the lobbyists.