SENATOR BAYH: DEPENDENT ON THE EASY WAY

Senator Bayh indicated that he won't seek another term as senator because Congress isn't working as it should. Brilliant. How about another gift of insight, like, "Water is wet" or "Fire is hot." But consider something we might not have fully known from Senator Bayh:

"I'm an executive at heart . . . . I value my independence. I'm not motivated by strident partisanship or ideology. These traits may be useful in many walks of life, but they are not highly valued in Congress."

Right. Okay, this was the reason: he likes his independence. Um, you mean this had nothing to do with the criticism he received over his waffling on health care?

The truth is senator Bayh got drilled over the fact that, while he was haggling over health care in the senate, his wife collected lucrative payments as a board member of several health care companies. People openly questioned his ethics, because these were the same businesses that would be most impacted by Congress’ proposed overhaul of the nation’s health care system. His wife Susan earned $2.1 million from health insurers between 2006 and 2008.

Bayh's professed reason to leave is as disappointing as some of the commentary that has followed. Washington Post writer Ruth Marcus decided to tell us all what Bayh's decision meant -- and she waffled like Bayh in the health care debate. Maybe, she optimistically guessed, this was "the wakeup call" the Senate really needs. (I detest cliches, especially in cases like this -- where they don't add anything to a story). Then again, she confessed, she "worries" when she considers the Tea Partiers and the Republican Congressional leadership. She actually bought Bayh's excuse that the senate is a place too mean and nasty for him to accomplish anything. Lame.

Frankly, Ms. Marcus's feelings and concerns, though valid, are not the issue. The issue is, Bayh has decided to quit, largely because it became too difficult for him to personaly benefit through his brand of public "service." He simply didn't want the hassel of being under the microscope anymore. And he became tired of fighting partisan agendas that make all of us frustrated, because no one is strong enough anymore to do something noble and then loose their job for it. And you know what, that's not news: most of us avoid government service for those same reasons.

But true leaders are what we need right now. And they don't complain about loosing their "independence." In fact, if Senator Bayh really did like his independence, then maybe he would try to lead us with an independent voice that persuaded his colleagues about the values of his supposed fiscally conservative Democratic roots. If that cost him his job, well, so what! He apparently didn't like it anyway. Besides, this way he would've gone out like a leader who actually acted like he valued independence -- unconcerned about how much his service was costing him.

Did you notice? Senator Bayh talked only about himslef, what he thought, what he liked, and what he didn't like. And some of us, shamefully, have analyzed his statements for the "real meaning" when the truth is plainly obvious.

Senator Bayh is a poor leader., hopelessly dependent on taking the easy way out. I'm glad he's leaving, not for partisan reasons but for character-based ones. I mean, who wants a senator in Congress that publicly complains, tells us what he dislikes about his job, and then announces he'll be leaving it, only so all of us can then figure out the next move. For goodness sake, Bayh's departure is not a commentary on the senate! It's a commentary on what happens to self-absorbed, tired memebers of the wealthy government elite when things get tough.

Congress is a mess. (Back to the obvious again). And rather than complain, Bayh should have appologized for failing as a leader.