Running Scared: Why Politicians Spend More Time Campaigning Than Governing

Anthony King presents a trenchant, witty, and insightful overview of what ails Congressional elections and the Congressional process. He convincingly makes the case that Congressmen are 'hyper-responsive' to polls, interest groups, and (ultimately) 'what the voters think'. Nothing principled ever gets accomplished in Congress because every Congressman is continuously running for office, with one eye on the latest poll and the other on what his (or her) opponent is accusing the incumbent of. King presents several suggestions for reform that would ameliorate 'hyper-responsiveness'- the suggestions deserve serious discussion