Fire Hydrant of Freedom
Politics, Religion, Science, Culture and Humanities => Politics & Religion => Topic started by: Crafty_Dog on March 31, 2011, 11:43:12 AM
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No time at the moment to make the first contribution to this thread, but I did want to open the door , , ,
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If the word on the street is correct they're about to compromise, making only 30 billion in budget cuts, which amounts to fragment of a drop in a bucket in view of our 15 trillion or so claimed deficit.
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It appears the Repubs are terrified of the Dems rope a dope strategy that will hold THEM accountable for "shutting down government".
MSNBC pundits are "praying" there is no deal so they can demogague the cans on this and they think they can do to Boehner what they did to Newt. And of course the rest of the MSM is backing them.
I don't know if this strategy would work this time around, but I suspect as soon as some people fear they won't be getting their gov. checks, etc. the repubs will take a nosedive in ratings. Remember it was said that 60% of people get more out of government than they pay in.
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Calling GOP's Bluff
by Michael D. Tanner
This article appeared on The Daily on April 4, 2011.
s budget negotiations enter a final stage in an effort to prevent an April 8 government shutdown, Republicans are retreating faster than the Libyan rebels. The final result is likely to be very bad news for any serious attempt to control government spending.
A little background: This year the federal government will spend about $3.8 trillion. We will run a deficit of $1.65 trillion, and later this month we will run up against the statutory limit of $14.3 trillion in debt. And that's only the "on the books" debt. If one counts the unfunded liabilities of entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare, our real debt runs in excess of $119.5 trillion.
In the face of this looming tide of red ink, Republican leaders in the House originally proposed $38 billion in cuts. Faced with a rebellion by tea party backed budget hawks, they upped their proposed cuts to $61 billion. That amounts to roughly 1.5 percent of this year's budget. In fact it's less than 3.5 percent of this year's deficit. Last month alone, the federal government borrowed nearly four times as much as the Republicans have proposed cutting for the entire year.
Meager as they are, the proposed cuts were too much for the Democrats in Congress. They warned that cutting spending by 1.5 percent would result in wholesale carnage. It was, in the endlessly repeated phrase of Sen. Chuck Schumer, DÂ N.Y., "extreme."
Certainly one can quibble with the specific cuts that Republicans have proposed. Many of them have as much to do with political score settling as with sound budgeting. But rather than propose their own cuts, Democrats simply said "no."
As a result we now find ourselves, two temporary stopgap spending measures later, facing the prospect of a government shutdown next Friday.
This apparently terrifies the Republican leadership. They are haunted by memories of 1995, when President Bill Clinton pilloried them for shutting down the government. As a result, according to news reports, they appear willing to settle for roughly $30 billion to $35 billion in budget cuts, slightly less than the GOP leadership first proposed back in January. That's a whopping three quarters of a percent of this year's budget. To put that in perspective, if your household budget was $2,000, you would have to cut it by $15, roughly the price of a movie ticket and popcorn. But even this is a bit misleading, because roughly $16 billion of those cuts was already passed as part of the stopgap measures. Thus, we are talking about additional cuts of less than $20 billion.
Worse, Republicans appear ready to remove a number of policy provisions, called "riders," from the bill. Those riders would have, for instance, prevented funding for the implementation of Obamacare. Defunding the health care bill was supposed to be one of the Republicans' top priorities. Now, it looks like they've folded.
This, despite the fact that the public is largely on their side. According to the latest Rasmussen poll, likely voters prefer a government shutdown over maintaining current levels of spending by a 57Â 31 percent margin. If you can't stick it out with the public on your side by 26 points, how will Republicans ever make the type of really tough cuts necessary to actually balance the budget?
The Republican surrender is much bigger than just one budget bill. One of the first rules of negotiating is never to threaten to do something unless you are prepared to do it. If you're opponent calls your bluff and you fail to follow through, you've lost all credibility. Think of negotiating a raise at work. You can't threaten to quit unless you are really prepared to quit, because if the boss calls your bluff, you have lost all future leverage. That's the position Republicans find themselves in now.
In the next few weeks, Congress will have to tackle an increase in the debt ceiling, as well as next year's budget. Republicans will undoubtedly threaten all sorts of things unless Democrats agree to control spending. Pass a balanced budget amendment or we won't raise the debt ceiling. Agree to a 2012 budget that cuts spending or the government will shut down this fall.
But Democrats now know it's all a bluff. All they have to do is keep saying "no," and eventually the Republicans will crumble. All the rest is just play acting.
In the meantime, our tide of red ink will just keep getting deeper, and the coming economic crisis will creep closer. And when the day of reckoning comes, Republican cowardice will be every bit as much to blame as Democratic stubbornness.
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=12941
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I don't defend the Republicans only that they as well as Dems must have polling which shows the former will get the blame for a shutdown and it is politically too dangerous. The Dems are frothing at the mouth to have the chance to demagoue them over this.
The Rebuplicans still do not have good answers to Democrats strategy of "your cutting spending on the backs of the poor and middle class".
The dems as alsways have a field day on this simple phrase.
The Repubs still imo not convincing the public otherwise.
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The GOP Stupids Step Out
It’s so much easier being a loser — just ask John McCain
I can’t tell you how excited I am at the news that good ol’ SpongeBob is throwing his and Callista’s Squarepants into the ring for the Stupid Party’s 2012 designated-loser/presidential-candidate sweepstakes, thus joining an already crowded field of unelectables, has-beens, never-wases, never-will-be’s, who’s-he mystery men, libertarians, radical libertarians, pizza guys, former governors of Minnesota, and just plain nut jobs. Way to go, GOP! No wonder we call you the Stupid Party. You’ve earned it.
Not that Mr. Newt isn’t brilliant. He could probably whip us all on Jeopardy, especially if they asked real questions about history and stuff, instead of about Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga. But he was born in 1943, which makes him six years older than my dad, the sainted “Che” Kahane, and there’s no way I’m voting for my old man for president.
I mean, here you have His Serene Majesty the Emperor Barack Hussein Obama II, Lord of the Flies, Keeper of the Hoops, Master of the Greens, Bringer of Kinetic Military Action, Vacationer-in-Chief, Slayer of Osama, and Protector of the Holy Cities of Honolulu and Chicago, who — despite his impressive array of titles — is probably the most beatable incumbent since George H. W. Bush, and you won’t even try to beat him? Good Gaia, people, where’s the politically correct fighting spirit that negotiated a peace-process settlement with the West? The government program that subsidized the wagon trains? Libby Custer’s grief counselors after the Little Big Horn? Your intrepid forebears would be ashamed of you. Ours, not so much, since they were in therapy at the time.
Like almost none of you, I was riveted by the first-in-the-Fox-nation Republican debate the other day, and thrilled to make the acquaintance of a bunch of guys I’ll probably never lay eyes on again. While personally I’m glad that you wingnuts now officially favor legalizing heroin and sending women who exercise their semi-divine right to choose to Gitmo for enhanced interrogation, I don’t think this is a winning combo, blue-state-wise. If you’re going to beat Li’l Barry, you’re going to need to take off the gloves and bring out the A-team, not the Expendables.
Now, before you start getting all wee-wee’d up about the likes of Mr. Newt, Mitt, Michele, Sarah, Rudy, Mitch, and some Chinese guy named Huntsman, take a deep breath, settle back on the Barcalounger, and call your Obamacare state-approved caregiver — you’re having a hallucination. None of these folks is going to be president.
Newt has had as many wives as Osama, while Massachusetts Mitt is a hologram, an astral projection brought on by advanced medical technology that can produce the simulacrum of a candidate without, you know, the actual substance. Sarah will soon be best known as “Herself” on Bristol Palin’s new reality show. Michele still needs a map to find Lexington and Concord, and anyway shouldn’t she be at home with her 10,000 kids? Now that Obama’s killed Osama, Rudy seems like Encino Man, and I’m still not clear on who the Chinese guy is, except that we really, really want you to nominate him.
Which brings us to Mitch Daniels.
Don’t get me wrong — just like some of you, I’m jazzed about Mitch. Who wouldn’t be? Colorless, diffident, weird, a homunculus with hair that former frontrunner Donald Trump probably secretly envies since there’s so little of it, Daniels is the perfect puss of the Republican party in this year of our Common Era, 2011. Let’s celebrate his diverse qualifications:
● He’s from Indiana, a state with as politically incorrect a name as can be imagined. I mean, why don’t they just call it Redskinland and be done with it? Indiana is like Delaware writ a tiny bit larger, one of those states you couldn’t pick out of a police lineup if it mugged you and got arrested at the scene by Ohio and Illinois. Half of it’s a suburb of Obama, Tony Rezko, and Bill Ayers’s neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, for crying out loud. Not that there’s anything wrong with that!
● He’s basically an accountant. Nothing gets the political juices flowing and the passions boiling like a green-eyeshade guy solemnly warning the nation that a big hangover’s coming while the band’s still playing, the girls are dancing in their skivvies on the bar, and nobody’s called the cops yet. Sure, the teabaggers are all het up about the deficit and whatnot, but the rest of us love our entitlements and won’t hear a word against them. When one in seven of our fellow citizens is on food stamps, and half the population contributes a grand total of whiz-all in federal income taxes, we don’t call that a bug, we call it a feature! Free stuff for everybody, now and forever — that’s our winning campaign slogan, and if you don’t like it, try to come up with a better one.
● He’s . . . zzzzzzzzz. What? Sorry, fell asleep there for a sec. Fine now.
I know that some of you are sitting around waiting for a deus ex machina to descend from the sky and start singing a castrati aria. As you lie in bed hugging your pillow and ogling that dreamboat Glenn Beck at two in the morning, you start to fantasize about Mr. Right . . . and then a tall, dark, fat, and handsome Chris Christie emerges from the shadows like Fabio on the cover of a bodice-ripper and sweeps you off your feet, or your bum, or whatever, and into the perfumed night . . .
Well, let me let you in on a little secret — your beautiful dream is our worst nightmare. Except that we don’t see Christie as Fabio, we see him as another Italian, namely Tony Soprano. Unlike Mitt, Mitch, and the Diana-figure from The Shanghai Gesture, Chris Christie Superstar knows how to bring it; he would take the fight to Barry in a debate like Tony beating the bejesus out of the bartender at the Bada Bing club only, you know, with words and Pine Barren ’tude. Talk about a cheer moment — even those of us on the left who’ve had to swallow our formerly principled opposition to Gitmo, waterboarding, rendition, Special Ops, and, well, assassination in the interests of national solidarity might feel a thrill or two.
But the Fat Man says he ain’t running, nohow, no way. And I can respect that: When the Boss is one of your subjects, who wouldn’t want to be King of the Boardwalk? Nucky Johnson’s got nothing on Chris. Still, can you imagine a Christie/Allen West ticket — two cans of whup-ass in a one-can cubicle. Even Hillary ’12! couldn’t stand up to that.
So what are you poor slobs going to do? Who’s going to be the tomato can offering sham opposition to His Highness’s media-ordained second term in exchange for face-time emoluments down the line? Who’s going to be the designated patsy in the next Obama hagiography by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann? Who’s going to want to see his or her reputation trashed, the family dragged through the mud, the appearances on Morning Joe and Meet the Press at least temporarily halted? Whom will you find to cause Mika Brzezinski to sigh and roll her eyes prettily at the very mention of the unholy name? In short, who’s going to be the palooka?
Luckily, you’ve already got him, a candidate who’s tanned, rested, tested, and ready to lose. A man who’s seen both sides now, who’s experienced the E-ticket ride from the heights of media adulation to the depths of ignominious and disgraceful defeat and up again. A hero for our times, who’s fought back from the electoral disaster of 2008 to resume his rightful place among the Talking Heads Elect. The man to whom you owe absolutely nothing for your transient victories in the midterms. The man who, more than anybody else, gave us the glorious reign of the Emperor Hussein.
The man who never saw an aisle he didn’t want to reach across, even if he has to regenerate a new limb or two every few weeks. The fighter pilot with the common touch, who has so many houses, thanks to his rich second wife, that he can’t remember how many there are. A man of peace who never met a war he didn’t want to start, especially if we can bomb the bastards into submission without getting shot down. A man of such political bravery that he’s willing to attack his own side wherever and whenever it’s expedient. A man who takes a licking, likes it, and keeps on licking.
Ladies and gentlemen and Republicans, I give you John McCain.
Go ahead. You know you want to. It’s so much easier on all of us this way.
— As a Hollywood insider, David Kahane remains scrupulously nonpartisan in his politics: He votes for liberals and Democrats alike. You can sign on to DAVEPAC ’12 by writing to him at kahanenro@gmail.com or by abjectly begging him to be your illusory “friend” on Facebook, just as long as you shell out for your personal copy of Rules for Radical Conservatives. Proof of purchase required. Hey — it’s still a capitalist country, for the nonce.
http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/266866/gop-stupids-step-out-david-kahane
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Laughing through my tears at that one.
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http://www.daybydaycartoon.com/2011/04/12/
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Without any doubt the Republicans really should start looking for another House majority leader.
When you see the MSM state something like this:
"Boehner was praised for his early efforts to strike a major deal with the Obama" then Republicans should know its time for him to be replaced. This guy Boehner is absolutely the worst Republican house leader in memory:
***Cantor-Boehner Rivalry, Loafers Hold Up a Debt Deal
By Connor Simpson | The Atlantic Wire – 2 hrs 50 mins agotweet0EmailPrintA long rumored rivalry between the two top Republicans seems to be causing problems at the negotiating table while the president tries to hammer out a debt reduction deal before the August 2 deadline. Speaker of the House John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor are on opposing sides of the idealogical coin when it comes to debt reduction, and sartorial choices, reports the Los Angeles Times' Lisa Mascaro and Kathleen Hennessey.
Related: GOP Intensifies Demands for Votes to Raise the Debt Ceiling
Boehner was praised for his early efforts to strike a major deal with the Obama administration that would trim spending from social programs like Medicare and Social Security, but would also close tax loopholes for upperclass Americans. Cantor has hardly swayed from party lines during the negotiation process, favoring a mid-range deal more popular with the rest of "rank-and-file" Republicans. Mascaro and Hennessey describe Boehner as older, wiser and with an "old school cool." Cantor is young, scrappy and has some, "aspirations to occupy the No. 1 spot someday," meaning Boehner's job as Speaker of the house. Also, apparently, Boehner, "mocks Cantor's Italian loafers."
Related: Debt Talks Stall on Sunday
"If there's a popularity contest right now, Cantor wins it," one aide told the Times. "I don't think Boehner would want to serve in a foxhole anytime with Eric Cantor," said another.
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Boener and McConnell (Senate) are the epitome of the stereotype of the unhip old white wasp male Repbublican.
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I don't think they are winning over any independents or any new people to the Republican party. And they are certainly not winning the confidence of the tea partiers or stricter conservatives. Of course I am an armchair expert. :lol:
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Dear RedState Morning Briefing Subscriber:
Mitch McConnell just concluded a press conference declaring his intentions
to have the Senate Republicans engage in a historic capitulation. So fearful
of being blamed for a default, McConnell is proposing a compromise that lets
Barack Obama raise the debt ceiling without making any spending cuts at all.
McConnell’s idea is to make the debt ceiling
automatic<http://content.eaglepub.com/?darXZAYpvopp8oUOQD0-lYgasuWsASgRd&http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/271695/mcconnells-contingency-plan-rich-lowry>
*unless Congress, by a 2/3 vote* blocks the increase. Oh yes, he put a salve
on it by dressing it up in tough talk that, to quote the *Wall Street
Journal*, “[a] ‘eal solution’ to U.S. fiscal problems isn’t possible as long
as President Barack Obama remains in office.” So since no “real solution” is
possible, McConnell proposes to go Pontius Pilate and wash his hands of
spending, blaming Obama while doing nothing himself.
Here is how the plan would
work.<http://content.eaglepub.com/?daKg4AUppF.vHo2OGkt0kYVaiuhquSgRd&http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/271706/more-contingency-plan-rich-lowry>
In a nutshell, the President would get to raise the debt ceiling three times
in the next year at several billion bucks a pop without making any spending
cuts unless two-thirds of both houses of Congress disagree. In his press
conference, McConnell says he would not give the President “unilateral
authority to make spending cuts on his own,” but this plan would allow the
President to raise the debt ceiling pretty much automatically.
Much more information on this amazing capitulation can be found by clicking
right
here<http://content.eaglepub.com/?dargZ4YpuF.pHoUGQD00lwgaiuWquNgFd&http://www.redstate.com/erick/2011/07/12/it-is-time-to-burn-mitch-mcconnell-in-effigy-he-goes-pontius-pilate-on-the-debt-ceiling/>
. You'll find a rather appropriate suggestion for a response as well.
Sincerely yours,
Erick Erickson
Editor,
RedState.com<http://content.eaglepub.com/?darg4AYLuZD58OROoUt0D5VdiuWquSgRd&http://www.redstate.com/>
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Actually, it seems rather ingenious.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/post/exclusive-mcconnell-to-obama-eat-your-own-darn-peas/2011/03/29/gIQAqastAI_blog.html
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Maybe its because I am jet lagged, but it is so ingenious it is going right over my head with nary a look back. Please explain.
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Can't speak for JDN in ingenious but Bloomberg tries to explain it:
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McConnell’s plan would let the president increase the limit in three stages unless Congress disapproves by a two-thirds majority, while Obama would also be required to propose offsetting spending cuts. The spending reductions would be advisory, and the debt-ceiling increase would occur regardless of whether lawmakers enact the cuts, McConnell said.
Don Stewart, a spokesman for McConnell, said the plan would allow Obama to raise the debt limit while putting the onus on him and congressional Democrats to cut spending.
At the same time, Republicans wouldn’t have to agree to tax increases. The proposal would force Democrats to cast multiple votes to raise the debt ceiling before the next election, while giving Republicans the chance to vote against that without risking a default.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-12/mcconnell-said-to-propose-three-stage-process-for-raising-u-s-debt-limit.html
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(Doug continued) First of all there will be a lot of noise in the room while two sides position themselves for failure. The idea from McConnell is that this is not going to get done otherwise. R's have to choose now between tax increases- unacceptable, and default - unacceptable, or making imaginary cuts unilaterally that will never happen but be used forever against them. The McConnell idea continues the deficit for Obama's term but puts it all back on Dems to raise debt without R. support. All politics, no economics.
So-called default really means that Aug.1 or whenever d-day is, we get a de facto balanced budget exactly as proposed for the constitution without even taking that vote or sending it to the states. No additional borrowing means immediate zero deficit, with spending limited to revenues running at 18% of GDP exactly as written in the proposed amendment, but without the 5 year phase-in.
Too good to be true. The political and economic problems with that are that we need a balanced budget at full employment not at sputtering levels. It has to be combined with a pro-growth agenda putting us back on track or else it is all root canal and no pain killer.
Obama can't reform entitlements at all because his party will revolt, and it has to pass in the Senate. Republicans can't take vague spending cuts later because they don't happen. Neither side can afford real tax increases because they doom what is left of this economy, and they won't pass in the House.
Kent Conrad, Senate Budget Chair, want to close loopholes AND raise tax rates, worst of both worlds. Take more resources while worsening the disincentives to produce - and he is retiring in 2012. Try to negotiate with him!
I think we agreed (some of us) that driving out of this mess was going to be a two election cycle process, 2010-2012. We need to survive the last Obama year and make certain to win next year, House, Senate and Presidency, or live forever in decline (no intended exaggeration). Even then R's will lack the 60 votes in the senate and struggle to implement anything. :-( Extending the debt limit with no change in budgeting is the status quo, but deeper to dig out from. The McConnell offer puts a requirement on Obama to propose cuts in exchange for new debt. Republicans can accept those cuts and send them back or tweak them and fight further.
Hopefully, Obama sees this as a successful PR move by McConnell covering the R asses against an unnecessary shutdown, and putting it back on him to get meaningful, immediate cuts now.
He's had enough time on the sidelines to think about it.
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My only request is for Republicans to stop being afraid of speaking the truth. For example Senator Inhofe makes good points but then has to add:
"and I don’t mean this disrespectfully,"
Will other Republicans get a titanium spine like Bachman and just say it like it is? Why do they have to always temper their opinions with things like "I like the President personally" or "I think he is well meaning" or "a great American". He is not a nice guy. He is not honest and he is more about being a great *anti*- American, and he is *not* well meaning. He is destroying out country plain and simple. I wish Mark Levin could reach out to the rest of American and not just the choir. He says it like it is. Why won't her run for office?
****Inhofe lays long list of nation’s ills at Obama’s feet
BLAME GAME
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe: He said Obama is at fault for the U.S. debt problem.
By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer
Published: 8/24/2011 4:04 AM
Last Modified: 8/24/2011 4:04 AM
BROKEN ARROW — President Barack Obama alone is to blame for the nation’s budget deficit – and just about everything else, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe told the Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.
“We now have a president, and I don’t mean this disrespectfully, who is destroying these very institutions that made America great,” Inhofe, R-Okla., said.
Inhofe went on to say the Obama administration has “disarmed America,” is solely responsible for the federal budget deficit, mostly responsible for the nation’s dependence on imported oil and suffocating business with regulations.
He also said Obama engineered the House Republicans’ ban on earmarks in order to give himself more control of the budget.
“When they came along with this moratorium, you have to let the president run everything,” Inhofe said. “They conceded that authority to the president of the United States, so that’s why the president was behind the whole earmark thing."
Inhofe said the earmark ban allowed the administration to block a new $10 million control tower scheduled for Tinker Air Force Base.
He said military spending, as a share of gross domestic product, has declined during the Obama administration and criticized unflattering descriptions of the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where terror suspects are held, saying, “You know the biggest problem for prisoners when they get to Gitmo? Obesity."
Inhofe said the idea that prisoners have been tortured there was invented by Obama and others “to make you think something bad is happening in America — the same thing he does and others do when they go around talking about how bad America is."
Inhofe said the deficit is Obama’s fault because “it’s the president’s budget. Period. That’s the end of it."
He said the recent debtlimit agreement is a sham that does little or nothing to reduce overall spending. One solution, he continued, would be to repeal the health-care reform law, which he said is an example of “social engineering” designed to make Americans more dependent on the federal government.
Inhofe also cited extended unemployment benefits, saying he saw no reason for them in Oklahoma because the state has “virtually full employment."
Inhofe laid out a long list of regulatory steps he said would cost taxpayers and employers billions of dollars in taxes and lost productivity, and said the country could be “totally independent from the Middle East in a matter of weeks, not years,” if the administration allowed unfettered oil and gas development on public lands.
Noting that he will not be up for re-election until 2014, Inhofe said, “Don’t misunderstand, (nothing) I’m saying now is for political purposes."*****
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Off the lead story on Drudge at this time:
"A top Republican in Washington dramatically altered his stance on protesters involved in Occupy Wall Street just one week after comparing the movement to “angry mobs”. Eric Cantor, the Republican majority leader in the House of Representatives, told Fox News on Sunday that Republicans agreed there was “too much” income disparity in the country. “More important than my use of the word [‘mobs’] is that there is a growing frustration out there across the country and it is warranted. Too many people are out of work,” he said."
This is a FIRST from a top Republican spokeperson. A recognition of the wealth gap. This in my humble opinion is a good step. We must start hearing more recognition from the right about this. This IS what I have been hoping more of from the right. Simply speaking about opening up the tax spiggots and let the wealth poor in for the producers and those at the top and let it trickle down is NOT enough. I've said repeatedly that those independents and many others do not buy this argument. The middle class is becoming the lower class in this country. The rich are getting richer. The game is rigged to some extent at the top. Like to admit it or not that is fact. As I have said before Repubs ignore this altogether at their own peril. Even Buchanan rightly pointed out the growing disparity in wealth and the slow crushing burden on the middle and that neither the right nor the left has offered a decent answer for this. The right simply ignores it altogether - BIG mistake.
And again (I hope not ad nauseum) I say that as long as the right keeps ignoring this they will always be struggling to get the vote majority. Isn't this cleary demonstrated by the fact that Brock STILL has a real chance of winning again?
Like Crafty suggested the right can steal the Democratic thunder (at least some of it) by embracing some of the Wall Street protest anger. They may actually win over some of the independents.
So I am glad that Cantor (who I like) has changed his tune - or at least according to this article he may have.
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So what would be the policy solution to this gap?
I for one have never slept with a hot Hollywood actress, while Brad Pitt has slept with many. I'm angry and want some law to ensure every guy has equal access to A-list babes. :wink:
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So what would be the policy solution to this gap? "
I don't want transfer of wealth.
Simplify the tax code. Get rid of loopholes that only the rich even know about. How about getting rid of off shore tax havens. Some estimates hold over 9 trillion off shore - more than all the combined holdings of all us banks are off shore in switzerland caman islands, mauritania and others.
Otherwise I admit I am not sure. I can think of things but I don't know which or any that would work. Humanity is just too corrupt.
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"I don't want transfer of wealth."
Well, I'm pretty sure that's the only policy solution the left has for this issue.
I'm all for simplifying the tax code. As far as loopholes only the rich know about, it's not the rich, it's the legions of CPAs and tax attorneys the rich (like Warren Buffet) pay to use the loopholes for them. Those Accountants and Attorneys have lobbists that fight every attempt to simplify the US tax code.
As far as offshore tax havens, we've done everything possible to end them, without much success, but we have made things very difficult for Americans working outside the US. I think tax competition is a good thing. Rather than setting up walls to keep money in, we should attract that money back here by lower tax rates.
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"Those Accountants and Attorneys have lobbists that fight every attempt to simplify the US tax code."
Lobbyists are another problem. They spend big money. And pols need big money for campaigns. They need big money to pay for the media complex. The need lobbyist slots to stack with their relatives and business partners so it seems.
Campaign finance reform was lambasted by the right. Certainly McCain's point had some ethical validity.
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"So what would be the policy solution to this gap?"
For lower and middle income earners to have the opportunity to earn more money if they want to.
Disparity tells us that people with high incomes make more money than people with lower incomes. We are missing something with that. I learn more when we compare some other variable such as that people who set an alarm and get up in the morning make more money than people who don't. Or people who have saved and invested in their earlier years make more investment income now than people who didn't.
Fact is that a typical person moves freely between at least 3 or 4 of the 5 quintiles of earners in the course of their lifetime.
The question IMO isn't disparity but opportunity. If 40% of young people are unemployed right now, our policies are choking off their momentum to work a couple of jobs, save and start of business of their own someday.
"Campaign finance reform was lambasted by the..." ... [first amendment] :wink:
"Simplify the tax code. Get rid of loopholes" YES! And closing the loopholes means the marginal rates can be lower, and that would help investment, expansion and hiring get going again, helping those currently left out of the economy who don't want to be. Favorable conditions for economic growth will not cure disparity,but it does help everybody.
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"Campaign finance reform was lambasted by the right. Certainly McCain's point had some ethical validity."
The rich and powerful always have access to the politicians. Those of us who are not can combine our money to ensure our voices are heard as well. Those speech restrictions serve to disenfranchise us while allowing the rich and powerful and the MSM to set the political agenda of the nation.
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I have read serious analyses of McCain-Feingold (perhaps posted here in this forum somewhere :-) ) which have persuaded me that despite the accompanying rhetoric, was structured to make it more difficult to challenge incumbents.
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"McCain-Feingold...was structured to make it more difficult to challenge incumbents."
True even if by accident. Incumbents start with a big advantage, the powers of incumbency: briefing letters, press stories covering their work in Washington and their local visits, paid staff helping constituents, etc. Spending limits applied evenly to everyone lock in that advantage.
The way you limit money in politics is limit what influence is for sale. If the public were to not tolerate the special treatment of special groups in the tax code, in spending bills or in regulations, most of that kind of money would dry up quickly.
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Scarborough who was once part of the Gingrich Republican revolution is a self serving establishment guy making lots of money now trying to seem moderate and conciliatory. Is this guy that stupid, bought and paid for, or does he just not get it?
Republicans like him have sold us all out. I was shocked and disgusted by his total mocking diatribe this AM on the MSNBC Democrat machine propaganda network. Instead of appauding Cain he mocks him. With Republicans like him we don't need enemies. What is his salary anyway? Is he doing that broad who sits next to him or what? They certainly appear to have something going between them. But I digress:
****POLITICOOpinionThe reality show facing GOP votersMain Content
Opinion Column
The reality show facing GOP voters
Here's the hook -- no one in this actors’ studio is qualified to be president, the author says. | AP Photo Close
By JOE SCARBOROUGH | 10/17/11 4:11 PM EDT
All the world is a stage and in this year’s GOP presidential race, it is a reality show soundstage cluttered with clownish characters auditioning for the role of commander in chief.
A bemused audience of political spectators and cable chatterers has been entertained this year by a fallen speaker, a pizza mogul, a wild-eyed ideologue, a billionaire developer and a hockey mom from Alaska.
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Two of those actors have starred in actual reality shows, but — here’s the hook — no one in this actors’ studio is qualified to be president.
This train wreck of a reality show started the season with a sputtering governor’s resignation. That was followed by a blizzard of book deals, reality shows and FOX News contracts that kept the chattering classes transfixed. Never mind the fact that few mainstream political commentators ever bothered to mention to their audience that Sarah Palin was ill-equipped to handle this show’s lead role.
Palin’s presidential screen test was rudely interrupted by “Apprentice” star Donald Trump, who commanded center stage long enough to sneak a peek at President Obama’s birth certificate, all the while renegotiating a blockbuster deal with NBC.
Being the front-runner for the GOP nomination carried certain benefits, and for The Donald that advantage came in the form of leverage over NBC Entertainment.
As Trump left the political stage, the void was quickly filled by the tea party’s best supporting actress, Michele Bachmann — whose rapid rise and fall was a political rags-to-riches and back to rags story that few Hollywood producers would find believable. That is, unless they heard that unlikely pitch after working on Rick Perry’s presidential campaign.
Perry, who seemed to call for the hanging of Ben Bernanke along with the secession of Texas, saw his lead in the GOP field dissolve faster than a tax break for “Jersey Shore” in Chris Christie’s home state.
And speaking of that low-rent reality show, the Republican party’s answer to Michael “The Situation” Sorrentino found himself booted to the side of the stage after dumping an untold fortune on bling in a blue box. Tiffany’s favorite former speaker was also caught on camera roughing up enemies by comparing them to Joseph Stalin and Adolph Hitler. Like Sorrentiino, Newt Gingrich has proved himself to be every bit as rhetorically reckless as when the “Jersey Shore” star threatened to kick Snookie’s boyfriend in the head.
All of this leads us to Herman Cain, a man so woefully ill-prepared for the presidency that his lone economic adviser brags about being ignorant of economic theory with as much gusto as candidate Cain mocks those who would suggest he knows little about world politics.
“When they ask me, ‘Who is President of UBEKI-beki-beki-becki-stan, stan, I am going to say ‘Do you know?’”
The fact that Citizen Cain takes great pride in his ignorance of global affairs is understandably unnerving to American voters in this unstable age. But on the small stage on which Mr. Cain now finds himself, the Godfather’s Pizza CEO fits with these vapid times as much as James Dean did with his in the 1950s classic, “Rebel Without a Cause.” Sadly, Cain and his fellow cast members are little more than rebels without a clue. That reality is a dismal curtain call for the Republican party and the country it hopes to run.
Compared with the GOP’s field of reality stars, George W. Bush looks like Brando, Paul Ryan is as attractive as Robert Redford, and Chris Christie is Brad Pitt. So much for an audition process that leaves the audience, once again, aching for more.
A guest columnist for POLITICO, Joe Scarborough hosts “Morning Joe” on MSNBC and represented Florida’s 1st Congressional District in the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2001.****
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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203458604577265751564200644.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_AboveLEFTTop
Congress finally ended decades of tax credits for ethanol in December, a small triumph for taxpayers. Now comes another test as the wind-power industry lobbies for a $7 billion renewal of its production tax credit.
The renewable energy tax credit—mostly for wind and solar power—started in 1992 as a "temporary" benefit for an infant industry. Twenty years later, the industry wants another four years on the dole, and Senator Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico has introduced a national renewable-energy mandate so consumers will be required to buy wind and solar power no matter how high the cost.
The truth is that those giant wind turbines from Maine to California won't turn without burning through billions upon billions of taxpayer dollars. In 2010 the industry received some $5 billon in subsidies for nearly every stage of wind production.
The "1603 grant program" pays up to 30% of the construction costs for renewable energy plants (a subsidy that ended last year but which President Obama calls for reviving in his budget). Billions in Department of Energy grants and loan guarantees also finance the operating costs of these facilities. Wind producers then get the 2.2% tax credit for every kilowatt of electricity generated.
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The San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm in Whitewater, Calif.
.Because wind-powered electricity is so expensive, more than half of the 50 states have passed renewable energy mandates that require utilities to purchase wind and solar power—a de facto tax on utility bills. And don't forget subsidies to build transmission lines to deliver wind power to the electric grid.
What have taxpayers received for this multibillion-dollar "investment"? The latest Department of Energy figures indicate that wind and solar power accounted for a mere 1.5% of U.S. energy production in 2010. DOE estimates that by 2035 wind will provide a still trivial 3.9% of U.S. electricity.
Even that may be too optimistic because of the natural gas boom that has produced a happy supply shock and cut prices by more than half. Most economic models forecasting that renewable energy will become price competitive are based on predictions of natural gas prices at well above $6 per million cubic feet, more than twice the current cost.
The most dishonest claim is that wind and solar deserve to be wards of the state because the oil and gas industry has also received federal support. That's the $4 billion a year in tax breaks for oil and gas (which all manufacturers receive), but the oil and gas industry still pays tens of billions in federal taxes every year.
Wind and solar companies are net tax beneficiaries. Taxpayers would save billions of dollars if wind and solar produced no energy at all. A July 2011 Energy Department study found that oil, natural gas and coal received an average of 64 cents of subsidy per megawatt hour in 2010. Wind power received nearly 100 times more, or $56.29 per megawatt hour.
Most Congressional Democrats will back anything with the green label. But Republican support for big wind is a pure corporate welfare play that violates free-market principles. Last week six Republican Senators—John Boozman of Arkansas, Scott Brown of Massachusetts, Charles Grassley of Iowa, John Hoeven of North Dakota, Jerry Moran of Kansas and John Thune of South Dakota—signed a letter urging their colleagues to extend the production tax credit.
"It is clear that the wind industry currently requires tax incentives" and that continuing that federal aid can help the industry "move towards a market-based system," said the letter. What's the "market-based" timetable—100 years? In the House 18 Republicans have joined the 70-Member wind pork caucus. Someone should remind them that in 2008 and 2010 the wind lobby gave 71% of its PAC money to Democrats.
Here's a better idea. Kill all energy subsidies—renewable and nonrenewable, starting with the wind tax credit, and use the savings to shave two or three percentage points off America's corporate income tax. Kansas Congressman Mike Pompeo has a bill to do so. This would do more to create jobs than attempting to pick energy winners and losers. Mandating that American families and businesses use expensive electricity doesn't create jobs. It destroys them
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In the age of trillion-dollar annual deficits, Americans are looking for some sign—any sign—that Washington is serious about trimming the size of government. So here's some advice for House Republicans: Vote against the reauthorization and expansion of the Export-Import Bank on Wednesday.
The House leadership wants to increase the bank's exposure cap to $140 billion by 2014 from $100 billion today, with a few minor reforms attached to make the package politically saleable. In a statement Friday, Speaker John Boehner said the bipartisan deal—struck by Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Minority Whip Steny Hoyer—is "necessary to promote American exports and remove a threat to the creation of American jobs."
That's job creation, French-style. The Ex-Im Bank extends taxpayer-backed loans, loan guarantees and insurance to the clients of some of America's largest corporations, all of which have access to private financing. Slightly less than half of the business goes to help a single company, Boeing. Ex-Im also must by law extend 20% of its financing to small businesses. So much for assessing risks and rewards as the market dictates.
It's true that Ex-Im has had bipartisan support for years. President Obama expanded Ex-Im to promote his export agenda. Republicans justified the bank during the Cold War as helping America's national security and more recently as a boon to business, which likes taxpayer-backed, cheap financing, thank you very much. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Manufacturers are vocal supporters of the Cantor-Hoyer deal.
The GOP House leadership no doubt finds it hard to buck such a united business front, especially when Democrats are looking for an issue to appear more business-friendly after the hostility of the Pelosi Congress. Government guarantees are one policy that Democrats can always get behind.
But Republicans were not elected in 2010 on a message of business subsidies as usual. They were elected on a platform of government reform and fiscal restraint. They are trying to maintain that image by claiming that they are "reforming" Ex-Im—for example, by tying the increase in lending to the bank's overall default rate and requiring the Government Accountability Office to review Ex-Im's business plan and risk management. But this is eyewash compared to the increase in Ex-Im exposure, and the penalty for breaking the default cap isn't harsh.
The House is considering the Ex-Im bill under suspension rules, which requires two-thirds approval for passage. This means that on a normal voting day around 135 Republicans could defeat it.
No one is going to vote out a Representative for opposing subsidies for clients of General Electric. But voters and financial markets might notice and applaud that Republicans meant what they said about making hard choices. The essential tasks of a bankrupt federal government should not include subsidies for the biggest corporations.
A version of this article appeared May 8, 2012, on page A12 in some U.S. editions of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: Republicans and Big Business
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http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/may/23/facebook-posts/viral-facebook-post-says-barack-obama-has-lowest-s/
With the caveats offered below, from the article:
So why the disconnect between Obama’s image as a big spender and the reality of how much federal spending has actually grown?
First, Obama’s record on debt is a lot less flattering than is his record on federal government spending. During the same time that spending is poised to be increasing by 1.4 percent per year under Obama, the debt will be increasing by 14.6 percent per year. The reason? Year by year, federal revenues haven’t been keeping up with spending, due to the struggling national economy (which has held back tax revenues) and a continuation of tax cuts. And each year there’s an annual deficit, the national debt grows.
Second, federal spending under Obama is higher as a share of gross domestic product than it has been in most of the previous 60 years. That, too is because of the economy, which has simultaneously slowed the growth of GDP and boosted government spending for programs such as food stamps and Medicaid.
Third, the aging of the baby boomers has driven a rise in entitlement spending that is masking cuts Obama and the GOP Congress have made, and have promised to make, in discretionary spending. Using outlays as the unit of measurement, as Nutting and the Facebook post have done, means focusing on money already spent. It does not take into account future spending that’s been committed to but not yet carried out.
And finally, many Americans associate Obama with the high-profile legislative activities of his first year or two, when initiatives such as the stimulus sent spending upward the fastest. Since then, spending has slowed, thanks in part to spending cuts pushed by congressional Republicans.
Which brings us to another important issue: The president is not all-powerful, so his record on spending was accomplished in collaboration with congressional Republicans.
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Ummm , , , BD , , , why are you posting this?
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It is a George Orwell world where you can take trillions in temporary, one time, emergency spending, make it all permanent, add another couple of percent on top of it, then have a fact check operation verify historic spending restraint! The benchmark is to compare Obama administration spending, half under Republican congress, with the surge in spending that he advanced as a de facto leader of the Senate.
That didn't happen under his watch?
"Barack Obama has lowest spending record of any recent president" "Mostly True"
By the exact same logic, this has been the coldest decade in recorded temperature history.
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Ummm , , , BD , , , why are you posting this?
Because I found the article to be interesting. Apparently, though I will readily admit I have not checked the math myself, Obama has not spent in the ways that he is often accused of.
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The math happened to be discussed on the roundtable of FOX's "Special Report w Brett Baier" (my idea of an excellent news program by the way) by Steve Hayes, Juan Williams, and Charles Krauthammer (whom I hold in high regard). CK's assessment was something along the line of "one of the all time whoppers". SH concurred and JM did not contest this.
Working from memory the gist of it is that the baseline was utterly spurious. It included one time spending such as the spending for the Iraq Surge, TARP 1, (then T-2, T-3, etc :roll: )
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"It included one time spending such as the spending for the Iraq Surge, TARP 1, "
Yes. They not only include the emergency spending of Fall 2008 that 100% as much authorized by Obama as much as by Bush and McCain, they also include from inauguration 2009 until the end of the 'Bush' fiscal year on Sept 30, 2009. During that time he had the Executive Branch, majorities in the House and Senate and a filibuster proof 60th vote during part of it. What control could they possibly had over spending?
I am so sick of these fact check sites acting like they are one bit more accurate than any other pundit or blog.
http://dailycaller.com/2012/05/23/numbers-dont-lie-but-democrats-do/
Numbers don’t lie, but Democrats do
It’s been breaking news all over MSNBC, liberal blogs, newspapers and even The Wall Street Journal: “Federal spending under Obama at historic lows … It’s clear that Obama has been the most fiscally moderate president we’ve had in 60 years.” There’s even a chart!
I’ll pause here to give you a moment to mop up the coffee on your keyboard. Good? OK, moving on …
This shocker led to around-the-clock smirk fests on MSNBC. As with all bogus social science from the left, liberals hide the numbers and proclaim: It’s “science”! This is black and white, inarguable, and why do Republicans refuse to believe facts?
Ed Schultz claimed the chart exposed “the big myth” about Obama’s spending: “This chart — the truth — very clearly shows the truth undoubtedly.” And the truth was, the “growth in spending under President Obama is the slowest out of the last five presidents.”
Note that Schultz also said that the “part of the chart representing President Obama’s term includes a stimulus package, too.” As we shall see, that is a big, fat lie.
Schultz’s guest, Reuters columnist David Cay Johnston, confirmed: “And clearly, Obama has been incredibly tight-fisted as a president.”
On her show, Rachel Maddow proclaimed: “Factually speaking, spending has leveled off under President Obama. Spending is not skyrocketing under President Obama. Spending is flattening out under President Obama.”
In response, three writers from “The Daily Show” said, “We’ll never top that line,” and quit.
Inasmuch as this is obviously preposterous, I checked with John Lott, one of the nation’s premier economists and author of the magnificent new book with Grover Norquist: Debacle: Obama’s War on Jobs and Growth and What We Can Do Now to Regain Our Future.
It turns out Rex Nutting, author of the phony Marketwatch chart, attributes all spending during Obama’s entire first year, up to Oct. 1, to President Bush.
That’s not a joke.
That means, for example, the $825 billion stimulus bill, proposed, lobbied for, signed and spent by Obama, goes in … Bush’s column. (And if we attribute all of Bush’s spending for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and No Child Left Behind to William Howard Taft, Bush didn’t spend much either.)
Nutting’s “analysis” is so dishonest, even The New York Times has ignored it. He includes only the $140 billion of stimulus money spent after Oct. 1, 2009, as Obama’s spending. And he’s testy about that, grudgingly admitting that Obama “is responsible (along with the Congress) for about $140 billion in extra spending in the 2009 fiscal year from the stimulus bill.”
Nutting acts as if it’s the height of magnanimity to “attribute that $140 billion in stimulus to Obama and not to Bush …”
On what possible theory would that be Bush’s spending? Hey — we just found out that Obamacare’s going to cost triple the estimate. Let’s blame it on Calvin Coolidge!
Nutting’s “and not to Bush” line is just a sleight of hand. He’s hoping you won’t notice that he said “$140 billion” and not “$825 billion,” and will be fooled into thinking that he’s counting the entire stimulus bill as Obama’s spending. (He fooled Ed Schultz!)
The theory is that a new president is stuck with the budget of his predecessor, so the entire 2009 fiscal year should be attributed to Bush.
But Obama didn’t come in and live with the budget Bush had approved. He immediately signed off on enormous spending programs that had been specifically rejected by Bush. This included a $410 billion spending bill that Bush had refused to sign before he left office. Obama signed it on March 10, 2009. Bush had been chopping brush in Texas for two months at that point. Marketwatch’s Nutting says that’s Bush’s spending.
Obama also spent the second half of the Troubled Asset Relief Fund (TARP). These were discretionary funds meant to prevent a market meltdown after Lehman Brothers collapsed. By the end of 2008, it was clear the panic had passed, and Bush announced that he wouldn’t need to spend the second half of the TARP money.
But on Jan. 12, 2009, Obama asked Bush to release the remaining TARP funds for Obama to spend as soon as he took office. By Oct. 1, Obama had spent another $200 billion in TARP money. That, too, gets credited to Bush, according to the creative accounting of Rex Nutting.
There are other spending bills that Obama signed in the first quarter of his presidency, bills that would be considered massive under any other president — such as the $40 billion child health care bill, which extended coverage to immigrants as well as millions of additional Americans. These, too, are called Bush’s spending.
Frustrated that he can’t shift all of Obama’s spending to Bush, Nutting also lowballs the spending estimates during the later Obama years. For example, although he claims to be using the White House’s numbers, the White House’s estimate for 2012 spending is $3.795 trillion. Nutting helpfully knocks that down to $3.63 trillion.
But all those errors pale in comparison to Nutting’s counting Obama’s nine-month spending binge as Bush’s spending.
If liberals will attribute Obama’s trillion-dollar stimulus bill to Bush, what won’t they do?
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Thanks for the post/updates Guro and Doug.
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Compared to the Koch brothers money and influence, Soros is just a "poor" boy trying to do good.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-secret-money-20120528,0,3399955.story
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Speaking of gaffes :-o
"But the Web was taking no shortage of presidential potshots Wednesday over Republican candidate Mitt Romney’s new mobile app, which embarrassingly misspelled “America.”
Yes, Internet. Welcome to AMERCIA."
http://fox8.com/2012/05/30/romney-iphone-app-misspells-america-to-webs-delight/
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Speaking of gaffes :-o
"But the Web was taking no shortage of presidential potshots Wednesday over Republican candidate Mitt Romney’s new mobile app, which embarrassingly misspelled “America.”
Yes, Internet. Welcome to AMERCIA."
http://fox8.com/2012/05/30/romney-iphone-app-misspells-america-to-webs-delight/
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This will be exploited by the 57 states/CorPsman guy? We may look back and say this cost Romney the election.
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:-D
Actually that was my point; gaffes do happen. Laugh or joke, even lightly criticize, but then oh well, let's move on.
But give Obama the same break....
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Analogy would be if Romney's teleprompter said 'Amercia' and he pronounced it "a-mer-see-a".
Republicans are used to being held to a double standard on areas they are purported to be strong on, such as moral behaviors. I don't a lot of sympathy for Mark Foley and the young pages or the Idaho Senator soliciting in the MSP men's room. Out they go often taking the party and the principle with them.
"give Obama the same break"
Obama has been held out to us as the smartest guy to set foot in the oval office, Rhodes scholar Clinton notwithstanding. I believe it was JDN that pointed out in 2008 that McCain finished last in his naval academy class meaning that intelligence matters and that we will point out all evidence to the contrary. (McCain knows how to pronounce 'corpsman'.) Obama still chooses to not let us know how he got where he got, whether it was based on merit or on something else. I wonder how many times Bush was ridiculed for saying nuc-yular or other Bushisms. When people see evidence that this emperor has no clothes and the msm take a pass on it, it is going to be circulated around the other places where people point things out to each other.
His teleprompter writer needs to write Corpsman as core-man to cover his ignorance and lifetime disinterest in all things military. His handlers who proofread his speeches are so careful and thorough in honoring great American socialists but could give a rat's ass about offending our allies. They should be replaced with better ones if he is interested in a second term. Assuming Pres. Obama knows better, it tells me he is too bored with his own speeches to listen carefully while he delivers them.
Speaking of gaffes, his first real Presidential decision was to choose Joe Biden, a clean and articulate Senator, as the second smartest person in the land, assuming smarts are paramount. His governing philosophy from Obamacare to Solyindra to carbon tax to cash for clunkers is that the smart people in Washington know better than you what is best for you. I not only don't want to be ruled by people smarter than me but I also stubbornly deny that they in fact are.
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http://www.daybydaycartoon.com/2013/03/08/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+daybydaycartoon%2FkUnt+%28Day+by+Day+Cartoon+by+Chris+Muir%29#006869
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Fcuk the 'pub establishment.
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Mitch McConnell joined in with Rand. Reince Preibus (sp?) head of RNC says he started the stand with rand tweating. All the big shows, Beck, Rush, Hannity had Rand on. Karl Rove on the defensive has celebrated the tea party victories, just not the losses. McCain and Graham are not party establishment - they made careers out of bucking the party, not joining it. I'm not sure there is a 'pub' establishment anymore. If there is it is run by Rand Paul, Paul Ryan, Marco Rubio and now Ted Cruz. Very fluid situation. More accurately it is run from the ground up represented by some these people and others.
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Caddell Unloads on 'Racketeering' GOP Consultants
by Michael Patrick Leahy 14 Mar 2013
Pat Caddell, the Fox News Contributor and Democrat pollster who engineered Jimmy Carter’s 1976 Presidential victory, blew the lid off CPAC on Thursday with a blistering attack on "racketeering" Republican consultants who play wealthy donors like "marks."
"I blame the donors who allow themselves to be played for marks. I blame the people in the grassroots for allowing themselves to be played for suckers....It's time to stop being marks. It's time to stop being suckers. It’s time for you people to get real," he told the audience that included two top Republican consultants.
Caddell stole the show as a panelist in the breakout session titled "Should We Shoot All the Consultants Now?" He spoke with a fire and passion that electrified the room. When the session began the large room was half filled, but as word spread of the fireworks going on inside, the audience streamed in. By the end, it was standing room only.
Breitbart News spoke with Caddell prior to his talk, and he promised he would deliver a "brutal critique" of the Republican establishment and its political consulting class. He did not disappoint, pulling no punches with an unyielding evisceration of a small group of Republican consultants, the Romney campaign, the Republican National Committee, and Karl Rove's Crossroads GPS Super PAC.
"When you have the Chief of Staff of the Republican National Committee and the political director of the Romney campaign, and their two companies get $150 million at the end of the campaign for the 'fantastic' get-out-the-vote program...some of this borders on RICO [the 1970 Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act] violations," Caddell told the crowd. "It's all self dealing going on. I think it works on the RICO thing. They’re in the business of lining their pockets."
"The Republican Party," Caddell continued, "is in the grips of what I call the CLEC--the consultant, lobbyist, and establishment complex." Caddell described CLEC as a self serving interconnected network of individuals and organizations interested in preserving their own power far more than they're interested in winning elections.
"Just follow the money," Caddell told a rapt audience. "It’s all there in the newspaper. The way it works is this--ever since we centralized politics in Washington, the House campaign committee and the Senate campaign committee, they decide who they think should run. You hire these people on the accredited list [they say to candidates] otherwise we won't give you money. You hire my friend or else."
Financial corruption is a key component of the current process, according to Caddell. "There's money passing under the table on both parties. Don’t kid yourself...If you can’t see racketeering in front of you, God save you."
As a Democrat, Caddell said he could tell the truth about the failings of the Republicans 2012 campaign efforts since "I have no interest in the Republican Party." He compared Republicans unfavorably to Democrats."In my party we play to win. We play for life and death. You people play for a different kind of agenda...Your party has no problem playing the Washington Generals to the Harlem Globetrotters."
Caddell left no doubt he is not an admirer of Mitt Romney's campaign management skills. He called Romney "the worst executive I've seen" when it comes to leading a political campaign. Romney's failure to attack Obama's Benghazi debacle during the foreign policy debate was "cravenness" that came about because his consultants told him "we don’t want to look warlike."
Caddell also said Romney failed to back his campaign with his own money when it was most needed. "My question for Romney is, you spent $45 million [of your own money] in your 2008 campaign where you didn't have a chance. Why didn't you give your campaign a loan in the spring instead of letting Obama define you?"
Romney, Caddell said, was not on top of his game when he failed to anticipate attacks based on his business career. "You didn't know Bain was coming? Ted Kennedy used it against you." Romney lost to Ted Kennedy in the 1994 Senate election in Massachusetts.
Caddell was equally caustic in his evaluation of the Republican consultants who managed Romney's campaign. "Of course this election could have been won. It should have been won," he said. "The Romney campaign was the worst campaign in my lifetime except for ninety minutes [in the first debate] thanks to Barack Obama."
"There was a failure of strategy, a failure of tactics, a massive failure of messaging. Most of all there was a total failure of imagination." Caddell singled out Stuart Stevens, a key figure in Romney's campaign, in a particularly withering critique. "Stevens had as much business running a campaign as I do sprouting wings and flying out of this room," he said to an audience that applauded.
Caddell said that Romney inexplicably allowed Obama to define him without fighting back. If Obama had a 50% favorable rating on election day, he had an 80% chance of winning. If he had a 45% favorable rating on election day, he had a 90% chance of losing. On election day, Obama's favorable rating was 51% because, Caddell said, "Republicans failed to hold him down."
"A majority of the people wanted to repeal Obamacare, [an issue that] the Republican Party abandoned," Caddell noted. He added that "on the issue of bigger or smaller government, one-third of the people who want smaller government voted for Obama."
Caddell criticized the RNC's planned announcement on Monday of the RNC's Growth and Opportunity Project report, which he dismissed as "this whitewash...being produced at the RNC. You can not have the people who failed responsible for finding the solution."
Caddell predicted that the Republican Party, unless it became the anti-establishment, anti-Washington party, would become extinct, like the 19th century Whig Party. "These people [in the consulting-lobbying-establishment complex] are doing business for themselves. They are a part of the Washington establishment. These people don’t want to have change."
The 2010 takeover of Congress by the Republicans, Caddell said, "was not engineered by the Washington Republican establishment. They [the establishment] then took that victory and threw it away."
Caddell called Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) "the Ambrose Burnside of American politics." Burnside was the commander of the Union's Army of the Potomac during the Civil War. He was dismissed by Lincoln for his inability to press his advantage against the enemy, his plodding and unimaginative strategies, and his inability to focus resources on the tactics needed for victory.
Caddell cautioned Republicans not to read too much in the 2012 results where they maintained control of the House of Representatives. "You won the House [in 2012] because of the reapportionment that came after the 2010 [Tea Party] victories," he said. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), elected in 2010, and Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), elected in 2012, had to fight this establishment at every step in the process and "claw their way" to electoral success, Caddell said.
When an audience member asked Caddell why he, a Democrat, was offering Republicans advice that would help them beat his own party, his response was met with huge applause. "I'm not a fan of Barack Obama," Caddell said. "My first allegiance is to my country. I have paid a huge price, and when I watch you people screwing up I'm offended."
Nancy Smith, a grassroots activist who co-founded an independent Virginia group that focused on door-to-door canvassing and get-out-the-vote in the 2012 election, was effusive in her praise of Caddell's critique. "This talk by Caddell is what this entire conference should be about."
The panel was moderated by Matt Schlapp, a principal at Cove Strategies, a Republican political consulting firm. In addition to Caddell, the panel included Jeff Roe, the founder of Axiom Strategies, also a Republican political consulting firm, Morton Blackwell, a Republican National Committeeman from Virginia and founder of the Leadership Institute, and Brian Baker, founder of a Super PAC.
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Know why Rand Paul is surging right now?
Balls.
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http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/10/02/harry-reids-office-leaks-boehner-office-emails-and-it-could-ruin-any-faith-you-have-in-washington/
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While the civil war among Republicans was heating up, I had the opportunity to see conservative Phyllis Schlafly speak last week. At age 89 she was bursting with energy. Her talk included a few important points of advice:
1) Work within the two party system. As Rumsfeld said, you fight with the army you have, not the one you wish you had. Get involved in the caucuses and primaries and choosing the candidates, but this is a two-party system.
2) The calls today from conservatives for a constitutional convention are naive. You will attract all the people who oppose the constitution that we have. Our group today is not smarter than the Founders, and we won't be able to pass anything better than they did.
3) A lot of conservatives are discouraged right now, but this is no time to give up!
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Dear Republican party. I am no longer interested. I would consider myself a Tea Party advocate now.
That is the only party that represents me.
There is no point in considering myself Republican anymore.
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We keep hearing from establishment Republicans that Cruz has "damaged the Republican brand".
I submit the question:
What brand?
The party no longer represents us.
What is the message besides "low taxes"?
The establishment Republicans sound more and more like Democrats.
I submit the response that there is no "brand".
And that is what the Tea Party is about.
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We keep hearing from establishment Republicans that Cruz has "damaged the Republican brand".
I submit the question:
What brand?
The party no longer represents us.
What is the message besides "low taxes"?
The establishment Republicans sound more and more like Democrats.
I submit the response that there is no "brand".
And that is what the Tea Party is about.
I share all your frustration, anger, disappointment, etc and then some! To answer you literally, Republican is a brand that is still winning half of the elections, holding the House, a 30-20 lead in Governorships, a majority of state legislatures, well over the 40 Senator threshold, threatening (for a 3rd try) to take back that majority. That is with no leader, clarity or message. Also should have won the Presidency in 2012.
At the start of the tea party movement I thought the uniting message was cut spending first. Reduce the size and scope of government, especially federal government. Lower tax rates along with a booming private sector can follow. But this was in reaction to Obamacare passage in particular, the greatest expansion of government power in this country ever.
Failing to take the Senate, failing to take back the Presidency, failing to get these expansions struck down in the Court, and failing to defund it, all lead us to starting over, carrying all this damage and with a dispirited base. We are fighting to get back to where we were, which was in a faltering economy with a huge government and even more people not contributing.
We actually need to both defeat the establishment Republicans and unite with them, a daunting proposition.
Each state, house district etc., IMO, needs to choose the most conservative candidate - that can win in that state or district. Same for the Presidency. They need to be focused and disciplined, not make the mistakes that sank others recently. Get a message and stay on message; this is not about rape abortions, secession, or shooting our way out of this mess.
We need a vision and some visionaries. A shining city on a hill. Tell people the positive things about a realistic, America-2014 and beyond vision. Move past the liberal terminology and definitions of the issues. As Newt once did, ask questions that poll well and favor our side. Would you like more government control over your life or more personal freedom and economic opportunity? Would you like to stop others from succeeding or improve your own lot on life? Do you like jobs, businesses, schools, health care, and everything else controlled mainly by Washington or closer to home? Do you think public sector people should have far bigger salaries, pensions, benefits and shorter work days than the private sector people who support them or be in line with the rest of the economy?
At some point there are demographic groups such as unemployed young people who will begin to see that the move toward Stalinism isn't helping them. Hope and change meant sit still and demand things. These things tend to swing like a pendulum. At some point people open up to a different message. But we didn't made good use of the turns we had to govern and we haven't presented a coherent alternative while out of power, so we are now paying that price.
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"We actually need to both defeat the establishment Republicans and unite with them, a daunting proposition."
Yes. And that is why Cruz is a hero to many of us. For the first time he stood up to the cowards in our party and gave them a lesson on how to fight.
It was a brilliant success no matter what the left wing media and the establishment Repooplicans will claim. He gave me, at least, hope, inspiration, and a will to fight on.
I know no other Republican who can lay the same claim. Ryan, Rubio, Boner, McConnell, Christie, even Rand (he might be closest).
Even in this temporary defeat there is triumph. He took a stand and went down fighting. And more alive to fight another day.
That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
Doug writes,
"At some point people open up to a different message."
Why is it Republicans don't have a message machine, a talking points machine like the crats? Thomas Sowell points out in a recent column how disastrously poor the republicans are with their messages.
This is a major flaw.
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Amen.
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Get rid of the clowns at the RNC. I nominate Brent Bozell or maybe even Matt Drudge to become chairman of the PR department of the Republican Party.
How about Sowell? This guy knows how to communicate.
http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/sowell100813.php3#.UmKiLhXD-Cg
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3/05/14/former-gop-latino-outreach-specialist-is-now-a-demo
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:-( :-o :? :cry: :oops:
McCain considering seeking reelection in 2016
By Aaron Blake
October 22 at 11:57 am
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Tuesday that he is considering running for another term in 2016, when he would be 80 years old.
"I'm seriously thinking about maybe giving another opportunity for you to vote for or against me in a few years from now," McCain said on KFYI-AM in Phoenix. "I'm seriously giving that a lot of thought."
Asked by host Barry Young to clarify if he was saying he might run again, McCain said: "That would not be wrong."
The New York Times's Mark Leibovich, who is in Arizona following McCain, first tweeted the news.
McCain, the 2008 GOP presidential nominee, is in his fifth term. He has never taken less than 56 percent of the vote and easily dispatched a primary challenge in 2010 from former congressman J.D. Hayworth.
If he runs again, McCain will likely find himself targeted by tea party groups.
Updated at 12:36 p.m
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:-( :-o :? :cry: :oops:
McCain considering seeking reelection in 2016
By Aaron Blake
October 22 at 11:57 am
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Tuesday that he is considering running for another term in 2016, when he would be 80 years old.
"I'm seriously thinking about maybe giving another opportunity for you to vote for or against me in a few years from now," McCain said on KFYI-AM in Phoenix. "I'm seriously giving that a lot of thought."
Asked by host Barry Young to clarify if he was saying he might run again, McCain said: "That would not be wrong."
The New York Times's Mark Leibovich, who is in Arizona following McCain, first tweeted the news.
McCain, the 2008 GOP presidential nominee, is in his fifth term. He has never taken less than 56 percent of the vote and easily dispatched a primary challenge in 2010 from former congressman J.D. Hayworth.
If he runs again, McCain will likely find himself targeted by tea party groups.
Updated at 12:36 p.m
Will he switch parties first?
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I call him an independent, but he is most often conservative - and brilliant. A rare instance of George Will getting it wrong:
Scott Johnson, writing at Powerline:
"I don’t think George Will has ever written a more infuriating column than the one he wrote commending Obama’s Geneva deal with Iran. Why infuriating? Will saves himself the trouble of arguing the premise of his column — that Iran can be “contained” (or deterred) like the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Will saves himself the trouble of arguing it by simply assuming it."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/george-f-will-better-a-contained-iran-than-an-all-out-war/2013/12/04/e4dcb1aa-5c4b-11e3-95c2-13623eb2b0e1_story.html
Norman Pohoretz doesn't name names but writes:
"Adherents of the new consensus would have us believe that only two choices remain: a war to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons or containment of a nuclear Iran—with containment the only responsible option. Yet as an unregenerate upholder of the old consensus, I remain convinced that containment is impossible, from which it follows that the two choices before us are not war vs. containment but a conventional war now or a nuclear war later."
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***Yet as an unregenerate upholder of the old consensus, I remain convinced that containment is impossible, from which it follows that the two choices before us are not war vs. containment but a conventional war now or a nuclear war later."****
I agree with this. As John Bolton said, "if you think Iran is a problem now imagine what it will be like with nuclear weapons."
Just seems to me as more countries achieve nuclear weapons capabilities the more likely they will be used.
Iran like those of us on this board have long ago realized the US had no intention of using military means to stop them.
US leaders look ridiculous stating "the military option is on the table".
I wonder if Will would have come to the same forgone conclusions if he lived in Tel Aviv?
Instead he lives in the modern version of Rome -> DC.
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Bringing CCP comments here: "As for Christie I admit if he is thrown out (he won't resign) I know my taxes will go even higher. And half of NJ will be cheering for that.
Yet I won't accept a liar. I won't accept anyone who abuses his/her power. He is full of crap. He knew. Just like Obama knew. Just like the Clintons knew.
This kind of behavior from right OR left has got to stop.
We need people who are honest. First and foremost. For God's sake is this too much to ask?"
CCP is far closer to the situation than me. My reaction was that IF he is telling the truth, then the way he handled it was masterful. And if he is not, and caught, he is done (unlike Clinton, Obama, and other Dems caught in similar or worse situations).
CCP believes he is lying. Maybe time will tell. My question: If we go back in his political career and governance, are there (other) instances where he was proven a liar? In the case of Clinton and Obama, looking back now, the answer is clearly yes. With Christie, if so, I didn't know that.
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I hope at least he doesn't dress up in his clown suit and actually wears a suit and tie but I doubt it. Look he may be a very smart business man and entertaining to those so inclined but give me a break. Are people really going to take this seriously? And Donald Trump again? He must have paid an arm and a leg. I don't have anything against Trump but at this point he is not a serious spokesperson for Americans. OTOH hand the left had their promiscuous BCP champion.....
*******Duck Dynasty's Robertson To Address GOP Conference
Happy, happy, happy!
News
|
Larry O'Connor |
The Republican Leadership Conference has announced their speakers for this weekend's conference in New Orleans, LA and the list includes reality television star Phil Robertson and Donald Trump.
Phil Robertson, patriarch of the Robertson family and star of the series “Duck Dynasty,” will address the 2014 Republican Leadership Conference, Thursday May 29th at 6pm. Also speaking on Thursday evening are RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, Gov. Bobby Jindal, Sen. Ron Johnson and Ben Sasse.
Other Speakers at the 2014 Republican Leadership Conference include Governor Rick Perry, Governor Phil Bryant, US Senators Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, & David Vitter; Donald Trump, Newt Gingrich, Herman Cain, Rick Santorum, Michele Bachmann and Allen West! The Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans has become one of the premier political events in the country.
Robertson was a target of gay rights activists in December 2013 after comments regarding homosexual behavior were published in an interview with GQ magazine. At the time, A & E, the network his show Duck Dynasty appears on, suspended him. After an intense and vocal response from the show's loyal fans, and an overwhelming petition drive here at Truth Revolt, he was reinstated.*********
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Why did Eric Cantor resign early?
If you lived in the Virginia - DC area, or thought for a moment about what the greatest industry of American 2014 is, the answer would be obvious. He resigned to start the clock 5 months early on the ban on revolving door lobbying. To hell with representing the people of Virginia, the big money is in selling back all that influence and he can't wait to get started.
(http://thefederalist.com/2014/08/01/three-reasons-eric-cantor-quit-early/)
Prove us wrong Eric, but it looks like your core principles are power and influence and the people of your district got it right.
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I listen to Marc Levin and all I can think is why the heck do we not have Republicans who can articulate what he does day after day?
Why are the politicians on "our side" so darn lame?
They should be able to tear Obama and his party apart.
All they do is run in fear.
It has to also be a old boy's club.
Rand Paul ain't goin to save anyone. I'll take Cruz any day.
To think some are talking up Romney again?
Oh my "f" God. I want to explode. :x
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I keep getting notify rather than reply on some threads I pull up......
What is the Republican response to the middle class. The same old tired few buzz words. Same old tired stuff of Romney:
tax cuts
trickle down
jobs
"the economy"
My thesis is that is not resonating with the middle class. IF IT WAS republicans would be winning in landslides. If they cannot or can only barely win now with the abomination in the WH now, then they are cooked. It will over in 10 years once Texas goes Crat with the millions of new Democrat voters flooding the country.
Until republicans can come up with policies that make the playing field at least more competitive and fair for the middle class they will lose or barely win IMHO. I don't agree with all of this but Republicans HAVE to have some sort of improved and advanced message to address the concerns brought up here. If not they will always flounder in the wind:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/01/31/more-republican-crumbs-for-the-middle-class.html
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I couldn't agree more. Get the Bushes and crew into the parties' proverbial back of the bus. They are going to bring the party into the garbage if not already so:
****August 29, 2014
Why Karl Rove and the GOP Establishment Will Lose Again
By C. Edmund Wright
Karl Rove is at it once again. The so-called “strategist” is again confusing strategy with tactics, and is about to blow easy Senate pickups in Arkansas and North Carolina. This is not merely snatching defeat from the jaws of victory -- this is snatching defeat from the bowels of victory -- in astonishing tone-deaf fashion.
There is absolutely no excuse for not winning these two races.
So how is the one-time “boy genius” doing this? By running ads attacking Senators Mark Pryor and Kay Hagan from the left. Yes, you heard that right. Rove’s Crossroads GPS PAC is insisting in their latest ads in both states that Republican candidates Tom Cotton and Thom Tillis are better liberals than Pryor and Hagan, at least on Social Security. The ads attack Hagan and Pryor for wanting to raise the eligibility age for the defunct program.
Okay. So let’s somehow miss that Obama and Harry Reid are toxic associations in red states. Forget that ObamaCare is showing how big government liberalism is an abject failure. Forget that the VA scandal is showing the same thing. Forget that workforce participation is the lowest in history. Forget that the hated IRS has been outed as an arm of the Democrat party. Forget that deficits are at a record. Forget that the entire country is starting to recognize that our national nausea is almost always being caused by too much nanny-state liberalism.
Can’t mention those. No no. We have soccer mom focus group data that shows blah blah blah….
Rove and the GOP elite need to put down their pizzas and get out of the focus-group lab and into the real world a little bit. If they did, it might dawn on them to run a campaign of big ideas and overarching themes. You know, to tap into that anti-liberal anti-big government/nanny state mood? (No, that can’t work. I mean, those unapologetic big picture conservative campaigns fail every time -- you know, like in 1980, 84, 94, and 2010. And of course, the moderate fake right, go left, niche-by-niche strategies tried in 96, 98, 2006, 2008 and 2012 worked so well, right?)
So how does all of this self-evident history, not to mention a common sense understanding of human nature, escape all of the top Republican messaging sorcerers? One big factor is the isolated bubble that is Washington (and includes the New York media center). Precious little reality seeps into this bubble. Conservative columnist John Nolte even theorizes that the media is just as intent on shielding Washington Republicans from exposure to what’s really going on outside the beltway as they are to push their general liberal bias. He may have a point.
But there’s more.
Rove has the mind of a tactician, and a good one. He was a direct-mail guru for a long time before rising to prominence in the George W. Bush campaigns and administration. The problem is that he is now so involved with strategy -- and with the main thrust of messaging. Tactics and strategy are both necessary, but they are very different mindsets and skill sets. Strategy is a big picture right-brained enterprise. Tactics are a bureaucratic left-brained endeavor. The tactician Rove simply does not have the right mindset or skill set to be involved in ‘strategy’ messaging. It’s not who he is. No one is wired to do both.
Thus he runs broadcast campaigns the way he ran direct mail campaigns -- talk abortion over here, trade over there, and social security in another place. The problem is, when you broadcast niche issues, you are destroying your team’s ability to advance a big picture message. Rove is literally campaigning against the overwhelming national zeitgeist with his overresearched misunderstanding of what the tea leaves are saying.
You cannot win this way. It never works. Why would it? It makes no sense except to those who are so bogged down with the minutiae of focus-group research that they can’t see the forest for the trees. Focus groups and snapshot polls are the death of conservative campaigns. Conservatism cannot be understood within the confines of a two-hour focus group, nor can focus groups predict the reaction of voters to a multi-month long campaign of conservative messages in two hours either. Focus groups cannot possibly judge the impact of a long campaign message over time -- and yet, those who push this junk science use them for that express purpose. Rove is a big believer. We are big losers.
Consider: a focus group, by definition, tends toward emotional and big government solutions -- because it is a lowest common denominator pursuit due to the confines of time, peer pressure, and the participant selection process. You can’t even get into one of these groups until you can prove you are low information. Yet inspired by focus-group data, the Rove and GOP establishment-style campaigns continue to be shallow, niche-driven low-information campaigns. They are designed to make the low-information people think that our party joins them in their low-information opinions. I guess it never occurs to these wizards to use a campaign to educate voters and persuade them to join us? You know, like 80, 84, 94 and 2010? Google Reagan, Newt, and Tea Party for clarification.
Rove made a point to personally insult my book at a GOP convention in Charlotte in 2013, calling it a “poorly researched piece of trash.” My reply was that his 400-million-dollar ad campaign in 2012 was the poorly researched piece of trash. So are his campaigns this cycle too.
George W. Bush has called Rove both a “boy genius” and a “turd blossom.” I agree with Bush about 50% of the time, so I’ll go with the latter.
The author is a contributor to American Thinker and Newsmax TV, is author of Amazon bestseller WTF? How Karl Rove and the Establishment Lost…Again, and comments at www.cedmundwright.com.
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Lets hope that if the Republicans fail to take the Senate that the big donors will wisen up and stop giving to Rove and crew.
OTOH I don't understand their murky complex relationship so I am not confident about that.
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http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/09/06/Laura-Ingraham-Blasts-RNC-For-Supporting-Obama-s-Planned-Executive-Amnesty
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http://www.daybydaycartoon.com/2014/09/29/
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Boehner's embrace of GOP rebels nudges House caucus to rightAssociated Press By CHARLES BABINGTON
21 hours ago
ˠ➕✓✕Content preferences Done FILE - In this May 17, 2013 file photo, Rep. Kenny Marchant, R-Texas speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. The “hell-no” caucus of House Republicans who tried to overthrow Speaker John Boehner is as strong as ever despite an ineffective coup attempt. The conservatives won approval of the leadership to push a far-reaching bill next week that not only rolls back President Barack Obama’s immigration changes but overturns protections for immigrants brought illegally to the country as children. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)
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View gallery
. . . . WASHINGTON (AP) — Die-hard House conservatives bungled a coup against House Speaker John Boehner but now look like winners, pushing Republicans farther right.
Related Stories
Boehner's Embrace Of GOP Hard-Liners Pushes House Further To The Right Huffington Post House GOP takes broad aim at Obama immigration policies Associated Press House GOP tries to regroup after divisive speaker vote Associated Press [$$] Challenges Await Speaker Boehner After Election to Third Term The Wall Street Journal [$$] Risks, Rewards for Boehner in Rebellion by GOP Right The Wall Street Journal Rather than punish and isolate those who opposed him as leader, Boehner surprised many on Friday by embracing an immigration plan that's tougher than lawmakers had expected. It would block President Barack Obama's recent limits on deportations and undo protections for immigrants brought to the United States illegally as children.
The House is heading toward a vote Wednesday.
As the rebellious hard-liners celebrated, mainstream Republicans said Boehner's decision probably portends firmly conservative approaches to other issues. That would complicate life for some of the more moderate Senate Republicans and ensure fierce battles with the Democratic president.
Florida Rep. Richard Nugent, one of the 25 House Republicans who voted to oust Boehner, praised the Boehner-backed immigration plan.
The dissidents have complained that Boehner, R-Ohio, is too willing to compromise with Obama and Democrats. But rather than seeing the rebels frozen out during private GOP discussions on immigration strategy, Nugent said, "this time it's a very collaborative approach."
View gallery House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, departs a closed-door … House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, departs a closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, Fri …For now, though, Nugent is still off the House Rules Committee, where membership is at the speaker's discretion.
Equally enthusiastic was Rep. Louie Gohmert, a Texas Republican sometimes portrayed by Democrats as the most unreasonable of conservative purists.
"One of the things that has really been lacking for the last eight years is having more input like we've finally gotten in this bill," Gohmert said.
Some Boehner allies had urged him to punish and isolate Gohmert and the other rebels.
But that approach might permanently antagonize tea party-leaning Republicans and "force Boehner into making more concessions" to Democrats to pass bills, "which is the last thing in the world we want," said GOP Rep. Kenny Marchant of Texas, shortly after Tuesday's leadership vote.
View gallery Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, talks to reporters on … Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, talks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Jan. 9, 2015. …By Friday, Marchant was reassured. "The focus now is to solicit input and try to bring them into the fold," he said.
Boehner's agreement to nudge his caucus rightward, especially on immigration, could cause headaches for Republican presidential candidates needing Hispanic votes. It also will complicate life for Senate Republicans, who now hold the majority but generally cannot pass bills without at least six Democratic votes, thanks to filibuster powers.
"It probably makes it more difficult in the Senate, but we shouldn't worry about what the Senate is going to do," said Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, often seen as a voice for Republican House leaders.
The approach, Cole said, "takes a lot of political pressure off House Republicans." One reason that 25 Republicans voted against Boehner, he said Friday, "was because they didn't believe we were going to do exactly what we're doing today" on immigration.
The Senate is virtually certain to weaken such bills. House Republicans acknowledge they will face tough choices when it's time to work out the differences.
View gallery FILE - In this Jan. 24, 2012 file photo Rep. Richard … FILE - In this Jan. 24, 2012 file photo Rep. Richard Nugent, R-Fla. speaks on Capitol Hill in Washin …"The litmus test is going to be what happens with this bill when it hits the Senate and comes back to us," said GOP Rep. John Fleming of Louisiana, a staunch conservative who voted for Boehner as speaker.
In recent years, when the Republicans' House majority was smaller, Boehner sometimes had to negotiate with Democrats for enough votes to pass measures that dozens of conservative Republicans refused to back. Doing so is politically risky for a speaker, and increasingly difficult now that centrist members of both parties have largely been driven from Congress.
At issue is a $39.7 billion spending bill to keep the Department of Homeland Security funded beyond February.
The House version would block Obama's November order granting temporary relief from deportation to about 4 million immigrants who are in the country illegally. Most have been here at least five years and have children who are citizens or legal permanent residents.
In a surprise to many, the House GOP proposal also would reverse a 2012 program, called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, that removed deportation threats to certain immigrants brought illegally to the U.S. as children.
View gallery FILE - In this Jan. 7, 2015 file photo. Rep. Tom Cole, … FILE - In this Jan. 7, 2015 file photo. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla. listens on Capitol Hill in Washington …Obama's allies say he would veto such measures, should they survive Senate Democrats' filibusters. Vetoes are difficult to override, requiring two-thirds votes in the House and Senate.
Congressional Republicans say it's important to put their principles into legislation, even with the veto threat. It can be good politics, too.
In his conservative district between Dallas and Fort Worth, Marchant said, "a veto-override vote is OK with me."
___
Associated Press writers Stephen Ohlemacher and
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No party represents me. Not even the Tea Party.
And many others feel the same way:
Poll: Jeb Bush Fares Horrendously With Middle Class Voters, Only 4 Percent Think He Represents Them
Jeb Bush
Gage Skidmore
by Matthew Boyle11 Mar 2015Washington, DC236
A minuscule 4 percent of Americans think that former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush represents middle class values well, numbers far worse than Hillary Clinton, President Barack Obama or either political party, a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll finds.
Bush’s biggest electability problems would come if he does survive what will be a bloodbath GOP primary, as it’s unlikely conservative Republican voters would even turn out for him in a November general election should he get the nomination. This poll shows yet again why that’s the case.
Respondents were asked the following question about Obama, Clinton, Bush, the Republican Party and the Democrat Party: “Let me read you a list of some groups and individuals, and I would like you to tell me how well each one represents the values of the middle class–very well, fairly well, just somewhat well, or not very well. If you don’t know the name, please just say so.”
A whopping 22 percent gave Obama a “very well” rating, and 18 percent did so for Clinton. The Democratic Party got 15 percent “very well” rating and Republicans got 7 percent. But Bush only managed to muster 4 percent, an abysmally low performance among arguably the most important part of the American public for any political candidate: the middle class.
A total of 40 percent responded Bush doesn’t represent middle class values, and 38 percent were somewhere in the middle between “very well” and “not very well.”
Bush’s spokeswoman Kristy Campbell hasn’t responded to an emailed request for comment in response to these numbers.
The survey was conducted from March 1 through March 5 with a sample of a 1,000 adults with a margin of error of 3.1 percent.
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I would LOVE to see this happen!
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/03/21/the-spine-of-a-worm-the-ethics-of-whores-and-the-integrity-of-pirates-read-glenn-becks-brutal-open-letter-to-karl-rove-and-the-gop/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Firewire&utm_campaign=Firewire%20-%20HORIZON%203-21-15%20FINAL
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http://www.nationalreview.com/article/418055/how-five-republicans-let-congress-keep-its-fraudulent-obamacare-subsidies-brendan
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Bravo to Glenn Beck! I am now a fan, again.
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There are many bizarre things in this story. They Feds used a blackmail investigation to go after the victim (of blackmail). Ends justify means. Down goes a creep. Unproven but it sounds true. A whole, other matter, why was Hastert so wealthy? Others are writing on that but it's ugly. http://www.nationalreview.com/article/419125/how-did-denny-hastert-get-rich-enough-pay-millions-accuser-john-fund
Whether you are a gym teacher or a former Speaker of the House, one question you might ask yourself before committing any crime or moral sin is how will this look in the newspapers?
Scummy character comes on both sides. I would like to think that Republicans will turn against their own when they deserve it. He's not running for anything, but hopefully would not be endorsed for dog catcher once we know about the sleaze. That is not always true over on the other side.
Let's rip Hastert a little further. He was speaker from 1999 until they lost the congress to Reid, Pelosi and the gang that now has a hold on the executive branch. During 4 of those years, Republicans held the Presidency, Senate and House. They did a few things partly right, but their governance also included lack of spending restraint, the authorization of new federal programs, and the funding of all things the federal government does that it shouldn't, like Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, CRAp just to name a few that came back to bite us, while they failed to repeal or reform anything, like Humphrey-Hawkins and the dual mission of the Fed, or the budget process or CBO.
Like nearly all elected Republicans, they failed to communicate the reasons why they were doing something even when they got it right. The end result of it all was financial meltdown and the election of liberal Democrats to run everything. In other words, they managed to get Republicans blamed for Democrat policies.
The Speaker of the House is next in line to be President, behind the VP. One qualification therefore for Speaker IMO is to be Presidential, not just be legislatively effective. Hastert's strength was the opposite. His job was to blend in with the furniture and not draw attention to anything. While they were working so hard to offend no one, fund everything, reform nothing, and go along with every RINO whim like a federal education program authored by Ted Kennedy and a federal housing Ponzi scheme that started before they got there, they managed to get reelected (until the end) and muster up about a 9% approval rate, while squandering a surplus, increasing spending by 60%. They gave supply side economics a bad name without even trying it - and left people thinking this country needed a sharp left turn to correct all of that!
Child molester or not, we need better leaders.
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It wasn’t long after that the Sunlight Foundation reported on just how much Hastert thought himself qualified to steer earmarks back home. The foundation found that Hastert had used a secret trust to join with others and invest in farm land near the proposed route of a new road called the Prairie Parkway. He then helped secure a $207 million earmark for the road. The land, approximately 138 acres, was bought for about $2.1 million in 2004 and later sold for almost $5 million, or a profit of 140 percent. Local land records and congressional disclosure forms never identified Hastert as the co-owner of any of the land in the trust. Hastert turned a $1.3 million investment (his portion of the land holdings) into a $1.8 million profit in less than two years.
Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/419125/how-did-denny-hastert-get-rich-enough-pay-millions-accuser-john-fund
This is probably a very common scam the politicians use to make money. Remember this is exactly how Harry Reid got his millions. Same scam.
"Oh but perfectly legal" :x
As for Hastert as a Speaker I do recall he was for the party, the country, and a representative worthless. He never did or said anything.
As for sexual indiscretion(s) hard to say. Why now that he is rich did his alleged victim come forward ~ 35 later.
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"This is probably a very common scam the politicians use to make money. Remember this is exactly how Harry Reid got his millions. Same scam."
- It sure does sound the same - except that this was after Hastert left office so R's have no more opportunity to kick him out. Dems had every opportunity and left their slime in power.
"Oh but perfectly legal"
- I doubt that.
"As for sexual indiscretion(s) hard to say. Why now that he is rich did his alleged victim come forward ~ 35 later."
- There are better explanations for why not come forward sooner than for why these payments were made. Since i'm not on the jury and don't want to look into the facts any further, I'm going to assume he's guilty. Otherwise he can explain the payments in a way that we believe him. BTW, praying on young boys is not an 'indiscretion'. It's closer to treason - the thread where this started. Penalty should be genitalia-ectomy. Maybe that would discourage it.
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In addition to the previous comments, I find myself wondering why the blackmailer is not facing charges?
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Drudge points out we don't keep track of voters, the trade agreement is top secret.
I will not vote in '16 if we cannot get a Republican who will put an end to the progressive onslaught. Jeb will not do this.
Christy is a joke.
Graham is a joke.
I want someone who will stand up for Americans.
Not people who have decided one world government is the way.
I don't care if it is Jeb vs. Hillary. I will sit home.
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Scattered thoughts on the topic of base versus "establishment":
On the face of it, I reject that there is a GOP establishment. It simply isn't that organized and they aren't that powerful. What you call establishment, I call elected Republicans. Somehow they just change when they get elected and go to Washington. They change even worse when elected to leadership, see Boehner and McConnell.
Yet I keep getting proven wrong on my establishment denial theory:
pp: "Questions:
1. What about Lisa Murkowski of Alaska? She lost to the Tea Party candidate in the primary, then ran as an independent and was supported by the RNC.
2. What about Tadd Cochrone in Mississippi, where the RNC took out his challenger in the runoff?
3. What about McCain in 2008 when asked about if he lost and whether he would support the nominee. His response was that it would depend upon the candidate and who was running for the other side.
True stories, unfortunately. See also the candidates' promises to repeal Obamacare and the organizational refusal to use the only constitutional tool they are have, the power of the purse.
CCP wrote: "It is so frustrating to see the Iran deal go through and the Republicans handed Obama this too. How outrageous!"
Also true. The Iran agreement is a treaty, requires 2/3rd support of the Senate for ratification. Instead the President needs only 34 votes, not even all of his own party for the 'deal' to go into effect. How did that happen? See the Corker bill that passed 98-1 with only Sen Tom Cotton opposing. Why did that happen?
Who is the Republican 'establishment"? This I don't really get. Reince Priebus (RNC Chair) was just a young nerd / star out of Wisconsin who engineered a series of great victories before getting the national job. He is a behind the scenes strategist, not really a power broker in the conventional sense. He has resources, but most of the money lies outside the party. Karl Rove? He is what many think of as establishment; he certainly has contacts and has some resources. Rove engineered two Presidential wins with a mediocre candidate so he has some credibility but does not control puppet strings. WSJ? The editorial page is run by Paul Gigot from Green Bay, Wisconsin and has a team of relatively young writers. They have quite a bit of earned influence, mostly good views and a blind spot on immigration. No power beyond the persuasion of their columns. The Koch brothers? No power beyond the influence of their money. We would be better off on policies if they did have more power, I hate to say. The Chamber of Commerce? I don't know.
It comes back I think to my original point, there isn't really an establishment, just a shift that politicians make as they go from outsider running for bold change to an insider afraid to upset the apple cart. The so-called establishment doesn't control much outside of their chamber or a PAC or two they influence. Proof: Trump and some tea party wins.
Where I part with some on this is the nature of this war against the Republican establishment, if there is one. In the end, we have to unite. There needs to be a war of ideas and direction, and maybe even of tone and temperament, and it needs to be won, but we can't forget that the side that wins within the party needs to unite with those they defeated in the party in order to win the Presidency and the nation. Otherwise it's all Hillary or whoever fills in after her fall, and we will have a country that can't be saved within our lifetime, if ever.
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DMG,
For your GOPe, check out Tom Donahue and the Chamber of Commerce. The COC owns the GOP and it pushes for legislation that will benefit the businesses that it protects. Examples include:
1. Illegal immigration and Amnesty.
2. Removal of sanctions.
3. Obamacare
4. Common Core
The COC generates the money for the candidates that it wants and the GOP sucks up to them.
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*Well someone or some people are changing these lap dogs* shortly after they get to Washington and turning them into keeping the status quo.
I agree with pp. Usually the answer can be found by following the money.
When we have politicians and their families in and out of lobbying, lawyer jobs, advisors, board of directors in a revolving door fashion peddling their influence in and out of office we've got a big problem. Really not much different than any other corrupt country IMO.
I hate to say McCain is right. Too much money in politics.
I am not so sure we are better off having unlimited donations being deemed "free speech".
I just don't know enough to say.
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Well, with the Citizens United decision, look at how much competition we have!!!
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http://www.capoliticalreview.com/capoliticalnewsandviews/boehnermcconnell-allow-obama-to-ignore-corker-cardin-iran-bill-explains-trump-surge/
http://www.redstate.com/2015/08/28/republican-party-r-i-p-1854-2016/
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/30/opinion/sunday/ross-douthat-donald-trump-traitor-to-his-class.html?ref=opinion&_r=1
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With all of the talk on Jonah Goldberg and Trump, I have tried to explain why so many of us are through with the GOPe. Sundance at Conservative Treehouse does it much more elegantly that I could ever do.
http://theconservativetreehouse.com/2015/09/07/an-open-letter-to-jonah-goldberg-re-the-gop-and-donald-trump/ (http://theconservativetreehouse.com/2015/09/07/an-open-letter-to-jonah-goldberg-re-the-gop-and-donald-trump/)
Open Letter To Jonah Goldberg – RE: The GOP and Donald Trump
Toward that end I have also noted additional media present a similar argument, and I took the time to consider. A few days ago I took the time to read your expressed concerns about the support you see for Donald Trump and the state of current conservative opinion. Toward that end I have also noted additional media present a similar argument, and I took the time to consider.
While we are of far lesser significance and influence, I hope you will consider this retort with the same level of consideration afforded toward your position.
The challenging aspect to your expressed opinion, and perhaps why there is a chasm between us, is you appear to stand in defense of a Washington DC conservatism that no longer exists. I hope you will indulge these considerations and correct me where I’m wrong.
On December 23rd 2009 Harry Reid passed a version of Obamacare through forced vote at 1:30am. The Senators could not leave, and for the two weeks previous were kept in a prolonged legislative session barred returning to their home-state constituencies. It was, by all measures and reality, a vicious display of forced ideological manipulation of the upper chamber. I share this reminder only to set the stage for what was to follow.
Riddled with anxiety we watched the Machiavellian manipulations unfold, seemingly unable to stop the visible usurpation. Desperate for a tool to stop the construct we found Scott Brown and rallied to deliver $7 million in funding, and a “Kennedy Seat” victory on January 19th 2010.
Unfortunately, the trickery of Majority Leader Harry Reid would not be deterred. Upon legislative return he stripped a House Budgetary bill, and replaced it with the Democrat Senate version of Obamacare through a process of “reconciliation”. Thereby avoiding the 3/5ths vote rule (60) and instead using only a simple majority, 51 votes.
Angered, we rallied to the next election (November 2010) and handed the usurping Democrats the single largest electoral defeat in the prior 100 years. The House returned to Republican control, and one-half of the needed Senate seats reversed. Within the next two election cycles (’12 and ’14) we again removed the Democrats from control of the Senate.
Within each of those three elections we were told Repealing Obamacare would be job #1. It was not an optional part of our representative agreement to do otherwise.
From your own writing:
[…] If you want a really good sense of the damage Donald Trump is doing to conservatism, consider the fact that for the last five years no issue has united the Right more than opposition to Obamacare. Opposition to socialized medicine in general has been a core tenet of American conservatism from Day One. Yet, when Republicans were told that Donald Trump favors single-payer health care, support for single-payer health care jumped from 16 percent to 44 percent. (link)
With control of the House and Senate did Majority Leader Mitch McConnell or House Speaker John Boehner use the same level of severity expressed by Harry Reid to put a repeal bill on the desk of Obama for veto? Simply, NO.
Why not? According to you it’s the “core tenet of American conservatism”. If for nothing but to accept and follow the will of the people. Despite the probability of an Obama veto, this was not a matter of option. While the method might have been “symbolic”, due to the almost guaranteed veto, it would have stood as a promise fulfilled.
Yet you speak of “core tenets” and question our “trust” of Donald Trump?
We are not blind to the maneuverings of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and President Tom Donohue. We are fully aware the repeal vote did not take place because the U.S. CoC demanded the retention of Obamacare.
Leader McConnell followed the legislative priority of Tom Donohue as opposed to the will of the people. This was again exemplified with the passage of TPPA, another Republican construct which insured the Trans-Pacific Trade Deal could pass the Senate with 51 votes instead of 3/5ths.
We are not blind to the reality that when McConnell chooses to change the required voting threshold he is apt to do so. Not coincidentally, the TPP trade deal is another legislative priority of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Yet you question the “trustworthiness” of Donald Trump’s conservatism?
Another bill, the Iran “agreement”, reportedly and conveniently not considered a “treaty”, again we are not blind. Nor are we blind to Republican Bob Corker’s amendment (Corker/Cardin Amendment) changing ratification to a 67-vote-threshold for denial, as opposed to a customary 67 vote threshold for passage. A profound difference.
Yet you question the “ideological conservative principle” of Donald Trump?
Perhaps your emphasis is on the wrong syllable. Perhaps you should be questioning the “ideological conservative principle” of Mitch McConnell, or Bob Corker; both of whom apparently working to deny the will of the electorate within the party they are supposed to represent. Of course, this would force you to face some uncomfortable empirical realities. I digress.
Another example – How “conservative” is Lisa Murkowski? A senator who can lose her Republican primary bid, yet run as a write-in candidate, and return to the Senate with full seniority and committee responsibilities?
Did Reince Preibus, or a republican member of leadership meet the returning Murkowski and demand a Pledge of Allegiance to the principles within the Republican party?
Yet you question the “allegiances” of Donald Trump?
Perhaps within your purity testing you need to forget minority leader Mitch McConnell working to re-elect Senator Thad Cochran, fundraising on his behalf in the spring/summer of 2014, even after Cochran lost the first Mississippi primary?
Perhaps you forget the NRSC spending money on racist attack ads? Perhaps you forget the GOP paying Democrats to vote in the second primary to defeat Republican Chris McDaniel. The “R” in NRSC is “Republican”.
Perhaps you forget. We do not.
Yet you question the “principle” of those who have had enough, and are willing to support candidate Donald Trump.
You describe yourself as filled with anxiety because such supporters do not pass some qualified “principle” test? Tell that to the majority of Republicans who supported Chris McDaniel and found their own party actively working against them.
Principle? You claim “character matters” as part of this consideration. Where is the “character” in the fact-based exhibitions outlined above?
Remember Virginia 2012, 2013? When the conservative principle-driven electorate changed the method of candidate selection to a convention and removed the party stranglehold on their “chosen candidates”. Remember that? We do.
What did McConnell, the RNC and the GOP do in response with Ken Cuccinelli, they actively spited him and removed funding from his campaign. To teach us a lesson? Well it worked, we learned that lesson.
Representative David Brat was part of that lesson learned and answer delivered. Donald Trump is part of that lesson learned and answer forthcoming – yet you speak of “character”.
You speak of being concerned about Donald Trump’s hinted tax proposals. Well, who cut the tax rates on lower margins by 50% thereby removing any tax liability from the bottom 20% wage earners? While simultaneously expanding the role of government dependency programs?
That would be the GOP (“Bush Tax Cuts”)
What? How dare you argue against tax cuts, you say. The “Bush Tax Cuts” removed tax liability from the bottom 20 to 40% of income earners completely. Leaving the entirety of tax burden on the upper 60% wage earners. Currently, thanks to those cuts, 49% of tax filers pay ZERO federal income tax.
But long term it’s much worse. The “Bush Tax Cuts” were, in essence, created to stop the post 9/11/01 recession – and they contained a “sunset provision” which ended ten years later specifically because the tax cuts were unsustainable.
The expiration of the lower margin tax cuts then became an argument in the election cycle of 2012. And as usual, the GOP, McConnell and Boehner were insufferably inept during this process.
The GOP (2002) removed tax liability from the lower income levels, and President Obama then (2009) lowered the income threshold for economic subsidy (welfare, food stamps, ebt, medicaid, etc) this was brutally predictable.
This lower revenue higher spending approach means – lower tax revenues and increased pressure on the top tax rates (wage earners) with the increased demand for tax spending created within the welfare programs. Republicans focus on the “spending” without ever admitting they, not the Democrats, lowered rates and set themselves up to be played with the increased need for social program spending, simultaneously.
Is this reality/outcome not ultimately a “tax the rich” program?
As a consequence what’s the difference between the Republicans and Democrats on taxes? All of a sudden Republicans are arguing to “broaden the tax base”. Meaning, reverse the tax cuts they created on the lower income filers? This is a conservative position now? A need to “tax the poor”? Nice of the Republicans to insure the Democrats have an atomic sledgehammer to use against them.
This is a winning strategy? This is the “conservatism” you are defending because you are worried about Donald Trump’s principles, character or trustworthiness.
Here’s a list of those modern conservative “small(er) government” principles:
• Did the GOP secure the border with control of the White House and Congress? NO.
• Did the GOP balance the budget with control of the White House and Congress? NO.
• Who gave us the TSA? The GOP
• Who gave us the Patriot Act? The GOP
• Who expanded Medicare to include prescription drug coverage? The GOP
• Who created the precursor of “Common Core” in “Race To the Top”? The GOP
• Who played the race card in Mississippi to re-elect Thad Cochran? The GOP
• Who paid Democrats to vote in the Mississippi primary? The GOP
• Who refused to support Ken Cuccinnelli in Virginia? The GOP
• Who supported Charlie Crist? The GOP
• Who supported Arlen Spector? The GOP
• Who supported Bob Bennett? The GOP
• Who worked against Marco Rubio? The GOP
• Who worked against Rand Paul? The GOP
• Who worked against Ted Cruz? The GOP
• Who worked against Mike Lee? The GOP
• Who worked against Jim DeMint? The GOP
• Who worked against Ronald Reagan? The GOP
• Who said “I think we are going to crush [the Tea Party] everywhere.”? The GOP (McConnell)
And, you wonder why we’re frustrated, desperate for a person who can actually articulate some kind of push-back? Mitch McConnell and John Boehner are what the GOP give us? SERIOUSLY?
Which leads to the next of your GOP talking points. Where you opine on Fox:
“Politics is a game where you don’t get everything you want”
Fair enough. But considering we of questionable judgment have simply been demanding common sense, ie. fiscal discipline, a BUDGET would be nice.
The last federal budget was passed in September of 2007, and EVERY FLIPPING INSUFFERABLE YEAR we have to go through the predictable fiasco of a Government Shutdown Standoff and/or a Debt Ceiling increase specifically because there is NO BUDGET!
That’s a strategy?
That’s the GOP strategy? Essentially: Lets plan for an annual battle against articulate Democrats and Presidential charm, using a creepy guy who cries and another old mumbling fool who dodders, knowing full well the MSM is on the side of the other guy to begin with?
THAT’S YOUR GOP STRATEGY?
Don’t tell me it’s not, because if it wasn’t there’d be something else being done – there isn’t.
And don’t think we don’t know the 2009 “stimulus” became embedded in the baseline of the federal spending, and absent of an actual budget it just gets spent and added to the deficit each year, every year. Yet this is somehow smaller fiscal government?
….And you’re worried about what Donald Trump might do?
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PP:
Great post. A boat load of material and the authors didn't even get to the topic of illegals.
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Of the two major parties and all the smaller ones, which is it that has the possibility to save the country? The GOP.
Who is it that has the power to fix the GOP? The GOP led by its base voters.
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"Who is it that has the power to fix the GOP? The GOP led by its base voters."
If the base can succeed in cleaning house. Won't happen with much of the current crew of "representatives".
OTOH maybe a really strong leader in the WH could tow the feckless ones in the chambers.
I don't see how anything gets fixed without a lot of pain ahead.
OTOH better than continuing down the same drain.
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ccp,
Agreed with you about whether the base has the ability to change without someone to lead that charge.............and the only one I see is Trump with the ability to do so.
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The House just postponed the Iran Vote due to the House Freedom Caucus rebelling. The leaders are going to meet this afternoon to "discuss" what to do.
Want to bet that they try some other way to push the Iran Agreement through? If so, it again shows how out of touch the GOPe is with the base.
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/253058-gop-divided-on-iran-vote-delay
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Update on the vote. Notice they will vote to say that Obama did not submit all parts and side deals, but no problem. Let's just vote on approval without demanding all the documents. Just get it out of our hair.
And people wonder why Trump is increasing in support daily....
The House GOP is discussing a new plan, which they plan to present to the rank-and-file at a 4 p.m. meeting Wednesday, that would attempt to pass legislation with three separate concepts. They are moving toward voting on a measure asserting Obama did not submit all elements of the agreement with Iran, a concept first raised by Reps. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) and Peter Roskam (R-Ill.), a former member of GOP leadership. Second, Republicans are working on a bill to try to prevent Obama from lifting sanctions against Iran. Third, the House would vote on a resolution to approve of the Iran pact. The original plan was to vote on a disapproval resolution.
The strategy has not been finalized, and is subject to change.
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Ted Cruz spoke very well at the rally today about all this.
Interesting point he made: When Obama seeks to tell the companies and banks to give Iran $100-150B that the companies and banks remain subject to the law that Congress passed.
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Senator Corker is the idiot who wrote the legislation that allowed Obama to push through the Iran Agreement. Now he wants to vote even though all side deals have not been disclosed. There was no intention of not allowing the Iran Agreement to be passed. Of course, it also is supported by the Chamber of Commerce.
http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2015/09/09/corker-best-way-to-express-concerns-about-missing-iaea-documents-is-to-vote-on-iran-deal-as-scheduled/ (http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2015/09/09/corker-best-way-to-express-concerns-about-missing-iaea-documents-is-to-vote-on-iran-deal-as-scheduled/)
Corker is also the idiot that in 2012, wrote a new bill for future lending. In it, he wanted to create a bunch of little Fannie Maes, and then he wanted to create a huge database of mortgage loans. The database would include ALL details in the loan applications, including income, debt, assets, etc. It would also show the new mortgage terms and all sorts of other things.
Corker is a cuckservative.
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Big vote called for tomorrow (Thurs.) in the Senate. I wonder if we'll find out Mitch McConnell and company suddenly grew a backbone.
This isn't a shut down the government issue. It is a jumpstart (or not) the world's number one sponsor of terror issue. It is a pave the path for Iran to get nuclear weapons issue - and start a Middle East arms race, or not. It is the security of our ally Israel at stake - and of the "Great Satan" . Politically, it is a chance to do something right, something popular, something constitutional, and something with no political cost. The outsiders, the insiders and the public all see this for what it is. They don't need cover, but if they did, Chuck Schumer and Debbie Blabbermouth could provide it. There is nothing but themselves to stop them from blowing the whistle on Obama and stopping a really bad deal.
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2015/09/whats-brewing-in-the-senate.php
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What a joke the Big Vote was. They voted by needing a Super Majority to send the bill forward. Of course, McConnell did not do a Reid and manipulate things for a 50 + 1 vote needed.
I knew McConnell would wimp out. He never wanted to pass it anyway.
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What a joke the Big Vote was. They voted by needing a Super Majority to send the bill forward. Of course, McConnell did not do a Reid and manipulate things for a 50 + 1 vote needed.
I knew McConnell would wimp out. He never wanted to pass it anyway.
My optimism was misplaced.
Their loyalty to changeable Senate rules is greater than to their oath to uphold the Constitution. What part of - Senate must ratify treaties with a 2/3 majority - do they fail to understand?
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When Iran nukes someone, the blood in on both parties' hands.
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http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2015/09/the_world_just_changed_forever_but_youd_hardly_know_it_from_the_media.html
Change
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Doug,
Follow the money. The Chamber of Commerce and Tom Donahue brings to bear the biggest guns of all to the political process on the GOPe side. It is the money gun.
Lifting the sanctions and allowing Iran to get nukes allow for COC members to begin selling the rope to hang ourselves to Iran. Heck, if it is good enough for Europe, it is good enough for us.
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Doug,
Follow the money. The Chamber of Commerce and Tom Donahue brings to bear the biggest guns of all to the political process on the GOPe side. It is the money gun.
Lifting the sanctions and allowing Iran to get nukes allow for COC members to begin selling the rope to hang ourselves to Iran. Heck, if it is good enough for Europe, it is good enough for us.
I agree in terms of their don't rock the boat approach to not governing and not being a check or balance on the leftist in chief. Don't rock the boat, don't risk a shutdown is a strategy to hold the Senate, House and look like adults coming into the Presidential election. But allowing one branch to run roughshod over the rest of is to neglect their own voters, their constitutional responsibilities and their country.
But, Mitch McConnell et al, why would you care who wins the next election if you don't dare to govern?
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And here is Mitch today on his "great victory" for the American People.
http://www.breitbart.com/video/2015/09/11/mcconnell-on-iran-deal-obama-won-short-term-battle-but-we-won-the-argument-with-the-american-people/ (http://www.breitbart.com/video/2015/09/11/mcconnell-on-iran-deal-obama-won-short-term-battle-but-we-won-the-argument-with-the-american-people/)
Moron does not even begin to apply to this idiot.
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I realize that I am just an old conspiracy fool, thinking that the GOPe establishment is out to get Trump, and to get Bush in power, or someone like him. I really should grab hold of reality. I will say that I should probably offer apologies for any belief that Kristol was a GOPe type, or that Kristol and others would not support a nominee like Trump who differed from their own views. Obviously I was wrong. Kristol will go out of his way to support a GOP nominee like Trump.
But how can I when I see or read things like this?
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/09/15/defcon-1-bill-kristol-threatens-third-party-support-if-trump-wins-nom/ (http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/09/15/defcon-1-bill-kristol-threatens-third-party-support-if-trump-wins-nom/)
See why I do not trust the GOPe? They and the pundits don't give a damn about the people and the base. It is all about them, their special interests, and getting in money to support their causes.
Let the GOPe Burn!!!
Btw, I am preparing something going into depth about the problems within the GOP and the dynamics at play. I think it would be a good idea since we see the same type of dynamics playing out here, with Doug, CD, CCP, Objectiveism! and myself.
It will be a long piece. Doing it while doing my real work...............
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he supports Obama and anybody who doesn't is racist. Bottom line: race trumps all else for this guy. Sad to say.
http://www.breitbart.com/video/2015/10/01/colin-powell-i-am-continuing-to-be-a-republican-because-it-annoys-them/
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Could this guy McCarthy have been more foolish to imply the Benghazi committee was formed to just to sabotage Clinton's campaign?
How about it being formed what went on there and why the embassy was refused reinforcements and added security and why in the hell both Clinton and Obama's agents were lying about how it came about just before a Presidential election.
Why are Crats so clever and Republicans so stupid?
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McCarthy just dropped out of the Speaker position race. (Of course, he was an idiot anyway with his statement about the Bengazi Committee.)
There is a true insurgency going on inside and outside the GOPe. Between the House Freedom Caucus and the Trump/Carson insurgency, the GOPe is in turmoil and doesn't know which way to turn.
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"McCarthy just dropped out of the Speaker position race"
:-D
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BTW Doug Schoen who I like (for a Democrat) says the Republican turmoil is good for Hillary. I say don't be so sure in the long run.
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Doug is pretty smart. But in this case, the drip, drip, drip of the emails and her changing positions on topics, as well as the general distrust cannot be overcome by her.
Of course, for Dems, ethnics may not matter.
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Very glad that McCarthy is not going to be a big part of the Rep's face to the American people!!!
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I finished reading the LBJ book and took interest in how Johnson made a complete fool out of Mitt's father George Romney during the Detroit riots in the mid '60s which basically terminated any chance his father might have had to make a serious run for the Republican nomination for President in '68. Mitt got the nomination but in the end wound up a loser (for President) like his father.
I do not know how any Republican can support Paul Ryan for speaker when Harry Reid is for him. And Boehner too. That automatically disqualifies him in my mind. The Establishment refuses to get it don't they? This is NOT about working or compromising with Democrats. It is about stopping them!!! For God's sake. They still can't figure it out?! NO wonder we have been so screwed all these years.
Mitt Romney: Demise of Legacy Media Empowering Conservative ‘Insurgents,’ Preventing More ‘Collaborative Action’
by Tony Lee20 Oct 2015379
Failed GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney lamented that the demise of traditional media is empowering Republican “insurgents” and preventing establishment Republicans from compromising more with Democrats.
As the Republican establishment is trying convince
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)
to run for House Speaker, Romney told David Axelrod on a recent “The Axe Files” podcast that the “extremes within our respective parties are having a louder and louder voice and demanding more attention” and “immediate action” as opposed to more “collaborative action.”
Romney said this phenomenon flows in part from the “change in the world of media.”
“There was a time when we all got the news with the same facts, if you will,” he said. “We had three networks we watched for the evening news. Most of us got newspapers. Everybody in the middle class got a newspaper, so we got the same facts whether we agreed or not with them.”
Now, according to Romney, people “get their news on the web” and “they tend to read those things which they agree with.” He said people are “not seeing the other side” and “not even getting the same facts” while “we have commentators” on left-leaning and right-leaning cable news channels “who are hyperbolic in expressing their views on issues.”
Romney lamented that more Democrats are considering themselves “liberal” and “in my party, there are more and more who feel they are more insurgent than towards the center of the party.”
“And I think that divisiveness is one of the things that has led to Washington having such a hard time getting things done,” he said.
The rise of new media outlets in the Internet age has allowed regular Americans to get access to information that the mainstream press, with the help of the both political establishments, often concealed from the general public when, as Romney noted, Americans all received the same set of facts.
In this election cycle in which outsiders on the GOP side are getting the majority of the vote, Donald Trump has bypassed the traditional media and gone over their heads to get his message directly to his supporters and American voters. Romney blasted Trump on the podcast and implied that his remarks about women, “members of the news media,” and Hispanics would hurt Republicans like Todd Akin’s “legitimate rape” remarks during the 2012 election cycle. Romney referred to “certain things” that were “said by Republicans during my general election race in 2012 colored the perception of the Republican Party and may have caused some people to stay at home.”
Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union, Romney again expressed concern with the rise of conservative insurgents, saying “the challenge in our party is not so much that people have differing views on issues, as much as people have differing views about how to get those issues implemented.”
“There are some in our party who think the best approach is throwing bombs,” he said. “The problem with bomb throwing so far is that most of the bombs have landed on our own team. That doesn’t help.
After praising presidential candidates Jeb Bush,
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)
, John Kasich and Chris Christie on CNN, Romney said there are others who think that the “best approach is to see if we can’t find common ground with the people across the aisle.”
“We have Paul Ryan, for instance, that’s willing to work with Democrats,” Romney said. “I think that’s a productive thing.”
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We are so fcuked.
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Another reason to hate GOPe politicians........
Paul Ryan's Rules for Order
This is what Ryan wants guaranteed for him as Speaker.
Prior to the presser Ryan met with various caucuses and gave them these conditions:
1. Every faction of the Republicans in the House must support him, or he doesn’t run.
2. A return to “regular order” where all proposed bills must come through committees first. Only Ryan will decide which bills will make it to the floor for a vote.
3. He will not be responsible for campaigning or raising money. Give that job to someone else, he doesn’t have the time for it.
4. Elimination of the “Jefferson rule”, or possible use of motions to “vacate the speaker”. This grants him unlimited power and no-one can challenge his speakership. He rules as dictator for the House and no-one allowed to challenge his authoritarian decisions.
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Another reason to hate GOPe politicians........
Paul Ryan's Rules for Order
This is what Ryan wants guaranteed for him as Speaker.
Prior to the presser Ryan met with various caucuses and gave them these conditions:
1. Every faction of the Republicans in the House must support him, or he doesn’t run.
2. A return to “regular order” where all proposed bills must come through committees first. Only Ryan will decide which bills will make it to the floor for a vote.
3. He will not be responsible for campaigning or raising money. Give that job to someone else, he doesn’t have the time for it.
4. Elimination of the “Jefferson rule”, or possible use of motions to “vacate the speaker”. This grants him unlimited power and no-one can challenge his speakership. He rules as dictator for the House and no-one allowed to challenge his authoritarian decisions.
Yes, but given all that, do you support him?
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Looks like Ryan is in as Speaker. Freedom Caucus ended up selling out.
Ryan supports full Amnesty, etc.
And you wonder why I am through with the GOP?
DRIP!!! Don't Return Incumbent Politicians!
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How can he be good for the Conservatives when even the Democrat hacks are for him?
We do not need any more concessions, compromises and the rest. We need to stand up to the Democrats.
Now we have the propagandists trying to tell us how conservative he (Ryan) is.
Full amnesty? Talk about tyranny.
Just read on Drudge that 10000 are at the border just this month. That does not include the 10s of thousands overstaying their visas or just overstaying their vacations. I can tell you here in NJ they are here in HUGE numbers and no one is counting them. I drove by an elementary school playground in New Brunswick yesterday and the whole playground was with children who appeared to be from Mexico or Central or South America.
Every one.
There is obviously an undercounting of Muslims in the US too. Around here they are all over the place.
I don't mind at all to an extent but having peoples from all over just parking themselves here in the millions is not acceptable.
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This is all about the Uni-Party being bought and paid for by the COC, Wall Street and other crony capitalist companies.
Ryan is just another puppet.
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How can he be good for the Conservatives when even the Democrat hacks are for him?
We do not need any more concessions, compromises and the rest. We need to stand up to the Democrats.
Now we have the propagandists trying to tell us how conservative he (Ryan) is.
Full amnesty? Talk about tyranny.
Just read on Drudge that 10000 are at the border just this month. That does not include the 10s of thousands overstaying their visas or just overstaying their vacations. I can tell you here in NJ they are here in HUGE numbers and no one is counting them. I drove by an elementary school playground in New Brunswick yesterday and the whole playground was with children who appeared to be from Mexico or Central or South America.
Every one.
There is obviously an undercounting of Muslims in the US too. Around here they are all over the place.
I don't mind at all to an extent but having peoples from all over just parking themselves here in the millions is not acceptable.
Ryan is good on other issues. Ryan is a Kemp protege. Grow the economy. That's not all bad. He was the strongest Republican voice against Obamacare. He can speak clearly and was gaffe-free as a VP candidate. He didn't lose that race for Romney and he didn't press for amnesty then. He won't be pressing forward on amnesty now if that is what divides the caucus. He won't govern solely on his personal views. He didn't seek the job, nor have any history of forcing his views on others.
Amnesty is defined as anything short of arresting and departing people including the ones who have been here for years, otherwise law abiding, fully established with jobs, homes, families, kids in schools - not easy to depart. Amnesty is already the de facto law of the land. The issue is to change that. People like Ryan aren't going to oppose the building of a fence and other enforcement, security measures. Those also are already the law of the land.
Most importantly, those who would take a harder line on everything may be right but don't have the votes. Ryan isn't a perfect choice; there wasn't one.
If we lose the Presidential election one more time and losing the Senate is also very possible, and we become a so called permanent minority party, then we will need to take a much more hard line direction in the House and start shutting things down with debt limit and funding fights, to hell with the political consequences. But at this point in time, the table is actually set to win everything except the 60 seats in the Senate.
If we win the next election, leadership is going to come from the White House, not the Speaker's office, and Ryan may prefer to move back to Ways and Means anyway.
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Doug,
Ryan is like Kemp? Well wasn't Kemp a big government liberal Republican?
I am not sure we need "a Kemp" now.
Growth is fine but when speaks of growth and low taxes as basically the answer to everything in the world a la Kudlow (those are the only things ever out of his mouth) I wonder what wall streeter is backing him or her.
But he sounds better than Boehner so in a sense he is an obvious improvement.
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Wants to take the party back to what? Jeb Bush? The party of full retreat. The party of insiders, rich, and compromisers?
****Christine Todd Whitman..... is also co-chair of the Republican Leadership Council, which she founded with Sen. John Danforth and Lt. Gov. Michael Steele. The RLC’s mission is to support fiscally conservative, socially tolerant candidates and to reclaim the word Republican.****
I reject this notion of a fiscally conservative, socially tolerant candidate. One cannot be both. By the way Whitman was not fiscally conservative. She raided the pension fund which is now in dire straits in NJ.
So now and Danforth and the way overrated Michael Steele are criticizing the core Republicans for rejecting establishment Republicans? She was a lousy governor. So she can go back to her money making insider "Whitman Strategy Group".
Her profile:
Arena Profile:Ex-Gov. Christine Todd Whitman
Ex-Gov. Christine Todd Whitman
Christine Todd Whitman is the president of The Whitman Strategy Group, a consulting firm that specializes in energy and environmental issues. WSG offers a comprehensive set of solutions to problems facing businesses, organizations, and governments; they have been at the forefront of helping leading companies find innovative solutions to environmental challenges.
She is also co-chair of the Republican Leadership Council, which she founded with Sen. John Danforth and Lt. Gov. Michael Steele. The RLC’s mission is to support fiscally conservative, socially tolerant candidates and to reclaim the word Republican. The RLC was created in March of 2007 by joining forces with Governor Whitman’s political action committee, It’s My Party Too. She is the author of a New York Times best seller by the same name, which was published in January of 2005 and released in paperback in March 2006.
Governor Whitman served in the cabinet of President George W. Bush as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from January of 2001 until June of 2003. She was the 50th Governor of the State of New Jersey, serving as its first woman governor from 1994 until 2001.
As Governor, Christie Whitman earned praise from both Republicans and Democrats for her commitment to preserve a record amount of New Jersey land as permanent green space. She was also recognized by the Natural Resources Defense Council for instituting the most comprehensive beach monitoring system in the nation. As EPA Administrator, she promoted common-sense environmental improvements such as watershed-based water protection policies. She championed regulations requiring non-road diesel engines to reduce sulfur emissions by more than 95 percent. She also established the first federal program to promote redevelopment and reuse of "brownfields", that is, previously contaminated industrial sites.
Governor Whitman is on the steering committee of The Cancer Institute of New Jersey; the Board of Trustees of the Eisenhower Fellowships; the Board of Directors of the Council on Foreign Relations; the Governing Board of the Park City Center for Public Policy; and is a member of the Board of the New America Foundation. She was also the Co-Chair for the Council on Foreign Relations’ Task Force, More Than Humanitarianism: A Strategic U.S. Approach Toward Africa as well as the Aspen Health Stewardship Project, which was released in February of 2008. She co-chairs Clean and Safe Energy with Dr. Patrick Moore.
Governor Whitman also serves on the board of directors of S.C. Johnson and Son, Inc., Texas Instruments Inc., and United Technologies Corporation. She currently serves as an advisor to the Aspen Rodel Fellowship program.
Prior to becoming governor, she was president of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and served on the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
Governor Whitman holds a BA from Wheaton College in Norton, Mass., and is married to John R. Whitman. They have two children and two grandchildren.
(Photo by AP)
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NOTHING makes me want Trump to win more than this from "our" own side". This is even worse than the attacks from the left. They still don't get it do they?
*****George Will: Beating Hillary Less Important Than Stopping Trump
GettyImages-501508018
Mark Wilson/Getty Images; Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty
by Ben Shapiro24 Dec 20152,966
As the end of the year approaches, Donald Trump is solidly ensconced at the top of the Republican polls nationally. The man just behind him? Senator
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)
, an establishment bugaboo. The establishment’s favorite candidate, Senator
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)
, is currently running far behind in national polling, a distant third in Iowa, and in a deadlock with Cruz and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie for second in New Hampshire.
Panic time.
So, here’s the establishment roundup for Christmas week.
If You Support Donald Trump, You Want to Lose. Earlier this week, Bret Stephens of The Wall Street Journal unleashed a petulant column accusing all Trump and Cruz backers of begging for defeat. “Let us now pledge to elect Hillary Clinton as the 45th president of the United States,” he snarked. “Let’s do this because it’s what we want. Maybe secretly, maybe unconsciously, but desperately. We want four—and probably eight—more years of cable-news neuralgia. We want to drive ourselves to work as Mark Levin or Laura Ingraham scratch our ideological itches until they bleed a little. We want the refiner’s fire that is our righteous indignation at a country we claim no longer to recognize—ruled by impostors and overrun by foreigners.” Stephens specifically singled out Cruz for criticism, calling him a flip-flopper “happy to be on any side of an issue so long as he can paint himself as a ‘real Republican.’”
If We Have to Lose to Beat Trump, So Be It. When establishment columnists weren’t painting large swaths of the Republican base as politically suicidal, they were calling for suicide. George Will, iconic columnist, wrote today, “Conservatives’ highest priority now must be to prevent Trump from winning the Republican nomination in this, the GOP’s third epochal intraparty struggle in 104 years.” Never mind that Mitt Romney strayed from conservatism so far that he invented Obamacare; never mind that
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)
crafted campaign finance reform and amnesty. No, it’s Trump who singularly represents the death of the conservative ideal.
Of course, Will might just be miffed that Trump recently said “I think I have a much higher IQ… You have these guys like George Will. He sits with the little spectacles. If he didn’t have the spectacles, you wouldn’t think he’s smart because he’s wrong so much.”
Hey, Anybody Wanna Start a Third Party? Months ago, establishment Republicans complained that Donald Trump would not vow to forgo a third party run. Now, they’re thinking of a third party themselves. Weekly Standard editor-in-chief Bill Kristol tweeted:
Crowd-sourcing: Name of the new party we’ll have to start if Trump wins the GOP nomination? Suggestions welcome at editor@weeklystandard.com
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) December 20, 2015
And as I explained earlier this week:
Politico’s Jeff Greenfield says, “If the operatives I talked with are right, Trump running as a Republican could well face a third-party run – from the Republicans themselves”….Jeb Bush’s aides “began looking into the possibility of making a clear break with Trump – potentially with the candidate stating that, if Trump were the nominee, Bush would not support him.” Last week, MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough said that former Mississippi governor Haley Barbour “and a lot of the Republican leaders would much rather Hillary Clinton be President of the United States than have Donald Trump represent them as a Republican.” And in November, The Hill reported that “GOP establishment donors have confided to The Hill that for the first time in recent memory, they find themselves contemplating not supporting a Republican nominee for president.”
Gawd, Almighty. Jonah Goldberg of National Review sounded the alarm in September when he wrote, “Well, if this is the conservative movement now, I guess you’re going to have to count me out.” That’s been a consistent refrain from some of the columnists over at National Review – many of whom I like, respect, and read regularly. But here’s the problem, again: this is the party of Bob Dole and George H.W. Bush and John McCain and Mitt Romney. Ideological purity, unfortunately, went out the window long ago. And many of those who have suddenly discovered ideological purity didn’t have it when they were touting John Kasich. Today, Goldberg writes hilariously that he has endorsed the Sweet Meteor O’Death:
Only one candidate can unite us all in a way George W. Bush and Barack H. Obama could not. You’ve probably already guessed who I have in mind. But just in case you haven’t, it’s the Sweet Meteor O’Death, or, as he’s known on Twitter, @Smod2016.
There’s only one problem for Goldberg: Donald Trump may in fact be the Sweet Meteor O’Death.
So, here we are. Trump isn’t going anywhere, and he isn’t going anywhere because the same people who decry his rise are the ones who told grassroots Republicans to ignore conservatism in favor of “who could win.” Merry Christmas, establishment Republicans: you can thank yourselves for that giant lump of coal in your stocking.
Ben Shapiro is Senior Editor-At-Large of Breitbart News, Editor-in-Chief of DailyWire.com, and The New York Times bestselling author, most recently, of the book, The People vs. Barack Obama: The Criminal Case Against The Obama Administration (Threshold Editions, June 10, 2014). Follow Ben Shapiro on Twitter @benshapiro.****
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https://www.conservativereview.com/commentary/2016/01/senator-burr-choose-sanders-over-cruz
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https://www.conservativereview.com/commentary/2016/01/senator-burr-choose-sanders-over-cruz
This is the face of the problem.
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George Will Sunday, may be too late to stop Trump.
George Will last week, ruthlessly ripping Rubio, one of only two who could conceivably still beat Trump, without offering anything new against him.
Mark Levin appeared with Trump on his rise before discovering he is no conservative.
Sean Hannity, fellow New Yorker, is a friend of Trump, has defended him against all charges.
Hugh Hewitt, who walked back his comments that Trump doesn't have the temperament in order to stay as a debate questioner. Now has Trump on as the lead interview anytime he wants to come on the show. Calls him the best interview in radio, meaning ratings and attention.
Rush Limbaugh is a personal friend of Trump, has defended him from the beginning. Without favoring him he always sounds like he favors him. The worst part is that he has spent >50% of his show supporting Trump since entering the race (though I would assume he politically favors Cruz).
Now try to walk all of this back with a week to go...
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George Will Sunday, may be too late to stop Trump.
George Will last week, ruthlessly ripping Rubio, one of only two who could conceivably still beat Trump, without offering anything new against him.
Mark Levin appeared with Trump on his rise before discovering he is no conservative.
Sean Hannity, fellow New Yorker, is a friend of Trump, has defended him against all charges.
Hugh Hewitt, who walked back his comments that Trump doesn't have the temperament in order to stay as a debate questioner. Now has Trump on as the lead interview anytime he wants to come on the show. Calls him the best interview in radio, meaning ratings and attention.
Rush Limbaugh is a personal friend of Trump, has defended him from the beginning. Without favoring him he always sounds like he favors him. The worst part is that he has spent >50% of his show supporting Trump since entering the race (though I would assume he politically favors Cruz).
Now try to walk all of this back with a week to go...
We are going to get served a big Shiite sandwich and we will all be required to take a bite.
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I am not sure which is worse. A shiite sandwich or a liberal menu
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We live in interesting times , , ,
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[I thought we had a thread for the non-existent Republican establishment but I couldn't find it.]
This commentator agrees with me (or vice versa) and makes a persuasive case of it. In 1980, G.H.W. Bush was the embodiment of the R establishment, being sensible and moderate on all issues, well schooled and cultured. He was not liberal and not conservative. He called Reaganomics voodoo economics because it strayed from (failed) conventional wisdom. He and the so-called establishment was defeated in the primaries and the victors were vindicated by growth, success and elections. That HW was VP to Reagan is a footnote to his administration. By 1988 Bush Sr. was [allegedly] a born again Reaganite and supply side conservative, then later in his term he relapsed into his old ways and the Presidency went Democrat. Newt following Reagan was anti-establishment in the minority long before taking the majority.
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"The term “Republican Establishment” has no meaning. The actual Republican Establishment ceased to exist nearly a quarter-century ago, and nothing remotely coherent has come along to take its place." - John Podhoretz, Commentary Magazine https://www.commentarymagazine.com/politics-ideas/conservatives-republicans/no-republican-establishment/
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Republicans eating their own.
I listened less and less to Rush L last year as he spent his valuable air time defending his friend Donald Trump, and now tries to walk that back as we are poised to nominate a non-conservative who will lose to Hillary.
Glenn Beck slowly determined that Cruz is the best conservative, so now his way to advance him is to tear down Rubio. Good for him but not interesting to me especially when he adds no new facts to the equation.
Mark Levin goes the furthest on that, putting more passion into Rubio bashing than he ever did for Obama, or Hitler for that matter. As mentioned with Cruz, merely listing the names of the gang of 8, with Rubio's name along with John McCain and DIck Durbin is how you get the people who already agree with you more angry,not how you bring one more person over to your side. No mention of his current position or what he learned from the gang of 8 experience.
Last night in the middle of a Rubio bashing hour he took a call from a woman from Florida who said she helped Rubio get elected and then "the first thing he did when he got to Washington" was to work for open borders and amnesty. In fact the first things he did was learn his way around, join the top committees, start in with intelligence briefings and earn the ranking from Heritage Foundation as the 3rd most conservative Senator in the 112th congress behind Mike Lee and Jim Demint. Facts be damned.
Imagine it was me calling the show and starting off a defense of Rubio based on falsehoods. He would say, "Get off the phone you big dummy!"
Ridiculed is Rubio's explanation that a) he hoped the bill from the Democratic Senate would be improved if it made through the Republican House and conference, which is true and b) that Obama would act unilaterally if the Congress didn't act first, and he did. Again, facts be damned. Rip the guy for tryinng to get a problem solved and an issue off the table that is killing Republicans.
Levin worked for Reagan and worships him now (so do I). But imagine I use Levin's logic to rip Reagan. I could fill a multi-volume book with it. Reagan and Tip O'Neill conspired to increase domestic spending and explode the deficit even while we doubled revenues in the 1980s as the result of tax rate cuts. Make that point early enough and strongly enough and we could have had Carter and Mondale govern us through the 1980s instead.
Now apparently he wants Hillary.
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Levin is a genius. That said he cannot temper his temper and his own name calling on just about anyone who does not agree with his orthodoxy.
He has made a lot of enemies within the Republican Party. At the same time he has been *right* to be critical. The party has thrown most middle Americans to the wolves in my view.
I agree with him on immigration as I have posted here for years. That said I don't want to lose an election over it. There are too many other things at stake.
He can go ahead full bore and support Cruz, but I don't agree with him throwing others out the window. He was open to Trump until his debate when he said W was to blame for 911 and and lied about Iraq. And I felt that way too. That was the last straw for me with regards to Trump . As I have said I will only vote for him if the choice is him and a Democrat.
I agree with you Doug. I am very nervous that Trump or Cruz can bring down the whole ship. We can't just ignore all the data that says both would have a tough time beating the dirtball on the other side over one or two issues alone.
I am not hopeful Hillary will ever drop out even in the unlikely event she is indicted. We all know she will continue to shove herself down all our throats (along with her mob)
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ccp, You have been right on immigration all along and so has Levin. I probably agree with him on every issue but I pick a different guy to carry the ball forward for different, valid reasons, and he (and others) express nothing but hatred toward me. Great way to build a coalition of 25 or 30% max, stand on principle and be ruled by leftists until our demise.
As I wished earlier, the nomination should be a contest to see who can express our view most persuasively to the country in contrast to theirs, not who can tear down all but themselves, and of course tear down themselves while doing it.
The difference between Cruz and Rubio is small but the fight between then will ensure that Trump advances to lose to Hillary. Besides losing our country, I lose another bet (Hillary will be President) that you don't even want to win!
Bush stayed in long enough to screw up SC. Kasich will stay in long enough to screw up Ohio. Rubio will stay in long enough for Trump to beat Cruz in Texas and Cruz will stay in long enough for Trump to beat Rubio in Florida. Kasich draws from Rubio and Carson draws from Cruz. And Trump, like Sanders, wants government to manage the private sector winners and losers. Keeping track of enemy combatants in Syria is simpler.
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Kristol Lays Out Strategy to Give White House to Hillary: Trump ‘Shouldn’t Win’
by JOHN NOLTE2 Mar 20161,859
In order to defeat Donald Trump, The Weekly Standard’s Bill Kristol admits he is prepared to hand Hillary Clinton the Oval Office. On Wednesday’s “Morning Joe,” the Republican Establishment leader laid out his plot to deprive Trump of the 50% of delegates necessary to secure the nomination. From there, the idea is to go into a brokered convention and cut a kamikaze deal that awards enough delegates to an “acceptable” candidate (who will have won far fewer votes, states, and delegates than Trump).
The problem with the Establishment brokering a behind-closed-door deal that hands the nomination to a Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)79%
, is that the backlash against the Republican Party is almost certain to hand Hillary Clinton the presidency.
If a bunch of rich, angry GOP elites rob Trump supporters of their victory, the blowback will result in so many voters staying home in November, Hillary wins. As NBC’s Chuck Todd pointed out last night, at this point the delegate math is such that the only way to stop Trump is through this scheme at the convention.
As you’ll see below, that outcome is preferable to Kristol, and by extension it is safe to assume that outcome is also fine with the rest of the Republican Establishment.
JOE SCARBOROUGH: The fact of the matter is that you know there is no historical precedent with someone doing as well as Candidate Trump did yesterday — winning New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada, [losing the nomination] has never happened before, and as you know there is a momentum, a forward progress–
BILL KRISTOL: Right, so we have to stop the momentum, I totally agree.
SCARBOROUGH: So that’s my question. There’s no cheering here. I am looking at facts.
KRISTOL: To your credit, you have correctly seen that this was not going to be the historically normal year, and it’s not, so maybe we go–
SCARBOROUGH: So how do you beat him?
KRISTOL: You have to beat him in Florida and Ohio, the first two winner-take-all states, which means there has to be a de facto agreement between the opposition candidates — between the resistance to Trump, which I am proud to be a part of, because I think he’d be a terrible nominee and a terrible president…
SCARBOROUGH: You have the authority to broker that deal right now?
KRISTOL: Well, they need to. They need to defer to Rubio in Florida and probably to Kasich in Ohio, and say, or imply, that if you are a Cruz voter in Ohio, and if you look up the day before the primary and it’s Trump 42%, Kasich 35% — vote for Kasich. And the truth is if Trump doesn’t win Florida and Ohio, it remains very much of an open race. …
Donald Trump [so far] has 35% of the popular vote and 47% of the delegates. That’s a lot better than having 24% of the popular vote and 25% of the delegates, granted. …
JOHN HEILEMANN: Just to go a little further on this topic of what Bill’s advocating: As you talk more and more to Republicans, who will say to you privately and sometimes publicly, that they would rather vote for Hillary Clinton than for Donald Trump, [these are the] people who are going to try to stop him — their attitude is: We know that would happen at a contested convention if we took the nomination away from a Donald Trump [who has won through] a plurality of delegates.
What would happen is that we would likely alienate his supporters and we would likely lose the presidential election. But their position is that it would be better for us to lose the [general] election than to have Donald Trump tear the Party in half as the nominee.
Now you can say that’s suicidal, but that is the posture of people [worried] about the negative effects down ballot.
KRISTOL: And [Trump] would still lose the election. And shouldn’t win the election, So, yeah, I agree.
This is a good time to ask where this scorch-earthed mentality was when America needed it most to stop Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012.
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When Cruz when up against McConnell oh did we hear the outrage. Now this faux republican Susan Collins states they should hold hearing on Obama's Supreme Court nominee. Where is the outrage over this. For god's sake, she has the lowest conservative rating on the Conservative Review. Worse than Elizabeth Warren . Why is she even in our party? Time to run her ass out of office:
http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2016-04-05/gop-senator-meets-with-garland-says-hearings-should-be-held
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First, the WPost was delighted to print this I am sure. Second a disgruntled Bushe it seems. Rhinos just don't get it. Why not come out in support of Ted Cruz? I agree with her about Trump's character and some of his positions but why give cover to the Left?
No comment that Bush One left us with Clinton. Bush Two left us with a crash, much higher debt, and 8 yrs of Obama. Your "compassionate" leaders of the party gave us great Americans (no sarcasm intended) but losers vs the Democrats, Dole, McCain, Romney. And what does making $30,000 and living in the District got to do with anything? Is she saying that she is better off with Democrats. What is she saying? She has the 'right' to live in the district and the rich should pay?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ashamed-to-be-republican/2016/04/22/d80098e2-07fd-11e6-bdcb-0133da18418d_story.html
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(From Healthcare thread)
Want to spend over $1500 to hear Jeb speak? Bizarre speaker at a healthcare forum. I guess he has to earn some cash to payback those he fleeced. I guess when he is not giving bankers advice his vision of the problems facing the country today qualify him to be main speaker at some sort of busines of health care forum:
https://www.ahip.org/events/instituteexpo/?gclid=CKbR7fv-vcwCFVFZhgod8L0Hrg
It's a strange world they live in, both parties. Get famous, sell books, give speeches, solve nothing. Imagine how valuable he would be if he was polling above single digits.
Kasich, plain spoken son of a mail man, made $1.1 million working part time for Lehman Brothers in 2008 - in the year of the crash. Newt took millions from GSEs. Makes it hard to pin cronyism and rigged field on Democrats.
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Same goes for the behavior of Denny Hastert.
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I don't blame him for not supporting Trump. How could he after what Trump did to him AND his family.
I agree with everything he says but one crucial point:
AFter 12 years of Bush's this is where we are. They deserve some blame. He takes none for the family. He still doesn't quite get it. That is a shame. Denial I guess:
https://www.facebook.com/jebbush/posts/876702172458827
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I don't blame him for not supporting Trump. How could he after what Trump did to him AND his family.
I agree with everything he says but one crucial point:
AFter 12 years of Bush's this is where we are. They deserve some blame. He takes none for the family. He still doesn't quite get it. That is a shame. Denial I guess:
https://www.facebook.com/jebbush/posts/876702172458827
The time to defend the George W Bush administration was while it was happening. The economic implosion was avoidable, just repeal leftist policies and agencies. They didn't. He could point blame to those failings and give credit to their good policies but no one wanted to re-argue those years or that Presidency.
Jeb had a great record as a two term Governor of the largest, politically divided state. Primary voters didn't care about that. Peggy Noonan put it best. It was Jeb's job to persuade them of why that mattered. He didn't.
I agree with you. Jeb doesn't owe Trump an endorsement. Trump is the politics of destruction. He can win by destroying Hillary next, not by lining up people like Jeb, Ryan, Reince (or Doug) to pretend to like him.
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IMHO saying that Bush knew there were no WMD but lied us into war voided any notion of obligation to support Trump.
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"IMHO saying that Bush knew there were no WMD but lied us into war voided any notion of obligation to support Trump."
Agreed. And maybe worse he even blamed W for 911!!
Totally outrageous and shameful IMHO too.That was even worse then most of the Democrats! I do not really recall even them doing that.
( Except maybe Crats didn't make a stink because the blame could have been traced back to Clinton who allowed Bin Laden to escape and Berger was caught at the Library of Congress National Archives pilfering documents that , if I recall correctly, had to do with that.)
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The 9/11 highjackers entered the US when Clinton was president, and the intent was to strike while Clinton was still in office.
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Cannot say I disagree. The former Repub candidates all look foolish now endorsing Trump after they attacked him. Contrast that to the Dems who disagree but don't call each other names. Trump himself started it though. Now the Dem job is easy ,
https://www.yahoo.com/news/jindal-endorses-trump-162008441.html
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"Trump himself started it..." [call each other names, etc.]
Trump was being Trump. His candidacy was a joke. If his polling had been low enough he could have been left out of the first debate and ignored. It is the people who jumped on board and thought all this is okay and supported him and voted for him over 16 pretty good others who got this going. To them I would ask, now what's your idea...
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"Trump himself started it..." [call each other names, etc.]
Trump was being Trump. His candidacy was a joke. If his polling had been low enough he could have been left out of the first debate and ignored. It is the people who jumped on board and thought all this is okay and supported him and voted for him over 16 pretty good others who got this going. To them I would ask, now what's your idea...
You assume thought is involved.
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i don't know what Will is trying to prove. George, we get it . You don't like Trump, but what is this stuff supposed to prove:
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/438541/donald-trump-russia-vladimir-putin-seeks-meddle-american-election
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http://www.vox.com/2016/7/25/12256510/republican-party-trump-avik-roy
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I don't know that I agree the Republican party is the party of "white nationalist" but I do agree Barry Goldwater was a disaster for the Republican party because he did not support the Civil Rights Act as I have posted before.
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Ah the greats of the Republican party, the Bush industrial complex, the Bill Kristols the Jonah Goldbergs, the ? Meg Whitman ( who was one of the worst candidates in history), Chritie Todd Whitman ( who as governor of NJ basically accelerated our unfunded debt to levels beyond comprehensible).
https://www.conservativereview.com/commentary/2016/08/gop-elites-ultimate-goal-is-to-elect-democrats
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I know Jonah Goldberg hates Trump, but on the whole I like him , , , unless he is voting for Hillary.
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I know Jonah Goldberg hates Trump, but on the whole I like him , , , unless he is voting for Hillary.
Yes, Jonah Goldberg is one of the good ones. Too bad that our nominee and our thought leaders still aren't on the same page. I don't see why endorsements have to be immediate; they can come along the way to the election. Conservatives can leave Trump reason to court their votes. Again, too bad to be in that situation while current momentum is crucial and hurting.
Also agree, this comes to a binary choice. Support Hillary, and everything short of supporting Trump is that, then you will take that mistake to your conservative punditry grave.
During the primaries I found myself not interested in pro-Trump sites and now I find myself not very interested in National Review, George Will, Bill Krystal, Mitt Romney, the Bushes, Greg Mankiw and others unable to take a stand.
David Brooks supported Barack Obama in 2008 because of the crease in his pants(?). Colin Powell did so for every reason except race (in other words only because of race). In both cases the choce tod more about themselves than it did about the choices. We too a far left turn; they supported it. As I said to my RINO congressman who doubled federal spending since 2001, good luck with your new friends.
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"Support Hillary, and everything short of supporting Trump is that, then you will take that mistake to your conservative punditry grave."
I agree . This IS the last stand iMHO.
I don't know what these people are thinking or who they are trying to impress with their being "above the plebs". If they don't like Trump some criticism is ok but to come and state you are going to actively
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Release all the cons. "Take credit" for doing so ! And naturally they will vote Republican in the coming election. And people wonder how why we got Trump?:
https://www.conservativereview.com/commentary/2016/08/what-are-republicans-planning-to-make-their-end-of-the-year-focus
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I didn't hear the whole thing today but rush was commenting on VDH's latest piece. VDH is right . Forget about conventional conservatism for the time being , at least. The right is in a fight for the country and our political future:
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/440198/never-nevertrump-not-voting-trump-republican-suicide
If Trump loses by 1 or 2 percent we can thank the "never Trumpers".
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I also liked VDH's critique of Large Colin Powell.
Sounds pretty establishment to me:
https://www.google.com/search?q=net+worth+colin+powell&oq=net+worth+colin+powell&aqs=chrome..69i57.4167j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Still not enough. Hillary stole his "gig" :cry: :cry:
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Of course . One of the few times I agree with Obama and now Republicans (and few crats) make a stand and over ride a veto. This WILL come back to hurt us.
http://www.breitbart.com/news/senators-vote-to-override-obamas-veto-of-sept-11-bill/
But the internet control give away - watch they will do nothing.
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Of course . One of the few times I agree with Obama and now Republicans (and few crats) make a stand and over ride a veto. This WILL come back to hurt us.
http://www.breitbart.com/news/senators-vote-to-override-obamas-veto-of-sept-11-bill/
But the internet control give away - watch they will do nothing.
I second that. I do not like opening a door to where other countries can sue us.
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http://www.breitbart.com/radio/2016/09/28/pat-caddell-calls-out-stupidity-republicans-internet-takeover-debate-another-sign-america-selling-out/
Oh but Repubs are so strong. (with overwhelming sarcasm) They won the right for New York City attorneys to make a fortune suing Arabia!
Wow what a victory. This is great for American.
Thank God they stand up for us :-P
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So what will one of their first priorities be?
To help the Left pass reform for one of their favorite issues:
https://www.conservativereview.com/commentary/2016/10/why-conservatives-will-need-a-new-party-if-when-hillary-wins
We do need a new party. But who can do it? How did the Republicans replace the Whigs?
How can we replace people in power? Look how both the right and left establishment with the media on their side buried the Tea Party.
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So what will one of their first priorities be?
To help the Left pass reform for one of their favorite issues:
https://www.conservativereview.com/commentary/2016/10/why-conservatives-will-need-a-new-party-if-when-hillary-wins
We do need a new party. But who can do it? How did the Republicans replace the Whigs?
How can we replace people in power? Look how both the right and left establishment with the media on their side buried the Tea Party.
The anger that made Trump isn't going away.
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I place in this thread because of my anger at the sanctimonious Republicans.
For example:
"Finally, for years, readers of conservative magazines have read daily fare about voter fraud. "
And the Republican "establishment" response:
"Yet when Trump — however crudely, conspiratorially, and inexactly — takes up this theme, what do some conservatives then do? They have in the past printed dire warnings of election theft, without worrying about the concrete consequences — and now they become hysterical when someone agrees with their wolf calls in light of clear evidence of media collusion and Democratic campaign roguery?"
Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/441397/democratic-hypocrisy-never-trump-sanctimony
Getting along, reaching across the aisle , get government working again, getting things done sounds nice. But it is a loser to bigger and bigger government, more loss of freedom, more central control and the rest.
Folks it is over. We have lost unless by some miracle Trump pulls this out.
I don't get how the establishment Republicans think we can "live" to see another day. I guess they are corrupted and don't care.
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Getting along, reaching across the aisle , get government working again, getting things done sounds nice.
Sounds nice to who? Not to people who value the Constitution and find it to be the ideal standard of guaranteed rights, not some "work of fiction."
Folks it is over. We have lost unless by some miracle Trump pulls this out.
That's a lie. Clinton doesn't have half of the support her purchased media states. Neither her nor Kaine can fill a high school gymnasium, and Trump routinely pulls in 10's of thousands of people to his events.
Try again.
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DDF,
"Sounds nice to who? Not to people who value the Constitution and find it to be the ideal standard of guaranteed rights, not some "work of fiction."
Sounds nice to the Left, to undecideds, and to establishment Republicans Democrats and others who make a very good living off government and its related power. My point was making the government "work" or compromise is the same as pushing for the LEft.
"That's a lie. Clinton doesn't have half of the support her purchased media states. Neither her nor Kaine can fill a high school gymnasium, and Trump routinely pulls in 10's of thousands of people to his events. "
Your right. Gays , Women, Blacks, Jews, Irish Catholics, Muslims, Asians, Middle Easterners, Hispanics, lawyers, teachers (or for that matter most gov. employees), university people,
people who benefit from Obama care, and those on government benefits are all going to come out and *secretly* pull the lever for Trump.
Just like Dick Morris told us Romney was going to win.
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And I don't know why a liberal Republican who is worse then most Rinos is speaking for the party anyway:
http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/kevin-mccarthy-common-ground-secure-borders/2016/11/14/id/758744/
I have zero confidence in this guy.. His voting record is worse than many Democrats for goodness sakes:
https://www.conservativereview.com/members/kevin-mccarthy/liberty-card/
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Isn't he the moron who declared the real purpose of Gowdy's Benghazi committee was to "get Hillary" for political gain?
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Isn't he the moron who declared the real purpose of Gowdy's Benghazi committee was to "get Hillary" for political gain?
Yes. http://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/hillary-clinton-benghazi-kevin-mccarthy-214325
Bad gaffe.
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Isn't he the moron who declared the real purpose of Gowdy's Benghazi committee was to "get Hillary" for political gain?
Yes. http://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/hillary-clinton-benghazi-kevin-mccarthy-214325
Bad gaffe.
I know... but just going to say... I don't trust anyone that would wear a salmon colored tie.
And I don't know why a liberal Republican who is worse then most Rinos is speaking for the party anyway:
http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/kevin-mccarthy-common-ground-secure-borders/2016/11/14/id/758744/
I have zero confidence in this guy.. His voting record is worse than many Democrats for goodness sakes:
https://www.conservativereview.com/members/kevin-mccarthy/liberty-card/
Because they're both one and the same. Term limits... has to happen.
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On the face of it this stinks:
https://www.conservativereview.com/commentary/2016/11/the-election-is-over-house-gop-celebrates-by-passing-a-new-tax-on-concrete
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http://www.newsmax.com/Politics/GOP-Obamacare-repeal-and-replace-town-halls/2017/02/22/id/775110/
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http://www.newsmax.com/Politics/GOP-Obamacare-repeal-and-replace-town-halls/2017/02/22/id/775110/
I like that they don't have an answer for it. Just repeal the POS and let the free market sort it out. Kind of the idea behind freedom. The whole "wiping your own rear end" kind of thing.
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??
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/446039/checks-balances-american-democracy-trump-administration-courts-congress-states-media
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??
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/446039/checks-balances-american-democracy-trump-administration-courts-congress-states-media
He makes a number of good points.
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and frankly look foolish to have been voting to repeal for years and now they have their chance and they cannot get it together.
So I don't know what Charles who is on our side, seems to be cheerful about.
Except they he voted for Hillary was it? Not Trump.
He is happy now? vindicated. Sounds like DC er to me.
BTW I don't see how anyone can blame Trump for this defeat. The bill basically pissed off everyone from the right - center - left.
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Drop this forever and move on is probably a negotiating move.
John Hinderer at Powerline says, in hindsight they should have done tax reform first. (Famous people caught reading the forum.)
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" (Famous people caught reading the forum.)"
We have our moments :-D
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Trump blaming the freedom caucus for the failure of healthcare reform 1.0 is bad politics. They need each other, and the count was 15 no votes Freedom caucus, 18 no votes other Republicans.
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Agree that going after the Freedom Caucus is quite unwise. These are the men who back Trump (against Ryan!) during the Pussy Grab Tapes brouhaha.
My understanding is that the other no votes by Reps were those in Dem heavy districts who feared the bill going too far (!)
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Agree that going after the Freedom Caucus is quite unwise. These are the men who back Trump (against Ryan!) during the Pussy Grab Tapes brouhaha.
My understanding is that the other no votes by Reps were those in Dem heavy districts who feared the bill going too far (!)
It is starting to look like Trump's presidency will end up only having bought us time.
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Republicans won the the House, the Senate, and now the White House. 100 days in, we have a budget with Republican fingerprints all over it. The government is funded. Planned parenthood is funded. The wall is not. Obamacare is fully in place and the tax system is the one that Bill Ayers, Saul Alinski and Jeremiah Wright's protege put in place for us, working with Pelosi and Reid.
Elections have consequences? Depends.
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Republicans won the the House, the Senate, and now the White House. 100 days in, we have a budget with Republican fingerprints all over it. The government is funded. Planned parenthood is funded. The wall is not. Obamacare is fully in place and the tax system is the one that Bill Ayers, Saul Alinski and Jeremiah Wright's protege put in place for us, working with Pelosi and Reid.
Elections have consequences? Depends.
Fcuking worthless.
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Famous people caught reading the forum, Rush Limbaugh opened his program making the same point.
"That's why I don't get too close to them", he said.
Likewise. I support policies and philosophies, not people or parties. My choice of policies is never supported by Democrats or Centrists, but it is also rarely advanced by the Republicans either, in spite of their occasional supportive words.
Instead of finding 5-10% to disagree on and getting nothing done, Republicans need to find 80% to agree on and get it done. Now.
Everything we say in foreign policy gets lost in domestic policy. Appease and fear your enemies and they are emboldened making everything else you will do harder and more costly. So we cave on all the demands of Chuck Schumer, and that will bring him to the table on WHAT? Nothing.
I could not care less about a government shutdown or "non-essential" services. I care about political consequences, but only if it is rightfully blamed on our side. How could it be? Only if we roll over and play dead.
The wall was not worth fighting over? To Trump?? Planned Parenthood, sanctuary cities, not worth fighting over? Excessive spending is not worth fighting over? What happened to that budget Pres. Trump just released that cut spending 20%? Showmanship? How about 1% of those cuts just to prove it's possible? Prove we had an election. How about tying their spending to our tax reform? It isn't ready? We need more time to debate it? Bullshit. We need to get it right and pass it.
Our side is not ready to govern - and their side wants to destroy the country.
Lousy choice.
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GM: "F...ing worthless."
And while thinking these thoughts, the RNC called me for money today.
They got an earful. I don't think money is what they need right now.
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Politics at Heritage? Or is it politics out at Heritage?
Eliana Johnson reports from behind the scenes.
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/02/why-jim-demint-was-ousted-from-heritage-237876
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I don't know how an organization can call itself "conservative" and claim they are NOT political. Isn't that an oxymoron.
More like a establishment big DC trying to wrest control from real " conservative" vs tea part populist or constitutional conservative issue influence???
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I don't know how an organization can call itself "conservative" and claim they are NOT political. Isn't that an oxymoron.
More like a establishment big DC trying to wrest control from real " conservative" vs tea part populist or constitutional conservative issue influence???
Based on the reporting, DeMint was leading in a Trump direction, looking for research to support that narrative. Needham is more of a Cruz guy. Trump is the political vehicle of the moment, but some of his economic ideas aren't backed up in the data. Cruz and some of his ideas aren't practical or electable in my view. Heritage should study the effectiveness of different policies and leave the mechanics of campaigning, getting elected and getting things passed to the parties and politicians.
On taxes and economic policy, Heritage should stand unapologetically for economic growth and individual economic freedom, research and print what the mainstream media refuse to do on that.
Here is and example I was looking at yesterday: http://www.heritage.org/node/18247/print-display
The tax rate cuts of the 1920s were followed by a 61% increase revenues over 7 years.
The Kennedy tax rate cuts brought a 62% increase in revenues over 7 years.
The Reagan tax rate cuts yielded a 54% increase over 6 years (100% over 10 years).
[Then when Bush or Trump propose tax rate cuts, the media demands to know how they will deal with the static revenue loss - a demonstrably false premise question.]
In another example, Heritage ranks which countries allow their people the most and least economic freedom and the economic results that accompany that.
Who do we trust to research these things if they don't? Brookings? The NY Times? MSNBC??
Besides Heritage, may I suggest people give money to Center for the American Experiment and some others:
https://www.americanexperiment.org/donate/
https://secured.heritage.org/join-heritage-parallax/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=donate&t_recur=1
https://securessl.cato.org/support/donate
https://www.judicialwatch.org/donate/make-a-contribution-2/
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Please feel free to post that in the Tax thread here and the Economics thread on the SC&H forum too.
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http://www.nationalreview.com/g-file/447594/donald-trump-james-comey-debacle-fbi-director-fired-certified-letter
"Ask anybody — off the record, of course — on Capitol Hill about whether all this drama helps them get bills passed or judges confirmed. They will laugh at the question."
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In the two party system, RINOs (Republicans in name only) by definition are politicians who call themselves Republicans, get elected and govern like Democrats.
The biggest differences in the parties tends to be on domestic policy - taxes, spending and regulations. The biggest parts of that right now are Obamacare and our arcane, self defeating tax system.
It is now June of the first year of the 'unified' government where we elected a Republican House, Senate and President all promising to fix that - and we wait...
The economic results of this year will be scored as Republican results under Democrat policies. R-I-N-O.
I wrote to my congressman who is on the House Ways and Means Committee about tax reform and he wrote back that he supports it. Who cares if they support it if they don't enact it!
Am I being unreasonably impatient or are they being stupid, timid, incompetent, unready to govern?
Granted, it is hard to get agreement among a wide group elected from different constituencies under different circumstances. But the alternative is the status quo leading to economic and electoral failure.
When Republicans fail, see the George Bush Presidency in 2006, voters don't replace them with better Republicans, they aren't even offered better Republicans. Voters turn to Democrats of the Pelosi-Reid-Obama-Hillary-Ellison-Biden-Sanders-Warren ilk. By not reforming taxes and programs we will get higher taxes and bigger programs.
The mere prospect that tax rates will be lower next year than this year exacerbates paralysis, stagnation, weakens the economy further and helps the opponents to re-take power and move things irreversibly in the wrong direction. The longer we wait to repeal and replace Obamacare while dependency gets more and more entrenched just makes it harder or impossible to do ever.
Pick up any major newspaper and read about shiny objects in the rear view mirror while the opportunity to turn this country around gets squandered.
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circular firing squad continues
what is this all about ?:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jason-chaffetz-slams-trump_us_59475dc5e4b01eab7a2eacc0
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https://townhall.com/columnists/kurtschlichter/2017/06/22/spare-me-the-principles-lecture-n2343749
Spare Me The Principles Lecture
Kurt Schlichter |Posted: Jun 22, 2017 12:01 AM Share (910) Tweet
I think it was mildly amusing that some loud right-wingers spent a minute disrupting a bunch of New York liberals’ conservative murder porn party.
There, I said it. And now, according to some people on the conservative side, I’m not a conservative anymore.
Oh. Well, if conservatism has morphed into a human centipede of onanistic purity-signaling, then you fussy guardians of the word can have it.
Now, there is a coherent and reasonable argument that hitting back liberals with a taste of their own medicine – that is, inflicting upon them a microscopic fraction of what they have spent decades inflicting upon us – is a bad idea. People I respect and who are friends adhere to this view. I’ve listened to their opinions – because they have earned my attention – and they are wrong.
Note that yes, we are allowed to disagree within conservatism.
Now, a few people I don’t respect also say the disruption was terrible, mostly because they are weak and scared because, in our new conservative world, they have been displaced by more interesting and influential talents who are committed to actually achieving results. Conservatism, Inc., is no longer dedicated solely to securing these timeservers’ mediocre status within the NY/DC establishment hierarchy, and they are understandably frightened of facing a future where mere posturing doesn’t get enough folks writing checks. People got woke because when it came time to fight the same leftist Democrat they had allegedly been fighting for decades, the wimpcons embraced her. After all, she went to the right schools, and under her they would be able to return to their comfortable, if ineffectual, positions in the political scheme of things. And that uncouth Trump – well, he and his supporters are just the wrong kind of people.
Regardless, it was appropriate and conservative to chastise the murder fetishizers at the Trump killing play. And you wusscons – don’t start with the, “Well, it’s a play and you don’t understand literature, and the whole butchering the president thing is art which you obviously don’t understand” baloney. Without their POTUS-murdering dog whistle, this would just be another bunch of theater geeks putting on a show. They are rubbing their violent threats in our faces while gaslighting us to the effect that we shouldn’t believe our own lying eyes.
Now, the good faith critique of the disruption, the one not made by conservatism’s Sore Loser League, is that we don’t silence presentations, that we don’t inject the political into the personal, and that we don’t interfere with free speech. Simply because liberals do all those things does not mean we should too. That’s true, to a point.
But let’s look at what actually happened. Some sort-of goofy people infiltrated the Murder/Trump staging of Julius Caesar and started yelling about how these giddy liberals needed to stop celebrating political violence, especially after one of their liberal ilk tried to butcher two dozen GOP legislators a few days before. They didn’t shut down the show – they paused it, for about a minute. After the main one was hustled off-stage, some guy started shouting about how the audience was “Goebbels,” which was embarrassingly silly. Then they followed it up with a lot of whining about being arrested, apparently not understanding how civil disobedience works. So, the initial stage rush was amusing and effective – a measured and short-term protest that did not prevent the moronic staging from continuing. The rest though, as Saul Alinsky warned, became a drag.
Overall, give it a B-. Next time, make your point and move on.
And yes, there should be a next time. There is a case for this sort of activity. It’s just not something we have done much of to date, but we should do more.
First, the “If it’s wrong for them to do it to us, then it’s wrong if we do it to them” formulation is less a principle than a tired cliché. This minor disruption was a tactic; shouting was a tool. It is moral for the good guys – and we are the good guys – to use tactics and tools against an enemy that are immoral when they do it. It was immoral for the Nazis to bomb London; it was moral for us to bomb Nazis. Of course every tactic and tool is not acceptable, but the guys who stormed Omaha Beach did not “become what they were fighting” because they used the same tools and tactics as the enemy.
Second, this sort of performance art is so harmless that the cost/benefit calculus weighs in favor of tolerating such occasional inconveniences. That’s not to say we should not impose higher costs on them – we disapprove of the firing of people for what they say, but Kathy Griffin’s defenestration was a sacrifice worth making to demonstrate the costs of liberal misbehavior. This is crucial. They must pay a cost for establishing their new rules.
Call it retribution or punishment or just payback, but causing pain to wrongdoers is a conservative principle we seem to have forgotten. The left needs to feel the pain that comes from their choices. If they want a world where people suffer for speaking, well, I prefer they didn’t, but I damn well know that if that’s the new rule, their side is going to get it shoved down their throat.
Yes, there is a slippery slope risk. I’ve seen it overseas, where the rule of law was replaced by the rule of power. But we will slip down that slope if we do not grab on up at the top. People are not going to sit back and take this leftist abuse and allow them to impose their leftist tyranny upon us without reacting. If we don’t stop the left now from taking this dangerous path – including by using tools like harmless civil disobedience – then that weakness, as my novels illustrate, invites real conflict with real bloodshed. And we can’t let that happen.
Finally, if our principles are worth having, they are worth fighting for in a way that might conceivably lead to success. One of the folks telling me how wrong and unconservative I am for finding it amusing – a patriot, though wrong – also mentioned that he had been fighting for free speech on campus and in the culture for 20 years. Hmmm. I’ve been fighting for them for 30 years, ever since my dean at UCSD called me in to yell at me because I wrote that the student government was composed of leftist dweebs. Shouldn’t the fact that we have spent decades using the same tactics and losing indicate that maybe we ought to try something new?
Are we going to reason the left out of its ruthless quest for absolute power? Are we going to talk them into civility? Is our sterling example of high principles – which apparently include never, ever, for even a moment, annoying leftists by interrupting their bloody assassination festivals – leading to anything but defeat?
At Fort Benning, they didn’t teach us to lose.
That’s why I reject any principle that somehow obligates me to submit to the left’s tyranny. If your principles told you we had to elect Felonia von Pantsuit and allow her to complete the transformation of the United States into Venezuela II, maybe that’s a sign you need some new principles.
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http://althouse.blogspot.com/2017/07/brilliant-positioning-by-kid-rock.html
Want to win? Bring both to the table.
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https://townhall.com/columnists/kurtschlichter/2017/07/20/we-must-elect-senator-kid-rock-n2356950
We Must Elect Senator Kid Rock
Kurt Schlichter |Posted: Jul 20, 2017 12:01 AM
The news that Southern-fried rock/rapper Kid Rock will be running for some timeserving Dem hack’s Senate seat in Michigan should make every normal American smile and spill a 40 to his homies. The future Senator Rock deserves your eager support for two critical reasons: First, it will drive the liberals insane. Second, it will make George Will and the rest of Team Fredocon soil themselves.
“Kid Rock? Oh, well I never!” You simpering sissies. I’ll take his nasty stringy mop and torn wife beater over your preferred weasels’ coiffed politician/newscaster hair and Gucci loafers.
No, he didn’t go to some Ivy League snob factory and all he’s got to rely on are attitude, common sense, and a love of actual Americans (especially our troops). But wait - you want “conservatism.” A fat lot of good your version of conservatism’s done us. It’s always waiting up there ahead, just after the next election cycle, and in the meantime, we’ll compromise and make some more excuses.
No, we’re past voting for the ideology. Now we’re ready to vote for the id.
We’re woke, and we want a devil with a cause. Lying GOP worms like Rob Portman and Dean Heller and whoever that jerk is from West Virginia stuck a stake in pseudo-conservative ideology’s already-dying heart when they started tap dancing the second they got the opportunity to vote to repeal Obamacare while we had a president who would actually sign the bill. Up until then, the people Conservatism Incorporated had vouched for had looked in our faces and lied.
Now, we can look in their faces and say, “Kid Rock’s in the House and that's where [he’s] at!”
Okay, technically the Senate. Which is probably good, because you know he’d slap Paul Ryan and make him cry.
“You can’t be serious!” Kid Rock over some Democrat, or whatever lying sack of fraud the More Con Than You-cons have been selling us?
Any. Freaking. Day.
Conservative Incorporated sold us a bill of goods – oh, not all of them, but enough of them that there’s no more benefit of the doubt for the Republican Party. Let’s be really clear – most of the GOP Senate crew was ready to pull the tab and chug the beer of repeal. That’s good, and why we need to avoid playing the “I HATE THE WHOLE GOP! WAAAAA!” game the Democrats and their media catamites are pushing to dishearten and discourage us. No, we’re not falling for it. We don’t need to give up. We just need to purge the party of the squishes. We still have about a dozen or so liars who played conservative at home and bipartisan trough hog back in DC. And they need to be kicked to the curb.
This crisis is not of The Donald’s making; this is a failure of insiders, not of outsiders. The tunnel vision Never Trumpers can’t put this repeal treachery on Trump, though they’ll try. To them, everything is Trump’s fault – their irrelevance, their dandruff, their inability to perform as men. No, this was a betrayal of real conservatives by alleged conservatives in good standing, big talkers about liberty and free enterprise who were happy to take our votes but even happier to burrow into the Washington scene and suck it dry like the ticks they are.
These were the grinning creeps who sat on Heritage panels and reaped the praise of the American Enterprise Institute and who, when the time came, turned out to be liars.
These were the people who kept shaking their lying heads at how uncouth Trump is. At least Trump – and Kid Rock – never lied to us about who they really are.
I am not shocked. You shouldn’t be either. Like every movement, conservatism has attracted its share of grifters. Look at the careers of Bill Kristol and John Podhoretz – thanks, Dads! Their magazines are just more useless appendages of Conservative Incorporated. Their purpose was never to put conservative policy into place. No, they are donor bait whose purpose is to allow their proprietors to maintain their mediocre positions in the DC/NY milieu. When the time to make a hard choice came, they easily made the choice of Felonia von Pantsuit, happy to leave us normal Americans to her tender mercies knowing that having liberals in the White House meant bucks and attention for them.
They are horrible people who always held us normals in contempt, and they’re now so angry they are forgetting to fake respect. The other day, when the president was showing off American-made goods in the White House, Kristol sniffed “Maybe it's just me, but I find something off-putting about turning the White House into an exhibition hall for American tchotchkes.” Maybe it’s just me, but if I were one of these nepotism poster boyz I would at least show some respect for Americans whose parents didn’t hand them a ready-made career.
They’re nothing now, and it gnaws at them. So just think of them seeing Kid Rock get the power and position they covet. We cannot waste this opportunity to watch them turn purple with fussy rage.
Which brings us to the criticality of attitude, because one fact remains indisputable. Attitude doesn’t lie. We’ve just seen a graphic demonstration of how the GOP hacks can easily fake ideology. But attitude? That’s almost impossible to fake.
Tell me more about how all Donald Trump has is raw opposition to everything Democrat, how he has no firm ideology of his own. Yeah, and so what? Raw opposition to our enemies sure as hell beats faked ideology that suddenly vanishes whenever it’s in danger of actually being implemented.
I keep hearing how true conservatism will do this and that and blah blah blah. Yeah, most of the GOP senators are solid, but enough aren’t that you finger waggers need to lose the attitude. The people the establishment held up as serious policy wonks who put that alleged policy illiterate Donald Trump to shame turned around and stabbed us in the back.
I’ll take Kid Rock in a heartbeat over what you’re selling – he’s a cowboy, baby, and he’s thrown a punch and taken one. He’s not going to lie to you about devouring think tank white papers and how we’re really absolutely totally going to do all that great conservative stuff if only we had the House and the Senate and the presidency and unicorns romping through the streets.
So, Kid Rock for Senate 2018. His campaign slogan should be “You’ve done a lot worse,” because we have. Sure, maybe he’ll “Start an escort service for all the right reasons/And set up shop at the top of Four Seasons,” but at least this time we will have elected a pimp instead of another ho.
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Why are you in the Republican party?
Liberty score of 22 % , meaning 78% of the time she votes with the Democrat party!
What is the point ? She is saying voting liberal is best for her state ( alaska? ) is best then why are you registered as a Republican ? Alaska is a Repub state or so I thought.
She should be run the hell out of office. She is a fraud Call yourself a Republican in a Republican state then nearly always vote the opposite of what people think they are getting?
https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/2017/08/04/murkowski-to-trump-im-not-voting-for-the-republican-party-but-people-of-my-state/
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and the MSmedia, that to some degree egged them on, could not have wished for a better outcome (except of course what happened the people hurt and one that lost her life from the nut with the car):
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/08/15/fox-news-new-low-establishment-mouthpiece-perino-implies-pro-israel-breitbart-a-nazi-site/
The never trumpers and the ex bush people are all calling out anyone who supports Trump. Perfect for the left.
We are done. I don't believe that simply replacing trump is going to help . I just don't believe it.
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http://thedeclination.com/moral-courage-and-moral-arbitrage/
Moral Courage and Moral Arbitrage
by Dystopic | Aug 16, 2017 |
Every good capitalist is on the look out for imbalances in the market, opportunities to earn a profit off of a thing that either the market lacks completely, or current businesses do very inefficiently and ineffectively. You can consider it a form of arbitrage.
Today’s politicians, media talking heads, celebrities and the like are moral capitalists, even though they are economic collectivists. That is to say their morality is a form of arbitrage, always for sale to the highest bidder, where each statement they issue is calculated to profit them personally.
Take Marco Rubio, who today issued a series of tweets condemning Donald Trump for suggesting that the Charlottesville attack, and other similar incidents between Antifa and White Supremacists, was equally the fault of both parties. Donald Trump’s position is that both are hate groups, and both are quick to resort to violence to further their political goals, and that putting them together like that was surely going to stir up violence.
Personally, I think Trump is somewhat understating the case. White supremacists are exceedingly rare, even if they’ve received a shot in the arm from SJWs harping on white people all the time (hint: that tends to manufacture more supremacists, not less). What happened in Virginia may very well represent peak white supremacism, the very most such groups are capable of. Antifa and militant Marxists, meanwhile, enjoy far greater support from media, financiers (oh, the irony), and society-at-large. Antifa dwarfs Klansman and Neo-Nazis. Militant Marxists are, by far, the greater threat currently.
But that being said, Trump did put his finger on the central point: both groups espouse violent ideologies that are incompatible with freedom.
Marco, meanwhile, in his own words, pins 100% of the blame onto the supremacists.
rubio
This argument is remarkably similar to Antifa and other Marxist groups saying that mean words justifies violence, that speech they don’t like justifies burning down cities and attacking people. It is okay for them to violently shut down anybody right-of-center on college campuses around the country, but it is not okay for anyone right-of-center to speak.
Marco is on a continuum with the SJWs on this matter. He concedes the central point, that violence is an acceptable response to speech deemed offensive. Yes, in the case of Neo-Nazis and Klansmen, the speech actually is offensive. But it is still speech. Until it isn’t, anyway.
But if you’re a regular reader of The Declination, you already know my position on freedom of speech, and how speech alone does not justify violence.
To be fair, a lot of people are saying this, though, so let’s analyze this a little differently. Why does Marco denounce the white supremacists so readily, yet lets militant Marxists off the hook? As a man of Cuban ancestry, he ought to be very familiar with the depredations and dangers of Marxists. Why is he so willing to assign them 0% of the blame?
There is moral arbitrage here. When some politician or celebrity denounces Neo-Nazis, Klansmen, and other assorted white supremacists, he is cheered. He is called stunning and brave. He is bashing the fash, taking a brave stand against the most evil ideology of man. In other words, he gets a huge moral bonus in the eyes of the media. It is easy to denounce white supremacists, who probably represent less than a tenth of a percent of the population. And it is profitable to do so, as well.
If it’s cheap and profitable, expect everyone to jump on the bandwagon. The explosion of Nazi denunciations is like the proliferation of those little fidget spinners that cost 10 cents to make and sell for $7.99 in every convenience store from here to Seattle. Everybody wants a slice of that action.
Meanwhile, taking a similar stand against Marxism is expensive. If a politician or celebrity stands up and denounces Marxism as a hateful, murderous ideology that is at least as evil as Nazism, he is often shot down. Real Marxism, of course, has never been tried. Real Marxism is a good theory, a good idea that maybe just hasn’t been implemented quite right. It’s morally true and righteous, and even if it has some problems, surely bashing the fash has to take precedence, right?
Except Marxism has a much higher share of the population. Marxism is celebrated openly on college campuses around the country. Marxists trash cities, riot, commit acts of violence with frightening regularity, and Marco assigns them 0% of the blame, because somewhere, there is an inbred Neo-Nazi off his meds tweeting from his mother’s basement.
Marco obtains a moral profit from denouncing white supremacism. He incurs a moral cost from denouncing Marxism. Playing the moral arbitrage for profit thus demands he pin the blame for political violence on only one participant. Then he is “stunning and brave” in the eyes of the body politic.
Marxists have been doing this as long as I’ve been alive. It is correctly seen as stupid and disgusting to wear an Adolf Hitler t-shirt. Yet somehow Che Guevara t-shirts are absurdly common. The Nazi swastika is correctly seen as a hate symbol, yet the Soviet hammer & sickle is given a pass. It is a historical tragedy that Communism was not discredited with the same vigor as Nazism was.
It is socially cheap to oppose Nazism. It is socially expensive to oppose Communism.
Donald Trump, whatever his other faults, possesses enough moral courage to speak the truth: both groups are hateful. And he paid the price for speaking that truth. Marco Rubio, meanwhile, lacks the stones, even though as descendant of Cubans, he ought to know better than most.
I’m very disappointed in him. I expect this from Democrats who have lacked moral courage as long as I’ve been alive, I even expect it from Republicans who have no history with Marxism. But I do not expect it from a Cuban Republican. Of all people, Marco, YOU should know better. Stop playing the moral arbitrage and speak honestly.
After all, even Donald Trump is showing more honesty and integrity than you are, right now.
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"Moral Courage and Moral Arbitrage
by Dystopic | Aug 16, 2017 |
...
Take Marco Rubio, who today issued a series of tweets condemning Donald Trump..."
If this piece has the facts right, Trump is right and Rubio wrong.
https://amgreatness.com/2017/08/16/really-fault-charlottesville/
To me it looks like leftist opportunism; I don't see why Republicans are joining in.
Does anyone have a different, better version of the facts?
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As Rush pointed out today
Trump Did in fact call out the racists and bigots and the violence form day one and later added the White supremacists
That said the Left and never Trumpers expose themselves every day when they refuse to acknowledge this.
It is about destroying him. And if Mueller will not do it this will......
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weird if you ask me.
Are they hoping girls will flock to be their slaves like ISIS?
Is this really a social dating club? :wink:
oh the romanticism of being a revolutionary ..............
https://www.spartareport.com/2017/08/long-gop-supported-alt-left-terror/
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https://townhall.com/columnists/KurtSchlichter/2017/09/04/all-this-true-conservative-talk-about-principles-is-just-another-lie-n2376699
All This 'True Conservative' Talk About 'Principles' Is Just Another Lie
Kurt Schlichter |Posted: Sep 04, 2017 12:01 AM
After two years of lectures about “principles” and “the Rule of law” by the establishment-loving hacks furious that normal Americans rejected them and elected Donald Trump, their performance last week demonstrated that their high-minded dedication to conservatism is all a fraud. It’s not about “principles” or “the Rule of Law.” It’s only about holding on to power – theirs.
Let’s take the latest in a seemingly endless series of #fails from that smarmy dope Paul Ryan, King of the Fredocons. First, he rushed to help out the liberals with their ridiculous narrative about how Donald Trump is a “Nazi” (Wait, I thought the narrative memo had him being a Russian fifth columnist – damn, our president sure is versatile!). You couldn’t keep Ryan from eagerly jumping in with his usual more-in-sorrow-than-in-anger-about-Trump thing to help the left push its latest meme. Antifa though? Not so fast! Ryan, the poodle that he is, obediently waited until Nancy Pelosi led the way and offered some tepid words about these commie blackshirts and their thirst for blood before Brave Sir Ryan ran out and offered some tepid words about these commie blackshirts and their thirst for blood.
Paul Ryan is a guy who can’t even take his own side in a fight – or, more to the point, our side in a fight. Now, a quick quiz: When Donald Trump proposed to keep his promise to the Republican voters who elected him and end the unconstitutional DACA program that the Obama administration enacted to ignore duly-enacted immigration laws, what did Passive Paul do?
A. Ryan immediately offered his support for the president undoing this Rule of Law abomination that Ryan expressly called “unconstitutional” on Fox back in October 2014.
B. Ryan immediately demanded the president not undo this Rule of Law abomination that Ryan expressly called “unconstitutional” on Fox back in October 2014.
C. Ryan immediately asked someone to explain what the phrase “keep his promise to the Republican voters who elected him” means.
D. B and C
So, for the benefit of us suckers, basically Ryan was against DACA when it couldn’t be undone, but is now panicking when it can be undone because it might actually be undone – unless President Trump lets Ryan roll him, in which case he deserves to be laughed at in exactly the way his Never Trump enemies will laugh at him.
Gosh, this DACA two-step kind of reminds me of Obamacare and how gung-ho the True Conservatives were to repeal it when they couldn’t repeal it and how suddenly they turned ungung-ho when they actually could. Weird. If I was cynical, I’d say that it seems like the establishment GOP has been lying to our faces for years and years, but that couldn’t be true because our establishment betters have principles and stuff.
Of course, it’s not just the Wisconsin Wimp shifting into conservagimp mode. Soon-to-be-former Senator Jeff Flake, that braying doofus, naturally joined the cave-in chorus. Ben Sasse, Flake’s braying doofus doppelgänger, probably joined in, but I refuse to spend valuable time looking at his tedious Twitter feed to find out. And since it involved betraying Republicans, you have got to assume John “Blue Falcon” McCain is in on it too.
Yeah, because “principles” and stuff. Because enforcing the law is the most important thing there is, except for doing what the rich guys who fund the establishment want. That’s really the most important thing.
Yeah, so after nearly two years of tiresome finger-wagging about “the Rule of Law” and how we need to put our “principles” above our desire for “winning,” the whole sordid scam we always knew it always was is revealed for the world to see. They can’t hide it anymore and they aren’t even trying. Their glorious “conservative principles” aren’t principles at all but a skeevy ploy designed to tie our hands and keep us from pursuing policy goals our establishment coalition partners disfavor. They want open borders. They want illegals. They want cheap foreign labor that doesn’t get uppity to man their donors’ corporations so the Captains of Crony Capitalism don’t have to fuss with American workers who won’t tolerate being treated like chattel. Yeah, “we’re better than that” all right – if you mean that we are better than enforcing the laws the American people passed through a constitutional process if the ruling class decides it doesn’t like them.
“The Rule of Law” is for us, not for them. “The Rule of Law” was supposed to be a shield to protect us from the ravages of the powerful, but our Truer-Than-You Cons use it as a sword to cut our legs out from under us and keep us from defending our own interests.
Oh, you can’t possibly exercise the power against our leftist enemies that they always exercise against you. Because principles.
Oh, you can’t possibly be uncouth and actually fight back against our enemies. Because principles.
Oh, a principle is getting in the way of something the establishment wants? What’s a principle?
So now, suddenly, Congress is moving to try and keep DACA alive through – gasp! – legislation, though that’s probably not going to happen since most GOP legislators understand that amnesty is ballot box poison. See, that’s why they loved DACA – they can’t pass it as a law, so they simply feigned outrage for the benefit of us rubes when Obama did exactly what they wanted with his pen.
And in the most Congressional GOP move of all possible Congressional GOP moves, they now want to try to pass a proposed DACA fix using Democrat votes and so their proposed deal to the Democrats – who really, really want 800,000 future voters – is to trade it for…wait for it…still waiting…nothing. The GOP isn’t asking for anything. No new limits on immigrants, no reform of chain immigration, certainly no wall. Nothing. I hope the dealer tries out this innovative new negotiation strategy on me the next time I bargain to lease a fine German sports sedan.
Actually, the GOP does get something – shafted, as usual. Yeah, their deal is we give you Democrats what you want and, in exchange, you call us racists when Elizabeth Warren proposes to declare all these middle-aged Dreamer kids US citizens. Because, you know, they had dreams and stuff.
Pathetic. You know, it’s becoming clearer and clearer that the real reason the Republicans don’t want to end the filibuster to allow them to pass legislation is that they would then be expected to pass legislation that their voters want and the GOP establishment doesn’t.
Here’s the thing. There are two parties in America, one to the right and one to the left. The left/right spectrum used to be the only axis that mattered, and the coalitions within the parties fit pretty well, if not perfectly. But the bipartisan establishment, the meritless meritocracy that rules us, grew more arrogant even as it grew more inept. It ignored problems and troubling trends even as it cashed-in for itself over the decades. I remember working in Congress back in Washington in 1986, and the region was not rich and it was not fancy. But now it’s fantastically rich and fantastically fancy. But the establishment ignored the normals out in America as it gorged on the fruits of the normals’ labor, and that’s why a second axis arose and intersected with the American politician spectrum. This new axis measures pro- or con- regarding the status quo and the ruling class. So now there are really four political parties stuffed into two political party infrastructures:
Right, pro-establishment (The RINOs)
Right, anti-establishment (The Trump voters)
Left, pro-establishment (Hillary’s snobby urban corporatist jerk corps)
Left, anti-establishment (The Bernie/Warren/Stalin Axis of Venezuela)
This explains why we see the DC establishment unifying to protect its power and privilege – and holding us normals in utter contempt. Most Democrat senators and Republican senators have much more in common with each other than with us – to the GOP establishment, Trump’s clearly the bigger threat than a counterpart across the aisle. It also explains why you hear about Bernie supporters who went for Trump instead of Felonia von Pantsuit. That’s the fault line – the desire to keep or destroy this monstrous status quo. This new axis will reshape the political parties as their uncomfortable coalitions jockey for control of their respective party’s infrastructure (Yeah, the Dems have big problems too). Hell, it may reshape – violently – our whole country if we aren’t careful.
The fact is that the establishment doesn’t care about “the Rule of Law” or “principles” – it cares about its own power and maintaining the status quo. So keep that in mind the next time you hear some establishment snob lecturing you on how you are morally obligated not to do anything to advance you own interests because of “principles.”
It’s all just another lie.
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Could not agree more with the above. We all know they will not rescind/reverse or let lapse DACA.
The name will be changed but there will be some sort of "pathway" and the "great humanitarian compromise " will show how nice we as Americans really are.
By the end of the same day the Dems will be back to trashing the lackey Rs again.
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Who defines what a "hate " group is? Don't liberals hate conservatives and vice a versa?
80 % of the county can fall into the designation of a hate group.
This any one from either side can simply designate the other a "hate " group and use the power of the government to prosecute.
I find it hard to believe NSA and other gov unintelligence agencies do not already have data on this stuff anyway:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/congress-sends-anti-white-supremacist-measure-trump-013040254.html
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"Who defines what a "hate" group is? Don't liberals hate conservatives and vice a versa?"
I hate the leftist ideas and what they have done and are doing to this country.
The point in hate crime is the word, crime, there needs to be a crime involved. Hate itself without a crime I think falls under free speech, impliedly including free thought. Bad thoughts or animosity should be legal, ending at the point of where a person is inciting violence or committing a crime.
But if they commit a crime and if we enforce it and have a serious punishment for it, who cares about the hatred?
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I'm glad our republican congress is working on important things like this. It's not like there are more important things they promised.
"Who defines what a "hate" group is? Don't liberals hate conservatives and vice a versa?"
I hate the leftist ideas and what they have done and are doing to this country.
The point in hate crime is the word, crime, there needs to be a crime involved. Hate itself without a crime I think falls under free speech, impliedly including free thought. Bad thoughts or animosity should be legal, ending at the point of where a person is inciting violence or committing a crime.
But if they commit a crime and if we enforce it and have a serious punishment for it, who cares about the hatred?
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https://townhall.com/columnists/kurtschlichter/2017/09/25/conservative-inc-is-being-replaced-by-us-militant-normals-n2385943
Conservative, Inc., Is Being Replaced By Us Militant Normals
Kurt Schlichter |Posted: Sep 25, 2017 12:01 AM
Conservative, Inc., Is Being Replaced By Us Militant Normals
I guess now we’re not supposed to be fighting culture wars anymore – man, it’s so hard to keep up with these ever-changing new rules! I’m old enough to remember way back to 2016, before Trump got nominated, and I could have sworn Conservative Inc., was gung-ho for the whole culture war thing. But then Trump actually fought it, taking on the big, soft target that is the spoiled, semi-literate athletes who like to rub their contempt for the flag we love in our faces in the guise of woke wokedness. Now we suddenly discover that fighting back is horribly uncouth and déclassé and “Oh, well I never!”
Gosh, I would have thought from all those cruise panels about how our crumbling culture is slouching toward Babylon and the need to resist the liberal onslaught that maybe we ought to actually resist the liberal onslaught, but see, that was my mistake. I took it seriously when Conservative, Inc., promised to fight the leftist blitzkrieg against normal Americans. It was all a scam, a lie, a pose for us rubes. The Tru Cons didn’t actually mean it.
There’s a lot of that not meaning it going on in the GOP right now. Exhibit A is John McCain, who ran ads touting how he was leading the way in opposing Obamacare only to give it aid and comfort when someone in the White House would actual sign its repeal. He’s the guy the establishment designated to lose to Barack Obama in 2008, and he was sure up to the task. But in retrospect, thank goodness, because McCain’s inevitable presidential betrayal of conservatives by breaking his word then and treating GOP voters like he treated his first wife would have done exponentially more damage to conservatism than Trump being prevented from keeping his word today ever could.
It’s so good to know that, despite his wonderful, close, awesome friend humiliating him while lying to Arizona’s voters, Lindsey Graham is still the blue falcon’s buddy. No hard feelings!
There used to be a thing called “conservatism,” and I knew it pretty well since I was part of it for about a third of a century. But conservatism changed, becoming less about principles (though the wusscons never shut up about them) and more about money-grubbing navel gazing and intellectual onanism. Actual Republican voters, actual normal Americans? Well, they became kind of beside the point in the tumbler-klinking world of the John Boehnercons, and to the corporate-friendly compassioncons who put the interests of everyone else (including the act of lovers) ahead of the GOP voters who voted the establishment in.
Conservativism forgot about the real world conservatives we expected to line up behind us. While we were talking about free trade, we were ignoring that GOP voter who fought in Fallujah, came home, got a job building air conditioners, raised a family, and then one day watched the video of the oh-so-sorry CEO – who looked remarkably like Mitt Romney, because all these guys look remarkably like Mitt Romney – sadly informing his beloved employees that their jobs were getting shipped to Oaxaca. And our response to the 58-year old Republican voter who asked us how he was going to keep paying for his mortgage and his kid in college? Pretty much, “Well, that’s how free enterprise works. Read some Milton Freidman and go learn coding.”
That’s not a response, not for a political party that requires people to actually vote for it. That’s an abdication, but what did Conservative, Inc., care? Priorities! “There’s this new tapas place in Georgetown everyone is talking about – the other night, my buddy from the Liberty Freedom Eagle Institute for Liberty, Freedom and Eagles saw Lawrence O’Donnell there getting hammered!”
How about the guy who wanted to be a roofer in Fontana but he couldn’t because the contractors were only hiring illegals? What was our answer to him? “Oh well, the big corporate donors need their serfs, and if some pack of tatted-up MS-13 dreamers gang-rapes your daughter that’s just a price we’re willing to pay!”
They try to crush our religion and Conservative, Inc., cowers because Apple’s CEO might say mean things. “Just bake the cake,” they say – it’s not worth the fight! They demand our tax money to kill babies and Conservative, Inc., passes the spending bills – “Gosh, we can’t risk the WaPo saying we’re mean!” They diss our National Anthem, we react, and Conservative, Inc., wags its soft, spindly fingers – “So, so very unpresidential! My word!”
Conservatism has become a racket, and everything happening now is a result of its members hoping to wait out Trump and the demand for change he represents. Maybe if they do nothing, but say all the right things, we normals will get tired and go back to our jobs and keep providing those votes and renting those cruise cabins. But that’s not happening. We aren’t going away; business as usual is over. We aren’t just giving up, tossing away our country, and submitting to the ruling caste. We were nice with the Tea Party. Trump’s not as nice. What’s coming after is going to be much, much less nice.
What’s coming after is militant normalacy, the not-so-polite demand that the lackwits and failures who style themselves as our betters stop dumping on us normal Americans who work hard and play by the rules (Gosh that sounds familiar, like it used to be a winning electoral recipe, if only I could remember where I heard it before).
Who are the normals? The Americans who built this country, and defended it. When you eat, it’s because a normal grew the food and another normal trucked it to you. When you aren’t murdered in the street or don’t speak German, it’s because a normal with a gun made those things not happen. We normals don’t want to rule over others. We don’t obsess about how you live your life, but also we don’t want to be compelled to signal our approval or pick up the tab. We are every color and creed – though when someone who is incidentally a member of some other group aligns with normals, he/she/xe loses that identity. The left drums normals who are black out of its definition of “black,” just as normal women get drummed out of womanhood and normal gays get drummed out gayhood. In a way, the left is making E pluribus unum a reality again – to choose to be normal is to choose to reject silly identity group identification and unite. Instead of saying “normal Americans,” you can just say “Americans.”
Note that while leftists rail against the term “normals” (When I use it on Twitter, the reactions are always delightful!), they will never, ever demand to be counted as one. That’s because they hate normal Americans, wanting us enslaved or dead. How do I know? They tell me on Twitter, again and again and again.
Militant normality is growing as normals awaken to the indisputable truth of our enemy’s implacable hatred for us and everything we hold dear – like America. The sight of moron sportsball players disrespecting normals warms libs’ frigid little hearts – and make no mistake, that diss is aimed straight at us, not at some musical number. All these cultural aggressions are aimed at us, from demanding you obey their pronoun proclamations to requiring your daughter share a toilet with a dude in a skirt. This is how they seek to break us.
That’s why the shameful abdication of Conservative, Inc., in the cultural fight is both important and irrelevant. It demonstrates that the first loyalty of many folks in the conservaracket is to the ruling caste to which they belong, and it also demonstrates that these wimps’ absence from the battle means nothing.
We’ll fight this fight ourselves, thanks. Sometimes we’ll fight it by rediscovering the joy of a late evening without hack TV comics lecturing us about health care (Hey, Jimmy Kimmel had a sick son, and that unusual and unique experience means he has unusual and unique insights!). Sometimes we’ll hit the remote and spend our Sunday not watching future vegetables hating on our country when they aren’t smashing into each other. Sometimes we’ll mock these idiots mercilessly. We may even launch a Conservative Insurgency. And if they keep pushing, getting violent and trying to strip us of our sacred rights, we might get even more frisky, and then it’ll get ugly.
But we’re not giving up, and we’re not going to sit back and just take it. Militant normalcy is the result of normal people roused to anger and refusing to be pushed around anymore. We prefer a free society based on personal liberty and mutual respect. But if you leftists veto that option, that leaves us either a society where you rule and oppress us, or one where we hold the power. So let me break this down, both for the left and for their fussy Fredocon enablers: You don’t get to win.
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WSJ editorial page calls the wall builders "restrictionists":
https://www.wsj.com/articles/immigration-bait-and-switch-1507590119
"Immigration Bait and Switch
Trump bows to the restrictionists and may scupper a deal.
...
White House demands include 70 immigration “priorities” that amount to everything that the restrictionist right has ever sought. They include appropriating funds to complete a wall along the southern border and slashing legal immigration by half."
I am a big fan of the WSJ opinion page - since the late 70s. (That doesn't mean I agree with them on everything.) In the age of Trump and to his supporters, they are the enemy, called "establishment" and worse. Ask Bannon, Buchanan and Sparta about that. A critical distinction in immigration is the difference between legal and illegal.
Ann Coulter in 'Adios America' went after legal and illegal immigration and Trump launched his campaign based on her findings. But that has nothing to do with software engineers and needed entrepreneurs, etc. Trump, you are President now, draw a distinction.
Why is the wsj editorial board opposing a "wall" (didn't we have an election on that?) and why is the Trump side opposing the good side of legal immigration?
Back to the article: "The real labor problem is a shortage, as the jobless rate has hit 4.2% nationwide. America’s tight visa caps are sending high-tech jobs to Canada and agricultural production to Mexico."
Why are they using a failed measure of the left, jobless rate 4.2%, when 100 million adults don't work? And why is the Trump side opposed to bring the best and the brightest in, especially when they hold the screening controls?
And why the name calling? "Restrictionists". Answer in kind? The vitriol on the other side is worse. Ask Sparta
what they think of Rubio.
WSJ continued: "Many Republicans also oppose the wall as a needless waste of money that won’t stop criminals and drug traffickers. The costs would vastly outweigh any benefits, especially since border apprehensions have been falling during the Trump Administration and are down 24% from last year. The number of unaccompanied children who are apprehended has dropped by more than half since last October.
If Mr. Trump feels he needs a symbolic wall victory, he’d be smarter to settle for a virtual wall with drones, aerostat blimps and towers with infrared sensors to fill gaps in fencing where the border patrol has difficulty accessing. Newer technology has facial recognition features that can capture biometric data. A virtual wall could be installed within months, not years, and it can be continually improved."
The fall in border crossing is not reason to change the policy and this is not an either/or decision. (Again), we had an election on this and elections (should have) consequences. We need some kind of a wall and we need all of these technologies. The days of organized crime and Mexican gangs 'controlling' need to be over, and if you want Trump voters to move past single issue politics, build the damn wall.
Name calling and parotting the left does not pass for persuasion.
Immigration and free trade are big splitting points on the right. How does this get resolved? Divide and lose? Why not find reasonable solutions and pass them.
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Doug
all good questions about the WSJ and about immigration splitting Republicans.
"Why are they using a failed measure of the left, jobless rate 4.2%, when 100 million adults don't work? "
This is a perfect example of why I don't bother with the WSJ anymore. They don't care about average Americans . They only care about Wall Street. True to their name.
They sound like the globalists and the Facebook and Google CEOs who are looking out for the business interests.
------------------------------------------------------
But I don't understand what you mean here:
"And why is the Trump side opposed to bring the best and the brightest in, especially when they hold the screening controls?"
Are you saying Trump is restricting the best and brightest? I don't see that. Look at our academic institutions. They are *loaded* with foreign born. And now the children of foreign born.
Did you see the Asian American lawsuit against Harvard? They are claiming they are being discriminated against because they are Asian . If true half the staff of Harvard should be Chinese. So Trump may not be the ones restricting them.
What great scientist can you name that has not been able to work in the US?
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Actually my wife has known more than a few Chinese students who got their undergrad/post grad degrees (STEM) here and wanted to stay, but left when their student visa expired and couldn't get work/resident visas.
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"Actually my wife has known more than a few Chinese students who got their undergrad/post grad degrees (STEM) here and wanted to stay, but left when their student visa expired and couldn't get work/resident visas."
Interesting.
Should they all be allowed to stay? i am NOt making a statement or taking a position one way or the other just posing the question.
If someone comes here to get a undergrad degree should they then be allowed to stay with path to citizenship automatically?
Or a graduate degree?
Thus graduating to a US college would in effect also be getting green card etc.
:|
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"Actually my wife has known more than a few Chinese students who got their undergrad/post grad degrees (STEM) here and wanted to stay, but left when their student visa expired and couldn't get work/resident visas."
Interesting.
Should they all be allowed to stay? i am NOt making a statement or taking a position one way or the other just posing the question.
If someone comes here to get a undergrad degree should they then be allowed to stay with path to citizenship automatically?
Or a graduate degree?
Thus graduating to a US college would in effect also be getting green card etc.
:|
Automatic? No. But, when it comes to immigrants, who do you want coming here? People who will actually contribute or masses who often are illiterate in their native languages?
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"Automatic? No. But, when it comes to immigrants, who do you want coming here? People who will actually contribute or masses who often are illiterate in their native languages?"
Well I don't know what the proportions are now or exactly who is staying and who is not.
Either way I want them to be legal and we need 'some' limits for all of them.
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ROGER L. SIMON
Four GOP Senators Standing in the Way of Progress
BY ROGER L SIMON OCTOBER 16, 2017 CHAT 57 COMMENTS
While the media fixates on the circus surrounding Mitch McConnell v. Steve Bannon with Donald Trump as ringmaster and the Democrats in the role of the increasingly disloyal -- now Harvey-besmirched -- opposition, the real story involves none of these people directly.
Four Republican senators hold and have held our country in their hands for most of this year by themselves. They obstruct progress by wielding far too much power than their positions and number merit.
They are Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Rand Paul of Kentucky, and John McCain of Arizona.
These four prevented healthcare reform and they now stand in the way of tax reform.
Of them, only Paul has something of an excuse. A libertarian, his positions at least make sense ideologically. The other three act out of a kind of morally narcissistic pique, an almost pathological need to be at the center of every controversial issue, to make the world hang on their decisions and then sigh in disappointment as they ultimately vote "nyet." (Or, in the case of Democrats, applaud them as great "patriots" above party politics.)
In McCain's case, this narcissistic craving for attention is exacerbated by a heavy dollop of Trump hatred. John can't stand Donald and is unlikely to support any legislation that would bring credit to the president, regardless of its value. McCain undoubtedly considers this a justifiable response to Trump's besmirching of the Arizonan's war hero reputation early in the campaign, but the job of a senator is to serve the people of his state (and the country) and not his own necessity for vengeance.
The conventional explanation for the four senators' resistance -- considerably more effective, so far, than the more trumpeted "Resistance" of the left -- is that they are representing the needs of their states. That might have had some minute superficial truth, temporary as it was, in the realm of healthcare, but regarding tax reform it is complete nonsense.
The most important reform, one that affects all fifty states, is lowering the corporate tax rate from the absurd 35%, which puts our companies at such a disadvantage and incentivizes them to leave billions in foreign accounts, to something close to 20%. Even lower would be great. (By comparison, the corporate rate of our leading economic competitor, China, is 25%, with certain privileged businesses -- aka "qualified enterprises"-- reduced to 15%. Ireland is at 12.5% and possibly dropping to 8%.)
A Congress that was even remotely doing its job would have changed ours years ago. But it doesn't seem to be able to act even on something this obvious. People like the above mentioned four are at the root of this stasis, putting their own parochial interests over those of the American people.
When Steve Bannon speaks of "primarying" politicians like this, he isn't really being a bully or an extremist, as the media likes to paint him. He is actually making quite a bit of sense. Trump appears to know this and, from the look on his face at Monday's joint press conference, McConnell does too.
Whether Mitch himself is to blame for the legislative failures of the last eight or so months or whether Collins, Murkowski, Paul and McCain are just too intransigent is difficult to say. As Trump made clear Monday, we shall soon find out.
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More from the loser. The fact that he is gloriously quoted by *Salon* alone speaks volumes about what a fool he is:
https://www.salon.com/2017/10/30/john-boehner-blames-sean-hannity-rush-limbaugh-for-gop-going-off-the-rails/
looking out for Americans first is no longer "conservative" - it is "populism" according to the swamp monsters.
Got to play by *their* rules not by those who elect you or you are a 'destroyer'.
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It's not surprising that he has has a bone to pick. I don't know why it has to be so painful to switch leaders. We don't have to hate Boehner or McConnell in order to think someone else could lead us better now under new circumstances. Same for the dinosaurs in Dem leadership. They all think it is an appointment for life. Like a Packer quarterback, it's a job you get and keep while you are performing and winning, until you can't win or take a big hit and can't get back up. Then the game goes on with a new quarterback.
There are business books about building organizations that live and prosper past the original thinkers who built them. Republicans and Trumpists could all learn something.
https://www.amazon.com/Built-Last-Successful-Visionary-Essentials/dp/0060516402
It is a rare case when the founder or visionary of successful company dies or retires and the organization continues to achieve greatness. The R party should be advancing principles, not people.
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http://ace.mu.nu/archives/372491.php
November 13, 2017
Mitch McConnell is an Asshole.
Witness a spiteful asshole being a spiteful asshole.
I am just stunned at the turn of events in this country.
Not that our "betters" are idiots and completely focused on their own neo-aristocratic position in society.
No, my astonishment is just how the Establishment right, ostensibly in power, has joined the bile-spitting left in hurling their masks of respectability and fealty to the principles of their constituents into the gutters with abandon.
Here we now live under the most precarious of times, where sitting Senators of the President's own party plot not only for the removal of the President, but also the spiteful removal of candidate in another state who have been convicted of nothing, and who will never be convicted of the 38 year old he-said/she-said charges that just happened to float up from the sewer-mouth that is the MSM at the most damaging point in an election.
Dear RNC:
You want my money? Promise me you will support insurgent campaigns against sitting dinosaurs like McConnell.
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au contraire Jonah :
Trump got the establishment to get this done when they otherwise would not have.
He deserves most of the credit. Sure not in the details but in the fact the "establishment" you so promote would never have done anything. Where would be be if Jeb was there?
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/454942/donald-trump-policy-victories-republicans-who-deserves-credit
Or any of the others who ran for th Repub ticket - except maybe Ted Cruz
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As well as Trump , most likely by way of his annoying daughter ( who he apparently has sexual feelings for ):
George Will is totally right here :
http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/will032918.php3
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articles like this?
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/senator-vote-gop-tax-plan-may-be-one-the-worst-votes-ive-made
Corker sounds like a Democrat here - lowering taxes raises the deficit and no mention about spending .
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articles like this?
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/senator-vote-gop-tax-plan-may-be-one-the-worst-votes-ive-made
Corker sounds like a Democrat here - lowering taxes raises the deficit and no mention about spending .
Best word in there, 'retiring' Tennessee Republican.
Those of us frustrated with what isn't happening or getting reformed in Washington must keep in mind that when you subtract McCain and Collins and Corker and Flake and Murkowski and also Rand Paul on certain issues, the 51 seat majority looks a little shaky. Elections have consequences and we still haven't won enough of them. As Chuck Schumer put it, we are getting more done in the minority than we did in the majority. But add the spineless R's to the Dems and he does have the majoirty. Also, 51 votes is an advantage, not control of the Senate which requires 60, and these mentioned above don't count.
All of that said, the reporting here on the Rachel Maddow show isn't very good.
Actual quote: “If it ends up costing what has been laid out here, it could well be one of the worst votes I’ve made,”
Sloppy messaging, he should be careful what he says. That is an IF statement with a false premise. It didn't "end up costing" what staticists are alleging. Why answer a false premise question; it's already been proven wrong. Reforming a horribly uncompetitive tax system is not the cause of our deficit and debt; spending is.
The growth rate just got projected up by more than the 0.8% required to prove the math and science deniers wrong.
What is the other idea? Tax us into oblivion and balance the budget without private sector economic growth or spending cuts. Ummm, we tried that and added over $8 Trillion to the debt in 8 years.
Our debt is caused by spending. I was going to take a shot at Corker over entitlement reform but it turns out he took a couple of tries at it. So I will ask him to reflect on his own leadership and messaging success. We need entitlement reform, he pushed for it and we didn't get it done. Meanwhile, what spending and overblown government programs did he vote for over his tenure?
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We are at the point where many Republicans aren't even interested in pretending to represent their voters.
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George Will: Vote against Republicans to stop Trump, save the republic.
Good grief. Is he senile or did I miss the part where he gave his reasons?
Columns like this tell more about the writer than it does about Trump. Perhaps he should read our Trump accomplishments thread. Or just come out as a Democrat.
Whatever one thinks of Trump, who else would have achieved more? Not Marco Rubio, not Ted Cruz, not Jeb or Kasich or whoever George Will would have supported. Who did George Will Support? If he is above being for someone, why isn't he above being against someone?
The thinking in this not-thoughtful column is, anyone, anything would be better than Trump. Why? How? Really? Was Obama better than Trump? Is Schumer, Pelosi better than Trump? Is a nuclear North Korea better than Trump? Are high taxes better than Trump? Want to get re-regulated again? Want to be ruled forever by Leftist courts? I don't.
I've often said of George Will, brilliant - when he agrees with me. ) Not so much the rest of the time. Not much sign of brilliance from WIll in the age of Trump.
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agree about G Will
very smart but very pompous too.
not sure how open minded he is.
Even his friend Krauthammer who sadly died before his time seemed to back away from badgering Trump.
Some Republicans can just accept Trump for whatever reasons.
I had a laugh at Glen Beck who went from Right to Left because his company is going down the sewer and now I just read he is wearing Trump hats again to stop the bee line to bankruptcy
I simply never liked Beck even when he used to make some good points he came across as a goof ball to me.
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www.breitbart.com/video/2018/08/16/schmidt-40-precent-of-americans-have-surrendered-their-intellectual-sovereignty-to-trump/
I would still rather have Trump then Jeb or McCain.
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There may be hell to pay if they don't confirm him tomorrow.
If they don't vote for him then turn out may suffer in November.
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Thanks to Rinos including the Bushes this is what the rest of the country will look like in 15 yrs :
https://www.breitbart.com/california/2018/10/04/poll-republicans-in-trouble-in-several-u-s-house-districts-in-california/
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or she should be done in the Republican Party; go the way of Flake......
sadly we are stuck with her for another 4 yrs
https://www.conservativereview.com/news/complacent-conservatives-should-learn-the-murkowski-lesson/
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" "I hear every day from people who have been Republicans for their lives, lifelong, and they just said, 'I can't do this anymore. This is not what I stand for,' and that's how I felt," Sykes said. "I'm better served to focus on my job than trying to defend the Republican Party."
https://www.yahoo.com/news/2-more-moderate-kansas-gop-legislators-defect-democrats-222200853.html
So let me get this right - They don't stnd with Trump . So now they stand with Democrats?
THAT makes NO sense.
I guess they don't care as this country descends into a ONE - party country .
Sounds like the give a shit only about themselves to me.
Nicole Wallace types who are raking it in by being anti Trump. She was obviously never a real Repub or conservative to begin with.
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I am not sure about Mike Lee .
Jonah maybe right or wrong on this and nothing wrong with calling out Republicans but the thing that irks me about Jonah is that is almost all he doses.
The enemy is the Left . If he would at least spend some time admonishing them like he does with Trump etc
it would be FAR
MORE HELPFUL:
https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/01/steve-king-bigotry-antithesis-of-american-ideals/
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I am not sure about Mike Lee .
Jonah maybe right or wrong on this and nothing wrong with calling out Republicans but the thing that irks me about Jonah is that is almost all he doses.
The enemy is the Left . If he would at least spend some time admonishing them like he does with Trump etc
it would be FAR
MORE HELPFUL:
https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/01/steve-king-bigotry-antithesis-of-american-ideals/
Mike Lee, I think you mean Rep Steve King.
-------
“I reject white nationalism. I reject white supremacy. It's not part of any of my ideology. I reject anyone who carries that ideology,” the Iowa Republican told NBC News in his Capitol Hill office. King said that he was really talking about “the continuation of applying labels onto people as freely as they are.”
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/under-fire-rep-steve-king-goes-defense-i-reject-white-n957366
Taking him at his word, he was arguing back against the use of those labels. All republicans seem to be called racist, Bush and Romney for certain before Trump. All Republican policies get labeled racist that have nothing to do with race. The wall is called racist, immoral, an "attack on brown people", etc.
Hopefully we can all separate clumsy speech from hate speech. Some gaffes are career ending. We'll see on this one, but he has a fairly long career and is pretty well known in 39 Iowa counties.
People should not be under attack or take public insult for being white, male, old or any combination of those. Or for being Christian. If you can't wear a 'straight power' shirt to school then there is something wrong with doing same with gay power. Why are we forming exclusively black groups while we try to open up all formerly exclusively white groups? Why can commentators say we need someone female or black or young but cannot say the reverse? Why can't they all get back to content of character, positions on issues, ability to do the job? Our side isn't who is pushing identity politics. He is responding to it I believe.
If he really has recently identified with or advocated white supremacy, then all serious people need to shun and denounce that. Jonah just did. Maybe before getting all the facts
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Doug ,
yes Steve King and not Mike Lee
Sorry Mike, my post was not intentional fake news (and I apologize for the error and for any hurt feelings )
More On Steve King from the editorial consensus at NR
https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/01/steve-king-white-supremacy-comments-odious/
I am not sure if i agree .
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Working from memory, King has a history of these comments and some "in the same room as" stuff-- and to this native English speaker the most recent one is a final straw for me.
I have no wish to explain association with him AND continue with outreach work with all variations of human.
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https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/01/washington-state-policitian-says-dwarf-tossing-offensive/
I agree in theory that this is demeaning and reprehensible actually
but do we really need ANOTHER freakin law for this ?
No one is forcing anyone to do this.
Will a Republican short stature vote negate the Democrat transgender vote ????
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Republicans and Democrats have ignored enforcing immigration laws for over 30 yrs
so now he blames Trump for being contemptuous of the law by calling an emergency for legislature and previous presidents who have no enforced laws at the expense of most Americans:
https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/02/trump-emergency-declaration-contemptuous-of-rule-of-law/
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0 judges confirmed year to date, does not require the Democratic House or one Democratic vote.
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"0 judges confirmed year to date, does not require the Democratic House or one Democratic vote."
why not? too busy trying to weasel out of enforcing immigration law or dreaming up more ways to spend and be play "bipartisan"
what is wrong with our party that they don't fight?
God Almighty ! :-(
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Fk, fk, fk :-P :x :x
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"0 judges confirmed year to date, does not require the Democratic House or one Democratic vote."
why not? too busy trying to weasel out of enforcing immigration law or dreaming up more ways to spend and be play "bipartisan"
what is wrong with our party that they don't fight?
God Almighty ! :-(
Most of the repubs are members in good standing with the uniparty. They don't want to jeopardize that.
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"Most of the repubs are members in good standing with the uniparty. They don't want to jeopardize that."
Yes and that is why we NEED Trump - for all his flaws he is the ONLY one who fights!
Like Dan Horowitz asked - why even have a Republican party?
I though Sen McConnell was pushing hard for judges . What gives .
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after 2 yrs of farce of an obviously politically motivated "investigation " that helped make it difficult for Trump and gave the never Trumpers more say then they ever deserved David French jumps up and proclaims our system works!
Woe is me.......:
https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/03/the-system-worked/
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ccp, I agree with you. This circus was not an example of our system working.
God Bless his right to express (somewhere) any view he believes, no matter how wrong, but what is National Review thinking? Does the publication have no common direction?
If you can't get a search warrant without probable cause, how can you get an independent counsel appointment with unlimited budget of time, money and investigative resources without it?
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ccp, I agree with you. This circus was not an example of our system working.
God Bless his right to express (somewhere) any view he believes, no matter how wrong, but what is National Review thinking? Does the publication have no common direction?
If you can't get a search warrant without probable cause, how can you get an independent counsel appointment with unlimited budget of time, money and investigative resources without it?
Funny how that works. Once upon a time, a crime was discovered, then it was investigated and potentially prosecuted. Now the deep state investigates, looking for a crime to prosecute. Trump's real crime being that he defeated HRC in 2016.
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https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/the-mueller-report-should-shock-our-conscience/
"I’m old enough to remember the closing days of the 1996 campaign, when the Clinton administration was already beset by an avalanche of scandals. Bob Dole looked into the cameras and asked a pointed question — “Where is the outrage?” The same question applies today, but to a different audience. The lies are simply too much to bear. No Republican should tolerate such dishonesty."
Ok Dave . What do you suggest? Impeach Trump and vote for you for president for '20
and then watch our country descend into a socialist hell hole ,
or fight to keep our nation free?
You choose for which you prefer.
I know which I prefer.
dingbat
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https://thehill.com/homenews/house/444292-here-are-the-eight-republicans-who-voted-with-democrats-on-the-equality-act
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https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/cindy-mccain-john-mccain-first-anniversary-death-trump-snub-165643935.html
If only Lincoln had just called for more civility
we just need love , love can fix it all.............
:roll: :-o
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more specifically the cognitive dissonance of some Bush republicans , rinos and never Trumpers:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/peter-wehner-trump-supporters-053729172.html
It is remarkable to watch these people who simply refuse to get it.
The reason we continue to back Trump is two fold.
There is no clear Republican who will fight for American ideals like Trump . Not Bush not Romney or Weld or Christie .
Maybe Cruz and few others but none with the name recognition of Trump.
And, more importantly ANY alternative Democrat is worse.
and if Trump loses can anyone step up to take his place? History has not demonstrated as such.
Perhaps another answer to this is more simply put,
We ARE NOT fighting out own demons, we are fighting the LEFT - comprendia?
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Well stated ccp. They should read our thread on Trump accomplishments. The right criticizes him freely when he is unnecessarily mean, stupid or bombastic. We also like the good things. We see it all in contrast to the alternative, letting the country as we know it be dismantled, no exaggeration.
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Yes.
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https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/10/the-gop-wont-win-over-african-american-voters-if-it-doesnt-even-try/
Of note Eisenhower calling someone "son of a bitch" is not much better then calling someone human scum I guess.......
but at least he didn't tweet to the whole world!
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https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/10/the-gop-wont-win-over-african-american-voters-if-it-doesnt-even-try/
...
I see Rasmussen has black support for Trump up to 34%. Could go higher if Warren, Sanders or Butti is the nominee.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/july_2019/trump_support_up_this_week_among_black_voters
Support of black men has a spillover effect into the rest of the culture, cf. rap music. When blacks let go of the group-think, Democratic welfare hold on them that has torn up families, incomes and lives for half a century, it could be a major political shift for the country.
Much of my work is in black majority neighborhoods. There was a real feeling of hope for candidate and President Barack Obama in 2008; a black man can be President. There is no feeling now that electing one more white Democrat to power will make things better.
Lowest black unemployment is history and 8 million people off of food stamps are powerful arguments, and Trump has the megaphone.
Some of us who don't watch TV don't imagine the bond that can develop with someone you invite into your living room every week with a top running show for a good part of two decades.
https://thegrio.com/2013/09/27/nielsen-report-confirms-blacks-watch-more-tv-than-any-other-group/
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https://townhall.com/tipsheet/bethbaumann/2020/01/11/former-trump-campaign-advisor-goes-to-bat-for-joe-biden-n2559215
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Kingston
how could a conservative possibly work for Biden
I can understand trump fatigue and his limitations and negatives
but to then work for the opposition party ?
All I can think of he needs a job
let go from CNN last yr.
sell out.
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https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mitt-romney-thank-you-impeachment-ad_n_5e3d15dcc5b6b70886fd76d4
here is what you see when you go to kristo's latest money making scam
he has on the side when not on CNN MSLSD etc:
https://www.ruleoflawrepublicans.com/
NOTICE THE FIRST THING YOU SEE IS 'DONATE'
as I expected . probably non profit and he pays himself a salary
the schiester has turned his hatred of Trump , his TDS , into a business
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To deride not lefties but of course Trump et al:
https://www.nationalreview.com/2020/02/victims-or-victors-hypocrites-and-cowards-abroad-and-at-home/
Kevin go back in your hole!
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Poor old frustrated Jonah Goldberg.
Compares Trump to Berne Trostky.
Trumps "hostile takeover " of the Republican Party . What. You mean 63 million who voted for him and blocked the failing "old guard" is a hostile takeover?
Jonah and Kristal should go to a Jewish Manhattan deli and have a good corn beef roast beef pastrami triple decker sandwich and some matzo ball soup
to get rid of their blues
https://www.nationalreview.com/2020/02/democrats-bernie-sanders-why-hasnt-party-issued-alert/#slide-1
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some of whom think it. that it is a good idea we get defeated in the Senate. Christie Todd Whitman who borrowed from NJ pension funds when she was governor so that now they are unfunded , thinks Susan Collins ( also a "cis" girl) deserves to be re elected:
https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article243939577.html
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https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/bobby-jindal-populist-republicans-can-traditional-conservatives-adapt-to-this-movement
I do agree the Christie Todd Whitmans are more interested in appeasing the Left's goons then Trump's base
To them the Trump supporters are * more *. the opposition than are *Democrats*!!!
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https://www.breitbart.com/2020-election/2020/08/12/never-trump-bill-kristol-calls-for-presidential-debates-to-be-canceled/
We know real reason why Kristol wants Biden to not "debate" with Trump and it ain't this.
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https://idolpersona.com/steve-schmidt-net-worth-in-2020
https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-politicians/republicans/william-kristol-net-worth/
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stay true to form
https://news.yahoo.com/republicans-break-trump-over-push-223339118.html
no fraud no evidence
"debunked" fake news
and all the rest of the leftist talking points
already the rhinos
are dreaming of jumping in to the fray
NO CHANCE
as far as I am concerned
And lincoln project weisels will never give up the fruitful business of their grifts
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raised 67 million
https://www.conservativereview.com/lincoln-projects-senate-flop-2648654436.html
feel better now David French
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https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/lincoln-project-always-based-lie-211813868.html
no they are not welcome back in the Republican Party either
they can vote republican but I will be damned if these traitors get any say or jobs or positions in the party now
(not as though I would have any say in the matter :-P)
Maybe it should be re named the Benedict Arnold / Bernie Madoff project
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https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2020/11/10/mccarthy-pelosi-cant-remain-speaker-n2579856
would anyone like to bet the answer is no
she would have to be physically dragged out
to be removed
like hillary
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who is unhinged with TDS :
https://conservativestandards.com/2019/08/03/david-french-lies-some-more-calls-for-a-democrat-president/
French calls great one Mark Levin deranged
are he and his other band of merry never Trumpers blind?
-
https://townhall.com/columnists/bradslager/2020/11/12/watching-the-nevertrump-crowd-flailing-after-election-explains-how-impotent-their-movement-has-been-n2579975
your welcome back if you want to sit home and vote Republican again
otherwise as far as I am concerned you should shut up
no one on right or left cares what you have to say
-
Of course
he thinks he is going to jump back in the front of the pack
and "save " the Republican party
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/elections/fl-ne-jeb-bush-election-results-supreme-court-20201211-pagx3gokajb67ir3kufn4ubo7q-story.html
his head is up his ass
it is just the opposite
his family gave in , did not fight , and saved no Republican
quite the contrary he is back to play to elites globalists sell outs
the rhinos
I don't know how others feel but I want him and his people to go away
but of course they will insist on shoving themselves in our faces to be lords over us.
while speak of "bipartisanship" "compromise" "unify " "consensus "
fix this or fix that
all the while the Dems and China eat us alive
go away Jeb
most of the 74 million do NOT want you back
-
They still think anyone cares what they think:
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/01/09/lincoln-project-says-it-is-building-database-of-trump-officials-staff-they-will-be-held-accountable/
-
They still think anyone cares what they think:
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/01/09/lincoln-project-says-it-is-building-database-of-trump-officials-staff-they-will-be-held-accountable/
Deep state being deep state. THAT is their party. Very, very strange. Again, they don't differentiate the good of Trump from the bad of Trump. Do they oppose that black and Hispanic people are working, emissions down, Chinese technology theft called out, Middle East peace? All of it?
Let's not kid ourselves. They aren't Republicans. The giveaway: Their entire fixation is destroying the Republican Party and everyone who voted for it.
-
https://www.theblaze.com/news/dem-rep-james-clyburn-claims-president-bush-called-him-a-savior-for-helping-get-biden-nominated
I believe it.
Did W have any comment on the truth that GM mentioned in another thread:
The Grand Ol Party will never win another election again
But W can be proud he was "nice"
as half the country gets humiliated deprogrammed lied to denied called racist
morons nazis and more
the people who elected W!
And China laughs......
-
I guess they realize Jeb won't be back in
I really feel it is not the policies - it is Trump the man that turns them off
https://www.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-dozens-former-bush-officials-111446506.html
-
https://media.gab.com/system/media_attachments/files/064/077/896/original/c09551ced1775a08.jpeg
(https://media.gab.com/system/media_attachments/files/064/077/896/original/c09551ced1775a08.jpeg)
http://ace.mu.nu/archives/392460.php
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what is she talking about
the 75 million who voted for Trump are the Republican Party
not Bushies Romneys or you losers:
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/lisa-murkowski-liz-cheney-impeachment-trial-gop/2021/02/09/id/1009253/
I personally want Maga (but without Trump)
I don't think I would vote in '24 if it is someone like murkowski -
might as well stay home
Murky needs to be removed next cycle
-
https://twitter.com/AndrewCMcCarthy/status/1359671245550272516
Pretend conservative surrender monkey.
-
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/washington-secrets/buzz-trump-to-unleash-after-trial-cheney-on-his-list-gws-hair-jfks-sweater-to-auction
sorry, I am not on board
I am for the policies - NOT the man child
-
"When this process started, I believed that it was unconstitutional to impeach a president who was no longer in office. I still believe that to be the case. However, the Senate is an institution based on precedent, and given that the majority in the Senate voted to proceed with this trial, the question of constitutionality is now established precedent. As an impartial juror, my role is now to determine whether House managers have sufficiently made the case for the article of impeachment against President Trump."
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2021/02/richard-burr-puts-senate-precedent-above-the-constitution.php
--------------------------
Make sure I understand this correctly, he is saying his own vote is unconstitutional?
-
FK
-
While I don't want another Trump run this is certainly IMHO counter productive
https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2021-02-14/impeachment-isnt-the-final-word-on-capitol-riot-for-trump
Lets thank Trump for ALL he DID do and
then find someone who can fight as hard as him but with a more controlled temperament .
but going after his forever as private citizen
that is what Dems do and is more than bad enough - but it certainly shouldn't be us.........
-
https://media.gab.com/system/media_attachments/files/065/711/230/original/4acce6577e0c669d.png
(https://media.gab.com/system/media_attachments/files/065/711/230/original/4acce6577e0c669d.png)
-
https://amgreatness.com/2021/03/20/becerras-confirmation-underscores-the-senate-gops-uselessness/
-
drunk stoned on pot
and now bitter
thanks to the likes of him we have the mess we are tody
if we just had Republicans who were in such a hurray to sell us out to be able to be invited to the DC circurt cocktail parties and make millions sitting on boards of companies
doing jack s..t:
https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/tyler-o-neil/2021/04/02/john-boehner-kicks-his-own-party-while-its-down-n1437147
oh yea we would be sooooo much better off if just we had listened
to the old drunk
who I bet would go out for dinner with Biden
who was also warm and fuzzy
and they would reach across the aisle
and kiss each other with romantic bipartisanship
am I angry
yes, along with 75 million + others
-
pay some back taxes but basically reward them for breaking the law :
https://www.yahoo.com/news/bush-op-ed-book-steps-165357718.html
as always he tries so hard to be gracious to Democrats and offers the loser Madeline Albright of an example of an immigrant who I guess helped America?
what have Bushes ever done other then concede
never any fight back
always pretend they are gracious and above the fray
all the while the party of conservatism is withering on the vine and almost dead.
has he spoken about critical race theory trans in womens sports
our adversaries China etc
it may be a MSM thing that we only hear him state something that in end results concedes more to the left
thanks to that thinking we are where we are today
That should be the Bushes legacies
appeasement , retreat and concede
till we are driven off the cliff
-
"Applicants should have to pay a fine and back taxes, document their work history, demonstrate English proficiency and knowledge of US history and civics, and provide a clean background check."
- Maybe we could start a federal agency that manages that, screens them, makes sure they come in in manageable numbers in an orderly way that is not disruptive to the success of the country they come in for. Oh that's right, we already have that and nobody is following or enforcing the rules.
https://www.uscis.gov/
George Bush broke his own law, causing the crisis we have today:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-bill/6061
Secure Fence Act of 2006 - "Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, within 18 months of enactment of this Act, to take appropriate actions to achieve operational control over U.S. international land and maritime borders, including: (1) systematic border surveillance through more effective use of personnel and technology, such as unmanned aerial vehicles, ground-based sensors, satellites, radar coverage, and cameras; and (2) physical infrastructure enhancements to prevent unlawful border entry and facilitate border access by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, such as additional checkpoints, all weather access roads, and vehicle barriers.
Defines "operational control" as the prevention of all unlawful U.S. entries, including entries by terrorists, other unlawful aliens, instruments of terrorism, narcotics, and other contraband."
-------------------------------------------
At this point, George Bush has the support of neither party.
-
go to 11:03 minute mark
to listen the the usual never Trump ex Bush loser:
https://bronx.news12.com/power-and-politics-full-show-for-july-3-2021
he sounds like a Democrat
he bitches about the Trump style Republican "brand"
his idea of a republican brand (in NJ) brand is basically we need to become democrats
he loves Dem Gov . Murphy because he has been social justice warrier
systemic racism has declined a "little"
in America
sickening
he champions Bush who was a champion on the fight against Racism .
PS: W "won" 11 % of the Black vote in 2004
Wow that was great. :roll:
-
This is why the country is falling apart in every way...
go to 11:03 minute mark
to listen the the usual never Trump ex Bush loser:
https://bronx.news12.com/power-and-politics-full-show-for-july-3-2021
he sounds like a Democrat
he bitches about the Trump style Republican "brand"
his idea of a republican brand (in NJ) brand is basically we need to become democrats
he loves Dem Gov . Murphy because he has been social justice warrier
systemic racism has declined a "little"
in America
sickening
he champions Bush who was a champion on the fight against Racism .
PS: W "won" 11 % of the Black vote in 2004
Wow that was great. :roll:
-
https://spectatorworld.com/topic/liz-cheney-running-scared-wyoming/
-
so dems can run around scamming us with the phony phrase "bipartisan"
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/10/26/joe-manchin-hopes-pass-1-2-trillion-infrastructure-bill-end-week/
totally foolish
vote for our own demise........
how is that common ground.........
the scams will be in the details.........
-
They’ll have to pass it so we can find out what’s in it!
so dems can run around scamming us with the phony phrase "bipartisan"
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/10/26/joe-manchin-hopes-pass-1-2-trillion-infrastructure-bill-end-week/
totally foolish
vote for our own demise........
how is that common ground.........
the scams will be in the details.........
-
https://media.gab.com/system/media_attachments/files/090/220/780/original/f78f901eb41714b9.jpg
(https://media.gab.com/system/media_attachments/files/090/220/780/original/f78f901eb41714b9.jpg)
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".We actually need to both defeat the establishment Republicans and unite with them, a daunting proposition."
Yes
and that was and to lesser degree still is the problem with the "brand"
it is DC repubs whose main purpose is to retreat , cave to the left and worry getting along and
being bipartisan and globalism
etc
The Romney types
-
https://www.target.com/p/republican-rescue-by-chris-christie-hardcover/-/A-83383595?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&fndsrc=tgtao&DFA=71700000012510700&CPNG=PLA_Entertainment%2BShopping%7CEntertainment_Ecomm_Hardlines&adgroup=SC_Entertainment&LID=700000001170770pgs&LNM=PRODUCT_GROUP&network=g&device=c&location=9004032&targetid=pla-308131048976&ds_rl=1246978&ds_rl=1248099&gclid=Cj0KCQiAhMOMBhDhARIsAPVml-GDi44-WGh34hlJmwcLEB3s0CalkAIYQY_Fo62TftSERBAEM7uDorcaAgg8EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
:roll: :roll: :roll: :wink:
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https://www.target.com/p/republican-rescue-by-chris-christie-hardcover/-/A-83383595?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&fndsrc=tgtao&DFA=71700000012510700&CPNG=PLA_Entertainment%2BShopping%7CEntertainment_Ecomm_Hardlines&adgroup=SC_Entertainment&LID=700000001170770pgs&LNM=PRODUCT_GROUP&network=g&device=c&location=9004032&targetid=pla-308131048976&ds_rl=1246978&ds_rl=1248099&gclid=Cj0KCQiAhMOMBhDhARIsAPVml-GDi44-WGh34hlJmwcLEB3s0CalkAIYQY_Fo62TftSERBAEM7uDorcaAgg8EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
:roll: :roll: :roll: :wink:
The dynamic combination of Jeb! and Mittens Romney! And the same body weight of those two in one!
-
Christie
has mastered the art of
chutzpah
chutzpah + delusions + narcissism = Chris Christie
-
http://ace.mu.nu/archives/conservatives%202040.jpg
(http://ace.mu.nu/archives/conservatives%202040.jpg)
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Saw part of this on C Span
now I know the Cheney family in the US goes back to the 1640s :wink:
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/plans-forgive-10-000-student-154500391.html
She needs to strapped into a chair and forced to watch 2000 Mules ! :))
Yes I get people breaking into the Capital was shamefull
but no comment about election fraud on a massive scale
yes "no proof" despite all the circumstantial evidence pointing that it occurred
and now we have strong evidence the Dems illegally defrauded the election
I am sure she will ignore
of course it is all water under the bridge now
but has she been a force for more secure elections?
that don't make it easy to cheat?
-
https://www.nationalreview.com/news/state-college-republican-chapters-war-with-national-org-as-allegations-of-incompetence-corruption-fly/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=breaking&utm_campaign=newstrack&utm_term=28075180
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Good morning, kids. Wednesday and is it just me or does it seem as if we have absolutely zero representation in government? Meh, why even ask that question when I have been asserting since January 6th, 2021 that we no longer even have a government. Our lives and everything we've worked for and played by the rules to build, achieve and try to leave as a legacy for our children is being destroyed and stolen by politicians who embody the perfect storm of zero morality, zero empathy, and most dangerous of all, essentially zero accountability in legal or political terms.
I don't need to go into the motivations of the tyrannical evil that is the Democrat-Left. To paraphrase that old song, "If you don't know them by now," etc. And then, there's the GOP.
GUARDIANS OF PROGRESSIVISM
I don't know why I'm getting so worked up. After years and years of hearing them bitch and moan about being one third of three fifths of one half of 99 44/100ths percent of government, and donate more to to the RNC and renew your National Review subscriptions, we finally give them all of it in 2016 and they stab us in the chest.
No, they are not "the stupid party" because they're not stupid. They're not even a political party. They are part and parcel of the anti-American criminal enterprise that is hell bent for leather on our destruction and enslavement.
They hate you. They resent you. They resent having to pretend to like you or give two shits about your concerns to fool you into voting for them and donating to their campaigns. Funny how some of the loudest voices talking about things like "disinformation" on a whole range of subjects are RINOs. Check that; it's the RINOs that are absolutely silent when their own voters are assaulted, persecuted and censored by the Democrat-Left when we attempt to exercise our rights and freedoms.
Worst of all are the RINOs that are in solidly red states who know they have you by the short hairs every two or six years because it's almost impossible to primary them and failing that you'll hold your nose and pull that lever rather than risk having a Democrat. Since the end of World War Two, the trajectory of this nation has been steadily off a cliff. The only difference was that the GOP was in a Model A while the Democrats were in a Lamborghini.
Case in point is John Cornyn. After being greeted by an auditorium of jeers, boos and catcalls for his eagerness to join the Democrats (I use the word "join" as a placeholder since he never was separate from them) to grab our guns, and with Texas about to be swamped by a fresh invasion of hundreds of thousands if not millions more illegal aliens, both resulting in an indigenous Latino population fleeing Democrats, what does John Cornyn do?
After Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) tapped Cornyn to negotiate a deal on gun control, he now promised to move forward on a deal on amnesty.
“First guns, now it’s immigration,” Cornyn told Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA).
“That’s right, we’re going to do it,” said Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ).
Andrew Surabian, a former Donald Trump administration official, said in reaction to Cornyn’s pledge for amesty, “From selling out on gun control to selling out on amnesty in light speed”. . .
. . . Cornyn was recently booed at the Texas annual Republican Party convention last Friday over his work with Democrats to pass gun control.
The boos apparently did not faze Cornyn.
“After Sen @JohnCornyn was met with such hatred at the @TexasGOP convention in Houston, I’m told he said to a few people, ‘I’ve never given in to mobs and I’m not starting today,’” Cornyn’s retweet read.
As Gordon Lightfoot once crooned, "If you could read my mind, love, what a tale my thoughts would tell, I'd rip John Cornyn's melon head off, and kick his bony ass straight to hell. . ."
I added that last part. And here's what John Cornyn and his ilk have wrought in the wake of a mass shooting perpetrated by a mind poisoned by years of Leftist cultural rot, aided and abetted by the abject cowardice and incompetence of local law enforcement.
Many of us have been worried about Republicans yielding to the Democrats even a little on gun legislation, and for good reason. The Democrats aren’t known for being satisfied once the GOP acquiesces on any issue. Republicans are Charlie Brown and the Dems are Lucy with the football every time something like this happens.
The Republican squishes never stop falling for it.
There are two HUGE problems with this legislation, especially for conservatives: it legitimizes both federal intervention in state matters and “red flag” laws. The latter is particularly problematic because implementation is rife with gray areas, no matter how many stipulations are in place. As I have been fond of saying, once red-flag laws are on the books, we’re on the most slippery of slippery slopes. One day people are raising legitimate concerns, the next we have people reporting the neighbor who just rubs them the wrong way.
From Andrea Widburg at American Thinker:
At a first hasty glance, it does seem as if the Republicans at least tried to insert some protections. (Caveat: The problem with quickly reading these bills isn’t just that they’re long. They are also written to amend a multitude of existing statutes. That means that, if you really want to understand a proposed bill, you must read the other laws to which the bill refers. I have not done so.) . . .
. . . Will the above language protect people’s Second Amendment rights? The proof of this pudding will be in the eating. I suspect many people hit with a red flag law complaint will be unable to obtain counsel—and the government’s not going to help. Without a lawyer to assert those rights, they may as well not exist. Also, these will be hasty proceedings with judges terrified of possibly letting a future shooter go. Despite the protections, the bias will be to seize weapons—and then, good luck to the citizen trying to get them back later. . .
. . . I’m inclined to believe that our mental health and violent problems stem from a broken culture that sees politicians, the media, and educators encourage racial hatred; flood the country with illegal aliens, who bring with them illegal drugs, guns, and sex traffickers; destroy the economy; create a culture of death with unlimited abortions; legalize marijuana, a drug strongly associated with psychosis and violence; ignore existing laws, including those against illegal guns and gun crime; and sow confusion about biological sex.
All these things break a culture and broken cultures produce broken, violent people. No additional mental health funding or red flag laws will change that.
John Cornyn and the GOP wing of the Democrat-Leftist Junta want to take your guns away for one reason only: to leave you defenseless against them. Period, full stop. And if they can't take your guns away, John Cornyn and the GOP wing of the Democrat-Leftist Junta want amnesty and open borders so they have safety in numbers, and to replace us with a citizenry more amenable to their control.
I can't see how illegals will do the jobs Americans refuse to do when there are no jobs because we will have been completely de-industrialized and our economy totally destroyed within the next five years if not sooner.
John Cornyn. Thank you and fuck you. Go die in a fire and take the GOP with you.
-
yes
his legislation
on gun control
and amnesty seems surprising
since his record is pretty conservative overall
according to Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cornyn
but then again when I view the Liberty Score he sucks. only 54% and grades a big F:
https://libertyscore.conservativereview.com/
-
https://emeralddb3.substack.com/p/the-gop-wants-to-lose-the-mid-terms?r=9m2vt&s=r
Plan accordingly.
-
https://www.theburningplatform.com/2022/07/06/the-complicit-party/#more-272543
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https://www.theburningplatform.com/2022/07/06/the-complicit-party/#more-272543
Jesse Kelly:
Democrats get elected and spend every moment rewarding their friends and punishing their enemies.
Republicans get elected and spend every moment apologizing for their friends. Republicans go on Sunday shows and brag to the communist host about how “reasonable” they are.
Democrats hire 87,000 new government agents to rob Republicans at the point of a gun and hand the money to their voters.
Only one of those parties wants to win.
-
Republicans Don’t Get It
Joe Biden and congressional Democrats are plowing new and dangerous ground. Meanwhile, the GOP is silent.
By Julie Kelly
August 25, 2022
When Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) looks around his adopted hometown of Washington, D.C.—a city shamelessly and aggressively using every lever of federal power to destroy Donald Trump and the 76 million Americans who dared to vote for him in 2020—he sees only one menace to the well-being of the nation:
January 6 protesters.
“I do think it’s an important issue,” McConnell said in response to a reporter’s question about a recent poll that ranked “threats to democracy” as the top concern among registered voters who responded. “There were those who were trying to prevent the orderly transfer of power for the first time in American history and that was not good.”
But contrary to his somber reflections, January 6 was very good for McConnell; he got exactly what he wanted after the tear gas smoke cleared that evening. As I explained here, not only did McConnell intentionally leave the Capitol largely unguarded, he warned of the irreparable damage to the republic if his Senate Republican colleagues demanded an audit of contested states—the “official proceeding” actually taking place when the building was breached. McConnell later cooed to a reporter that he had prevailed that day.
“Exhilarating” is how McConnell described his emotions after congressional Republicans, cowed by the four-hour disturbance, abandoned their plans to seek a 2020 election audit commission.
In a way, McConnell is right that the events of January 6 represent a grave threat to the country. They do—just not in the way he thinks.
The Capitol protest is being used as the pretext to criminalize political dissent as the FBI continues its dragnet to round up 850-and-counting Trump supporters (with new arrests announced just this week) and the Justice Department circles Donald Trump as the alleged instigator of the “insurrection.”
Political prisoners languish in a special jail for January 6 defendants, a hellscape located in the shadow of McConnell’s throne on Capitol Hill. Attorney General Merrick Garland’s prosecutors ruthlessly seek years in prison for nonviolent offenders, adding domestic terror sentencing enhancements in an escalation of the regime’s war on terror against the Right.
The January 6 select committee has made a mockery of itself while failing to sway public opinion. The same poll that showed a majority of Americans feared “threats to democracy” above all other issues also showed they have little or no faith that the government is conducting a fair inquiry. Yet this phony January 6 investigation provides cover for all sorts of lawfare, not least of which is the production of tens of thousands of Trump’s presidential records from his last year in office, a process expedited by the unprecedented denial of executive privilege claims by Joe Biden.
But McConnell, his Senate GOP toadies, and most Republican House members are intentionally oblivious to the radical weaponization of the Justice Department.
Following a brief outburst after the FBI’s raid on Mar-a-Lago, congressional Republicans have gone back to radio silence. Promises of a “rapid response team” to counter the January 6 committee’s primetime performances landed no punches as Republicans shied away from much-needed fights over several questions the committee left unanswered, including the lack of progress in the hunt for the mysterious pipe bomber and unreleased surveillance footage. Instead, they pivoted quickly to familiar ground: high food and energy prices.
Fear and impotence paralyze Republican Party leaders as well as those aspiring to hold leadership positions in a potential Republican majority. If the party doesn’t blow it, that is.
Report Ad
Unfortunately, it appears as though the GOP is doing precisely that. Republican voters, disgusted with the party’s wholesale failure to confront the Democrats’ scorched earth crusade with little more than tough-sounding tweets, eventually will channel Hillary Clinton and begin asking “what difference” their anger and votes even make.
What difference, at this point, does it make if Republicans win Congress in November?
As Victor Davis Hanson observed this week:
the left-wing playbook is based on two pillars: the FBI raid on Donald Trump’s home, the January 6 ‘insurrection’ investigation—and selective daily leaking about both. Between the raid and the star-chamber House inquiry, we are supposed to forget unaffordable gas and food, dangerous U.S. cities, over 3 million people swarming the border, and the Afghanistan debacle. Yet if the Republicans advance a coherent national plan of action to restore a pre-Biden America, if Donald Trump will focus positively on national issues and not take the bait to obsess on the wrongs done to him, and if grass-roots conservatives this time around prepare to preempt massive left-wing vote harvesting, they will achieve their blowout.
“But that is a lot of ifs,” Hanson writes. “And meanwhile, time grows short.”
Seventy-five days to be exact.
So, what’s the plan? Who in the GOP is detailing how Congress will dismantle this abusive administrative state targeting their own voters? Where is the pledge to cut off funding to the FBI and U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, a Biden campaign advisor now handling the vengeful prosecution of Trump voters?
Where are the public denouncements of Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, a longtime Obama loyalist now attempting to finish what her boss started in 2016 by putting Trump in handcuffs, or of Steven D’Antuono, the FBI chief responsible for the Gretchen Whitmer fednapping hoax, who sent his agents to Palm Beach to participate in the raid of the former president’s residence?
Republicans may not control much in Washington yet, but there are other ways to draw attention to this destructive abuse of power. The Biden regime and congressional Democrats are plowing new and dangerous ground, and Republicans appear unwilling to do anything about it.
Republican voters hear their silence. And in November, they might hear Republicans’ silence in return.
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"Liz" Romney stabs Mike Lee in the back.
Is this race on our radar?
https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/lincolnbrown/2022/09/29/no-surprise-liz-romney-stabs-mike-lee-in-the-back-n1633356
https://thefederalist.com/2022/09/29/gop-senators-baffled-by-mitt-romneys-ploy-to-oust-mike-lee-and-maybe-thwart-a-majority/
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https://www.yahoo.com/news/liz-cheney-says-arizona-gop-021835059.html
less then 3 months :))))))))))
but of course we will see her on CNN MSLSD etc
in her new day job ...... :((((((
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https://www.theepochtimes.com/mike-lindell-says-hell-announce-bid-for-rnc-chair-on-monday_4886545.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=BonginoReport
perhaps he would do as well with this as he did with election fraud......
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Oy vey.
-
https://www.yahoo.com/news/marjorie-taylor-greene-attacks-lauren-115120610.html
I dunno
I like the way McCarthy talks
he gets it, if you ask me. (did anyone ask you say? :- )
-
Just like I posted
McConnell shows up on **liberal**
media
not explain to his own party why he would vote for 1.7 trill bill
but to bash Trump and blame him for loss of Senate :
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/mcconnell-calls-diminished-trump-vows-not-bow-candidates-2024-rcna62870
I don't know how we get rid of this guy .....
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and spends time on MSM bashing all Republicans altogether:
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2023/01/01/joe-walsh-gop-investigating-hunter-bidens-laptop-is-going-to-anger-the-american-people/
I don't agree with Walsh.
McCarthy already has an agenda that is not simply "revenge"
and, no I am not tired of fighting back Liberals
and simply doing the "business of the people"
and compromising
as the country continues to be pushed in to the dumpster
why does he see fit to go on MSNBC to make his opinion heard ......
like so many rino's
-
https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/04/politics/biden-kentucky-infrastructure-wednesday/index.html
1914 Christmas truce French German troops
fact or fiction or fairy tale (we hear the same stories between Blue and Gray soldiers occurring during the Civil War:
https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-real-story-of-the-christmas-truce
McConnell - Biden truce - this is just so beautiful - political opponents working together in the spirit of bipartisanship. Getting things done for the people ( more spending more government more regulation and further promoting the Dem socialist agenda ).
*****sar·cas·tic
/särˈkastik/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
marked by or given to using irony in order to mock or convey contempt.
"sarcastic comments on their failures"
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"Biden thanked McConnell for working across the aisle on the law."
- Biden thanked McConnell for abandoning his own party's principles.
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cannot republicans keep their differences to themselves and off the left wind headlines!
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/581670-you-fed-me-vern-buchanan-reportedly-cursed-out-kevin-mccarthy-after-ways-and-means-decision/
we never read this about crats who stick together like the "crazy " glue they are
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Spartz
the only reason I can quickly think of is she is putting Ukraine above the US or Indiana
her claim : "2 wrongs do not make a right " :roll:
oh my God.
we still have fools in our party ......
Omar, Schiff ?
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*A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that just 15% of Likely Republican Voters support McDaniel for another term as RNC chair. Thirty percent (30%) of GOP voters support businessman Mike Lindell, 20% support attorney Harmeet Dhillon, 15% don’t support any of the three candidates and 21% are undecided.*
the thought of me having to watch this clown as head of RNC
( presumably the commercials will not stop either )
if not a pleasant thought for me.
Lindell is a clown and not a serious person
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https://www.yahoo.com/news/mccarthy-sees-gop-defections-effort-155157196.html
they are disagreeing keeping Omar off a committee?
My God,
not a good sign.
This should be the "low hanging fruit"
should it not?
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"the thought of me having to watch this clown as head of RNC ( presumably the commercials will not stop either ) if not a pleasant thought for me. Lindell is a clown and not a serious person"
AMEN!!!
they are disagreeing keeping Omar off a committee? My God, not a good sign. This should be the "low hanging fruit". should it not?"
AMEN!!!
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https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2023/01/27/ronna-mcdaniel-clinches-fourth-term-as-rnc-chair/
:x
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What % did Pillow Man get? Was he a spoiler?
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McDaniel easily secured a majority of the 168 votes needed to win, with 111 votes compared to 51 for Dhillon, four for MyPillow founder Mike Lindell and one for former Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., who was not a candidate.
stick to your day job Mike......
I appreciate he is on our side,
but not in any leadership role......
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McDaniel easily secured a majority of the 168 votes needed to win, with 111 votes compared to 51 for Dhillon, four for MyPillow founder Mike Lindell and one for former Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., who was not a candidate.
stick to your day job Mike......
I appreciate he is on our side,
but not in any leadership role......
Dhillon is very sharp.
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Tucker gave Dhillon a goodly amount of air time to make her case, and DeSantis gets props for speaking out for her even though he knew she was likely to lose.
"168 votes needed to win, with 111 votes compared to 51 for Dhillon, four for MyPillow founder Mike Lindell"
Thank you.
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https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2023/03/01/https-www-breitbart-com-politics-2023-03-01-vance-others-introduce-bipartisan-railway-safety-bill-in-aftermath-of-east-palestine-derailment/
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https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2023/03/17/poll-democrats-view-mitch-mcconnell-more-favorably-than-republicans/
Imagine if we could do this to Mitch McConnell from the Senate front door once and for all:
watch video at bottom
imagine - patriots doing this to Mitch :
https://www.outkick.com/guitar-center-employee-tosses-guy-out-on-the-sidewalk-after-he-attempts-to-steal-a-guitar/
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https://media.gab.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1050,quality=100,fit=scale-down/system/media_attachments/files/134/221/946/original/7b0d383ffb37d5d2.jpg
(https://media.gab.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1050,quality=100,fit=scale-down/system/media_attachments/files/134/221/946/original/7b0d383ffb37d5d2.jpg)
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https://www.google.com/search?q=sounds+of+silence&rlz=1C5GCEM_enUS1001US1001&oq=sounds+of+silence&aqs=chrome..69i57.9315258j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:f4d74f35,vid:u9Dg-g7t2l4
remarkable we have such a loser misleading the Senate.......
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https://www.google.com/search?q=sounds+of+silence&rlz=1C5GCEM_enUS1001US1001&oq=sounds+of+silence&aqs=chrome..69i57.9315258j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:f4d74f35,vid:u9Dg-g7t2l4
remarkable we have such a loser misleading the Senate.......
DC Uniparty. It's not accidental.
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DC_Draino:
The Coward 20 who voted with Democrats to protect Adam Schiff from censure & fines really don’t want their contact info circulating
https://media.gab.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=852,quality=100,fit=scale-down/system/media_attachments/files/140/425/862/original/0b903feef9468514.jpeg
(https://media.gab.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=852,quality=100,fit=scale-down/system/media_attachments/files/140/425/862/original/0b903feef9468514.jpeg)
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I am unfamiliar with the facts of the Adam Schiff censure vote and would be quite surprised to see Tom McClintock a part of a such scurrilous act should this meme in point of fact be correct and accurate in its description.
While a Californian, I donated to his campaign numerous times despite him being in a different and distant district. The man has been a very strong and principled conservative.
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to be used against us :
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2023/06/15/why-did-this-republican-vote-against-censuring-adam-schiff-n2624538
next times Dems take control MTG Gaetz JJ and Comer would all be on the hit list.
just saying.....
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Thank you CCP.
Thus, we see an example of why we need to verify memes that appeal to our emotions.
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Yes, we must trust that the Dems who have weaponized the feral government against us will respect such things.
to be used against us :
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2023/06/15/why-did-this-republican-vote-against-censuring-adam-schiff-n2624538
next times Dems take control MTG Gaetz JJ and Comer would all be on the hit list.
just saying.....
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DC_Draino:
Dear RINOs -
Did you see what conservatives just did to Bud Light & Target?
Over $50 Billion in market cap went *poof* once they crossed the line
What makes you think we won’t do the same for GOP backstabbers in 2024 primaries?
Try us
SCOOP: Will be posting a lengthy investigation tomorrow into how some of the Coward 20 have been bought off by Pro-China interests
Today’s vote to protect Adam Schiff will make more sense once I reveal the $$ trail
These cowards just put a spotlight on themselves
Yes, we must trust that the Dems who have weaponized the feral government against us will respect such things.
to be used against us :
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2023/06/15/why-did-this-republican-vote-against-censuring-adam-schiff-n2624538
next times Dems take control MTG Gaetz JJ and Comer would all be on the hit list.
just saying.....
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https://www.theepochtimes.com/motion-to-censure-adam-schiff-defeated-in-bipartisan-vote_5334142.html?utm_source=News&src_src=News&utm_campaign=breaking-2023-06-15-2&src_cmp=breaking-2023-06-15-2&utm_medium=email
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https://i0.wp.com/politicallyincorrecthumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mitch-mcconnell-no-border-wall-yes-100-billion-ukraine.jpg?w=501&ssl=1
(https://i0.wp.com/politicallyincorrecthumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mitch-mcconnell-no-border-wall-yes-100-billion-ukraine.jpg?w=501&ssl=1)
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gaetz-slammed-bailing-dems-budget-battle-giving-them-potential-leverage-ousting-speaker
WHY? :cry:
What does this prove other then that Gaetz is a fool?
As Mark Levin pointed out - there is pathway for this to benefit us.
I still have not heard who Gaetz would rather have as speaker .
As far as I can tell Kevin is doing an excellent job.
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There is a lot of noise in the room right now. Someone should stand up to spending, we are spending 40% more than we take in. Have you that anywhere besides here?
Ousting McCarthy is not the answer.
All the "sane" people want business as usual, no drama with budgets and debt limits, but our country is the frog in the bring-to-a-boil water. I have to extend some respect to the people who scream out, stop this!
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you're right
but there is no practical way to get to that goal at this time with the political opposition.
the MSM always blames the Republicans for a shutdown
and start playing the sob story of those who might not get a paycheck (for few days).
so just making noise seems unrealistic and counterproductive at this time.
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gaetz and buck should certainly be the ones who are booted
the latter was on enemy media outlets bashing the Rs daily and reports he wants to sell out for swamp job with the likes of CNN
can R's govern?
I don't know anything about the others Mace Rosendale Good Crane Burchett Biggs other then I think they were against McCarthy during the original vote.
MSM having the time of their lives with this
Thanks Matt
who voted with all Democrats - joke on us
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Hannity had a very strong show last night on all of this.
Newt was ON FIRE against Gaetz.
Apparently, there were a number of bills from Freedom Caucus members (e.g. Chip Roy, who was on the show along with Comer) that were very strong but Gaetz just blew them off.
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yes - Newt gave Gaetz a verbal ass kicking!
Did you see Laura interview Gaetz just after she televised Kevin's speech - she kicked his ass too.
I thought she was great - especially since she did not have much time to prepare (hrs?)
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Let's use the Congress thread for this please. Dividing it across several threads will be confusing.
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… running her mouth again, claiming Biden is better on foreign policy than Trump. Y’all want to chip in w/ me and buy her a set of DNC pompoms?
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/4269346-cheney-says-biden-providing-better-leadership-than-trump-on-foreign-policy/
ETA, yet another example:
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4269329-cheney-blames-mccarthy-house-speaker-havoc/
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"President Biden is providing “better leadership” than former President Trump at the international level.". ??
- A hawk and a daughter of Dick Cheney, and she cannot see Biden's weakness emboldened this and Trump's policies and personna deterred it.
Single issue used to be a pejorative until the issue was hate-Trump.
Weird that she 'teaches' at Univ of Virginia. I thought she was from Wyoming.
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https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2023/10/22/romney-trump-represents-a-failure-of-character-changing-the-psyche-of-our-nation/
there is no question Trump has debased the respect of the office of the Presidency and debased character as a quality one would expect of a President and all our leaders for that matter.
that said he as always ignores the LEFT starting it all
and furthering it too.
and Rinos like him who allowed the LEFT to walk all over us, this nation, for decades making a Trump like asshole more possible.
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"President Biden is providing “better leadership” than former President Trump at the international level.". ??
- A hawk and a daughter of Dick Cheney, and she cannot see Biden's weakness emboldened this and Trump's policies and personna deterred it.
Single issue used to be a pejorative until the issue was hate-Trump.
Weird that she 'teaches' at Univ of Virginia. I thought she was from Wyoming.
One of the things I have to endure working less than 20 miles outside of DC are their obnoxious “Taxation Without Representation” license plates. Though I’ve succeeded in getting several letters to the editor published in the WaPo, the one topic they consistently ignore me on is how DC is OVER-REPRESENTED in all branches of government. Every freaking senator and representative freaking lives in DC, and when most of ‘em get voted out of office they don’t return to where their putative constituents live, but rather hook up w/ some DC “consulting,” law, lobbying, or whatever firm shilling their connections. And of course the bulk of the Deep State are on the federal dole, while every congressional vote, every hearing, every word uttered on the local news et al occurs with amid the backdrop of DC and all the dysfunction of its citizens and government. Name any other city of 700,000 that has that amount of juice and if you can’t then freaking DC can cry me a river over their rumored lack of representation.
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https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2023/10/22/romney-trump-represents-a-failure-of-character-changing-the-psyche-of-our-nation/
there is no question Trump has debased the respect of the office of the Presidency and debased character as a quality one would expect of a President and all our leaders for that matter.
that said he as always ignores the LEFT starting it all
and furthering it too.
and Rinos like him who allowed the LEFT to walk all over us, this nation, for decades making a Trump like asshole more possible.
That is pretty much how I feel about Trump, though I’d add he is a symptom. The disease are all the unelected bureaucrats “interpreting” legislation and making de facto law, the unequal protection under the law meted out by DC courts, the thumb the MSM places on the scale of all political debate, et al. The the powers that be weren’t so blithely unfair and so will to casually embrace all manner of foolishness that would have inspired the Founders to demand a duel Trump would never managed to bring his antics to a national stage.
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Yes AND quite a bit of what we "know" about Trump is not so-- the lies and calumny and Deep State sedition that have been aimed his way since he first declared are truly frightening in their implications. Truly extraordinary that he has not folded.
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yet some maga heads think this is great , even funny
even Bo Snerdly on radio today : this is getting fun
and Greg Kelly recently complimenting Gaetz for blowing it all up
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2023/10/24/rep-mike-johnson-wins-republican-speaker-nomination/
Remember the Wolf of Wallstreet when early into the movie he asks a fellow con artist to sell him his pen
the guy answers do you now have a pen , Dicaprio says no, so the his friend hands it back and says sold!
and the end of the movie when he then asks people in the front row to sell him a pen and they really have no idea how to do it.
I feel like these people cannot sell themselves as speaker
For God's sake get this over with.
We don't need such nonsense now.
:x
I am going to bed !
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don't let the door slam your derriere on the way out! OTOH I would like to a spinning back kick to help you leave on the way out!
https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/religious-landscape-study/religious-tradition/muslim/
To the dustbin of DNC useful tools like McCain, Christie, Cheney, Romney, Kinzinger. I guess we will have to suffer seeing him on CNN now.
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There was some day long gone by where I had higher hopes for him (Ken Buck).
CO-4 is an R+13 district in a D+4 state. We can do better.
Lauren Boebert is in a bit of trouble too in western Colo.
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"Lauren Brobert is in a bit of trouble too in western Colo."
She has been both good and bad .
her scene at the movie theater did not help.
I did not like her voting against McCarthy either.
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"Lauren Boebert is in a bit of trouble too in western Colo."
She has been both good and bad .
her scene at the movie theater did not help.
I did not like her voting against McCarthy either.
Strangely I don't think either Boebert or Marjory Taylor Green voted against McCarthy. Ken Buck did.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/10/04/republicans-voted-against-mccarthy-oust/
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your correct sir!
https://www.chieftain.com/story/news/politics/2023/10/03/why-lauren-boebert-voted-to-keep-kevin-mccarthy-as-speaker/71049793007/
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This piece mirrors my view as it all too often seems Dem v. Repub battles have more to do with creating pat dramas for public consumption ala Mexican wrestling where masked players act out rote passion plays than anything resembling true political deliberations focused on the Republic’s best interests:
https://thefederalist.com/2023/11/14/the-gop-is-a-fake-opposition-party-with-no-vision-for-the-country/
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Mitt Romney self defines RINO.
I his own words paraphrased, he will vote for the Democrat for President (If Trump is nominated and he leads by 60%), even though he agrees with Trump on 80% of issues, maybe more, and disagrees with the Democrat on 80% of issues, maybe more.
Do that Mitt and your legacy is $2 trillion a year, 40% over revenues, in excess spending, $34 trillion in debt, tripling of interest rates and the crippling of the economy. You join them and you own the Afghan exit debacle, the invasion of Ukraine, you own the funding of Iran and the massacre in Israel. The fentanyl coming over the border, the human trafficking, the defunding of the police, the carjackings, and the crime in the streets. You support IRS, runaway FBI and deep state over elected government. The weakened military and the demise of women's sports.
You join them. You own it. The demise of the country. All of it. F.U. Mitt.
I don't personally like Trump either and have always preferred his Republican rival, Rubio in 2016 and DeSantis now. But I don't support and won't vote for those things mentioned above.
Other than that, I don't really have an opinion on it.
https://trendingpoliticsnews.com/mitt-romney-trump-vivek-cmc/
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" I don't personally like Trump either and have always preferred his Republican rival, Rubio in 2016 and DeSantis now. But I don't support and won't vote for those things mentioned above."
yes I remember that.
you read the Art of the Deal and thought is was pure BS (synonym : "pure Trump")
I didn't love Romney either but he was the pick so I had to vote for him.
As for Trump I voted of course for him 2 x
the first time I was hoping he would change or grow into a Presidential role
as so many of us did
He simply got worse in MHO
praying I don't have to vote for him again
Like so many, other then the blind MAGAs, I am tired of defending the otherwise indefensible nonsense that comes with his package.
It certainly has taken away our image of being the integrity party.
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https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/how-trump-final-nail-mccarthys-speakership-coffin
The more I read the more I am totally sick of him
He refused to support Kevin because he would not expunge from HIS record impeachments?
What a jerk
the impeachments are there etched in stone forever in history
forget about it.
instead we had the fiasco we had
God help us if he is not the next President
and God help us if he is.
He truly is nuts.
"Orange Jesus", as much as I dislike Cheney is exactly correct in its connotation.
I don't give a hoot about Trump
what about us for God's sake!
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I take issue with the final point: Republicans aren’t scared, they don’t want the Uniparty house of cards to fall lest it land on them … and their perquisites.
Republicans did nothing about Bill Clinton flying to islands with minors
Republicans did nothing about Hillary Clinton smashing devices
Republicans did nothing about James Comey brazenly lying
Republicans did nothing about Andy McCabe plotting a silent coup against a sitting President
Republicans did nothing about BLM raising $100 million and breaking charitable giving laws
Republicans in Florida did nothing about James Biden’s alleged fraud scheme involving a hospital system
Republicans in Arkansas did nothing about Hunter Biden’s myriad crimes
Republicans have done nothing against ANTIFA and their interstate RICO operations
Republicans have done nothing against Fauci, EcoHealth Alliance, or the other fake scientists who promoted lies about Covid's origins to hide their own culpability
Why would Democrats be afraid of us? They run the country while Republican AGs and DAs quiver in fear and run for the hills.
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Plenty of merit to some of those accusations, and IMHO some not.
At the moment I am wired wide awake from an 0345 wake up from the wife to defend the chickens from a bobcat, so a seriatim assessment of which are which is not in the cards haha.
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https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/4347415-debate-exposed-the-fractured-soul-of-the-gop/
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Yup.
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‘Cause you can’t spell “repudiate” without “rep”s.
https://legalinsurrection.com/2024/01/speaker-johnson-faces-retaliation-over-short-term-spending-bill/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=speaker-johnson-faces-retaliation-over-short-term-spending-bill
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yesterday I read she will resign after SC primary
today I read she will discuss doing this
which is it?
For God's sake can we please get clarity from our own party.
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yesterday I read she will resign after SC primary
today I read she will discuss doing this
which is it?
For God's sake can we please get clarity from our own party.
I read a piece claiming she had resigned. I'll see if I can find it.
ETA, here's one: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/rnc-chief-of-staff-says-hes-stepping-down-after-trump-warns-changes-will-be-made
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https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2024/02/13/gop-rep-buck-terrible-impeachment-of-mayorkas-sets-terrible-precedent/
Myorkas lying to Congress and the American people is perfectly ok with Buck.
It is the R's who are the problem he suggests.
I dread having to see him on CNN ala McCabe, and along with this one:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alyssa_Farah_Griffin
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https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/karl-rove-issues-dire-warning-for-trump-as-gop-fractures-on-super-tuesday/ar-BB1joHgA?ocid=msedgntp&pc=DCTS&cvid=2acf73e016614d01a8b65ae507f1ab2d&ei=25
I would really love to see Karl Rove go on Mark Levin for an interview and defend Rino'ism' against the reality of the modern Democrat party.
I agree with Rove that it is necessary to bring Rino's to our side in the Republican party (not the other way around) but how do we do that ? Yes the DC ers and the rest of the Rinos who support immigration for example are selling us out to some extent but I am thinking it would still be better if they fall to our side.
Convincing them seems more likely to win them over then trashing them.
Though Trump does not seem capable of doing that.
Just ruminating.
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Perhaps it would be helpful to think more in terms of the dynamics of Normalcy Bias and how to overcome it.
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"I agree with Rove that it is necessary to bring Rino's to our side in the Republican party (not the other way around) but how do we do that ?"
This is an age-old problem in the party. The two wings have competed at every level since they called it the Rockefeller wing. When the moderates won the endorsement, conservatives had nowhere else to turn. When a conservative won, cf. Barry Goldwater, moderates abandoned and Democrats won, no matter how liberal. So we had a Washington full of Leftists and RINOs who go along with it, some say uniparty. (Reagan united the party with a conservative message but he was the exception. He won 93 states but never won the House of Representatives.)
Checking usdebtclock.org this morning, we are still spending 40.4% more than we take in. 1.9 T deficit on 4.7T revenues. That's closer to criminal negligence than being a conservative or compromise position - even though 'Republicans' are winning half of all elections.
For another long term outcome example, a US dollar from the day the federal reserve was created has now lost 97% of it's value. https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/ The dollar being something we might have wanted to conserve this past century, we know conservatives had no power.
The Way Forward? Change minds. How? I don't know.
I'm not exactly sure what Crafty means by the normalcy bias, but for example the budgets that led to the above have become the new normal. But a prosperous society going broke intentionally is not normal. It's insane. People like Mitch McConnell get cast as an immovable, conservative curmudgeon in the 'mainstream', but in fact he was passing radical budgets like the above, barely complaining, afraid to disrupt the disastrous status quo.
So who do they put up to replace him? More of the same. God help us.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normalcy_bias
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Thanks CD
I now recall this in medical thought classes
That we can and do have normalcy bias
make to many preconceived assumptions based on past and most likely scenarios rather then thinking outside the box and keeping ears and eyes open at all times for the unexpected.
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So who do they put up to replace him? More of the same. God help us.
Those of us that participate in street focussed martial arts with integrated weapons training from time to time discuss what to do during an entangled engagement when an opponent bites you? It certainly happens (LEOs are particularly aware of the possibility), is hard to train as few are willing to even lightly bite a training partner, yet there are anecdotes enough to suggest it's something one has to be ready to deal with.
There are various thoughts on the subject--people on the pointy end of the spear I've chatted with tell me thrusting a blade into an attacker's, generally a guard dog's--anus reliably inspires a pooch to release its grip. Where humans are concerned, thrusting the affected body part as deeply into the opponents mouth--you want a piece of me? Here you go, open wide--as possible makes the gag reflex kick in and gives the bitee a chance to escape.
Why am I rambling about this here? I've come to conclude we are entangled with so many nasty maws that the only thing that make sense is to push into them. "You all like insurrmountable debt? Fine by us; we want a border wall that works, a well supplied and trained military, an accountable election mechanism..." and every other pie in the sky tool or resource we can think of. "What's that you say, you want to create an unsustainable trans-gender benefit for those you can dupe into mutilating themselves to your political ends? Fine, we'll trade that for hot and cold running F-35s for every military unit that needs them, though we strongly believe our spending secures America's future while yours secures political points that serve few Americans while ensuring fiscal insolvancy looms."
"What's that you say, you want to fund grifters in the Ukraine so they can throw more of there population into a Russian buzzsaw as their territory and liklihood of a positive outcome continues to shrink? Fine, we demand full funding for our only reliable Mid-East allie, Israel. We think it's stupid to throw money at causes that do little to support American interests and critical that we fund those whose interests align with ours, particularly in this energy rich portion of the world, but you've created this stupid quid pro quo process, we think it will lead to a fiscal crisis sooner rather than later, but if you insist on it we will make sure our demands that serve American interests are part of the package and will make sure we let all Americans capable of critical thinking know how silly and ultimately self-destructive your program(s) is, but if this is the structure you insist on okay, we'll play."
At our current rate the crash is coming. As pulling away from it and allowing the lunatics run the asylum only brings us more of the same, it's time to get what we can when we can that serves post-crash America while loudly proclaiming at every turn what a bad idea the spending "Progressives" insist on in return for allowing programs that actually serve America and prepares it to survive the looming crash is. The best option? Hardly! But at this juncture with these lunatics at the wheel it's the only option there is.
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https://dnyuz.com/2024/04/10/arizona-republicans-thwart-attempts-to-repeal-1864-abortion-ban/
and of course the LEFT has seized on this and rallying all their MSM outlets to headline this etc.
I will be pissed if we lose due to this! :x
How politically stupid.
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This piece is part of a larger pattern: Republicans don’t have lawyers in the starting blocks ready to go into action as the 2024 election results pour in. Dems doubtless have a huge cadre of legal gadflies ready to spring into action, whether warranted or not. Until they get far more proactive on that front they will always be playing catch-up, and the results will reflect it:
Lawyer up, Republicans
Either start suing Biden or shut the hell up
APR 22, 2024
Late Friday night, Sarah Parshall Perry of the Heritage Foundation wrote, “The Department of Education just released its long-delayed Title IX rule—a rewrite of the 50-year-old civil rights law so vast that it promises to turn Title IX’s guarantee of sex equality in education completely upside down.
“Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 is all of a single sentence. It simply bars sex discrimination in any federally funded education program. It does not matter how much federal funding a school or institution of higher education receives. And it does not matter whether such funding from the federal government is direct or indirect. So yes, even the vast majority of private schools must comply with the rule.
“But this simple longstanding prohibition on sex discrimination has been manipulated by the Biden administration to both undermine constitutional freedoms—like the freedom of speech—and erase the very women that Title IX was enacted to protect.”
Most of the attention to this unconstitutional legislation by a president — not Congress — has focused on turning over women’s sports to trannies and drag queens.
But Biden’s Law — and hold him, not bureaucrats, responsible for this travesty of justice — also strips men accused of rape of their rights to due process and the presumption of innocence.
She’s a lawyer and she ended her column on a positive note: “The Independent Women’s Law Center has already indicated it is readying a lawsuit against the Department of Education. Others are likely to follow. Let’s hope so.”
That’s good because for once conservatives are fighting back. Well, MAY fight back. Democrats would have gotten an emergency national injunction from a Hawaiian judge over the weekend.
Seven years ago, they did that to President Trump’s temporary restriction on travel in seven terrorist countries. Democrats called it a Muslim ban — even though the words Muslim and ban were never in the order or a follow-up order that the Supreme Court upheld.
That Obama had identified the seven terrorist countries was seldom mentioned in press accounts at the time. Democrats won the battle even as they lost the case.
Here, Republicans clearly have the law on their side and they refuse to use it.
Again.
Last June, Scotusblog reported, “Supreme Court strikes down Biden student-loan forgiveness program.”
Missouri sued to stop Biden from writing off $400 billion — $400,000,000,000 — in loans without congressional approval. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the opinion.
The blog said, “Having determined that Missouri (and therefore the rest of the states) had a right to challenge the debt-relief program, the court then turned to the heart of the case – whether the debt-relief program complies with federal law. Here the court agreed with the challengers that it did not. The HEROES Act, Roberts emphasized, gives the secretary of education the power to waive or modify laws and regulations governing the student-loan programs. Congress’s use of the word modify means that the Biden administration can make ‘modest adjustments and additions to existing provisions,’ Roberts wrote, ‘not transform them.’ But the debt-relief program, Roberts stressed, instead ‘created a novel and fundamentally different loan forgiveness program.’ The plan modifies student-loan laws and regulations, Roberts suggested, ‘only in the same sense that the French Revolution modified the status of the French nobility — it has abolished them and supplanted them with a new regime entirely.’”
So the court said no to gifting former students $400 billion. And 10 months later, Biden has gone ahead and given away $559 billion — $559,000,000,000.
Where are the Republicans?
Where are their lawyers challenging this unconstitutional giveaway to the higher education industry?
That’s right. This is a bailout for Yale, Harvard, MIT and all those other tax-exempt colleges because the money does not go to students. The money already went to the colleges (mainly). The message now is don’t worry, kids, because no one will make you pay the loans back.
Do Republicans even have lawyers? What good are Trump-appointed judges if you never bother using them.
Let me give you another example of political malpractice by Republicans. President Trump ended years of needless delay to open up the frozen tundra of northern Alaska to oil drilling.
In August 2020, The Hill reported, “Environmental and indigenous groups are suing the Trump administration over plans to open up an area in an Alaska wildlife refuge to drilling.
“Two lawsuits announced Monday claim the federal government didn’t adequately comply with environmental laws requiring thorough impact assessments as part of its plan, announced by Interior Secretary David Bernhardt last week, to open up 1.56 million acres of the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling. The refuge totals 19.3 million acres.”
Once again, enviros are in court stopping progress. This is the usual.
Last week, AP reported, “The Biden administration said Friday it will restrict new oil and gas leasing on 13 million acres of a federal petroleum reserve in Alaska to help protect wildlife such as caribou and polar bears as the Arctic continues to warm.
“The decision — part of a yearslong fight over whether and how to develop the vast oil resources in the state — finalizes protections first proposed last year as the Democratic administration prepared to approve the contentious Willow oil project.
“The approval of Willow drew fury from environmentalists, who said the large oil project violated President Joe Biden’s pledge to combat climate change. Friday’s decision also completes an earlier plan that called for closing nearly half the reserve to oil and gas leasing.”
Murkowski the crooked cow mooed, “It’s more than a one-two punch to Alaska, because when you take off access to our resources, when you say you cannot drill, you cannot produce, you cannot explore, you cannot move it — this is the energy insecurity that we’re talking about.”
Talk is cheap.
Show me the lawsuit.
There is none.
There are many reasons the faculties at law schools are overwhelming liberal and crazy but the main reason is because that is where the money is. Many are the well-funded liberal law firms — the ACLU being the most notorious one. They are hiring. Rare are the conservative groups.
To be sure, big corporations pay better to defend themselves, but that does not stop abuses outside the corporate world. There is no money to be made by Exxon (for example) in stopping the student loan steal. And so the theft occurs with Republicans talking the talk but walking away.
Until Republicans go to court, get a TRO and force Biden to defend forcing women to undress before men in their locker room, I do not want to hear Republican complaints.
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