tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post2783698528792375827..comments2024-01-05T06:18:18.086-05:00Comments on CommentaramaPolitics: House Republicans To Issue Lousy Agenda. . . SlowlyAndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-16257532173929130392010-09-17T21:26:01.159-04:002010-09-17T21:26:01.159-04:00Thanks, we all took it in stride and have made lem...Thanks, we all took it in stride and have made lemonade out of the lemons. Such a strain with kids in college, etc...<br><br>...But, then again, don't feel so bad about handing the Rino's their hats :)CrisDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-43550740518968987642010-09-17T20:47:33.887-04:002010-09-17T20:47:33.887-04:00CrisD, I'm sorry to hear that about your famil...CrisD, I'm sorry to hear that about your family, I hope they all find jobs soon!<br><br>Thanks for the well wishes. This stuff is pretty unpleasant. I think it's Obama-induced flu.<br><br>I'm glad to hear you're giving directly to candidates -- that is the way to do it! :-) Those are people who need to be supported! Those are the people who can change the systems. The RNC is the system.<br><br>And I agree with you about the change in the public -- nice line about the guillotine! Everything I've seen says the public won't put up with this anymore.AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-56010231818812414292010-09-17T20:29:26.550-04:002010-09-17T20:29:26.550-04:00I am sending dough to candidates because I sent mo...I am sending dough to candidates because I sent money to RNC before but now I realize that that is a black hole ( kind of like my tax dollars.)<br><br>If the D and R's in Washington thinks its biz as usual--they ought to realize that even the least educated among voters know that the economy crashed due to decades of mismanagement and we are now living on a HUGE credit line of our children and grandchildren!!<br><br>I say, "Washington, go ahead and laugh--all the way to the guillotine!" They are arriving with pitchforks and the R's can MAYBE surrender and get away with merely being voted out.<br><br>P.S. Every relative between 40 and 55 was laid off in the past year--they had college and in some cases grad school.)<br><br>P.S. Feel better, Andrew, I am Miss Chris, not Madame LeFarge :)CrisDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-4478148523621236302010-09-17T20:27:37.270-04:002010-09-17T20:27:37.270-04:00Thanks Bev, I think I'm going to start taking ...Thanks Bev, I think I'm going to start taking it intravenously before my head explodes, which it seems ready to do. :-(<br><br><br>I hate to admit it, but I haven't kept up with Christie enough to know everything he's doing, but what I have seen impresses me. I want a common sense conservative, and that's what it sounds like he is.<br><br>P.S. I hear some candidate for governor in New York is sending out garbage-scented mailers. Nice move.AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-50867146412018635822010-09-17T20:13:34.519-04:002010-09-17T20:13:34.519-04:00All I want is for someone, ANYONE to do whatever C...All I want is for someone, ANYONE to do whatever Chris Christie is doing in NJ!<br><br>FYI - I hope you feel better soon, Andrew! Chicken soup. It will cure whatever ails you...really!BevfromNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14953050916932306270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-87206961948246026472010-09-17T20:09:32.166-04:002010-09-17T20:09:32.166-04:00P.S. Chris, your kind of clarity is something that...P.S. Chris, your kind of clarity is something that you just don't see in people who spend their lives in politics, and that's the problem -- that's why they're out of touch, because they don't understand that the public's priorities are actually quite simple and easy to satisfy.AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-18848038237802306832010-09-17T20:07:26.429-04:002010-09-17T20:07:26.429-04:00Cris, Let me put that through the Washington filte...Cris, Let me put that through the Washington filter:<br><br>1. This woman is crazy and knows nothing.<br><br>2. Let's placate her by talking about "out of control government."<br><br>3. Let's send her a mailer to see if she contributes.<br><br>Sad huh?<br><br>By the way, I like your agenda! :-)AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-89586951587897682792010-09-17T19:46:48.862-04:002010-09-17T19:46:48.862-04:00Suggested Agenda for Republicans:ConstitutionJobsC...Suggested Agenda for Republicans:<br><br><br>Constitution<br>Jobs<br>Capitalism<br>Constitution<br>Jobs<br>Capitalism<br>Constitution<br>Jobs<br>Capitalism<br><br>Get it?Crisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-24734236656069465622010-09-17T19:35:58.414-04:002010-09-17T19:35:58.414-04:00Thanks Joel, I'll gather the ones I remember a...Thanks Joel, I'll gather the ones I remember and post them in the other thread.AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-18568052132726229482010-09-17T19:35:14.254-04:002010-09-17T19:35:14.254-04:00Ed, It feels that way sometimes doesn't? I...Ed, It feels that way sometimes doesn't? I've been used to getting kicked in the teeth since George Bush I, and they've never really stopped.AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-25747345592400841912010-09-17T18:01:29.191-04:002010-09-17T18:01:29.191-04:00Interesting article Andrew.BTW the little bit I ga...Interesting article Andrew.<br><br>BTW the little bit I gave you on the other thread is just a teaser. I am still researching all the rest. <br><br>I do need your commentators that you used to come to those conclusions about O'Donnell. I need them to find out where they got their information. I believe there is a larger story in this. I believe that some of your commentators have stepped in it and are doing their level best to destroy the credibility of a conservative because she had the temerity to buck North Eastern liberal Republican Establishment.Joel Farnhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15856960977033430002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-82447762153782129712010-09-17T16:36:49.438-04:002010-09-17T16:36:49.438-04:00Being a Republican is like volunteering to get kic...Being a Republican is like volunteering to get kicked in the teeth every couple weeks. Good comments. I hope DeMint can change the party because it's clear Boehner, Cantor and McConnell won't.Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-36096737485716060812010-09-17T13:43:17.938-04:002010-09-17T13:43:17.938-04:00Lawhawk, Don't get me wrong, I absolutely do N...Lawhawk, Don't get me wrong, I absolutely do NOT disagree with you that this is something that should be done. I think its vital to our republic that the government start to obey the limits placed on it, and like you, I am very happy that this Supreme Court is finally trending that way.<br><br>But, I don't see this requirement being anything more than smoke and mirrors. I think Congress cares less about the Constitution than they care about the toilet paper they used this morning. And all they will do in response to this is to add a macro to their word processors that prints out the words "Commerce Clause" at the top. I don't think 90% of them will even realize it's there.<br><br>That's why it bothers me that this is something the Republicans would consider being the kind of substantive change that the public should be happy about. If they are serious about changing government, they should be looking at balanced budget bills that don't allow things to be put off budget, genuine pay as you go with each year needing to be in balance, undoing the court decisions that let Congress get away with vague laws where the courts fill in the blanks, limiting the time Congress sits, restricting access by contributors and lobbyists, ending the revolving door, and slashing taxes to cut the amount of money the government has to play with.<br><br>That's my point.AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-80766473583767920202010-09-17T13:24:27.557-04:002010-09-17T13:24:27.557-04:00Andrew: Things change at the Supreme Court over t...Andrew: Things change at the Supreme Court over time as well, so I'm sticking with my support for the requirement. Twenty years ago I wouldn't have given it a snowball's chance in hell that the Supreme Court would uphold individual gun ownership as a constitutional right. But I do take your point, and I know that as a practical matter, it won't make much of a difference. Let's just hope the Supreme Court begins to see the "Commerce Clause" justification as mere surplusage that should no longer be taken as dispositive.<br><br>Nevertheless, I agree with your conclusion about a lack of seriousness.LawHawkRFDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17800255923675295515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-12685336609977730802010-09-17T12:59:18.502-04:002010-09-17T12:59:18.502-04:00Pitts, Thanks! I think you're absolutely righ...Pitts, Thanks! I think you're absolutely right. The only way to change a party is to change the people, and that starts at the local level, which is where most candidates are chosen.<br><br>I have been thrilled to see Tea Party people invade the Republican Party and start to take over local leadership positions. I think this is what it will take to change the party culture to align them with the public again rather than K-Street.<br><br>And I know that you're connected with the Tea Party, so I'm glad to hear your confirmation that they have invaded the Republican Party. I think this is much more likely to bring about a sustainable change in our country than anything else the Tea Party people could have done.<br><br>Indeed, between these new Tea Party people and the DeMints, I think the leadership will need to change soon to reflect the will of the people, or they will find themselves on the outs. Right now, they're resisting, but that's ultimately useless and I think they will eventually bend to the inevitable.<br><br>In all my years of watching the party, this is the first time that I genuinely feel that a permanent change may be about to happen.AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-57104373902363814782010-09-17T12:43:23.586-04:002010-09-17T12:43:23.586-04:00Lawhawk, I would agree with you in principle, but ...Lawhawk, I would agree with you in principle, but in practice, this is a meaningless gesture because (1) the courts aren't serious about the Constitutional limits anymore -- if they were, we wouldn't even need this, and (2) they fully intend this to become a <i>pro forma</i> exercise. Every piece of major legislation always gets tested in court and they always cite the Commerce Clause, this just makes them say the same words before they go to court rather than waiting until after they get to court. I can't conceive of any way that this changes the way business gets down in the Congress.<br><br>In any event, if this is what they are selling as the kinds of substantive change they are planning to promote, then I think it's obvious that they aren't being serious.AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-27901142326458692652010-09-17T12:41:40.605-04:002010-09-17T12:41:40.605-04:00Andrew: great three-part rant in the comment secti...Andrew: great three-part rant in the comment section! I especially agree with what you said in the third part that change will likely come more slowly, and maybe the significant part of it will be after 2012. How many people are overlooking Obama's veto? That's not going to be insignificant while he's still in office.<br><br>And like you said about Jim DeMint, that's one thing that's happening almost quietly but steadily: lots of new blood is coming into the party (well, assuming most of them make it through the general election.) These people aren't career politicians and don't want to be. I can see there being an eventual great upset in the leadership of both houses, and no one is going to see it coming, except those of us who have been backing the Jim DeMint's. And the days are numbered for RINO's like Snowe, Collins, Graham, and maybe even Scott Brown. They are going to get primary'd just like many RINO's did this year. <br><br>When Nov 2, 2010 passes, the tea party groups aren't just going to pack their bags and go back to their old lives. They are quietly infiltrating the party at the local level. I was amazed at how many people in our local tea party group captured positions at the local party level. At some point, the establishment is going to find themselves outside the house looking in the window and wondering how they got locked out.Pittsburgh Enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06452716444698202766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-88005086359212352832010-09-17T12:28:07.601-04:002010-09-17T12:28:07.601-04:00Andrew: I happen to be one of those who thinks the...Andrew: I happen to be one of those who thinks the concept of citing constitutional authority is a good idea. Sure, it could become <i>pro forma</i> very quickly, but astute legislators could also challenge the authority cited and if necessary, take it to court. That said, there's a big <i>but</i>. I'm not so sure that it belongs in an agenda that the public would like or pay attention to when there are BIG issues that need to be addressed as a cohesive party.<br><br>How many times have people blissfully ignored the basic writing dictum: KISS (keep it simple, stupid)? Taxes, spending, medical care, privatization, smaller government, more freedom-fewer rules. These are what we need to get in front of the public in a simple and workable manner.<br><br>Still, I think the requirement of citing the constitutional grounds for legislation, particularly when it involves government intrusion or huge spending is a good one. And it dovetails with another part of your article. The Constitution is designed precisely to avoid immense and sudden change as a result of the will of temporary majorities. The best way for governmental over-reachers to accomplish their goals is to pass legislation and ignore the Constitution (<i>viz.</i>, requiring people to pay for health insurance they don't want). By citing the constitutional authorization in a bill, the grounds for challenge are automatically narrowed and focused.LawHawkRFDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17800255923675295515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-15256190827568762382010-09-17T12:17:17.720-04:002010-09-17T12:17:17.720-04:00You're welcome Scott, I'll be here... if I...You're welcome Scott, I'll be here... if I don't die first. ug.AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-27773994580446855632010-09-17T12:13:00.895-04:002010-09-17T12:13:00.895-04:00Andrew - thank-you for your (unexpectedly lengthy!...Andrew - thank-you for your (unexpectedly lengthy!) reply. I'm gonna be out of the house for most of the day so I might have more to say tonight. :-)ScottDShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15660889617173576835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-57951807450487005262010-09-17T11:48:49.375-04:002010-09-17T11:48:49.375-04:00Stan, check out the final part of my comment to Sc...Stan, check out the final part of my comment to Scott -- I discuss Jim DeMint. He is seen as the Anti-Christ right now by the establishment because they know he's onto the one thing that can change their lifestyles.<br><br>They've been able to dismiss guys like Ron Paul because he's not effective at building a core of support. And they haven't had much to worry about from most conservatives because they play the game, biding their time. DeMint is different. DeMint poses the same threat to them that Soros posed to moderate Democrats.AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-26374473198514455272010-09-17T11:45:06.883-04:002010-09-17T11:45:06.883-04:00So will there finally be a change? Yes, but it wo...So will there finally be a change? Yes, but it won't happen in 2010 and probably not in 2012.<br><br>What is changing the party is Jim DeMint. DeMint has learned the key to changing a political party: if you want to change the system, you need people who are willing to change the system. And that means stepping on toes and ending the Republican system of "if you've served your time, then we look up to you no matter how daffy you are."<br><br>Thus, he's been the guy who sought out and promoted each of the insurgents who have unseated the cozy-clubbists in the Senate. What this will do is change the culture of the party (as you already see people like Olympia Snowe complaining about last night) to being more ideological -- this is the same change the progressive caused in the Democrats.<br><br>What's more important, is that these new people are not beholden to the old interest groups, and thus you will see a dramatic change in the nature of the party and who they are concerned about, which will translate into a change in what kinds of laws they pass and how they do them.<br><br>Could they be coopted? Sure, but it seems unlikely with this group -- especially after the scorched earth campaign the establishment is waging against them.<br><br><br>As for the retard comment, I don't accept political correctness from either side of the spectrum.AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-59741218487450398792010-09-17T11:31:27.445-04:002010-09-17T11:31:27.445-04:00Washington statist are going to have to be dragged...Washington statist are going to have to be dragged, kicking and screaming, too put real limitations on the thing they love most, “power.” When you clear away the brush, you have two party’s headed in the same direction one just a little faster than the other. Trent Lott, former Mississippi Senator Republican made a very telling comment the other day to the effect, “What are we going to do with a bunch of Jim DeMint’s running around here, how’s anything going to get done!” Bear in mind Trent Lott and John Breaux formed a lobbyist firm that lobbies the Senate. My point is, it will require new blood, and the fear of God to straighten this out.StanHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07395708786509590321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-73995106897863301442010-09-17T11:26:39.338-04:002010-09-17T11:26:39.338-04:00But, there is reason to think change is coming. F...But, there is reason to think change is coming. First, you need to realize that the parties do change, but it takes time. Look at the Democrats, they have been changing (not for the better) since the 1960s. They've gone from a liberal, but pro-American party to an angry collection of self-assigned victims. And over the past decade, the "progressives" have intentionally set out to push them further and further to the left, a change they have managed quite successfully.<br><br>The ONLY reason nothing happened for them was their blind stupidity in choosing Obama. My honest assessment of Obama from the beginning was that people were deluding themselves. He had no accomplishment and no track record of accomplishments. There was no evidence that he has the slightest bit of intelligence, the slightest political insight, the slightest ability to be a leader, or the slightest hint ideology. I know everyone on the right likes to call him a socialist, but they're wrong -- he's nothing. He believes nothing. He knows nothing. He stands for nothing. And you see the result of that now: he doesn't stand up for a single one of his "ideas," he can't discuss them, he can't develop them, and he can't implement them. He's an empty suit, and relying on him to bring genuine leadership is like hoping a crash test dummy can drive you across country through a maze.<br><br>What's more, people deluded themselves on his message. What exactly did he promise? Nothing. He promised "change" and "a new America." This is how empty suits speak. If he was an empty-suit CEO he would have spoken about "new paradigms" and "a return to competitiveness." These are meaningless phrases intended to let the listener think they're hearing substantive thoughts and then fill in those thoughts with their own prejudices.<br><br>That's why the far left heard that he was going to bring socialist utopia, the center-left heard a return to a more liberal form of capitalism, conservative Democrats heard a return to the pre-1960 Democratic Party, the populists heard an end to the big business/big government relationship, whites heard an end to whining about racism, blacks heard the mother of all affirmative action programs, etc. He offered all things to all people because he said, "I'm with you" and then let everyone fill in the blanks for themselves.<br><br>So I always felt that he would fail utterly (as I've documented on this site from the beginning) because (1) he lacks the ability to lead, (2) he has no idea where he wanted to lead people too, and (3) he allowed everyone to hear different promises.<br><br>That's why they failed... and frankly, I'm glad they did.<br><br>(continued... because I'm on a roll)AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-27454591902076062002010-09-17T11:11:41.428-04:002010-09-17T11:11:41.428-04:00Scott, That's the problem, that the system is ...Scott, That's the problem, that the system is well set up to keep anything from changing. But change is very possible. The problem is that change in our system requires a leader who can drive it from the top down. There's no one like that right now.<br><br>I wasn't a fan of Gingrich (after the first 100 days) for a great many reasons, but one thing he excelled at was creating and passing a simple agenda that did change DC. Reagan did it over a period of year through a combination of public support, political savvy, and fearful Democrats who saw the writing on the wall if they opposed him.<br><br>LBJ and FDR brought change (not for the better, but change) because they had willing Congresses and the will to impose their will.<br><br>Right now, the country (the public and the system) is ready to accept that kind of change again, but there is no leader to deliver it. Instead, what you have leading the Republican party are a group of lifers who honestly don't understand the desire (need) for real change and are too afraid to bring it.<br><br>I know it's in vogue to say they're out of touch, but they really are at a more fundamental level than you can imagine. I've known many of these people, both professionally and in school, and I can tell you that they genuinely don't get understand the difference in the world outside the beltway and inside. They live in a world where changing where people sit in committee rooms is honestly seen as dramatic change. The idea of substantive change simply eludes them. . . I found my interactions with them to be truly disturbing.<br><br>So I fear that you are right that there will be no real change and the people will just get madder and madder until the public pops.<br><br>(continued)AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.com