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Politics
Contract Negotiations
Tomorrow, House Republicans are set to release their “governing agenda” — a Contract with America that is more than just a campaign tool, drawing as it does on 30 years of history.
(Page 2 of 3)
The Contract was a governing document, not a campaign tool. Without it, a Republican House and Senate elected in response to Clinton’s overreach would have drifted. Each committee chairman would have acted in his own interests — and spent more money on his particular zone of control. No Contract, no discipline. No Contract, no theme to the pudding. The Contract provided an exoskeleton to give structure and protection to the House and (reluctant) Senate Republican majorities.
Following the discipline of the Contract, Republicans passed welfare reform, a serious pro-growth tax reform, and real budgets that brought the deficit, then projected to be $200 billion forever, into balance and then surplus within four years. Clinton vetoed much of their work, but eventually signed welfare reform and a cut in the capital gains tax from 28 to 20 percent, the first tax cut enacted by Congress since Reagan’s 1981 across the board tax rate cuts.
The Contract worked so well in 1994 because it was unmistakably a governing document that could be used to hold elected officials accountable. It was good politics only because it credibly drove good policy.
SO WHY NO CONTRACT in 1996? House Republicans could have issued a Contract that said: “Re-elect this Republican Congress and make Bob Dole president and we will not only commit to holding votes on these issues but we can now promise that we will pass them and a Republican president will sign them.” Two reasons for the failure to propose a Contract in 1996 have been given. First, many assumed Dole would buck the imposition of Reagan/Gingrich party discipline on “his” presidential race. Second, the House Republicans had used the Contract to keep committee chairmen under party caucus control in 1995 and 1996 and believed they did not need another Contract to continue this discipline. Gingrich and Armey could, and did, remind the newly minted committee chairmen that “we brought you here.” That discipline began to fray in 1997 and 1998, leading to the revolt by the chairmen of the Appropriations and Ways and Means committees that toppled Gingrich and restored much of the power to appropriators and parochial interests, trumping unified party message, vision, and accomplishments.
By 2000, presidential candidate George W. Bush’s agenda trumped any congressional Republican vision, and Bush’s agenda — such as more spending on “education” and Medicare, and, later, nation-building in Mesopotamia — did not include spending restraint. Without caucus discipline, the appropriators were unleashed to fundraise through earmarks, ignoring the voters at home whose approbation and campaign contributions were less valued.
For the next eight years the GOP was the Bush party, and congressional Republicans could not, with credibility, announce a governing set of priorities different from those imposed by the Bush administration.
With the end of the Bush administration, and lacking a Republican in the White House, the Tea Party activists and talk radio and movement-if not party — spokesmen such as Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, and Sean Hannity began to drive the articulation of a Republican alternative to the Obama agenda.
Ryan Hecker, an activist with the Tea Party Patriots, speaking at CPAC 2010 last February 18, urged Americans to come to the group’s website at TheContract.org to vote on a list of 22 different planks for a Contract from America. Nearly half a million online votes were cast and a list of 10 proposals was unveiled on April 15, 2010, coinciding with the national rally organized by Dick Armey’s FreedomWorks.
Republican House leader John Boehner is now building on the models of 1980, 1994, and the Tea Party leader Hecker. He has assigned one of the smartest House members — Californian Kevin McCarthy — the task of creating a new vision of the Contract that will be unveiled in late September. McCarthy has been on his own “listening tour” and created a website, AmericaSpeakingOut.com, that was unveiled May 25 at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. The website is a technically advanced site that will allow Americans to propose ideas for legislation, and comment and vote on the ideas of others.
This interactive website is creating a series of governing legislative ideas, not a collection of campaign slogans. It’s an official congressional website, not a campaign website. Once the ideas have been selected and prioritized they will be put into actual legislative language — just as was done in 1994 — and as public documents can be picked up and endorsed by any candidate for any office, Republican or Democrat.
There are many similarities in the efforts of 1980, 1994, and 2010. And big differences. In 1980 and 1994 Republicans could point to decades of Democrat control and credibly promise to do differently. Today Republicans have to begin with the fact that they had the House for 12 years. Much of the “low hanging fruit” as Ed Gillespie calls it, has been picked. Still, there are newly introduced ideas such as bans on bailouts and earmarks, waiting periods where legislation must be posted online for five days before it can be voted on, the creation of an anti-appropriations committee to subpoena bureaucrats, investigate the bureaucracy, and propose cuts in spending.
The 1994 Contract was polled to see if various ideas had popular support. McCarthy’s website AmericaSpeakingOut.com will allow the ideas to flow from the public, allow voters to signal not only their support or opposition but the intensity of their views through their interaction with the site. There will be more bottom up buy-in in 2010 than was technically possible in 1994.
The largest challenge to the idea and possible effectiveness of a renewed Contract with America in 2010 is passing the laugh test. Why should Tea Party activists, Ron Paul enthusiasts, and disappointed Reagan Republicans trust Republican congressmen who were in office aiding and abetting George W. Bush in his years of spending dangerously?
THERE ARE THREE REASONS optimism that November 2010 will bring more and better Republicans into Washington and that a new Contract with America, by whatever name, will strengthen this movement.
First, for the Republicans to win a House majority requires defeating at least 40 sitting Democrats and replacing them with 40 plus challengers untainted by the free-spending Bush years. In addition, there are 20 Republicans retiring who will also be replaced by fresh troops. Any GOP majority will have a caucus of 218-plus Republicans in Congress consisting of at least 60 — and perhaps as many as 80 —freshmen. The new congressmen will have been elected in a cycle when pork barrel spending, bringing home the bacon, and earmarks were career-ending decisions, not campaign slogans.
About the Author
Grover G. Norquist is the president of Americans for Tax Reform.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (48) | Leave a comment
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Siegfried X| 9.22.10 @ 6:55AM
The Rise, Decline, Fall, and (hopefully) Rebirth of the 1994 Reagan Republican congress.
I've been thinking a lot about this lately. This article is superb.
I was beginning to fear that Reagan conservatism was dead forever. I hope it is really reborn with next year's Republican House.
Ken (Old Texican)| 9.22.10 @ 7:57AM
Siegfried,
Agreed! Superb column. Pray earnestly for our Soddom on the Beltway.
I think it is America's last chance to avoid something truly horrible.
Al Adab| 9.22.10 @ 12:43PM
"Lets grow up Conservatives. If we want to take this party back, and I think we can someday, let's get to work." Barry Goldwater at the 1960 (yes 1960!) Republican convention. Someday is today. Let's get to work!
Tim*| 9.22.10 @ 7:07AM
Tea Party :
The Contract from America
September 16, 2010
We, the citizens of the United States of America, call upon those seeking to represent us in public office to sign the Contract from America and by doing so commit to support each of its agenda items and advocate on behalf of individual liberty, limited government, and economic freedom.
1. Protect the Constitution
2. Reject Cap & Trade
3. Demand a Balanced Budget
4. Enact Fundamental Tax Reform
5. Restore Fiscal Responsibility & Constitutionally Limited Government
6. End Runaway Government Spending
7. Defund, Repeal, & Replace Government-run Health Care
8. Pass an ‘All-of-the-Above” Energy Policy
9. Stop the Pork
10. Stop the Tax Hikes
http://www.thecontract.org/
canuckistani| 9.22.10 @ 4:49PM
As usual you try to dumb down the most complex issues into a billboard, or better yet, a punchline.
What is "fundamental Tax reform"? Is it taxing wealth and work at the same rates? Is it taxing winfall profits of companies that downsize to pad their earnings? Is it eliminating loopholes for employers and individuals that move wealth and jobs overseas? Is it ending tax subsidies for dead industries?
It should be all of it, and more.
#7, does that include Medicare? What about old provisions that require a hospital to treat the uninsured? That too?
Sapient| 9.23.10 @ 1:03PM
I'm with you canuckistani
Personally, though I am 60 years old, I want a piece of the NFL and NBA players...talk about windfall profits for just being tall or big or fast....and then they get publicly provided stadiums. Lets start there, and Hollywood.
One thing for sure...there is a dumbing down going on....the problem is those who have worked all our lives know better than believe some of the greed and envy based statements you put forth.
As the saying goes, "I would agree with you, but then both of us would be wrong."
Achilles Toejam| 9.25.10 @ 12:36AM
Tax reform? Repeal the 16th amendment adopted a flat or fair tax system. Repeal NAFTA and remove incentives for companies to go to places like Mexico or other countries that pay their workers slave labor wages forcing loyal American companies to try to compete.
Layne S| 9.22.10 @ 7:56PM
Love it! I don't understand why the Repubs went and created the NOT user-friendly American Speaking Out when this Contract had already been created / debated / voted / presented. I guess it was a case of "not created by us".
Achilles Toejam| 9.25.10 @ 12:32AM
I'm not seeing anything about term limits, why not?
Sam| 9.22.10 @ 8:46AM
There's been so much energy focused on the political changes needed, discussion of actions expected of newly elected conservative or GOP Congressmen and Senators. I submit that it is not acceptable to merely slow the march of socialism. Rather, the next Congress needs to dismantle the failed policies - both the socialization of activities that are better private and the centralization of activities that are better local. Others have laid out principles, but I think we need to debate specifics. Excepting our outstanding armed forces, I cannot think of one Cabinet dept that deserves all our tax dollars that devour.
In the real world, failures would be cancelled/eliminated. In govt, they are renamed and get an increase of my hard-earned tax dollars.
My top 10 targets for elimination or 50+% reductions:
Energy dept. (Energy independent yet?)
Education dept. (RRR gone. Anti-American)
EPA (from anti-litter campaign to this?)
TSA (privatize)
Commerce dept (cut 50% - figure out the mission)
State Dept (cut 50% and staff with Americans)
Interior Dept (cut 50% and focus)
Obamacare (repeal)
Labor Dept (union shills)
Transportation dept (HS Rail to nowhere)
My $.02
Sam
Tim*| 9.22.10 @ 9:05AM
Americans may finally get Real about specific spending cuts , with everything on the table open to discussion and debate , including defense waste , social security , medicare , on down ?
rainmaker1145 | 9.22.10 @ 9:20AM
It's not really a contract - the principles are very much like the Ten Commandments:
1. They come from our overlords.
2. They will follow them when it is convenient, but we will be required to follow them always.
3. They will interpret the terms as they see fit.
4. They have no accountability in the contract (in this life).
5. They will continue to act just like the liberals, they will just feel worse than the liberals do about it.
It's just more crap from the corrupt, establishment Republicans who are looking to mollify the Tea Parties so they can keep their seats.
Got a news flash for you. We will be running candidates against you in 2012. It's already too late.
Len| 9.22.10 @ 9:37AM
The Contract with America was a joke. It had no substantive provisions for actually abiding within the limits of the US constitution. In effect it said we're still going to ignore the limits of our offices and authority, but we'll keep the violations and usurpations to ___ amount.
Most Repugs are clueless about the actual clauses of the US constitution, and I'm talking about the ones that actually care, not those Rockefeller repugs that just don't care at all. I've read some of the proposals put forward by folks like Ryan and I see no real effort at returning to federalism where the federal government is the servant of the states and legislates only in those areas concerning common defense and trade, and the rest (with some minor, very minor exceptions) belongs to the states.
Siegfried X| 9.22.10 @ 4:29PM
"Most Repugs "
That's a dead give away. Only left-wingers say "Repugs" (and "tea bagger").
Ken (Old Texican)| 9.22.10 @ 12:12PM
Hey, Len.
Bitch Bitch Bitch.
You have never had much responsibility have you?
Sir, a ship big enough to hold three hundred MILLION people, takes a little while to change course.
Please, keep pushing the wheel right while you re-load your magazines.
God bless
Len| 9.22.10 @ 1:30PM
Ken, I see it more as being that piece of sand in the oyster that so irritates it until it secretes the material that forms a pearl. I certainly have no expectations that even given 20 years that we could undo what has taken generation after generation to build up, but that doesn't mean I'm going to settle for what is done.
Some will look at the US and say "see we're better than other countries", but I say "see this is the standard (US constitution, Declaration of Independence [better], justice, liberty, etc.) and we need to stop patting ourselves on the back when we are so far away.
Sure I'm glad to see some of the establishment in the GOP being displaced, but there are still too many Boehners and Grahams, and not enough Pauls and DeMints for my taste.
tatosian| 9.22.10 @ 12:34PM
Norquist's support of the ground zero mosque-- "“Sikhs, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Jews, Mormons, all have to wonder if some politicians are deciding that their First Amendment rights are subject to political winds." ( washington wire. Aug. 18, 2010) )
Norquist and convicted terrorist supporting Abdurahman Alamoudi -- ( http://archive.frontpagemag.co.....RTID=15084 ) and ABDURAHMAN ALAMOUDI SENTENCED TO JAIL IN TERRORISM FINANCING CASE-- ( DOJ, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2004 )
Khan job. " It is hard fully to calculate the magnitude of the damage done by the pro-Islamist influence operation run by Grover Norquist and his friends." Frank Gaffney ( http://archive.frontpagemag.co.....x?ARTID=63 )
Don't be troubled republicans, you're in good hands....
Senor Mick| 9.22.10 @ 12:57PM
Mes amigos,
I confess that I am not very impressed by this. Len's (above) point has its merits. The 1994 Contract was not a legally binding document, just a bunch of principles and neat-sounding ideas.
I often feel that we are bunch of powerless losers who in the pre-IT days would have been furiously writing useless letters to the editor. I can imagine us sitting in our chairs, sealed envelope in hand, hands clasped contentedly, thinking, "This'll show them!"
The nature of Big Government is itself. I buy gold and TIPs and find it hard to muster any enthusiasm for the East Coast Hollywood of Washington DC, where everone lives in a glass house with mirrored walls and think, like most actors, that their playacting is Real Life.
Please help me.
Well, it doesn't show anyone anything.
RCV| 9.22.10 @ 2:47PM
Whatever hopes the Tea Party had as an independent movement are dead. Now that the candidates they backed have won the official GOP nominations, the party machinery has moved in and will manage their campaigns from here on out. Then, if they're elected, they'll fall in line with the McConnell-Boehner marching orders.
Ken (Old Texican)| 9.22.10 @ 3:04PM
RCV,
I simply cannot for my life understand your position.
Are you somehow 'protected' from the poverty wave that is engulfing our country?
Are you somehow 'bullet proof' if our currency goes into hyper-inflation?
What is your secret, Sir?
Additionally, you live in a vulnerable area vis a vis terrorism. Do you have a secret to avoid that 'minor inconvenience'?
RCV| 9.22.10 @ 3:40PM
Wish I was, Ken. I suffer from all of those ills, just like you. Our only differences are (1) to what we attribute the state we presently find ourselves in; and (2) how do we get out of the mess.
Ken (Old Texican)| 9.22.10 @ 6:18PM
RCV
I do not worship the "Constitution" or the "Declaration of Independence" as an idol of a god.
Nevertheless,
they were pretty brilliant documents recognizing the fallen nature of mankind and as a bulwark against tyranny.
Today, we live under the tyranny of the government ...of the 'Greens' and of the 'warmers'.
I bought two cases of long-life incandescent bulbs last week. Heh, I like to read.
We need a (mini) nuke plant in every county. Six feet of dirt covers nuclear waste to less than the radiation of plain old granite rock.
Yes, RCV, I don't have all the answers, but if we could somehow get an honest discussion of the 'questions' going, that would be pretty cool. You are a bright guy:
One simple question: who should decide what kind of light-bulbs you should buy?
Another:
Whose decision should it be if you want to trade a hundred dollars a month in gasoline for a safer ride in your car?
Start lining up simple questions like that. Please.
RCV| 9.22.10 @ 10:35PM
Hey Ken: You're obviously a very bright guy yourself. (I'm glad you toned down the Texas Ranger bravado.)
There is much you and I agree on. First and foremost, the Declaration and the Constitution were among the most brilliant political constructs in history. Every year, I marvel at some new aspect of the political system they set up and wonder how that group of bright young men (Franklin excepted as to "young") could have managed to construct it with little or no precedent to work from. I also thank them, deeply and sincerely, for what they gave us.
I also agree with you on many smaller issues. Lightbulbs, for example. I love incandescents as well. Someday, somone is going to have to answer for encouraging, and now requiring, Americans to buy inferior bulbs filled with poisonous mercury.
On auto safety, I have a more charitable view toward regulation. We all pay for unsafe cars on the road, in higher car and health insurance rates as well as increased personal risk from other drivers and a myriad of other societal costs.
I also just can't agree for a second that we live under "tyranny" in any sense of that word. We live in the freest, most prosperous nation in history. When you look back to 1789, and realize how many of our fellow citizens have a say in the running of their government compared to then, not to mention the millions who are no longer owned by other humans, we have made great positive advances in many areas of human liberty.
We also live in a far more complex society than existed then, and there is a legitimate need for the kind of regulation that just wasn't necessary or desirable in 1789. If someone sold tainted eggs then, a handful of people in a village might get sick, and people would know pretty quickly who was responsible. Plus, people who sold eggs would know the people to whom they sold and would feel a personal responsibility for their actions. Today, an egg seller could cause thousands of illnesses or death. Increasing complexity just necessitates increasing societal guidelines and regulations.
But don't assume that there are two categories of political thought - left and right - and that everyone in those categories lines up on every issue.
I salute you, Ken, for your thoughtfulness and gentlemanliness. You are a man I can respect even when we disagree.
Tim*| 9.22.10 @ 3:25PM
We Tea Party Rebels don't allow ObamaBoy Apologists , such as LawBoy , to " Define " Us or Our Future .
Tea Party Candidate now in The Midterms have already purged RINO-CINO's from The Republican Party .
We , Tea Party Rebels know what LawBoy , apparently doesn't , That is that The GOP needs Us more than We need The GOP .
The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates .
Rise Up !
RCV| 9.22.10 @ 3:42PM
Keep telling yourself that, Timmie, as the GOP leadership announces the program and the newly-financed candidates fall in line. Your first "tea party" candidate, Scott Brown, didn't quite work out for you, did he?
Tim*| 9.22.10 @ 3:57PM
I will LawBoy , because We Tea Party Rebels just took The Republican Establishment to the cleaners with Our Votes and Our Moneybombs.
We notice that you ObamaBoy Apologists are over here fightin' a retreat rear guard action at AS , attempting to marginalize Us and utterly failing .
We also notice that Your Obama hasn't worked out with the voters ,who are falling off his sled , and that you're about to lose control of The House and in a dog fight to hold even The Senate .
The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates .
We Remember In November .
Siegfried X| 9.22.10 @ 4:30PM
BS. Everybody knew that Scott Brown was a RINO. We said it over and over again.
And actually he has turned out better than I expected. He did a great job in yesterday's goal line stand, stopping amnesty and don't ask, don't tell.
Ken (Old Texican)| 9.22.10 @ 2:54PM
Senor,
I can help you.
Buy .22 cartridges for barter instead of gold. With a .22 a man can feed his family. One cannot eat gold.
.22s also work well on IRS agents and other terrorists. (Grin)
jokemachine| 9.22.10 @ 3:29PM
To those who think it's hopeless and that politicians will always disregard the wishes of the people no matter what "contract" they agreed to: the fact that this is even on the table shows the power of the Tea Party movement. Do you seriously think people are going to go back to sleep when their candidates get elected? Do you honestly believe that we naively trust politicians will do what they say they are going to do? If they don't follow through they will be voted out PERIOD. We're not going away any time soon. The stakes are too high. The politicians may get hijacked, but as long as the people stay involved we can put it right.
Peppermint Tea | 9.22.10 @ 4:00PM
My 2 cents on five of the 10 points above
1. Protect the Constitution
By impeaching 4 supremes
By Repealing the 17th Amendment
By Repealing the Federal Reserve
By Repealing federal income tax
2. Reject Cap & Trade
Have the SCOTUS revisit their Mass ruling based on truthful science.
3. Demand a Balanced Budget
Beginning 2011. Not later. Can't wait for amendment.
4. Enact Fundamental Tax Reform
See repeal Fed income tax
5. Restore Fiscal Responsibility & Constitutionally Limited Government
See repeal fed income tax
Abolish Education, EPA, HUD, etc.
Work on SS buyout
Are we going to get serious? Leaving the same income tax structure will enable future congresses.
canuckistani| 9.22.10 @ 4:56PM
Ugh.
Siegfried X| 9.22.10 @ 5:38PM
To cut spending, Republicans say they are committed to canceling remaining expenditures from the 2009 stimulus law, return domestic appropriations to 2008 levels, impose "hard" budget caps on discretionary spending accounts, reduce spending for congressional operations, have weekly floor votes on winners of the "YouCut" program that allows citizens to vote online for programs that should be slashed, end the Troubled Asset Relief Program, end government control of the secondary home-mortgage lending giants Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, freeze federal hiring for non-security jobs, sunset programs after a certain number of years, and use more straightforward budgeting for entitlement programs.
Siegfried X| 9.22.10 @ 5:39PM
An election year agenda being unveiled by House Republicans Thursday will include language affirming the party's support of "traditional marriage" and its opposition to abortion rights
Pat| 9.22.10 @ 5:53PM
Maybe the Re-flublicans should try “Contact with America” instead of “Contract” to learn that few Americans believe anything will change – because the majority of us know nothing has. Just today, General Motors announced it is making campaign donations again. Why? Because they believe they have to buy off our politicians, both Democrats and Republicans, in return for favorable laws and political influence which helps GM and counters the UAW’s campaign contributions which also purchase favorable laws and political influence. Us Americans own GM, at least 61% according to the latest bookkeeping swindle, so we’re essentially contributing our own money, from our own company, without our consent to buy off those folks we pay to work for us within Washington and Michigan’s state government. This is insanity, but this is also very typical of America today.
So the Re-flublicans should ask us taxpayers if we believe anything will change simply because they’ve resurrected an old standby such as the “Contract with America” flim-flam – they might be surprised at our answer. We’re pretty sure of certain things though and we don’t need another “Contract” for additional confirmation. We're sure the politicians will raise the retail prices on future “graft” and “corruption”, we know the UAW will continue to contribute campaign funds to keep our tax dollars flowing to them and we also know that new Buick or Chevy will contain a generous amount of “domestic content” in the form of political payoffs.
Siegfried X| 9.22.10 @ 7:54PM
You Democrats will keep voting Democrat, that's for sure.
Siegfried X| 9.22.10 @ 7:57PM
A draft version of the entire "Pledge To America" is here:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20017335-503544.html
Ken (Old Texican)| 9.22.10 @ 8:08PM
RCV,
I copy paste this here to maybe catch your eye.
Ken (Old Texican)| 9.22.10 @ 6:18PM
RCV
I do not worship the "Constitution" or the "Declaration of Independence" as an idol of a god.
Nevertheless,
they were pretty brilliant documents recognizing the fallen nature of mankind and as a bulwark against tyranny.
Today, we live under the tyranny of the government ...of the 'Greens' and of the 'warmers'.
I bought two cases of long-life incandescent bulbs last week. Heh, I like to read.
We need a (mini) nuke plant in every county. Six feet of dirt covers nuclear waste to less than the radiation of plain old granite rock.
Yes, RCV, I don't have all the answers, but if we could somehow get an honest discussion of the 'questions' going, that would be pretty cool. You are a bright guy:
One simple question: who should decide what kind of light-bulbs you should buy?
Another:
Whose decision should it be if you want to trade a hundred dollars a month in gasoline for a safer ride in your car?
Start lining up simple questions like that. Please.
bluecollarbytes| 9.22.10 @ 9:37PM
I'm skeptical, but this is a good start. Obamacare will be repealed, not merely played with. We'll get back to Business, as usual, which in this country works best with minimal interference from nanny-statists.
The spending freeze idea should be assumed, If the next Republican majority is serious about it enough to follow through (any deviation from this point spells doom for the rest, imho)
Let's see if Republicans have the knuts to 'shrink govt'. I'm cautiously hopeful.
Siegfried X| 9.22.10 @ 9:56PM
The Pledge To America can be summarize as:
Roll everything back to when Bush left office,
plus add some procedural gimmicks.
There is very little in the Pledge outside of that.
aware| 9.23.10 @ 6:30AM
The "Pledge" is nothing but an insider window dressing job. I especially liked "...reform Fannie and Freddie". This alone should be enough to prove the Republicans don't have half a clue. If not, how about "....repeal and REPLACE healthcare". Read: our version of federal tyranny is better than theirs'.
"Reform"....mechanism by which politicians legalize then organize formally criminal activities.
Didn't see anything about actual cuts in spending, instead just a return to the wonderful days '08 and the Republican form of big government. 2/3s down the road to bankruptcy is so much better than 3/4s huh?
Siegfried X| 9.23.10 @ 8:23AM
The Pledge DOES removed Fannie and Freddie from government control. It DOES totally repeal ObamaCare. It cuts the budget 10%, then puts a hard freeze on it. Government jobs are frozen so it will shrink by attrition.
aware| 9.23.10 @ 4:57PM
10% ain't even a good start. Cut government 75% and taxes 50%. Its really that simple.
Saw one of your good posts at Amer. Con. Hats off!
Nothing is free of "government control", the damage with these two albatrosses is the result of government control BEFORE government "took" control(ownership). The corrupt banking system supported by the State assures continued, and growing, control even if they no longer "own" them.
Larrym| 9.23.10 @ 4:56PM
The Pledge is worthless.
It's an election year ploy; pure and simple. Politicians will say anything to get elected and the newcomers are no different than the old guard. If they have to shift their views to the center to win, they will do it. That's just the start of the lying.
Then the tea party candidates, if elected, will realize that they have no say in instituting legislation and consequentially will have to work with the old guard if they want to accomplish anything. Their base will become disillusioned and they will disappear into the woodwork.
Those who survive will find that most of their time will be consumed with raising money and they will have to cozy up to the lobbyists if they want to get reelected.
At that point they will finally realize that it's not the political parties or the people who get things done in this country, it's the money men.
It took the money people less than a year to figure out how they can cash in on the grass roots movements that sprang up. And as the general elections draw closer, they are poised to take their share.
Follow the money folks and you will see who is pulling the strings of power. It's a simple matter but most people are content to follow the diversions and each month there is a new one put out there to keep the rabble stirred up.
Keep in mind that when Eisenhower left office he retired to a farm in Gettysburg; a man of modest means. LBJ came into office a poor man and left rich. Agnew was disgraced for stealing and died a multi-millionaire. Carter was an exception to the rule. Palin was living on the financial edge a few years ago and now makes millions preaching to the choir. The list could go on, but you get the point.
Norquist is an infamous lobbyist who has made a fortune lobbying the same government he claims to want to reduce.
This pledge is the latest diversion for the media and the pundits and the bloggers. It's a chew toy for the masses.
Ken (Old Texican)| 9.23.10 @ 5:23PM
Larrym,
Screw you, you cynical bastard.
A lot of men died to allow your cynicism and free speech.
Larrym| 9.23.10 @ 5:52PM
Yeah, it''s true. And a lot of Mexicans were killed and had their land stolen so that you could have a state that shouldn't be a part of the USA.