The American Spectator : Now Here's What's Next

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Now Here’s What’s Next

By Peter Ferrara on 11.3.10 @ 6:08AM

You heard it here first, but more important is to get it right from here on out.

In July 2009, in an article in this space entitled “2010,” I wrote:

Next year’s elections are going to produce a political earthquake. That is because we currently suffer the most left-wing government in our nation’s history. After just 6 months in office, the flower children that rule Washington in overwhelming numbers are already smashing through all records regarding federal taxes, spending, deficits, and debt. Obama and his ultra-left Democrats adopted a so-called stimulus bill raising spending a trillion dollars that never had a prayer of actually creating jobs and promoting long-term economic growth, because it was based entirely on old-fashioned, brain dead, proven to fail, Keynesian economics.

Among the specific political predictions in the article: “Turncoat Arlen Specter from Pennsylvania will also be retired next year, when he will find that an 80 year old, opportunist, RINO Republican is not going to appeal to Democrat primary voters any more than Republican primary voters.”

In October, 2009, in an article in this space entitled, “Acting Like a Bunch of Christies,” I wrote,

“I know they don’t know it yet. But the Democrat Party is in a death spiral similar to the last days of the wooly mammoth during the Ice Age. Forget about 1994 and 1980. There is no precedent for what is coming….By next year, the disasters will not be here yet, but enough Americans will see what’s coming to produce the first political earthquake.”

In a column a month later I argued that the greatest danger for Republicans for this year is that they will underestimate their strength and as a result not win all the races they could have won. See now, e.g., New York.

Notice that I got both today’s politics and today’s economics right in these articles well over a year ago. I bring that up so that you will know where to go to find out what’s happening next.

Losing Control

The first implication of what happened yesterday is that President Obama has lost control of the Democrat party. Don’t expect any Congressional Democrats to blindly follow Obama any longer where their political instincts sense danger. This opens enormous opportunities for conservatives and Republicans.

One of those opportunities is on the budget, where President Obama also lost control yesterday. The locus of power on federal budget policy now lies in the office of House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI). Budget resolutions are not subject to veto, or even to filibuster. In this new political environment, it is not going to be politically viable for President Obama to veto Republican budget bills because they do not spend enough. If those bills are sufficiently well crafted, such vetoes can be overridden now.

Republicans would commit grievous policy and political errors by compromising with Obama on the budget. They need to do what the voters have now elected them to do, and this is exactly what Ryan plans to do. They need to adopt sharp reductions in spending, following the models of Governor Christie in New Jersey, Governor McDonnell in Virginia, and the new Conservative Party government in Great Britain. The Democrats will not go down with Obama fighting what the people are obviously demanding on spending.

On December 1, President Obama’s Deficit Commission will issue its report. This Commission was not elected by the people to do anything. The new Republican majorities were. Republicans should just pocket all the recommended spending cuts, and thank the Commission for its work, ignoring anything else. I predict Ryan and the Republicans will do just that.

Pundits on the right as well as the left have drawn the wrong conclusions about the similar budget confrontation between President Clinton and Congressional Republicans in 1995. Clinton won the cosmetics, but Gingrich and the Republicans won the substance, enacting sharp spending restraint with pro-growth tax cuts that soon resulted in large budget surpluses. In the current, far stronger, anti-spending, anti-government political environment, President Obama is far weaker than Clinton was.

Republicans just need to be careful not to get stuck promoting spending cuts that will lose the political base that catapulted them into the majority. That can be done with the current plan to return spending to 2008 or 2007 levels except for Social Security and Medicare, along with repealing Obamacare and President Obama’s crony capitalism, green energy, corporate welfare, and other bailout spending.

The other big opportunity for Republicans now even with President Obama and his veto pen is on extending the Bush tax cuts for all. The political momentum from yesterday will likely be sufficient to extend those tax cuts at least for another two years, leaving the 2012 election to decide more fundamental tax reform. Enough Democrats will not want to increase taxes for anybody in this bad economy to force Obama to accede or face the serious prospect of another veto override.

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About the Author

Peter Ferrara is Director of Entitlement and Budget Policy at the Heartland Institute, General Counsel of the American Civil Rights Union, Senior Fellow at the National Center for Policy Analysis, and Senior Policy Advisor on Entitlements and Budget Policy at the National Tax Limitation Foundation. He served in the White House Office of Policy Development under President Reagan, and as Associate Deputy Attorney General of the United States under President George H.W. Bush.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (82) | Leave a comment Leave a comment

Appleby| 11.3.10 @ 6:52AM

Unfortunately, the Tweetheads will lose interest rapidly and by the end of the week will be back to discussing Dancing With The Stars and trying to ban the KFC Double Down and force schools to force-feed Jenny Craig to anybody who weighs over 100 lb. while supporting the right of TheKids to keep singing *We Dont Want No Education* and ban homework, because if parents had to help with homework, TheKids would quickly learn how stupid their parents are.

Being old and cynical, I have little to no faith in a generation that proudly says it does not read and that thinks LOL is a word.

Yosemeti Sam| 11.3.10 @ 7:28AM

Um - John Paul Jones:

Conservatives - should be motto:

"I have not yet begun to fight"

J.E.| 11.3.10 @ 8:48AM

I'm sorry to reply that I agree.

Roy| 11.3.10 @ 12:52PM

If "tweetheads" lose interest, good, they were just going to vote for Obama anyway.

Alan Brooks| 11.3.10 @ 10:30PM

You can educate a generation to think, if you very carefully do Perestroika in skools, turning them into schools.
But first comes Glasnost, not what Americans do best. Americans work hard, but they are dishonest about what they think-- which is why public relations is so important in America.

Yosemeti Sam| 11.3.10 @ 7:21AM

" ... The first implication of what happened yesterday is that President Obama has lost control of the Democrat party. Don't expect any Congressional Democrats to blindly follow Obama any longer where their political instincts sense danger...."

IOW - them Democrats are heading for the Tall Grass?

Exactly where the Elephants are trampling about?

Democrats - go for it!

LOL.

Charles Dennison| 11.3.10 @ 7:40AM

Should read PENCE/Rubio 2012

Pete| 11.3.10 @ 3:49PM

Thats the Ticket!!!

Mike Rogers| 11.4.10 @ 12:27AM

Darn Tootin!
No Newt, No Way!
Newt is a great thinker, and a great historian, BUT his solutions involve legislation by the federal government permitting or enabling activities which the Federal government has NO jurisdiction over in the first place.
He simply can't get his away from his Washington-centric viewpoint.
Mr Gingrich, The only act of the Federal government which would truly win praise would be to state that the government will be run by strict interpretation of the constitution, and that all statutes enacted, departments created, and rules promulgated which encroach on the legitimate powers of the sovereign states are hereby repealed, especially those which attempt to regulate activity inside states as "interstate commerce".

Mr Ferrara, I love your columns, but I'm with the crowd that sees no value in pushing Newt, or Romney for that matter - too much baggage. No statists ever again, even Republican ones.

Pence/Rubio - I LIKE!

SeattleBruce| 11.6.10 @ 5:23PM

"He simply can't get his away from his Washington-centric viewpoint."

Right - this is no good. We've not fought for generations only to have *that* as our finest result.

Gripper| 11.4.10 @ 6:02PM

Or, Christie/Rubio

SeattleBruce| 11.6.10 @ 5:24PM

I think Paul Ryan would make a good VEEP for somebody!

Sandy| 11.3.10 @ 7:42AM

Gingrich- You have to be kidding, right? After we just got rid of some of the RINOS, who were no more popular than the Libs, you want to take us back to Cap and Trade, Amnesty supporter Gingrich? There is no possible way.

JOE TEA PARTY| 11.3.10 @ 1:47PM

READ MY LIPS!! NO MORE RINOS!!

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 11.3.10 @ 7:52AM

Yet, not all is smooth sailing.

First, the Tea Party may have learned a valuable lesson here on trusting or trysting Washington. As I write this insider Murkowski is holding on and may defeat Joe Miller. That will leave many bitter feelings.

If the Republicans in the House learned their lessons we will see, that still leaves the ruling elite in the U.S. Senate who did everything possible to defeat Tea Party candidates and succeeded in a few cases.

As far as the future, I wonder if Gingrich is too tainted with climate change contamination to make a good candidate. I heard him state it exists.

I don't think any sane rational person believes that because there is no evidence what so ever that supports climate change. Can Gingrich hang onto climate change and succeed or can he repudiate stating he was misled?

Gingrich can't have it both ways and pretend he's a qualified candidate. There are too many flip flopping politicians on the dance floor which means too many feet will be stepped upon making for an uncomfortable dance.

It's more likely that Rubio could be teamed up with someone else and succeed.

Gingrich is well spoken and elucidates his concepts well. But can he trusted not to be a statist?

The Gingrich history is one of statism and that's precisely why the Republicans were slapped silly.

As far as economics the Republicans should propose a federal lottery, with the proceeds to pay for health care for those who need it. Almost every state has a lottery so it shouldn't be that controversial. It's not perfect but it would allow the Republicans cover while they cut into the federal bureaucracies.

In the meantime they should propose an immediate freeze on federal hiring and 1% reductions the budgets of all federal agencies for the next 10 years or until unemployment hits 6%.

In the meantime they should get busy gutting the Departments of Energy, and stripping the EPA of all regulatory authority. The EPA should only have clean up responsibilities.

If the Republicans have the guts to make some reasonable recommendations they can succeed.

Roy| 11.3.10 @ 12:59PM

"First, the Tea Party may have learned a valuable lesson here on trusting or trysting Washington. As I write this insider Murkowski is holding on and may defeat Joe Miller"

How does this prove one single freaking thing about "trusting Washington"? Murkowski will have beaten Miller fair and square as the people's choice in Alaska. We're lucky the two of them didn't hand the place to the Democrats.

What the 2008 and 2010 elections have shown me is that a conservative insurgent needs to have a record of decent length. They will instantly receive the unremitting demonization of the media, and if people have nothing to check that against, they'll be wiped out by it(Palin 2008, Angle, Miller, O'Donnell). If they do(Rubio, Toomey, Rand Paul[he may not have had much of a record himself but his father was in Congress since dinosaurs walked the Earth]), then they can stand up to it.

One exception to this would be Ron Johnson in WI. I guess you could say he got away with flying under the radar.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 11.3.10 @ 1:35PM

Do you trust Washington?

You mention Rubio and Ron Paul but neglect to mention the insiders in Washington and in particular the Republican Party did everything possible to sabotage them.

If I were either candidate I would screen and hire my own staff and I see Ron Johnson is smart enough to see what he's up against.

Trust in D.C.? D.C. is a trust free zone.

Perhaps yours was a humorous remark.

SeattleBruce| 11.6.10 @ 5:31PM

"Murkowski will have beaten Miller fair and square as the people's choice in Alaska. We're lucky the two of them didn't hand the place to the Democrats."

'fair and square' - other than the fact that Lisa lied to the voters and said she'd respect the primary results...

SeattleBruce| 11.6.10 @ 5:28PM

"The Gingrich history is one of statism and that's precisely why the Republicans were slapped silly."

The other baggage for Newt is his poor personal life (divorces and affairs.) I'll tell you right now, you're going to have a tough time getting evangelical Christians excited about volunteering and giving to his campaign.

JP| 11.3.10 @ 8:24AM

I'm not sure even if some of those ideas are put into law the economy will boom. This isn't like the Capital Strike of 1937, but a Capital Flight. Today and tomarrow Bernecke will announce his specifics for QEII. As much as $500 billion will be added to the economy as the Fed monetarizes more debt; real estate valuations hang like an stone around many bank's necks (one reason why they are holding such large cash reserves). Yet all of that cash and coin banks and Fortune 500 firms hold in reserve is at risk due to a falling dollar. So, where will most of that cash end up? Look at gold and other precious metals, grains, oil, equities and foreign markets. Speculators will reap a handsome profit.

Another thing to consider is that even if consumer spending picks up, most of that money will flow overseas -mainly to China. This will accomplish nothing more than increase of trade defecits. The US doesn't really make things anymore, and besides ag, some services, and entertainment, there isn't much room growth. Those 8 million lost jobs are probably gone forever.

Obama and his ilk wasted 2 years in transforming a society in decay. Yesterday's elections bought the Dems another 2 years respite. But the coming social unrest these next 24 months due to increased unemployment, lost health insurance (ObamaCare in action), and a return to inflation spells real trouble.

PJ| 11.3.10 @ 9:54AM

Agree w/almost everything you state!

But we do know that if Congress can pass some tax cutting, govn't shrinking bills (I assume Obama will not be politically suicidal & sign the bills.) very soon after Jan 1, along w/the Feds enacting some corresponding monetary policies, there will of course be a lag time but the markets should react in a positive manner by loosening up their cash reserves & invest in USA. I believe most businesses would rather invest in a country that has a relative & stable free market compared to jingoistic countries like Red China.

BHO| 11.3.10 @ 10:00AM

Ditto!

SeattleBruce| 11.6.10 @ 6:16PM

Until we deal with WHO controls the money in this nation, we're going to remain in a world of hurt. We need a limited supply of fiat based money issued by an accountable government (ah, that's a trick). Instead, right now, the government through the FED can print money til this economy shrivels up and dies.
http://economicedge.blogspot.c.....ision.html

Pecos Pete| 11.3.10 @ 8:27AM

Not Gingrich! No, no and no. We have many new and very reputable people to consider.

All Hail The Stupid Party!| 11.3.10 @ 8:59AM

Mr. Ferrara, you write very good columns....only to ruin each one lately by pushing Newt the RINO. Mr. Ferrara, anyone who believes this statist snake oil salesman can win the Oval Office with his past history & leftward tendencies is just plain nuts! Please drop this continual delusion that Newt Gingrich is the best candidate The Stupid Party can put up in 2012. The Stupid Party did very well yesterday. If they ever hope to lose that monicker they've earned they need to stop listening to past failures who talk a good game in one breath & turn around & work with the left the next. Gingrich is interested in coalescing power & adulation for himself, not in furthering conservative ideas & following the U.S. Constitution. Our next conservative President should NOT be furthering "Climate Change" regulations & job killing "Cap & Trade legislation, should NOT be interfering in primary elections to promote left wing "Republican" candidates like Dede Scozzafava (that worked out real well, didn't it?), should NOT be making propaganda commercials with leaders of the left to forward "Climate Change" legislation (climate change is called weather & in controlled by The Almighty GOD who created it. NO man-made legislation or laws will change this, but Gingrich, through his actions on behalf on the "Climate Change" hoax doesn't seem to believe The GOD he says he believes in knows what He is doing & we are altering GOD's movements & creations) , & should NOT be involved with the CFR, which Gingrich is. The CFR does not have America's best interests at heart Mr. Ferrara & Gingrich through his association with the CFR does not either. In other words, he is in it for himself. I can't speak for everyone here, but I've had more than enough of this type of Republican. Please rethink Newt Gingrich for President in 2012. Unless you really do want a second Obama term. Take care Mr. Ferrara & GOD bless!

BHO| 11.3.10 @ 9:49AM

You're right!

All Hail The Stupid Party!| 11.3.10 @ 2:18PM

BHO, did you copy your post off of the teleprompter or did someone on your staff type it for you? Just curious.

BHO| 11.3.10 @ 2:56PM

I'm not sure what a teleprompter is. Is that the thing they put up with the flowery words? No, I get on the internet and type sometimes. You know what they say. If you put 100 monkeys in the room with typewriters they start typing Shakespeare at some point? Perhaps that's how I tripped on those words. If you have any other questions please feel free to e-mail me at the WH.

Petronius| 11.3.10 @ 9:06AM

If this new bunch wants to last, they must attack and repeal the major laws that do nothing but add cost to our businesses. Environmental regulation should be scaled back so as not to cripple growth by restricting the EPA to mediating complaints between states sharing common borders and removing their authority over internal combustion and HVAC. End Affirmative Action and all the nonsensical interference in our lives about "Civil Rights". This idea that certain groups are "entitled to their fair share of life's goodies" is totally childish. Work is a Duty. Employment is a privilege. Of wages and taxation: capital goes where it is welcome and remains where it is well treated. And lastly the Republicans should have the moxie to sit down on Meet the Press or wherever and tell the left to grow up or shut up.

BHO| 11.3.10 @ 9:49AM

Ditto!~

danny| 11.3.10 @ 9:27AM

All Hail, thank you, thank you, thank you.

All Hail The Stupid Party!| 11.3.10 @ 1:59PM

danny, you're welcome, you're welcome, you're welcome. Take care & GOD bless!

335blues| 11.3.10 @ 10:21AM

Okay Americans, we've made progress. Now let us roll up our sleeves and continue our work. obama is continuing his assalt on America by devaluing the dollar by 20%! This is the same as a forced devaluation of America by 20%! Boy that'll teach his enemies (the American people) a lesson. And this comes on the heels of his looting of America by $2.5 trillion dollars over the last 2 years. obama looks around at all his destruction, smiles and throughs a party in india for 3000 of his closest buds for a mere $2 billion (that's $200 million per day for 10 days) from his personal treasury- the American taxpayer. he has taken over all 500 rooms of the Taj Majal and needs 48 aircraft to haul over his entourage. All on the American taxpayers dime with near 20% unemployment rates. Oh, and somebody please tell rove to shut up and go home. Nobody cares what he thinks.

Albert| 11.3.10 @ 1:48PM

Do you play a 335? Nice! And I agree completely. Especially that part about Rove.

All Hail The Stupid Party!| 11.3.10 @ 2:02PM

Albert, that's Tokyo Rove to you! Take care & GOD bless!

SeattleBruce| 11.6.10 @ 6:20PM

"he has taken over all 500 rooms of the Taj Majal and needs 48 aircraft to haul over his entourage. "

What is this - Desert STrom? What a maroon in our time of financial need...

Third World| 11.3.10 @ 10:24AM

In his first quote from himself, Ferrarra refers to: "Obama and his ultra-left Democrats." Sorry, Peter, but there is nothing "left" about Obama, let alone "ultra-left". If you weren't blinded by your own hatred, you would realize that Obama is "right-of-center". He's even to the right of Nixon (who was a Republican president, in case you didn't know).

In his second quote he refers to the "Democrat Party." It's not clear what he means. There are two major parties in this country, one called the Republican Party and the other called the Democratic Party.

Petey is simply self-discrediting.

BHO| 11.3.10 @ 10:30AM

Obama is a collectivist, bred in Marxism, and hates the Constitution. If that turns you on, so be it.

Third World| 11.3.10 @ 10:32AM

Please stick to the point. Your reply has nothing to do with anything I said.

Al Adab| 11.3.10 @ 11:16AM

Obviously this "Obama is right of center" stuff is the new party line. Some lefty on Fox was spewing it just Monday night. If Third World would please inform us of what policies and positions the President holds to the right of center it would be interesting to compare them with national Conservative positions. What positions or policies does he hold to the right of Nixon( a moderate republican) who disappointed many Conservatives?

BTW the parties are named:
Republican and Democrat.
Read a book from time to time.

Third World| 11.3.10 @ 11:28AM

No, Al Adab, you're the ignorant one. The parties are called the Republican Party and the Democratic Party.

As for Obama being right-of-center, do your own research. I suggest you first drop any preconceptions you may have.

And just because Nixon disappointed many Conservatives (do you know why? I'll give you a hint - it was the wage-and-price controls he instituted) doesn't mean you get to disavow him. He was a Republican president.

Al Adab| 11.3.10 @ 11:48AM

You continue to make the error of equating Republicans with Conservatives. They are not the same. While it is convienient to the Left to attempt to present the two as congruent, the simple fact is they are not. Conservatives have battled for control of the GOP for years going back to 1952. ...and what are those Obama right of center policies again?

During the Jackson era the Dem. party called itself The Democracy. You may recall Democracy was something the founders warned us against. They were right.

So you have a nice day and open another bottle of namby-pamby juice.

Third World| 11.3.10 @ 11:57AM

You want to make a distinction between Republican and Conservative? Fine, knock yourself out. But when you are fielding Conservative candidates under the Republican party line, your distinction loses its significance. Start a third party if you want, but as long as you are "battling for control of the GOP" you are a Republican.

Do you know why the founders warned about Democracy? I'm guessing you don't.

And before Jackson, it was called the "Democratic-Republican Party". So what's your point? I'm guessing there isn't any.

Bydand76| 11.3.10 @ 12:23PM

This is the new leftist talking point.

Trying to insist BHO is already a centrist..

Delusional to say the least.

If you don't believe me then pop on over to the Huffington and read some of the sniveling drivel the poor whiners are posting on there.

It is kind of funny really.

Pro Libertate!

JP| 11.3.10 @ 11:52AM

"As for Obama being right-of-center, do your own research. I suggest you first drop any preconceptions you may have"

Right of Center compared to what? Sweden? Obama nationalized healthcare, Big Auto, and AIG. He has borrowed in 21 months what Bush did in 8 years ($3 trillion); domestic spending even discounting Medicare and Social Security has increased 20% since Obama. Are you on drugs?

skip| 11.3.10 @ 11:53AM

Obama right of center?
If unintelligence and dishonesty were lethal you'd be in serious jeopardy.
The gap between your thoughts and those thoughts reaching what can be considered third rate is substantial.
Wow.

Third World| 11.3.10 @ 12:01PM

You jokers obviously have no idea where the center is. You think it is in the middle of your own little world of delusion. Well, guess what. It ain't.

But I suppose you will continue to insist that you are at the immoveable center of the political world with the same persistent vehemence that the church once insisted that the earth was immoveable at the center of the universe.

Al Adab| 11.3.10 @ 12:14PM

...and what are those right of center polcies again?
Take a lesson from The Eagles, "Get over it".

Ozcar| 11.4.10 @ 3:34AM

"You jokers obviously have no idea where the center is."

Please enlighten us.

Ken (Old Texican)| 11.3.10 @ 11:23AM

Mr. Ferrara,

Thank you again for another splendid article.

Is there a cabinet level job as "Secretary of Ideas"?
That is where Newt would be happiest....and most needed.
O)nce again, I have to agree with Rush: Sarah is the most feared by the Left. Her forthcoming book will give us a clue.
Over at NRO today, a columnist picked up on my idea...expressed here last week....and ran with it.

See the article "Sarah's Cabinet"

BHO| 11.3.10 @ 11:41AM

Ken, you insist on displaying your idiocy for all the world to see. If your family needs help I would be glad to contribute to the cost the institutionalization you so desperately need.

Bydand76| 11.3.10 @ 12:28PM

If I were you BHO I would be more concerned about your little whiner Nancy Pelosi going crazy.

Awwwww are those tears falling in your soup BHO?

Pro Libertate!

All Hail The Stupid Party!| 11.3.10 @ 2:29PM

Don't look now BHO, but your teleprompter is malfunctioning. It forgot to insert the word of between the words cost & the. It might be your tin foil hat is is picking up an electronic signal & srewing up the teleprompter's circuitry. Better get it checked out. You being without a teleprompter is like cookies without milk. It just doesn't work.

Pot kettle| 11.3.10 @ 2:39PM

Too bad this site doesn't have spell-check for morons like you to use. Last time I checked, the word "srewing" (as in "srewing up the teleprompter's circuitry") is not in any dictionary.

You really ought to consider repeating 2d grade. At least that would put you ahead of most of the other right-tards who post on TAS.

CopyKatnj| 11.3.10 @ 3:49PM

Diversity and Tolerance on display.

BHO| 11.3.10 @ 5:30PM

That is not the real BHO.

Al Adab| 11.3.10 @ 12:49PM

I checked our NRO. The idea of closing a few of those cabinet offices is a good one. Several of them need to be consolidated into the other Depatments. We could debate some of the names, but the idea is a good start. What is the GOP alternative government?

RCV| 11.3.10 @ 12:59PM

"Sarah" was the big loser last night, inc case you hadn't noticed. She got soundly rejected by her own state, where her candidate couldn't even get a plurality and was beaten by a write-in candidate! Her trio of favorites -- Miller, Angle and O'Donnell -- all were beaten. She proved herself to be the kiss of death for any Republican candidate, and that won't be lost on the party. Happily, she can now confine herself to fishing with the First Dude and continuing her fine moral upbringing of her children.

Bydand76| 11.3.10 @ 1:46PM

Perhaps,

But, you are leaving quite a few of the other races out of the mix as well. What about Nikki Haley in S.C? Marco Rubio in FL? Pat Toomey in Pennsylvania? Ron Johnson in WI? and Michelle Bachmann in MN?

Forgot about those didn't ya!

Not to mention that every where BHO went he was the kiss of death for his candidate as well.

Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin all went to the Conservatives. Although he did seem to help out Sen Coons in Deleware but I would not get too happy about that race persay.

I would also point out that the Democrats could not even win Obama's old Senate seat. So maybe you should quit grasping at straws so much RCV and just take the spanking like a good little child ok?

Pro Libertate!

Roy| 11.3.10 @ 1:07PM

There is "nothing left" about a pal of Bill Ayers. Rofl.

SeattleBruce| 11.6.10 @ 6:24PM

'If you weren't blinded by your own hatred, you would realize that Obama is "right-of-center".'

You've got to be kidding - from the czars, to behind the scenes deals on socialist care, to installing Marxists into key posts, to spending massive amounts of taxpayer money in attempts to shore up his political favored classes, your claims are ludicrous.

Paul Clare| 11.3.10 @ 11:14AM

Great article UNTIL the end with Gingrich - Face it, his time has passed, he has lost all creditability (except what he generates for himself) and he would best serve (if only his ego would allow it) to train and nourish the up & comers in the Republican and Tea Party

George S| 11.3.10 @ 11:55AM

Gingrich? I thought it's Orrin Hatch's turn (or is it Lamar Alexander's?). Regardless, if yesterday taught us anything it is that the Tea party is all about nominating candidates who sit on a couch with Nancy Pelosi to lecture the great unwashed over their carbon spewing ways.

Howard| 11.3.10 @ 12:25PM

The only "Blue States" left are on the coasts. It is important that the GOP continue to build in those areas by developing non-RINO type candidates who can get elected. In Massachusetts there were several fine GOP candidates, but, it will take much work to educate people as to the viability of a conservative position. If we can reduce the Democrats influence in those states to some degree, we can stick the stake through their hearts finally.

Al Adab| 11.3.10 @ 12:51PM

Check out the Congressional district map. Note the Dem. seats are either big cities or isolated/gerrymandered for result. The overwhelming land area of the country is not theirs.

Fourth Estate| 11.3.10 @ 2:52PM

Too bad that voting is done by person, and not by land area.

Or are you proposing a new concept here?

Citizen Jerry| 11.3.10 @ 1:14PM

Gingrich for president? Give me a break! He's part of the problem with the GOP -- a squishy moderate RINO. Remember the Dede Scuzzafubba debacle?
As Ronaldus Magnus said, no more pale pastels. We need bold colors that stand in stark contrast to Democrat Light.

Citizen Jerry| 11.3.10 @ 1:14PM

Louis Jenkins| 11.3.10 @ 3:42PM

Now have you noticed that the Wun is willing to compromise, work on pork, reduce the size of government (slightly), he has seen the error or his ways. The scales have fallen from his eyes!!

Do you really believe this lying no good for nothing President? Do you believe Harry Reid speaking, nay, reaching across the isle ready to make a deal? Just a few short days ago these scum buckets were calling the conservatives all manner of names, in fact, they've been doing it for two years. Are we to believe them now that they've been slightly taken to the wood shed?

People, do not trust these thieves and tramps. The truth ain't in them, and they couldn't tell the truth if they were staked out in the sun. This is the beginning of their post mid-term political mumbo-jumbo.

Pete| 11.3.10 @ 3:53PM

We need to make congress the largest TEMP agency in america!

jrjr| 11.3.10 @ 5:40PM

Hey Ferrara, did you toss out a straw-argument to get us to comment on your lame projection. Gingrich is a lightning rod to get his by 55 percent of the voters - a loser. Isn't he from the past, e.g., 1994? Your article was okay until you did that one.

arparp| 11.3.10 @ 8:54PM

I'm confused by the belief that election by a 60% majority means an official should wholesale ignore the wishes and intent of the remaining 40%. Issues and beliefs are wide ranging and generally don't line up perfectly with a particular party. I grew up with public school and free lunches, and now my success has more than paid the system back.

Why is it hard to accept that, although I advocate adjusting a different pan of the scale when it comes to economics, I'm not lazy, elitist, a hippy, slimy, corrupt or un-American?

Enjoy your victory, but don't be bad winners, the voting populace at large can be fickle.

p. bales| 11.3.10 @ 11:19PM

I like the idea of a 1% reduction in federal agency's budgets for the next ten years.

Some agencies can be phased out over a period of years. I would start with the Dept. of Education. We got by without it prior to Jimmy Carter creating it as a payoff to the NEA for their support in 1976. Next, on the list should be the Dept. of Energy or EPA.

If this plan is vetoed by BHO, we should continue to pass this legislation every session until we have a Rep. prez.

Gingrich cannot be the nominee for Prez or Veep in 2012. That is taking an unwise step backward. We need to move on to a new generation of leaders. Preferably, two governors or ex-gov's who have demonstrated wise and conservative decision-making abilities.

2012 may be too soon for Rubio ... a definite future super-star. How about a Palin-Rick Perry ticket or Barbour-Daniels or Kasich-Barbour or Christie-Huckabee?? Would like to hear some replies regarding the possibilities. I also admire Mike Pence, Sen. DeMint, or Rick Santorum.

TomB| 11.4.10 @ 1:48AM

I saw Newt Gingrich sitting on a love seat with Nancy Pelosi on television. That should disqualify him from signing personal checks, let alone legislation. Thanks for your service, Newt, now go write your memoirs.

But here's a question; which group is bigger, young RINOs or old Tea Party conservatives? I think the average RINO is, shall we say, somewhat past his/her prime. The Tea Partiers, on the other hand, are just earning their first scars. A generation of politicians who formed their worldviews when Woodstock and Watergate were resolving themselves are fading into history. I look at the young guns on the right and the left and think to myself "time to short patchouli."

daniela | 11.4.10 @ 3:03AM

Yes! I agree what you say!…

stonefellow| 11.4.10 @ 3:04PM

The Constitution says that the House of Representatives controls the purse. Now that the anti-Democratic Socialistic Party is in control, they need to cut wasteful spending, starting with The POTUS and his expensive privileges. Consider this trip to India, and Michelle Obama's entorage. They need to control the Dept. of Injustice by controlling the purse and investigating. They need to control the federal judges who dictate and make up policy. They need to investigate the abuse that Obama has done to our beloved Constitution, especially his million dollar refusal to release information about his citizenship using obscure laws not from the Constitution. The Constitution specifically requires that the President be a natural born citizen of the US. There are too many questions about BHO, and they need the light of day, including this so called certificate from Hawaii that says BHO was born, but is confused bout where. To the newly elected Republicans, be strong, remember why you were elected, hit the ground running, fight the enemy, do it right, and it is not Congress Business as usual. Next election in 2 years. We are still angry.

Alex| 11.5.10 @ 9:22AM

Good article. But, no way the grassroots/Tea-Partiers are supporting Gingrich. If we nominate Gingrich or Romney, it will beget another nail-biter like 2000.

It is far better to nominate a strong constitutional conservative who had the spine to stand up to Obama when he had 70% approval.

Also, Rubio is too young. Give him 4 more years and he will be an outstanding Presidential candidate.

financial frank| 11.5.10 @ 12:33PM

Christi/Ryan

TedR.| 11.5.10 @ 12:48PM

Ferrara seems pleased with his 'predictions.' The amazing recovery of the Republicans, however, has little to do with their small-government agenda, and everything to do with the state of the economy. Republicans used to be economically savvy enough to know that any administration's policies had only limited effect on the market; now, they're tripping over themselves trying to claim that Obama is responsible for the current economic Crisis. Of course, you could say that all this is simply more hypocrisy from the right - something they've always made their specialty.

Obama isn't governing to be popular. He's doing what he honestly thinks is in the country's long-term interest. He's actually governing like an adult - not paying too much mind to the squeals of today's Know-Nothing populists.

Dramatically reduced federal spending is fine, if that's what the people really want and if it will actually translate, in the short term, into accelerated economic growth. The Democrats believe that reduction in services is NOT want people want, and that supply-side economics had its chance in the decade before the Crisis, and failed. So, if Republicans are going to finally try and put their money where their mouth is, and reduce taxes AND spending, the Democrats will do everything in their power to stop them. If smaller government ends up being REALLY what people want, we'll find out next election. Obama is not concerned about being a one-termer.

Jenggirat | 11.6.10 @ 7:35AM

Yeah, Agree with you, nice and keep posting .. :)

anti-globalist Larry| 11.7.10 @ 8:14PM

Mr. Ferrara, you were doing smashingly well in your article, very practical and precient, untill you mentioned a certain name called Gingrich.

No Rino's, no way, Peter.

Gingrich is a Wilsonian erudite intellectual and a G-20 GATT WTO NAFTAist who sold our economy out to the transnational global elite. His recipe for "sodomy of the economy" didn't work to well over the last 15 years and his policies now are just as retro.

Other than that your theme here is splendid.