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Political Hay
It Can Be Done
Freshman congressman Tim Huelskamp makes himself plain.
“This is so not the end. This is what makes people
more determined and makes them dig in.”
— Wisconsin protester Judy Gump, a 45-year-old English
teacher at Madison Memorial High School, last
Saturday
Judy Gump has it right.
Liberal she may be. But she gets it.
This is decidedly not the end. It most assuredly isn’t even the beginning.
Kansas Congressman Tim Huelskamp gets it as well. Huelskamp, a freshman Republican, is in the news for his announcement on Friday that he will vote against the proposal being pushed by some senior House Republicans that would fund the federal government for three more weeks.
The vote is scheduled for today.
Said the gutsy freshman in his statement:
We were elected to make bold changes to federal spending and to reverse our unsustainable deficits. By allowing President Obama and Senator Reid to stall a budget they should have completed 6 months ago, we are being distracted from even bigger tasks: tackling the $1.1 trillion deficit in the President’s reckless 2012 budget and negotiating real budget reform, such as a balanced budget amendment, within a debt ceiling debate.
Additionally, this CR omits many of the priorities the American people demanded we pass in H.R. 1: stopping job-killing EPA regulations, defunding Obamacare, and denying taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood and abortion. By allowing continued funding of these liberal priorities, we are ignoring the mandate of the American people.
Now.
What are we really seeing here in what some may regard as nothing more than a rambunctious freshman congressman taking on the elders of his own party? And what exactly has liberal unionist teacher Judy Gump, marching around in the cold of Wisconsin with 100,000 liberals to protest Governor Scott Walker and the Republican legislature’s victory on collective bargaining for public employees, pinpointed with a crystal clear accuracy that seems to be lost even on some conservatives?
This is indeed a political war, as the albeit hilariously hypocritical Michael Moore has recently stated. Said the man who has made himself very rich by exploiting working class Americans (take a look here for a behind the scenes look at Michael Moore and what he really thinks of working class Americans): “This is war. This is class war that has been leveled against working class people in America.”
This war — a war in reality that is decidedly against freedom, liberty and capitalism, a war against private property and individual rights, all of which are at the core of the success of the American “working class” — is not new. It has been formally declared since at least the French Revolution in 1789, gaining strength in America as the industrial age of the late 19th and early 20th centuries picked up speed with the amusingly misnamed “progressive movement” and in various ports of call around the globe, from Russia to China to Europe to Latin America and more.
It is fought in various fashions, employing a good many methods that have at their core not simply the threat of violence but all too frequently violence itself. Whether beheading a French King in January of 1793 or shooting a President of the United States in November of 1963, whether bombing the University of Wisconsin in the Madison, Wisconsin of 1970 or trashing the State Capitol in the Madison, Wisconsin of 2011 while threatening both Wisconsin businesses and state legislators the objective is always some version of the same thing.
In the France of the 1790s those who sipped from this cup were called Jacobins. Then as now those who paraded under this banner saw themselves as an elite minority of virtue. Entitled, in the words of the late Irish writer and statesman Conor Cruise O’Brien, “by their superior moral character, courage, and abilities to rule over the rest of the people, for their own good.”
About the Author
Jeffrey Lord is a former Reagan White House political director and author. He writes from Pennsylvania at jlpa1@aol.com.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (50) | Leave a comment
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Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 3.15.11 @ 6:37AM
Thanks for the profile in courage.
It would be far easier to dissect the cowards on Capitol Hill and there are far too many in both parties.
I know this may sound far fetched but I believe it's a good example of what you are illustrating.
The EPA has 17,000 employees. Fire them and create 10 million jobs. It's a no brainer.
Deborah D | 3.15.11 @ 6:47AM
Bill -- I love the way you think. I'm sick to death of "we can't" do this or that. I remember my daughter saying, "I can't," and I told her I never wanted to hear her say that again. If you really want to do something, you can. And that's my answer to the Republicans and the Dems alike. If you want to fix this budget crisis, you can. If you don't, then come 2012 you will be out of here. We are sick to death of this insanity. And, Obama and Dems, we know that's your plan...to spend us to death. We know. We'll make sure everyone knows you're doing this on purpose. And, liberal media, you know too. I hope your children spit on you.
tj| 3.15.11 @ 2:49PM
I like the way you think (I hope your children spit on you) LEts keep up the good and true fight and slay these dragons.
ENOUGH ROPE| 3.15.11 @ 12:40PM
Mr. Lord, can you confer with the folks at The American Spectator to allow you to draft a petition to the President and every U.S. Senator and Representative that demands action on the issues in your trenchant article? PLEASE attach your article to the petition.
Could the petition be posted on TAS for signature by TAS's readers? In addition to sending the signed petition to each member of the House and Senate, could it be sent to each governor and legislator in every state?
Gee by golly, when your petition/article is demonstrated to have a following, or even before it is submitted, can you or TAS persuade the other conservative media to post your petition on their sites?
Your article, I believe, has the potential to arouse our nation by peaceful means in a way similar to Tom Paine's Common Sense.
J Parker| 3.15.11 @ 1:34PM
AT - please draft the petition. I for one will gladly sign it.
JOE OLIVA| 3.15.11 @ 3:19PM
ME TOO!!!
Occam's Tool| 3.15.11 @ 5:16PM
Bill:
You are a wonderful and good man, but you think too small. For instance: "The Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments — the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Attorney General."
(That's from Whitehouse.gov).
These are the ones that should be there: Defense, Interior (Agriculture is under here), State, Treasury, as well as the Attorney General.
Again, according to Whitehouse.gov:
"The following positions have the status of Cabinet-rank:
White House Interim Chief of Staff
Bill Daley
Environmental Protection Agency
Administrator Lisa P. Jackson
Office of Management & Budget
Jacob J. Lew, Director
United States Trade Representative
Ambassador Ronald Kirk
United States Ambassador to the United Nations
Ambassador Susan Rice
Council of Economic Advisers
Chairman Austan Goolsbee
Here's who should be there:
White House Interim Chief of Staff
Bill Daley.
This would leave a Cabinet, which right now consists of well over 20 people (how the hell do you have discussions and make decisions with this), with the following---Defense, Interior (Agriculture is under here), State, Treasury, as well as the Attorney General, plus the Veep and the Chief of Staff. Cut everyone in all of the cut departments that has anything to do with maintaining the "Cabinet" position, as opposed to the actual duty of the Department. I bet there's a lot more than 17,000 people there.
Alan Brooks| 3.15.11 @ 10:28PM
Lord, who worked for Reagan, thinks today's conservatives (if they are still conserving anything) want to shrink the state- they do not, they want the govt to change hands from the Left to the Right. No one would honestly deny the state is run by the Left, but neither can it be denied you want for instance to use govt funds to prosecute abortionists and even their clients; and such is one small (even though you don't think abortion is an insignificant issue) example.
martin j smith| 3.15.11 @ 6:50AM
The first step in winning is believe in your cause and believe you can win.
Daily pressure must be put on the Republican leadership to chip away at their strangle hold and to threaten them with challenges to their political power. Challenge their power is the key.
Alan Brooks| 3.15.11 @ 10:30PM
So you can elect another Bushclone and waste another 4 or 8 years. Thanks for nothing.
Pelligrino| 3.15.11 @ 7:17AM
Thank you for pointing out what this freshman congressman from Kansas is saying. Bully for him. He's not from my state, but now I know of him and support his vote today.
This congressional Vaudevillian voting every couple of weeks for a continuing resolution is indeed the Demoncrat plan to sideswipe any meaningful action in the now GOP majority US House of Reps. We can all see it.
Stay bold, Congressman Huelskamp. You stand on the right side of what America is supposed to be. (Shame the RINOs; they have no morals.)
Mimi| 3.15.11 @ 7:25AM
For God's sake....What is Boehner up to ? The TIME is now to..KILL the spending!
What ??? Are they waiting for a DEAD DOLLAR ?? 100% tax bill of every working American isn't enough to pay for this spending...Rumors are flying all over the world... to not take payment for goods in the DOLLARS ! In the last 3 years ...1/3 of the 14 trillion in debt has occurred.....Yea to The DEM'S and Nancy and OBAMA ....WHOOPIE !!
You Boys in D.C. want to be beholden to these incompetant's ??
GO NOW AND DO YOUR JOB... more than one Patriot is needed!!!
Richard Baker| 3.15.11 @ 7:55AM
Mimi:
The Speaker's entire life has been "evolving" in DC and he's afraid of losing it. That's the long and the short of it. That's why he's "timid." Boldness is needed and will have to come from the newer Congressmen.
Louis Jenkins| 3.15.11 @ 8:38AM
Washington, oh Washington. You are a cheap whore without consciousness. You trample upon the bones of those who would act for the good of the people. You strut in your robes and mightiness, and yet, underneath, you are as hallow as a drum. Yet you continue to beat out the same rhythm, spend, spend, spend.....
The Bishop| 3.15.11 @ 8:41AM
Hoo rah, Congressman Huelskamp. This is indeed a war. Kill those bastards who intend to kill all of us. Incremental detections must not any longer be tolerated.
Dan Hirsch| 3.15.11 @ 8:41AM
In 2004, my wife and I visited the Reagan Library. It was my birthday, my wife bought me the little brown leather sign, "It CAN be done." It is on my desk. It should be on every true conservative's desk.
Scott Walker is my governor, Ron Johnson is one of my Senators, Paul Ryan is my Representative. They don't need that sign, (Right Paul?) But maybe a lot of others do need one.
How about "It CAN be done" bracelets for all? Sarah? Think about it!
Time to quietly show our numbers!
Don't tread on me!
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 3.15.11 @ 9:30AM
Sounds good to me!
The Bishop| 3.15.11 @ 8:43AM
That's defections, not detections. Stop trying to correct me iPad!
blackwatch| 3.15.11 @ 12:59PM
You have a Jacobin computer?
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 3.15.11 @ 9:30AM
Mr. Lord, you just made my day with this piece.
335blues| 3.15.11 @ 9:31AM
The 80 new freshmen congressmen as well as all republicans need to vote against any legislation that includes ANY FUNDING FOR THE GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF HEALTHCARE. Then, the house needs to take up a resolution to remove boehner and cantor from their leadership positions as it has become obvious that they are incapable of leadership. For boehner and cantor to insist on funding obamaboehnercare with $105 billion IS A CLEAR SIGNAL THAT BOEHNER AND CANTOR ARE IN FAVOR OF THE GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF HEALTHCARE. Their words mean nothing. Their votes mean everything.
GEO| 3.15.11 @ 4:00PM
I sure agree with you! I keep sending emails to Boehner, Cantor & others to find stronger, conservative leaders.
Pelligrino| 3.15.11 @ 9:38AM
We can indeed primary Eric Cantor. (removal next spring as the party nominee) He should never think himself a lock for the vote to return for another 2 years. Perhaps his time is up. (He does not seem to get it.)
Nancy in NC| 3.15.11 @ 11:38AM
Most of them don't seem to "get it". The RINOs are more dangerous than the Dims.
I don't see how we make it to 2037 with the current path of spending and borrowing. I don't see how we can make it to 2020. It is foolish to believe that we are immune to economic consequences.
blackwatch| 3.15.11 @ 1:04PM
when the GOP fractures into the RINO Party with the tired GOP brand and the Conservative Party (the TEA Party crew) that will ensure the hegemony of the Democrats.
Then, patriots will rise up and take the reins of the government back from our overlords by virtue of our Second Amendment and our god given rights at self-determination.
We have by 2014 at the latest to avert this destruction of our country.
Doctor Right| 3.15.11 @ 9:40AM
The dim-wits now controlling the GOP in the House and Senate obviously don't understand that they are as expendable as all the other bums, Democrat or Republican, who were tossed out-of-office last November, and that they can suffer the same fate in 2012.
Several unreliable RINOs in the Senate (Lugar, Hatch) are already targeted for serious primary challenges. The rest need to be on notice.
If you think we sent you there to cut deals, think again.
Stop crying, Mr. Boehner, and get the job done, or your tenure as Speaker will be very short.
A Corey of Maine| 3.15.11 @ 9:47AM
Double kudos on a very inspiring piece of writing.....with hope that your optimistic advice succeeds, I remain skeptical that enough of us will give up all those goodies lavished upon us by the "caring" ruling class for too many years.....
Mike Gabel| 3.15.11 @ 11:02AM
Yes, it can be done, and it should be done. I stand by Senator Huelskamp, Bachman, et al..
The GOP leadership's timidity is surprising in lieu of the November 2, 2010 elections, and threatens its glory.
As much as I admire and respect Paul Ryan, we need him to be more assertive, communicative and bold here.
Shut this government down until meaningful spending reduction plans are in place. This must include Obamacare repeal and the privatization of Social Security and Medicare.
If conservatives lose elections because of this, its either because we have failed to lead and communicate the message, or because America has completed its transformation to socialism.
Redstateboy| 3.15.11 @ 11:25AM
I appreciate Mr. Lord's historical perspective to all this and tagging it to M. Thatcher's words. There is no more time to keep kicking this can down the road. We will either take back this country and control the size of Government and survive or we won't and go the way of Greece. We do have a choice.
Doctor Right| 3.15.11 @ 11:37AM
The Democrat-dog is down...Please kick, Republicans, and KICK HARD!
Tim the Enchanter| 3.15.11 @ 12:13PM
Dr. Right... you channeling your inner Michael Vick there, by any chance?
Doctor Right| 3.15.11 @ 4:39PM
Whatever.
Petronius| 3.15.11 @ 11:38AM
The only weapon on this earth more powerful than a nuke is Social Acceptance. Most Republicans are too nice to withstand any public abuse. To Speaker Boehner and the GOP leadership on the Hill, Conservatives are on a par with lepers.
On the mention of JFK being assassinated: He believed in economic independence and True Freedom for every average American, which is the first thing his party is totally against, and the primary reason they had him shot. There is only one way to defeat these despots: a general strike that would starve the regime for revenue backed up by a scorched earth policy should the Feds decide to seize the private assets of American business. Lay in 6 months provisions, shut off the lights, lock the doors and wait for the beltway parasites to squeal.
George S| 3.15.11 @ 12:59PM
What the hell is the matter with Huelskamp? The guy acts as if the Republicans won the last election.
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 3.15.11 @ 1:52PM
LOL
CalMark| 3.15.11 @ 3:06PM
Outstanding article. One of the best I've read at AmSpec.
Do it NOW. That's why we elected you. That's why you, Mr. Boehner, are Speaker.
Stop surrendering, stop caving. Do what you were sent to do. It's too hard, they whine. They're afraid of what will happen, the complain.
Get out of the way, then--we'll replace you with someone who ISN'T a coward!
Dan in PA| 3.15.11 @ 4:29PM
I whole heartedly agree. I'm running out years and... tears for my country. Stop the madness.
lmn| 3.15.11 @ 4:46PM
When congressman Husslekamp starts making a serious effort to defund farm subsdies I'll take him seriously. But that would result in the good people of Kansas tossing him out on his ear.
Talking about eliminating a half billion from a program you hate (NPR) is easy, working to eliminate tens of billions for a program you love is tough (and probably self immolating).
diviz| 3.15.11 @ 4:49PM
Don't forget the other perineal republican subsidy favorites: highway, mining, military, etc.
Occam's Tool| 3.15.11 @ 5:18PM
Indeed, they are crotchy things.
Who Knows?| 3.15.11 @ 6:48PM
Buy gold.
Buy gold.
Buy gold.
Don't be fooled that the current price IN DOLLARS is around $1,400!
That is, just because it's "gone up" so much so fast, so far, doesn't mean it can't go up much more.
The true way to understand the gold-dollar dance, which is an almost perfect massive dynamic investment vehicle (or insurance policy), is that the DOLLAR is quickly losing value.
And how can it be, knowing all that we currently know about worldwide governmental excesses, tyrannies, and now physical disasters, to boot, that all of a sudden things are going to settle down, and we'll be back in the stable 50's?
No.
Mr. Lord's ongoing series of eye-popping articles, topped off by today's cry from the heart, tell me that not enough CAN or WILL change to avoid an American day of economic disaster.
America = the Titanic.
Everyone should go to Powerlineblog.com and read the links and graphs of a 400 page researched takedown of USA INC, by expert venture capitalists.
America is as toppy as the housing bubble was, or even more so---and, the ONLY way out is to inflate the currency even more.
The only question is whether this can be done quickly enough to avoid a blowoff.
Either way, the DOLLAR is a sure bet to fade away, like all old good soldiers.
To paraphrase Forrest Gump, who was smarter than your average congressman,
Bankrupt is as bankrupt does.
alphadoc| 3.15.11 @ 9:26PM
Boehner is a drunk. Stories of his drinking in DC are legend and he clearly exhibits the "emotional incontinence" of the mentally impaired. He is simply unfit to lead this country at such a critical time. Tea party patriots must rise up and pressure their representatives to depose this individual, as his alcohol abuse will make it impossible for him to act as he must to stop the ruinous spending.
jfxgillis | 3.16.11 @ 12:44AM
Jeffrey:
"it searched for ways to interfere with your right to, as Ronald Reagan once said, "hold the deed or the title to your property."
Giggle. It's hard to believe you used that exact quote without seeming to have the slightest sense of irony about it.
It's not "gummint" that's clouded title to half the deeds in the USA. It's unregulated Capital.
And nobody believes a single word of your faux-populism except those who already believe it anyway. The tax burden is as low as it's been since before Buckley was a published author. Nobody cares about the deficit.
The Articles of Confederation fell victim to that "evolution" you mentioned, as did the Confederate States of America ninety years after that and lassiez-faire ninety years further on.
No, "it" can't be done.
gary siebel| 3.16.11 @ 3:16AM
LOL Just what the heck are you talking about? I gather you are against the idea of majority rule, eh? Especially if it turns out contrary to your agenda. Bring back control of law and society by the Pope, is that it?
You would make a fine imam. Go start a madrassa someplace so you can brainwash the young. After all, you are no doubt thoroughly against public education.
Johnny| 3.16.11 @ 6:51AM
What I am doing for myself and my family is gardening, building a chicken pen, fencing for a few cattle and becoming as self reliant as possible as quickly as possible. It has become evident that the country is going to pot and we can choose not to follow in a few ways, voting is but one of them.
Creative Recreation | 8.11.11 @ 12:22AM
is good
Creative Recreation | 8.11.11 @ 12:22AM
is good
undem| 9.25.11 @ 11:12PM
This article is bs.