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Political Hay
Speaker George H.W. Bush?
Will 16 House GOP members keep John Boehner from a 1990 replay? Losing the base — and the House.
(Page 5 of 5)
But the central point? The point that was made by an alarmed Ed Rollins in 1989 in Year One of the Bush 41 presidency? By a furious Richard Viguerie in the aftermath of the 1990 election disaster for House Republicans (that Rollins had accurately predicted)? By a saddened and equally prescient Jude Wanniski in November of 1991?
Republicans have been here before.
The first time with President George H.W. Bush.
And now, it appears they are headed in exactly the same direction 22 years later with Speaker of the House John Boehner.
Does this have to happen?
No.
By changing course, having a well thought-out strategy — and replacing Speaker Boehner with someone knowledgeable in both conservative principle as well as how to articulate that principle — disaster is avoidable. And yes, an outsider as Speaker could not help but electrify a party whose energy seems to have drained since the November election.
The impending Boehner-led GOP disaster of today is as avoidable now as was the disaster that was the Bush 41 era. The Bush 41 presidency imploded — and severely damaged the House GOP as well — because of stubbornness. Because what Ronald Reagan once called the Party of the Fraternal Order — the GOP Establishment — defiantly refused to stick to conservative principle, much less articulate it. Then — as now — the issue at hand was the economy. And, just as with John Boehner today, President Bush 41 was as nice a guy as one could imagine. But both Bush and Boehner share the fatal error of mistaking loyalty to a person — themselves as President and Speaker — for loyalty to principle.
Just as targets of the Bush White House became their own team — Newt Gingrich, Jack Kemp, Ed Rollins and other Reaganites — so too now the Boehner House leadership is targeting dissenting conservatives like GOP House members Tim Huelskamp, Justin Amash, Walter Jones, and David Schweikert.
What is unspooling in front of the nation’s eyes this Christmas holiday season is nothing less than what in the world of movies is called a “remake.”
The Bush 41 presidency moves to the House of Representatives.
Starring House Speaker George H. W. Bush.
Are there 16 House Republicans who have the political will to save the House GOP from its own Speaker? Who have the courage to make sure a bad moment in the nation and the GOP’s history is not repeated?
We shall see.
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 (130) | Leave a comment
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Aristocat| 12.13.12 @ 6:40AM
All the House Republicans are afraid to challenge Boehner because they fear retaliation. It's time for them to put aside their own careers and do the right thing for America...Boehner has to go...Hold firm, take heart, trust in the Lord and oust him. He is responsible for the sequestration, the fiscal cliff, etc. Remember when he agreed to lift the debt limit by $Trillions so Obama would not have to face the issue again before the election? That was one of many betrayals he has committed...
OUST HIM !!!!!
Jack in Wi| 12.13.12 @ 7:31AM
The only man who should be elected Speaker of the House is Ron Paul. He has been right for decades, while the Rockefeller -Bush Cabral has almost destroyed the pro-life conservative movement. Even if we have a real conservative nominee next time. The Bush gang would do all they could to destroy him. Ron Paul is the most honest man in the Republican party. He would be fair to all sides and let there be civil and rigourous debate in the House on the nations problems.
Frank Drackman| 12.13.12 @ 8:31AM
Umm Jack, ain't been no Rockefellers around since you were whackin it to Leaf Garrett pinups...
and maybe I'm slow, but I dont think Ron Paul was elected to the next House. And I know I'm dating myself(ever given yourself a rufie? sort of pointless)but for Jehovah/Allah/Budda/Hey-Zeus's sake read a paper once in a while, You'Re embarassing yourself, Ass.
Frank
jothepro| 12.13.12 @ 8:56AM
That was very funny Frank.
TLP| 12.13.12 @ 6:21PM
Contest at Tuesday's Story: More Pants Than Fire.
Look for Pinnochio.
Doctor Right| 12.13.12 @ 1:38PM
The Speaker of the House DOES NOT have to be an elected member of Congress.
Weird, but true...
Crassus| 12.13.12 @ 9:39AM
Is this the same Ron Paul who attaches earmarks for his own district to spending bills that he votes against (all the while knowing they will pass anyway) so that he can have his cake and eat it too? Sorry, but your hero is just a chickencrap politician like the rest.
Moe Blotz| 12.13.12 @ 11:17AM
Maybe next week at lunch with Ron Paul, Jack can talk his hero out of retiring from the House so that he save our sorry arses. (_!_)
TLP| 12.13.12 @ 3:56PM
Contest at Tuesday's Story: More Pants Than Fire.
Look for Pinnochio.
Occam's Tool| 12.13.12 @ 4:43PM
Crassus: Yes, that's the same Ron "I do expensive earmarks for my district while crowing about being principled and at the same time attempt to achieve divine inspiration through terrorist fellatio" Paul. You got that right.
I think ALLEN WEST should be the new House Speaker. I believe in "getting in their face" as the POTUS would say.
TLP| 12.13.12 @ 6:21PM
Contest at Tuesday's Story: More Pants Than Fire.
Look for Pinnochio.
reaganite 172| 12.14.12 @ 9:50PM
His hero also lacks any real bill, or any policy record on a 30 year old career, nothing to call his accomplishment.
Doctor Right| 12.13.12 @ 1:37PM
"Ron Paul is the most honest man in the Republican party."
Well, yeah...if you discount his "explanation" of his name on all of those anti-Semitic leaflets, and the millions he's made while being in Congress, I guess you could say that?
(Jack...Ron Paul has retired. He's NOT coming back. You'll have to find another false-God to worship...)
John Navratil| 12.13.12 @ 4:45PM
Jack in Wi,
There is that pesky requirement that the Speaker actually work together with the cats he is herding. Much as I actually like Paul's fiscal policies, I can't imagine anyone less qualified to be speaker.
TLP| 12.13.12 @ 6:21PM
Contest at Tuesday's Story: More Pants Than Fire.
Look for Pinnochio.
Dobbs| 12.14.12 @ 6:57PM
No to Ron Paul. No, no and no.
Martin kzovich| 12.13.12 @ 6:50AM
If Boehner screws around there could well be a tird party. And the other question is: what is the motive in this case ?
c. j. acworth| 12.13.12 @ 9:12AM
Umm, did you misspell "third" or "turd", as in what the Republican Party has become under the rule of RINOs.
Rhoetus| 12.13.12 @ 9:50PM
Boehner is the TURD party.
Dobbs| 12.14.12 @ 6:58PM
The Democrats are praying for a third party! You want to help them?
RJ| 12.13.12 @ 7:23AM
As the years go by, I value Ronald Reagan more and more. As the years go by I value George H.W. Bush less and less and I shudder to think of John Boehner as being my most powerful representative in the federal government. Boehner is not the person for the job. We need a new leader.
GobBluthe| 12.13.12 @ 8:41AM
You value the man who raised taxes numerous times and you have less value for the man who raised taxes once. Ronnie really was the Teflon President.
JimP| 12.13.12 @ 11:03AM
Yeah, Reagan foolishly raised taxes in exchange for promises by Democrats to cut spending in the future. Bush only had a chance to do it once since he couldn't get re-elected. Plus Bush never cut any taxes. Reagan did. Massively. So he's more beloved because on net, he cut taxes and the economy BOOMED. Also, Bush made us all nauseous with his points of light talk and new world order BS, and faux 'one of the people' routine about liking pork rinds, and disliking broccoli, etc.
RJ| 12.13.12 @ 4:18PM
And we can go further. Reagan's political courage, as demonstrated by the Air Traffic Controllers strike and maintaining his position at the Reykjavík conference with Gorbachev, was rare. He worked to reduce the size of government. Bush believed in big government. Bush 41 was elected to continue the Reagan legacy. He walked away from it. Bush 43 hinted in 2000 that he was politically closer to Reagan than his father and he turned out to be a Republican Lyndon Johnson.
JimP| 12.13.12 @ 6:21PM
Amen, RJ!
Rhoetus| 12.15.12 @ 11:14PM
I coined the the phrase in 2001 that George W Bush was LBJ with a human face.
Doctor Right| 12.13.12 @ 1:39PM
I agree.
George HW Bush was NOT a good President, on many levels. How the hell do you blow a 91% approval rating in 1 year?
RJ| 12.13.12 @ 4:25PM
So many times, things don't have to fall apart, but they do. That seemed to be the case with the Bush 41 Presidency. Also, while the press has had a liberal bias for as long as I can remember, it seemed to escalate during Bush 41's Presidency. The media couldn't stand another four years of Democrats being out of the White House. They have long since passed mere bias. Now it is open propaganda and I think it is fairly clear that there has been coordination between Presidential Debate "Moderators" and the Democratic nominee's campaign at least since 2004.
Rhoetus| 12.13.12 @ 9:52PM
Bush41 didn't have the vision thing ,he was a "me too" progressive Republican.
C. Vernon Crisler | 12.13.12 @ 7:29AM
Boehner doesn't have the backbone to stand up to Obama anymore than Dole had the backbone to stand up to Clinton. He will cave eventually, so great is the Washingtonian desire for a "deal" no matter how awful. I remember how conservatives felt after George Bush Sr. lost to Clinton: good riddance they said. I hope we can say the same to Boehner one of these days.
TLP| 12.13.12 @ 7:59AM
There actually is a way to Walk, and Chew Gum at the same time, on this one.
Give Hamas' Deliverer what he wants on the Taxes on the Rich, but only with the following Condition.
He wants another $250 Billion Stimulus.
No way, and remind everyone what he did with the last Shovel Ready Infrastructure Jobs Stimulus.
Then get out there and tell the American People that you're doing this to prevent the Decimation of our National Defense, and Medicare. And say it every time you open your mouth, to exhale.
The Rich aren't Stupid. They will find their way around all this, and the Inevitable Economic Downturn will be laid at the feet of the Political Party with the Jackass as it's Symbol, and it's Leader, and his Second in Command.
This is the only way out of all this.
Anything else is just Hysterics, False Bravado, and a Fool's Errand.
Tommy Frisco| 12.13.12 @ 10:22AM
TLP, I respectfully disagree with EVER giving Obama what he wants. Votes should be based on principles, not for political strategies and not along party lines. The Repubs should vote YES if they feel it is good for America to raise taxes on the rich or they should vote NO if they believe it would be bad for America.
That's the way I want thing to be in DC, pure and simple, no games, no strategies, no code words...just do what's right for our country.
TLP| 12.13.12 @ 3:57PM
Contest at Tuesday's Story: More Pants Than Fire.
Look for Pinnochio.
KennesawJack| 12.13.12 @ 12:28PM
Tim, perhaps you and Von, could enlighten me a bit. In line with what you're saying, why not have the House pass a bill that gives Obamarx his increase on the top 2%, no stimulus (as you suggest) FREEZE defense spending at current levels, fully fund Social Security (an obligation of the government, NOT an entitlement), cut all other spending 5% or so across the board pass it on the Senate, wish everyone else a Merry Christmas, and get the hell out of Dodge. Let Reid and Obamarx torpedo it and increase taxes on the middle class. What am I missing here?
TLP| 12.13.12 @ 2:55PM
You're "missing" the people in the Media, who would gladly give up their First Born for a chance to be Obama's Urinal for a Day.
You're never gonna get 5% across the board.
Take what you can get.
Save Defense.
Save Medicare.
The Rich will take care of themselves.
And when the inevitable Economic Sh*t hits the Fan?
It'll all fall in Pharaoh's Lap.
That 5% Cuts is a Poison Pill that they will hang around our necks.
We MUST pick our Battles.
Give him his Tax Increases. He's gonna get them, anyway.
At least my way gives us an out in the Blame Game. As long as we stress the Fact that we did it to Save the Military, and Medicare.
They will not be able to go after US.
It'll all be on him.
Trust me.
This is the only way.
KennesawJack| 12.13.12 @ 3:55PM
Our side just won one. Susan Rice just withdrew her name from nomination for Sec. of State.
TLP| 12.13.12 @ 3:59PM
Contest at Tuesday's Story: More Pants Than Fire.
Look for Pinnochio.
And, tell me you wouldn't like a shot at that Rice Pudding.
Job| 12.13.12 @ 12:40PM
"Give Hamas' Deliverer what he wants on the Taxes on the Rich, but only with the following Condition."
Do this with a little irony by voting present
Tommy Frisco| 12.13.12 @ 2:45PM
Job, I can't think of a better way for the Republicans to show that they are doing NOTHING to stop Obama's agenda than by voting present, can you? Can you think of anything the Republicans can do that would more cowardly and gutless than voting present on the bills in front of them? Is that why we send our representatives to DC, to vote present?
TLP| 12.13.12 @ 2:56PM
EXACTLY.
Occam's Tool| 12.13.12 @ 4:46PM
We (the House GOP) should pass a Bill through the House extending the Current Bush tax regimen plus the payroll tax of 4% for the next 10 years. Then GO HOME.
That's it.
Job| 12.13.12 @ 4:57PM
this thing needs a like button. Let them all go home or Golf for the rest of the year and cease from troubling; the outcome will be better; less spending; and less boondogles. its a shame when this kind of advise has merit.
Job| 12.13.12 @ 3:56PM
Hmm, cowardly pleased to meet you too TF. Hmm republicans are already takin it in the *ss so i would think they'd need a promotion to get to cowardly.
and so far this campaign season, or over the last 4 years, how has doing the right thing worked? you wanna stay stuck on stupid for the rest of your life go on and do the right thing with these thugs in 4 more years you and you're ilk we be on another apology tour like the one we just finally got over where it took a month for conservative apologists to finnally stop yammering about wTF happened to Romney.
Tommy Frisco| 12.13.12 @ 10:46PM
Job, please accept my apologies if you felt I was calling you a coward. I assumed, foolishly, that you were only repeating Rand Paul's advice saying that the Repubs should vote present on a tax hike for the rich.
However, since you seem to be very sensitive and you felt the need to call someone you know almost nothing about. "stupid, " I guess I'll reply with saying you're stupid for making so many assumptions and cowardly and ill-mannered for doing so.
BTW, I haven't seen the Repubs doing much right since we gave them the House majority in 2010. If they would just do the "right thing," they just might win some elections now and then.
Job| 12.14.12 @ 3:08PM
eyeroll, yawn...ill mannered... guilty TF and my skin isn't that thin so no need for apology either. BTW to strike coward from the record and reinvoke it in the same breath lacks sincerity. truce on the ad hominems and semantic whining till next time...;)
Toinfinityandbeyond| 12.13.12 @ 8:59PM
Contest at Tuesday's Story: More Pants Than Fire.
Look for Pinnochio.
Von Mises Jr| 12.13.12 @ 9:10AM
While you are typically spot on, I think you make two incorrect assumptions,Vern.
First, Dole and McCain were war heroes and probably not afraid of the President any more than Boehner was afraid to take out Newt. Second is that when you are a Statist, a statist deal is not an awful deal.
G.H.W. Bush is an Agenda21 statist. His son, G.W. Bush increased spending from about $1.8T to $2.9T in eight years and was no conservative. Dole, McCain and Boehner are liberal establishment Republicans. It is not fear that motivates them, it is ideology.
Obama, Pelosi and Reid are Lenin or Mao style socialist. Immelt just said it the other day that he approves of communism. Freidman muses over the ability of the Chinese to make unilateral dictates.
If you read Levin's "Ameritopia," the liberals are following Plato's "Philosopher Kings" and More's "Utopia." The Bush, Dole, McCain and Boehner socialist are Hobbes Leviathan. This is what Agenda21 is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzEEgtOFFlM
Von Mises Jr| 12.13.12 @ 9:11AM
The GOP Convention chose Christie as Keynote. Christie is about to pass Agenda21 in New Jersey as a "Development and Redevelopment Plan" by Executive Fiat. One can view this statist plan at: http://www.state.nj.us/state/p.....final.html
Bottom line, my friend Vern, is that if our girl is the one from Zeppelin "runnin around with every guy in town," then it is time to stop making excuses for that girl and call her what she is. And the GOP Establishment is “lying, cheating, that's all they’ll ever do." At least while we have Boehner and the RINO's trying to plan our lives with statist plans.
JmsA| 12.13.12 @ 9:57AM
He has what is usually referred to as selective memory.
JmsA| 12.13.12 @ 9:57AM
Good comments, except for the part about being usually spot on.
Tommy Frisco| 12.13.12 @ 11:04AM
VMJr., God bless you for continually trying to inform everyone about Agenda 21. It IS very telling that the RNC would invite Christie to be Keynote speaker at the GOP convention. BOTH of our major parties have the same agenda (21)...moving everyone they can out of the red, rural counties and into the bright blue metropolitan areas in hopes that we all become more dependent upon the central government.
Von Mises Jr| 12.13.12 @ 12:05PM
Thanks Tommy. God blesses you and the great State of Texas. I hope to be coming South soon.
Tommy Frisco| 12.13.12 @ 12:31PM
Ahhh...you remembered. Not surprised.
I hope you're looking for a good place to get away from that liberal bastion you are in. Please allow me to buy you a cold one while you are here.
TLP| 12.13.12 @ 4:00PM
Contest at Tuesday's Story: More Pants Than Fire.
Look for Pinnochio.
C. Vernon Crisler | 12.13.12 @ 1:11PM
My understanding is that Agenda21 is just United Nations chicken scratch about "sustainable development." IOW, it's just a way of getting international prestige for what liberals want to do anyway.
Butch| 12.13.12 @ 4:34PM
Hey, Tommy. I heard there was some controversy over the Frisco Coons' team name. What ever came of that?
Tommy Frisco| 12.13.12 @ 10:52PM
Interesting. What makes you think I would know anything about a Frisco Coon's team?
JmsA| 12.13.12 @ 10:25AM
Mao and Lenin were communists. If you had lived under it, you'd understand it. Socialism is that which comes before communism, when all of the wealth and property, except that of the ruling elites is confiscated--as long as they serve the purpose towards attaining the ultimate goal: the total and complete subjugation of the masses. The mechanisms are well in place, including but not limited to an increasingly ignorant and servile electorate, as well as the U.N., Federal Reserve, Council of Foreign Relations, etc. There's different ways to get to it; it doesn't have to be done all at once. This started at long time ago with the people, unlike those others subjugated at the point of a gun, voting for it. The guys in charge, those in Washington making the rules as well as their allied elites will be just fine. You won't get the Vietnamese or Cuban models, but you'll get the American model. It's coming. Take my word for it; I've seen it first hand. Is gradual at first and them becomes all encompassing. I'd take G.H. or G.W., or for that matter Dole or McCain before any democrat, especially what we have now, and the one that visited Moscow during his youth, and Yeltsin called a socialist after meeting him face to face.
Von Mises Jr| 12.13.12 @ 10:58AM
You are correct JmsA as it relates to Marxism AKA "Material Dialectics." This is what the incoherent "Material Productive Forces" theory was about.
By some never seen before and mystical process capitalism morphs to socialism and then evolves into communism. Socialism requires dictators and force since the people have not been reprogrammed or just haven't had the epiphany yet. Communism is when they have a Rodney King communal awakening and declare "can't we all just get along?"
It is actually a religious idea that liberals believe can happen on earth before the Second coming when the kid lies down with the lamb, the child plays by the viper's den.....When this great socialist awakening happens, those that believe in the material versus the spiritual Heaven envision everyone working for other's women and children.
The people no longer wish to leave a good life for their children, but the children of Perp and twitvin, that is if they ever had a woman. Of course I mean in a normal way.
JmsA| 12.13.12 @ 12:38PM
Well stated, VMJr.
RCV| 12.13.12 @ 11:26AM
Not sure what history books you guys have read, but capitalism morphing into socialism morphing into communism is NOT how the world has ever worked. Communism comes from violent revolution to autocratic or colonial regimes. That's the way it happened in Russia, in China, in Vietnam, in Cuba. The other way it happens is when existing communist regimes take over other countries militarily. Marx was wrong about this as about so many other things.
Von Mises Jr| 12.13.12 @ 12:08PM
It's called "Socialism" by Ludwig Von Mises for starters available at www.mises.org.
His "Omnipotent Government," or Hayek's "Fatal Conceit" and Rothbard's "War collectivism" would be a good place for you to learn.
Mises and Hayek fled Hitler for their lives. I will take their history before Howard Zinn.
C. Vernon Crisler | 12.13.12 @ 1:14PM
Communism in Russia was a direct result of WW1 and Russia's disasterous losses in that war. The Bolsheviks actually revolted against a liberal government that had taken over after the Czar's abdication.
JmsA| 12.13.12 @ 3:07PM
I didn't need to read any books. I lived it, as did my family and millions of others. There was no colonial regime in Cuba by the end of 1958. Cuba was a rich island, a net immigration country, mostly from the First World (Europe) with proportionally the largest middle class in Latin America, and the third largest GDP therein. You're ignorant, and well indoctrinated. The first thing that Castro did, as he purged those against his ever increasing socialist policies, was to institute Agrarian and Urban Reforms, i.e., the confiscation of private wealth and property. Following the defeat of the Bay of Pigs invasion, with hundreds of thousands of his opponents jailed and held in makeshift concentration camps, he finally declared himself a Marxist/Leninist. You're basing your views, no doubt in part, by what you've seen during your brief visits to Cuba, now nearly 54 years after the implementation of socialist/communist policies, and nothing like it was before Castro and the commies took over. Did you know that there was an armed rebellion by peasants, joined by others from all walks of Cuban society, after the former rebelled against being forced into collectives? It lasted from 1959 through 1966. You should inform yourself. Your ignorance is showing.
JmsA| 12.13.12 @ 3:14PM
The above was addressed to RCV, who fancies himself an expert on Cuba after visiting there as a welcome guest of the communist tyranny, and no doubt an avid adherent to socialist principles taught in higher education institutions in this country.
Rhoetus| 12.15.12 @ 11:31PM
JmsA, members of my family fled Europe at various times, 1903, 1914, 1938 and 1968. Not only is my father from Slovakia, a cousin left in 1938 and her brother left in 1968. I've worked with colleagues from Hungary that lived under communism. I've had many conversations over the years in depth on the reality. Not only did the new-left made a hero of Mao Zedong and other communist mass murders but Obama and his "Czars" worship at the alter of these killers. The fact that Castro's murderers are sill in power is a shame that we must bear. The eyes can not see when the mind is blind.
Rhoetus| 12.13.12 @ 9:55PM
von Mises Sr. is very proud of you, as am I.
Crassus| 12.13.12 @ 9:42AM
Dole actually stood up to Clinton but perhaps you forget. If not for Dole we would have had Obama Care back in '93. Dole stood up and said hell no. For that alone the man should be considered a great American.
CJW| 12.13.12 @ 9:55AM
It was also snarlin Arlen Specter who produced the chart showing all the regulations and agencies in Hillarycare, and that chart showed how complicated and statist the plan would be. Obviously they read the plan in 93 to produce the chart, unlike 2009 where they passed the law and now are reading it.
Now 17 Dem senators want to amend Obamacare to exempt the tax on medial devices. So now they are reading the law, which will end up with more exemptions and amendments to satisfy the campaign contributors to Obama.
KennesawJack| 12.13.12 @ 1:55PM
And wasn't it Phil Graham who stood in the well of the Senate and said of Hillarycare "This will pass over my cold dead political body."? As I recall, THAT was the end of the conversation.
TLP| 12.13.12 @ 2:58PM
We cannot win that way.
Speaking of Cannot Win.
The Contest is at Tuesday's Story: More Pants Than Fire.
Look for Pinnochio.
Toinfinityandbeyond| 12.13.12 @ 9:06PM
Contest at Tuesday's Story: More Pants Than Fire.
Look for Pinnochio.
C. Vernon Crisler | 12.13.12 @ 12:03PM
I'm talking about the government shut down. Dole's spinelessness in that situation led me to quit the Republican party for years.
Doctor Right| 12.13.12 @ 1:51PM
The GOP is dead.
If Boehner had any balls (he doesn't), he'd say "No deal. Cut taxes, and cut spending or we'll tell the American people that you're a liar who has no intention or desire to fix this problem."
...And all the moderate wussies would leave the GOP.
Or, he can abandon the Conservatives and cut a deal...
...And all of the Conservatives will leave the Party.
R.I.P. GOP.
Hardcard| 12.13.12 @ 8:18AM
Hysterics = Alfred Hitchcock
False Bravado= John Wayne
Fool's Errand =Jerry Lewis
Maxwell| 12.13.12 @ 8:32AM
TLP, with all due respect, I'd just add one point, an expiration date four years from now. If the tax hike works, fine, we renew, if not, it expires.
I'd make sure every day someone comes out & states, we did just as the President asked, now he owns the results. I know, increasing / raising taxes does not help but what do I know, I'm just a programmer.
TLP| 12.13.12 @ 10:19AM
Agreed.
And, exactly.
Look, he's gonna get the Tax Increases anyway. So, just give'em to him, now. Just say no to the Walking Around Money, and get out there and Proclaim that you did what you did in order to Save Medicare and our National Defense.
I see no need to throw a Poison Pill in with it (Term Linited Tax Increases).
The Rich can take care of themselves, and after the Sh*t REALLY hits the fan, this time? We'll either be looking at Both Houses and the White House? Or, we'll be looking at Armageddon, so none of this will matter anymore, anyway.
MY WAY, is the Only Way.
Purp| 12.13.12 @ 8:32AM
America should be put first, political parties second. What Republicans and Democrats want is immaterial.
It's what the American people want that comes first. Anyone who doesn't tow THAT line is doomed. Period.
A lesson Republicans are having a hard time learning apparently.
CJW| 12.13.12 @ 10:07AM
Purp the Village Idiot
Now purpie descends into racism:
"Oh, and YOU'RE a LOSER ... can't even beat the black man... you're so awful... hahahaha (that's for your last line, you wanna dish it out, then take it)"
Can't even beat the "black man?" So you believe blacks are inferior and easy to beat.
Keep posting moron, you provide fresh material every day.
You are truly an idiot and a racist
TLP| 12.13.12 @ 4:02PM
Contest at Tuesday's Story: More Pants Than Fire.
Look for Pinnochio.
Toinfinityandbeyond| 12.13.12 @ 9:08PM
Contest at Tuesday's Story: More Pants Than Fire.
Look for Pinnochio.
ArmyAviator| 12.13.12 @ 10:08AM
Purp: You obviously are deluded by your Liberal Socialistic beliefs. You think that Obama's spending the country into financial collapse is good for the country? And, you think that raising taxes on small businesses is good for the country? Sorry old fellow, you are wrong. What you advocate will result in SECESSION of states who refuse to go down the drain and join the Liberal Socialist sewerites. You claim that Secession is Treason, yet you advocate the very policies and issues that bring it to fruition. Because, dear fellow, many of the people in non-Liberal Socialist states, will not bend over and take it, solely because your ObamMessiah, says to do so.
Doctor Right| 12.13.12 @ 5:39PM
So you're saying the American people want rich people fleeced? And jobs to disappear?
You're a moron.
jaytrain| 12.13.12 @ 8:34AM
So fast forward the tape to campaign season 2014 . O is in every toss up House district demagogue-ing fairness and tax rates and with the assistance of the agitprop wing of the apparatus , sometimes referred to as the MSM , we wake up with Speaker Pelosi . Leader Reid has already done his part in eliminating the 60 vote filibuster brake . The horrors begin in January 2015 : card check , cap and trade , amnesty and open borders etc . And this scenario is exactly the long game that Obama is playing . This fiscal cliff/tax rate thing is nothing about anything but creating a cudgel to batter the R's back into a House minority and Boehner & Co have fallen right into the trap . And one last thing , as they teach at Quantico and Benning , when you fall into an ambush , you attack , if you hunker down and play defense , you're all dead . We're all dead .
GobBluthe| 12.13.12 @ 8:39AM
That can only happen if GOP voters don't turn out. And if they don't, they deserve the nightmare they'll get.
GobBluthe| 12.13.12 @ 8:36AM
Not a single suggestion as to how the tax increases can be stopped. The new speaker, who ever that may be, will be able to stop all automatic tax increases simply by not being Boehner. 5 pages of history, nit a single insight into strategy.
Sjccoach| 12.13.12 @ 8:55AM
Mr. Lord wrote a great column. The problem is that Boehner will cave and he will be reelected as Speaker. Elected officials in DC are lemmings. They are concerned with one thing that is reelection. They don't understand that caving will cost them reelection. They follow the polls and the polls tell them that should cave. The Republican party is in its death throes and good riddance to it. Maybe a true conservative party will take its place.
GobBluthe| 12.13.12 @ 9:06AM
Mmmmm...... A true Conservative party that will appeal to about 35% of the voters and will take a decade or more before voters trust it enough with power.
I personally would like to see all Bush tax cuts expire along with the moronic payroll tax cut expire as well. Too many on the bottom don't pay enough in taxes.
c. j. acworth| 12.13.12 @ 9:19AM
Too many don't pay any income tax. I've long thought that a flat tax on income (above whatever we decide the poverty line is) will be the most fair system. Everybody should have skin in the game.
vtwin| 12.13.12 @ 10:00AM
A flat tax doesn’t address the real problem which is wealth and income distribution.
CJW| 12.13.12 @ 10:08AM
Why is wealth a problem?
WhiteBikerTrash| 12.13.12 @ 2:16PM
How is the Honda running?
The problem is the huge increase of those defined in poverty and fewer people holding a larger majority of wealth!
So how to fix that?
An economic rule is you get more of anything you subsidize, and less of anything you tax.
So lets stop subsidizing poverty and tax the hell out of it the same way we have dealt with the wealthy .
A 40% tax on all income below $14,000 and the same rate for 1 million dollars or more of income. Then the tax rate drops from both ends down to 10% for the upper middle class. Kind of like a smiley face curve.
People will fight to get into the middle class from both ends!
Incomes will be better distributed. No one will want to stay comfortably poor!
So for once we agree a flat tax will not address the problem.
junkyard infidel| 12.13.12 @ 3:47PM
honda ? the vtwink rides an algae powered moped that emits fairy dust and unicorn farts ! and it's simply fabulous !
Doctor Right| 12.13.12 @ 5:42PM
I agree.
It's time to "redistribute wealth" back to the people who earn it.
It's also time for the lazy rabble in the 47% to pay their fair share.
Anthony| 12.13.12 @ 2:51PM
Oh I get it now vtwin, since you have no wealth, you want to distribute our income.
Yes, yes, it all makes sense now. Joe the Plumber was right to say to Obozo, "get off my property you're tresspassing".
I suggest you follow Joe's advice, for your own sake.
Doctor Right| 12.13.12 @ 5:41PM
There IS no problem with "income distribution."
Income is equitably distributed to the people who earn it.
And please explain the "real" problem of wealth? Other than you don't have any, so you want to steal $$ from someone else through the long arm of the federal government.
CJW| 12.13.12 @ 6:07PM
Doc
You are correct, the problem is they don't have wealth, are envious, and want to take yours. Or, like the Hollywood Left and parasites like the Kennedys they feel guilty for having wealth not earned.
Sjccoach| 12.13.12 @ 10:46AM
You're wrong. Too many on the bottome get to much free money from the government. Before taxes go up the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit shoud be abolished. Then people on the bottom would stop getting free money for making babies and working at minimum wage. They would then start paying their fair share.
OP4| 12.13.12 @ 11:06AM
The H.W. Bush moderate party appealed to 37% of the voters. I'll take my chances with actual conservatives.
ArmyAviator| 12.13.12 @ 1:10PM
It didn't take the Rippon Society that long to create the Republican Party. A new party may come to pass earlier than any of us think.
Bob K| 12.13.12 @ 9:31AM
Mr. Lord wrote, once again, in his usual 5 pages what he could have written in 2 and 1/2 pages.
Talk show hosts for Speaker of the House! Good grief! Even if it were politically possible it would be a theater of the absurd! What if the Democrats named Rachel Maddow?
JimH| 12.13.12 @ 9:10AM
B.O. wants Clinton's taxes? Fine. Let him have them as long is spending, adjusted for population is also set to the level of the time.
Vic| 12.13.12 @ 11:28AM
Why higher taxes??! We need Clinton, or preferably Reagan level spending and yes, Reagan level taxes. I would encourage everyone to watch Larry Kudlow's show on CNBC to understand Supply side economics. Heard of the Laffer curve JimH? The "forever ready to burst into tears " Boehner should learn, given his weak temperament, not to negotiate from a point of weakness. He should offer as an alternative a "Flat Tax" to BO with deep cuts to spending on ponzi schemes like Social Security and Medicare
JimH| 12.13.12 @ 6:44PM
Some people would not recognize irony if it fell on them like an anvil in a road runner cartoon.
BackToBasics| 12.13.12 @ 10:04AM
Boehner grew up in a lower middle class home and started of his House of Rep career as much more conservative than he is now. Now that he is at the top he shows little of this former conservatism. Either the early conservatism was just as false and Goerge Bush's "Read my lips..." pledge or he is afraid and in over his head. Maybe the tears he shows are from a good man who is in over his head. Yet on the other hand with RINOs in control of the top positions in the Republican party I think his surprise win of the speakership after the Tea Party "revolution" in the 2010 election shows that the RINOs knew who he really was at the core and that he is not as conservative as he postured himself to be earlier.
In any case it would be good if he were to be replaced by a real conservative.
ArmyAviator| 12.13.12 @ 10:17AM
Boner is a Washington insider. He bends with the wind and as has been illustrated, is NO Conservative. However, the Republican majority WILL re-elect him as Speaker in January. The rusult will be that Boner will come to an "accommodation" with Obama and TAXES WILL BE RAISED. This in turn, will play directly into the hands of the Liberal Socialist (Democrats) and prove to be the unwinding of the Republican House majority, in 2014. That election cycle will reinstate Liberal Socialist control over the House. Then, the GLOVES will really come off. With the Liberal Socialist Party in complete control of Washington, they will NOT repeat the mistakes of Obama's first two years. What Obama will demand will be rubber-stamped by the Liberal Socialist pawns in Congress. Then, we will REALLY see a Secessionist Movement rise-up in this country. We will begin to see Conservative POLITICIANS embrace the movement and SECESSION may well result. We will have BONER to thank for his "accommodation" that will result in the break-up of our Union.
JimP| 12.13.12 @ 10:32AM
I'd love to call my House Rep and tell him to give Boehner the ax. Unfortunately my Rep is Eric Cantor. My district was gerrymandered since 2010 and now Cantor is my Rep. It was Rob 'The Empty Suit Rubber Stamp for the Rockefellers' Wittman. Somehow I don't see Cantor being willing to step aside from the speakership and vote for someone else, not that Cantor is a conservative. He rushed to cave in after the '08 election. Recall his coauthorship of the GOP listening tour of 2009. The message he and other rock ribbed conservatives McCain and JEB Bush had for voters: ' The Reagan era is dead- long live socialism' Now he's backing Boehner from all I can tell. Any suggestions for another Rep I might call?
rjh| 12.13.12 @ 10:34AM
As a conservative, I am not sure which individual or party to blame for our sad state of affairs.The performance of Bush 1 resulted in Clinton, and Bush 2 gave us obama. It would not bother me if I never saw another mention of any Bush in the news or in any commentary.
TLP| 12.13.12 @ 4:03PM
Contest at Tuesday's Story: More Pants Than Fire.
Look for Pinnochio.
Toinfinityandbeyond| 12.13.12 @ 9:10PM
Contest at Tuesday's Story: More Pants Than Fire.
Look for Pinnochio.
OP4| 12.13.12 @ 11:09AM
I voted for Pete DuPont in the '88 primary and Perot in the '92 general election. Never regretted either.
Who Knows?| 12.13.12 @ 1:10PM
So, you're glad Perot drained votes from Bush, and is THE cause we got Clinton?
Politically Incorrect | 12.13.12 @ 11:23AM
Boehner will still be speaker after the smoke clears.
That being said, every single one of the people on the central comittee now will be facing a Tea Party backed candidate during the primaries including the Speaker.
Some of those people will lose and not be on the ballot. They will pay the price when it goes to the local party polls.
RCV| 12.13.12 @ 11:28AM
Mr. Lord continues to have the fantasy that right-wing Republicans like him have any say in what happens to the GOP. You guys are not running that party. The GOP establishment is. And they could not care less about whether you like Boehner as speaker.
KennesawJack| 12.13.12 @ 1:57PM
Well, at least you got that part right.
jbspry| 12.16.12 @ 1:41AM
You are so right. It is time for conservatives to abandon the party that long ago abandoned them and create their own.
cicero| 12.13.12 @ 11:38AM
The Republicans are running the House he same way they ran their own primaries, and the general election. They don't want anyone to think they are unkind to the opposition. Reading the article clearly shows whom they should have nominated - Gingrich. Instead, the establishment Repubs demonized him, and made him sound like the crazy old uncle in the basement. He was the guy that lead them out of the wilderness, and pushed through all of the Reagan reforms. But, he was not their guy. In reality, the current Rep. party is the Party of GHW Bush. Ginggrich could have handed Obama his rear end in a box, and given the press a backhand, just as he did in the debates.
I am afraid that Newt is too old for another battle in '16. But it is not too late for a Newt look allike to challenge for the Speakership. Let the battle for the soul of the party begin. What ever happened to that Congresswoman from Minnisota? I think her name was Michelle Bachman.
TLP| 12.13.12 @ 4:03PM
Contest at Tuesday's Story: More Pants Than Fire.
Look for Pinnochio.
Toinfinityandbeyond| 12.13.12 @ 9:11PM
Contest at Tuesday's Story: More Pants Than Fire.
Look for Pinnochio.
Who Knows?| 12.13.12 @ 12:01PM
Speaker, speaker, speaker? Wherefore art thou?
Reality TV has nothing on the Kabuki Theater that’s going on in DC. All this concern about Boehner and Obama and their dance is merely “interesting”. Who is the TRUE “speaker” of the American “house”?
For the freedom lovers of America, for going on a quarter of a century, isn’t it obvious that Rush Limbaugh has been the people’s choice? On a daily basis, he is “elected”. And just keep in mind all the “stars” he’s brought us, from Mark Levin to Sean Hannity, et al, as well as giving the BEST seer, Mark Steyn, opportunities to reach millions.
I was an eager listener of Rush years ago, but finally got bored when it sounded too repetitive, and I ALREADY agreed with him. But I gave him a try when the recent election heated up, and was once again hooked.
When Romney lost, I figured I’d just hear what Limbaugh had to say, in defeat, and ended up regularly absorbing his spiel, until yesterday. Then, it was déjà vu, all over again---he’s so boring, and I don’t need to hear myself talking, through him!
Then it hit me---Rush might be having a nervous breakdown. Bear with me.
After believing, with increasing eagerness as the election approached, that Romney would not only win, but blow out Obama, the shock the outcome MUST have provided was at once sobering, AND has taken time to fully absorb.
I think Limbaugh, speaker-of-the-American-freedom-loving-house, finally gets it.
Who Knows?| 12.13.12 @ 12:02PM
Mark Steyn is right, and has always been right: America is toast!
It wouldn’t surprise me if Limbaugh retired, or at least took a LONG vacation. Surely, he NEEDS one, and he has earned it.
Now for the criticism---Limbaugh is far from perfect, and indeed, I would proclaim, he is a personal exemplar of the average American, in oh so many ways.
He is an admitted addict. Why, only the other day he splurged in defense of his nicotine habit, almost crying---oh, please, understand that nicotine is THE MOST ADDICTIVE substance, and so cut me some slack, as I inhale smokeless cigarettes.
And, of course, he’s the typical consumer of “adult beverages” and the Standard American Diet or S.A.D., and we all know how fat he is---but, hey, he CAN still play GOLF!
In short, maybe we can use him as a leading indicator, or a canary in the coal mine, and get ready for the inevitable bursting of the expanding “balloon” that is America, circa 2012.
I am what I am.
And, being what “I am”, each one of us, as well as the society that is the sum of each “I am”, all the words and concerns about the words of so-called “leaders”, whether in DC or on the radio, or wherever, don’t cut it.
It’s not the FALL off the cliff that kills you, it’s the LANDING.
And, gravity ALWAYS wins.
Dust to dust.
TLP| 12.13.12 @ 4:04PM
Contest at Tuesday's Story: More Pants Than Fire.
Look for Pinnochio.
Toinfinityandbeyond| 12.13.12 @ 9:11PM
Contest at Tuesday's Story: More Pants Than Fire.
Look for Pinnochio.
MS34| 12.13.12 @ 1:47PM
Can someone please explain to me why "conservatives" continue to hammer home the notion that lowered tax rates result in higher revenue for the government as if this is this a good thing?!?!?! How is providing more revenue for the government an argument worth making by people who consider themselves champions of limited government?
A real conservative who believed in limited government would be talking about principles, not pragmatics. Income taxation is theft. It turns the individual into a slave by claiming ownership of part of his or her life, liberty and property without consent. If you believe that amending the Constitution suffices as consent, you are a legal positivist, which means you place the primacy of the state over the individual.
An individual has no right to steal, therefore 535 people called "Congress" cannot get together and vote themselves the right to steal and call it taxation. Neither can a group of state republics do the same. Any institution can only legitimately exercise powers possessed by the individuals who comprise it.
If you're making a pragmatic argument about income taxation and negotiating what you consider to be a proper percentage of how much of your life, liberty and property the government has the right to claim, you are a statist, not a conservative.
Russel| 12.13.12 @ 8:42PM
It's too late to wrap my head around your thots , but they are basically what our Founders wrote and enacted . I'd say we need a whole bunch more of Walter E Williams on this site . But then again , we'd all know what he'd say . As for Tim , as much as I respect him and his opinions , I think he needs a vacation . He's going awry and he doesn't even live where the wind blows 25mph every day .
jdondet| 12.13.12 @ 5:37PM
Mr. Lord: You make excellent points with this article. However, ultimately this is a fantasy. The house GOP will not do this. Were they people of spine they would not be so engaged in surrender. I agree there is a good chance of a GOP loss of the house. Running away does not inspire confidence!
Rhoetus| 12.13.12 @ 9:59PM
Rules for Conservatives @
http://www.saveamericanow.us.com
Dobbs| 12.14.12 @ 6:56PM
It’s unbelievable that Republican voters will punish the entire party and subject the nation to socialism on steroids by not voting in 2014. For Heaven’s sakes, just vote Boehner out in his primary election, but then turn out in November! We cannot allow the Dems to control everything again or this nation is burnt toast! Do the heavy lifting now, replace Boehner, hold the House and win back the Senate in 2014!
jbspry| 12.16.12 @ 1:36AM
These clowns need to be reminded - again, and again, and again and again and again - that it is not the voters' duty to be loyal to the party; it is the party's duty to be loyal to the voter. Republican politicians need to get over the notion that they should or even can represent all Americans. They represent their constituents and the principles those constituents elected them to champion. I did not vote for my rep here in South Carolina to promote the interests of the people of Massachusetts or Minnesota; their reps are doing a helluva job at that on their own.
e pearse| 12.16.12 @ 1:00PM
Yes, the risk of being branded again with the "read my lips" syndrome is large. Obama knows it and it is part of his strategy.
The best solution, which avoids the Obama double trap - get branded H. Bush or get blamed for a tanking economy - has been given in the Machiavellian piece "The Fiscal Cliff Sting" at www.AmericasChronicle.com
Not only avoids the double Obama trap but reverses the trap and hooks Obama with the blame.