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The Spectacle Blog
Over at the home page today, I was rather tough on Sen. Mitch McConnell for fighting so hard against a ban on local-interest earmarks. It therefore behooves me to give him credit for reversing course. Just a little while ago on the Senate floor, the Republican Leader from Kentucky announced that he now will support an earmark moratorium. The clip I saw of his statement included his explanation that the ban is sybolically important and that Americans will not trust Congress on bigger issues if Congress is unresponsive on smaller sums such as those involved in earmarks.
Good for Sen. McConnell. Sometimes leadership involves listening and, somewhat ironically, following the lead of others. Done right, this isn’t weakness; it’s the strength of knowing that one need not have ALL the answers in order to do an effective job. Not to sound too Zen-like, but sometimes the subjugation of ego is the best way to assert oneself. And sometimes learning is as important as teaching. Sen. McConnell, wrong as he was for the past few weeks, did not ride his wrongness off a cliff. His change of heart is welcome, and meritorious.
Just over an hour ago, before McConnell switched course, leading earmark opponent Sen. Jim DeMint told a conference call that “If people who voted for it before vote for it again we’ll win it easily… I think we’ve probably got the edge by a vote or two right now….. At this point I think we’re gonna have the votes to win it.” I trust that with McConnell’s switch, the win will be a lot larger. If so, it will mark an excellent first step in conservative reform.
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More Blog Posts by Quin Hillyer
http://spectator.org/blog/2010/11/15/credit-to-sen-mcconnell
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Brad| 11.15.10 @ 2:45PM
What was the saying Ronaldus Magnus liked to use? Something like "It's amazing what we can accomplish if we aren't concerned with who gets the credit." Cheers to Sen. McConnell, and thanks to Mr. Hillyer for exposing the senator's errors.
Oldefarte| 11.15.10 @ 3:02PM
[Ignoring my spelling errors] I'd say that congressional problems do not involve him or earmarks, but rather governmental spending as a whole. Earmarks, though symbolic, are minor in amount to the entirety of wasteful governmental spending of taxpayer-funded revenues as social services/income maintenance of generations of welfare recipients; foreign aid to corrupt dictators re-directing same to their Swiss bank accounts for eventual retirement purposes; military expendatures upon ultra-supersonic airplanes etc when our current enemy are tribal members utilizing roadside bombs; crop destruction payments to wealthy farmers when some of our citizens/children are malnourished/starving;etc. IMHO, our governmental budgets could/should be slashed 20-30% easily [and in the process re-directing governmental monies to those domestic areas most deserving], if our political leaders would begin to act like statesmen/true public servants [instead of drunken savages with stolen credit cards]!!!!!!!!!!
Margie| 11.15.10 @ 3:19PM
"..his explanation that the ban is sybolically important and that Americans will not trust Congress on bigger issues if Congress is unresponsive on smaller sums such as those involved in earmarks."
Yes! Thank you, Sen. McConnell, you DO get it, after all. I'm very happy with your stance. After all:
"He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much." Lk. 16:10.
Thanks again, and a word of advice: Stick to yer guns! :^)
darcy| 11.15.10 @ 8:09PM
Margie wrote:
"He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much." Lk. 16:10.
I thought of this, too, first thing, when I heard the news.
McConnell has just risen several points in my estimation of him. I am watching very closely how this new Republican mix will hew to conservative principles; it is promising to learn that step one has been forward and not backward.
Margie| 11.15.10 @ 10:51PM
Honestly darcy, I've always liked and respected Mitch McConnell. I used to watch C-Span t.v. frequently back in the 90's when I started listening to Rush and as I call it, becoming "politically aware", and did so in order to see where these guys stood on issues, and to check out their characters. That's where I got to "know" him, so I'm glad he's going to keep his word. Now more than ever the Republicans that we elect know they are being watched.. more than ever, and that's a good thing.
Tim*| 11.15.10 @ 4:42PM
" McConnell caves, will support DeMint’s ban on earmarks.
Last week he was “quietly campaigning” against it, today he’s suddenly seen the light. Why the change? Well, for starters, DeMint now thinks he has enough votes to pass the resolution in tomorrow’s caucus meeting. The last thing McConnell needs at the start of a new term is an embarrassing defeat, especially with Tom Coburn hint-hinting that earmark supporters should be primaried and with rumors forever swirling that DeMint might challenge McConnell for majority leader."
darcy| 11.15.10 @ 8:12PM
Earmark supporters should be primaried, as even I suggested several days ago (on another site) regarding Kyl who was less than certain in his public comments on how he would vote.
And here in AZ, I have just the man in mind: Jesse Kelly.
serfer62| 11.15.10 @ 8:15PM
Yes it is symbolic and so is the black panthers case BUT both need to go on.
.
But what next grahm reacing across the isle to the GOP?
bluecollarbytes| 11.15.10 @ 8:52PM
What exactly does "earmark moratorium" mean? Regardless of the calculation that moved McConnell to switch positions, his preferred MO as well as the MO of other comfortable Republicans, are still the same as they ever were.
It remains to be seen what wins out- comfortable Republicans content with maintaining personal power, or the newly-elected rebels.
Tim*| 11.15.10 @ 11:44PM
"Congress returned Monday to a tumultuous political landscape, with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell conceding to a top demand of the tea party movement by endorsing a ban on earmarks.
McConnell, a master of purveying federal pork for his home state of Kentucky, had stood firm in his defense of the practice. But an insurgent group of conservatives led by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) had rallied enough senators to defeat McConnell if the issue came to a vote.
With just two GOP senators on the record in support of McConnell's position, the minority leader announced his reversal on the Senate floor moments after the chamber was gaveled into session after the midterm-election break. "
hsr0601| 11.17.10 @ 11:27AM
The SHAMELESS reps' principal : No principal & power-only !
1. Anti-DISCLOSE Act VS. Pro-Earmark Ban
It is apparent that the largest form of wasteful spending can arise from the Shadowy Campaign Money offered by the greedy interest group.
2. The reps & jobs
a. Even when the economy was on the cusp of entire collapse just like Lehman Brothers ahead of the roll-out of stimulus package, it was held hostage by Audacity of Nope, and the time was running out.
Power first said : Nope ! How do we pay for it ?, Just let him go under exactly like Lehman Brothers.
b. It is also important to remember a small business bill that was blocked for weeks by a republican filibuster in the Senate.
c. Power first now says without hesitation : Extend the tax cuts for the greedy until we’re out of this recession, or for the job creation.
Under the failed Bush tax cut for lavish bonus parties, a sole job plan for the reps, the country already saw millions of job cuts.
And hence it's the right time to ask themselves as to how they can pay for it.
d. Jobs ahead in another Bush era ( = Entire Downfall ) ??
I think D.S. is going to realize vividly how Bush era wrecked economy.
3. The reps campaigned on their ability to cut spending and balance the budget, so they should be required to make good on that pledge.
But, the Bush tax cut for the greedy will add an additional $700 billion to the deficit over a decade.
As for the Democrats, sound investments = deficit hike.
As for the reps, failed giveaway policy = job creation.
4. Over the duration of healthcare debate, using the preliminary cost analysis of CBO, the reps opposed the public option stubbornly, but after the release of final score, they have been defiant on the referee.
Inaction cost in relation to health care reform totals $9trillion over the next decade.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that reform will reduce the federal deficit by $143 billion over the next 10 years and as much as $1 trillion during the following decade
5. In view of Medicare & Social Security :
“Don't Let Government Touch Your Medicare & Social Security”
“We will instead Stomp On Your Medicare & Social Security”