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Obama’s Labor Department Shakes Down AP
June 6, 2013 | 1 comment
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Leftists Off-Message: Liberal Think Tank Praises Maggie Thatcher
April 11, 2013 | 0 comments
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Obama’s Gun-Grabbing Judge Nominee Implodes
March 28, 2013 | 1 comment
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Obama’s Radical, Tasteless Defilement of 9/11
September 9, 2011 | 5 comments
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Vadum vs Thom Hartmann on Registering the Poor to Vote (Cloward-Piven Strategy)
September 8, 2011 | 3 comments
The Spectacle Blog
Republicans need to grow some cojones.
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives just voted to approve the colossally awful cave-in of a debt ceiling deal. They accept the Obama-manufactured lie that the U.S. government is in imminent danger of defaulting on its financial obligations.
They don’t seem to care that voters sent an unmistakable signal in November 2010. Voters made it abundantly clear that they want the federal government to end the reckless spend-a-thon that began under Bush and intensified under Obama and the previous Democratic Congress.
Yet Republicans keep fumbling the ball. After all the hype, Speaker Boehner hasn’t actually cut any spending. He talks a good game but really he hasn’t even tried.
And the debt ceiling talks are a national embarrassment.
These politicians want to create a “Super Congress” that would resolve the debt ceiling issue. This newly proposed body, of questionable constitutionality, is an abomination. Americans elect lawmakers to Congress so they can make decisions about spending. They don’t elect them to punt by creating a bizarre new legislative creature.
Even Republicans’ offer to increase the debt limit, spending, and at least implicitly, taxes, makes no sense.
If President Obama and the Democrats who control the Senate want to increase spending and the Republicans who (overwhelmingly) control the House want to decrease spending, the logical compromise, at least at first glance, is to do neither.
The simplest solution, which doesn’t even seem to have been discussed, would be to freeze federal spending through the next election. This is far from ideal, of course, but then the two parties could slug it out in the 2012 election and let the voters decide which course to take.
But House Republicans, under the so-called leadership of Speaker Boehner, don’t seem to actually want to reduce government spending.
Are they, deep down, committed to limiting government, but gun-shy after Republicans were (unfairly) blamed for the government shutdown in 1995? Or do they just not care?
That’s what it boils down to.
The American people are angry and restless right now. They want the country to start moving in the right direction. They’re pissed off that Congress isn’t listening to them and rightly so. Come election time, they will be out for blood, and I have a terrible feeling it won’t be the Democrats who get punished. The Democrats have a loyal base of parasites, low information voters, and entitlemaniacs who will vote for them no matter what.
It’s not the same with the Republicans. Right now the Republican coalition is much more fragile. Republicans cannot take Tea Party support for granted next year.
If Republicans keep doing what they’re doing, the Grand Old Party will cease to exist and Republicans will only have themselves to blame.
View all comments (70) | Leave a comment
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Occam's Tool| 7.29.11 @ 7:26PM
Yes, but Minnesota's mighty Cravaack and Bachmann voted AGAINST!
Bachmann for President!
Michael L. Hauschild| 7.29.11 @ 10:22PM
Boehner’s raising the debt ceiling 2.5 trillions, is in effect, earmarking Obama all that money as a campaign chest for 2012. His “cuts” translate to increasing the debt 9.1 trillion. The measure of his treachery is that dropped the vote count of Cut, Cap, and Balance’s 234 to his “selling out of America’s Boehnhead 3.0” tally of 218.
He placed the tax burden on your children and grandchildren 725 billion for each one of those votes that he actually lost. Furthermore, now the democrats get to compromise against his benchmark. The malfeasance of the House leadership is matched only by the Marxist treachery of the WH. The only one’s to stand strong are the 16.
His treachery will last forever, Boehnhead 3.0 lasted exactly two hours.
Alan Brooks| 7.29.11 @ 11:15PM
we are more broke than any nation has ever been, but you quibble?
simon templar| 7.29.11 @ 11:36PM
What do you think we should do about the brokeness now that it is damn near irrepairable? At this point, I really could care less as to whom to blame. I am surprised however that you even admit that we are more broke than any other nation in history, to be honest.
John Navratil| 7.31.11 @ 8:48AM
Alan Brooks,
Perhaps you should look at the national debt in 1946 before you make such a statement. While it was lower in constant dollars it was higher as a percent of GDP, at 121%. Today it's 93%. The low point occurred in 1974 (33%) when the "1974 Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act" basically mandated that if Congress authorized it, the Executive had to spend it and the deficits began.
Wayne | 7.29.11 @ 7:31PM
Oh, we are use to it. That is why we don't trust the GOP. They see that huge accumulation of power and they want it for themselves.
The problem comes not from Obama or the Democrats. It comes from the Tea Party. They stand on principal, so they are hard to bribe or intimidate. So the GOP had to let them be the fall guys. Well I say bring it on, blame the Tea Party, and see what havoc we can create in 2012. It has just begun.
Clint.| 7.29.11 @ 7:47PM
Dr.Ron Paul Says Boehner's Plan Is Not Real & Posturing. Boehner Could Have, At least Froze Spending, But Boehner Didn't. Dr. Ron Paul Votes A Big "NO".
We Tea Party Patriots Declare War On The GOP Ruling Elite Fops.
. "Tulta munille!" (Fire at their balls!)"
danny| 7.29.11 @ 10:51PM
Clint, I would, but they don't have any.
darcy| 7.29.11 @ 7:49PM
My thoughts exactly, Mr. Vadum. Thank you for stating them so succinctly.
Clint.| 7.29.11 @ 7:49PM
I Forgot, The GOP Ruling Elite Fops Ain't Got Em.
Carry On.
C Bowen| 7.29.11 @ 8:00PM
The Federal Reserve holds $1.6 trillion in debt which they could just erase...if depriving their Wall Street buddies of commissions and interest payments from the tax payers.
That was the answer, the compromise.
The entire charade we all just witnessed was to cover up this reality.
Hopefully, enough is enough.
darcy| 7.30.11 @ 5:53AM
As many may not know, there is nothing Federal about the Federal Reserve -- not any more than Federal Express is an arm of the federal government. The Federal Reserve is a private bank, created by Congress. And you are absolutely correct, C Bowen, it has all been a charade, every bit of this debt-ceiling crisis; the only thing is, the buddies are more than mere buddies. Could be that they're actually the ones calling the shots and using their Washington "friends" to achieve their aims.
lorne| 7.29.11 @ 8:02PM
On to scene 3. This is great reality tv, it must have taken a long time for the reps and dems to write this script. A great piece of fiction.
CalMark| 7.29.11 @ 8:02PM
This is one of the most monumental political betrayals of a party's base, ever. In recorded history.
Never, never, NEVER has there been a political party as treacherous and contemptible as the GOP, that openly sneers at its core constituency while demanding their support.
God save America. That's what it'll take.
Interested Conservative| 7.29.11 @ 8:03PM
Well, at least Speaker Boehner is setting up three choices:
1 - The POTUS/Senate get the ceiling increase at the price of sending the BBA to the states;
2 - No BBA, and the ceiling issue gets replayed once of twice again next year, as a campaign issue.
3 - None of the above, economy slumps, bumbling all around, unfocused forced and ad hoc austerity.
I see a combination of 1 or 2, and a lot of 3. I don't share Mr. Vadum's passion largely because it probably doesn't matter - events will likely overtake whatever plans or actions the GOP could have taken anyway.
The 2012 campaign will force a choice between austerity or steps to extreme inflation - economic punishment in either case, wealth destruction by the Democrats or shrinking govt. by the GOP.
Matthew Vadum | 7.29.11 @ 8:25PM
You could be right, Interested Conservative. I fear things may be too far gone already. Chaos and upheaval are on the horizon.
USSAlabama| 7.29.11 @ 10:05PM
We in this country have lost all faith in politicians and the government system.
Right now, we are willing to take the hit to cut back on government spending. RIGHT NOW.
We WILL be replacing the ruling class Washington elite. Not just in the next election, but in elections to come.
Yes, it will be bad. MOST voters know what a huge cut-back will entail. Yet we are willing. And we will be voting those convictions.
Have you considered| 7.30.11 @ 6:51AM
USSAlabama, I'm not sure I have your faith that "We WILL be replacing" them.
Sshheesh, even the Tea Party Nation came out to say that "no, we won't primary these defectors"
I actually never liked Allen West, as I thought he was a neocon through and through. And say what you will about defense, but believe me our founders did not contemplate nation building as national defense.
Do you really believe that they had just fought a revolutionary war with the intent to tax US Citizens so they could build a different nation than our own?
I am an accountant, so I can do the math on votes, but I do now believe it is time for a 3rd party to replace the GOP.
Everybody will scream that "this will elect Democrats" Well....what difference does that truly make? None that I can see.
USSAlabama| 7.30.11 @ 9:16AM
I'm with you on nation-building. Likewise the 'spreading of democracy'. Not our job.
I think there will be a replacing taking hold in elections to come as the majority of Americans feel that the system is broken. Not just current Tea Party members/sympathizers.
People feel responsible to do something about that; because enough is just *enough!*
As for a third party - something will replace the GOP. Could be from with-inside much as Progressives have infiltrated the Dem or it could start as a 3rd party.
The people have had enough!
USSAlabama| 7.30.11 @ 9:49AM
Rasmussen:
Obama: Strongly Approve: 23%.. Strongly Disapprove 44%... Approval Index: -21... Total Approval: 44%... http://t.co/qP5p8FF
Voter approval of the job Congress is doing has fallen to a new low - for the second month in a row. http://www.rasmussenreports.co.....erformance
9th ID| 7.30.11 @ 10:45AM
Right, if the GOP could replace the Whigs, then the precedent is already in place to replace the GOP...
hoads| 7.29.11 @ 8:30PM
Well, I think I finally believe everything in an article I read years ago but tossed aside as conspiracy theory. Both parties just play off one another because it really is "each man for himself" in DC. Our politicians are either beholden to big business, globalists, political activists , uber wealthy individuals, etc. (in other words--the highest bidders) or they are jumping through hoops to keep their skeletons in the closet.
"Taking the Red Pill: The Real Matrix"
http://www.newswithviews.com/Yates/steven.htm
e cowan| 7.29.11 @ 8:41PM
"After all the hype, Speaker Boehner hasn't actually cut any spending. He talks a good game but really he hasn't even tried.
And the debt ceiling talks are a national embarrassment.
These politicians want to create a "Super Congress" that would resolve the debt ceiling issue. This newly proposed body, of questionable constitutionality, is an abomination. Americans elect lawmakers to Congress so they can make decisions about spending. They don't elect them to punt by creating a bizarre new legislative creature.''
A RINO will always act like a RINO.
I have had enough of them!
David W| 7.29.11 @ 9:07PM
Until we can get the RINOs (like McCain) and the GOP establishment elite out of power we will continue to have this crap.
Andy Texan | 7.29.11 @ 9:17PM
Bachmann for President! Bonehead Boehner for the ash-heap of history.
WL| 7.29.11 @ 9:18PM
It's all part of the game folks...I hate to say it, but even if we were to get the GOP to a majority in all three governing bodies (House, Senate, Executive)...(supremes aside, of course).....they would just find a way to really take a swing at things only to take a dive in the 13th round...they have done it for 20 years and will continue..... You know...he may have had his reasons...but one of the most troubling things about all of this was watching Mr. Allen West. Again, he may have had his reasons but it sure seems like something got to him and he started the "tea party are schizo" talk pretty fast...especially right after the Debbie Downer episode....boy oh boy...
These guys must really have some incriminating photos that they are threatened with just outside of town by guys in sunglasses just when it gets hot in the fight....
I just hope Mr. West doesn't have any photos in an Tiger Outfit like WU!!! I still have hope for him.
Teflon93 | 7.29.11 @ 9:34PM
Finally, somebody at AmSpec besides Jeffrey Lord who gets it!
George S| 7.29.11 @ 9:51PM
Dear Speaker Boehner:
Last November, you were made Speaker of the House. By default. We were voting only with the intent to stop the Obama agenda and you were the only girls available to dance with. But make no mistake: you are not attractive to us and at no time in our sober state of mind would we ever come near you. But you served a higher purpose; don't read too much into appeal for it never existed. And now you prance around shrieking "You Really Love Me" and act as if you are stuck up lookers, and think you can piss all over us as you turn your attention to Democrats and the media who always said you were pretty -- just to have their way with you.
However, in 2012 your ugly asses will not get our attention again. There will be plenty of fish in the sea. Enjoy it while you can.
danny| 7.29.11 @ 11:02PM
Wrong, George. They will get our attention again, but it won't be the kind of attention they want.
irish19| 7.30.11 @ 12:43PM
You really need to learn not to hold back. Just say what you feel.
PCP Smoker| 7.29.11 @ 10:03PM
Finally, an AS writer not on the nuts of the RINOs. Following this failure, we'll get the next version of the "it's far from perfect" bill. Grab the ankles, here it comes again.
Stevie D| 7.29.11 @ 10:37PM
Actually, it was a quite mistakable signal. Only absolute item one can take from November is the country didn't care much for the Democrats.
I've seen salesmen before who have wit, charisma, intelligence, right on down the list, but they never quite succeed in their field. Their problem is the necessity of their product to solve their prospects problem is self evident. And if the prospect does not see it that way, well, the salesman's intelligence and wit tend to become the tools of his own demise.
I agree that the solution to the situation is rather self evident. The voters will have only shown they believe so after 2012. And if that is the case, great. Until then remember we are the party that sees things for the way they are (two thirds of elective government controlled by the liberal party), and not the party that sees things the way we wish they would be.
John Roberts | 7.29.11 @ 10:38PM
hip hip hooray hip hip hooray...someone on Am Spec comes around to reality outside D.C. reality. There is no Republican party in 2012 if 20% of their 2010 voters desert over the further nonsense of only minimal cuts to increases in spending, repeat CUTTING the amount of INCREASES in spending.
John Roberts | 7.29.11 @ 10:44PM
Connie Mack has a real plan that makes sense in his penny plan. Cut 1% of spending each year for 6 years and debt solved. Ron Paul would go along with this, I believe, and he is the greatest economist in the entire Congress. This plan will win the 2012 elections, and if not then we know already we can never win with 47% of adults not paying any income tax already and we can make plan B, Aruba or rebellion?
Michael L. Hauschild| 7.29.11 @ 11:26PM
Well let’s summarize the latest bout of delusional treachery by the Boehnhead. I will try to word this in third grade syntax for the small “r” republicans (the blasphemous chazir who worship the Golden RINO) and the big “R” republicans (Cap Key Imbeciles).
Boehner gave Obama his debt ceiling campaign earmark of 2.5 trillion and lifted from him any debate as to responsibility of the impending economics disaster. Then it turns out that the speaker's “cuts” are typical Bohener “cuts,” actually 9.1 trillion in debt increases. Next he was inept at reading his contingent in the house; first he capitulated (with himself) so much that he lost sixteen votes with Boehnhead 3.0, dear Lord, this clown cannot even count to 218, much less deal with a deficit economy involving trillions. About that count, when he mumbled, “get your ass in line” everyone thought he said “my ass has tan lines.” His next bout with dementia was trying to comprehend that Tea Party freshman had actually made promises that they intended to keep (what a concept that). To save face he then, almost as an afterthought, “threw in” a balanced budget footnote, a addendum that Harry and the WH will dismiss without so much as one word of debate. (He has spent more time replacing divots with the boy wonder than speaking of the BBA).
Now are you ready for this, please sit down; all the hoopla, all the angst, all the twisting of arms; he then actually lost sixteen votes from the 234 tally of CCB (that, my friends, is three quarters of a billion dollars per lost vote, 9.1 trillion accounting gimmick debt increase plus the 2.5 trillion for Obama’s election chest), this produced a bill that did not last two hours.
Well there you have it folks, the Republican benchmark. That smoke rising from Renaldus’s grave is from the friction of his spinning at 25,000 rpm. Stay tuned for tomorrow: when the elite of the elite saboteurs will usurp the Constitution and form some panel, gang, or commission of their finest.
simon templar| 7.29.11 @ 11:29PM
It is pretty clear what this was all about. It was about discrediting and smearing the Tea Party and its newly elected candidates with that vast swath of voters they call the independents and the uninformed and programmable electorate. It was a grand show and attempt to pin the blame on the Tea Party Elephant. The GOP establishment has the most too lose...and they have been trying to get this new movement off its back just as it done several times this last century when conservatives rose up to take control of the party and the national debate. They have no intention of doing anything other than what they always have done and never will no matter what the circumstances are.
Wayne | 7.30.11 @ 1:59PM
It well could backfire too. I am seeing the tea party getting re-energized. This will come up once again soon with the 2012 budget. We will again see Boehner cave and accept a pittance in cuts. Its time to go after many regular GOP reps (like Walden in Oregon) who just vote with the establishment while they cater to the Tea Party.
simon templar| 7.29.11 @ 11:39PM
Vadum, they (the GOP establishment) do not see themselves signing their warrant but rather that of the Tea Party and conservativism in general.
Oldbull| 7.30.11 @ 7:09AM
Shakespeare described this comment thread well when he wrote, "A tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury and signifying nothing." I haven't seen one actionable idea on this entire thread, just a lot of huffing and puffing and chest-beating. Nothing, I repeat, nothing acceptable to you people ever stood a snowball's chance in Hell of getting past the Senate. So what's your solution now? And please, don't tell me Cut, Cap, and Balance. That didn't get past the Senate coffee table, did it? Especially the "Balance" part. Have you actually read the requirements for amending the Constitution? Do you have 2/3rds of the Senate? Do you have 75% of the state legislatures? Then what good is the precious BBA, when it won't be enacted for, oh, ten years or more? Really, people, governing is about politics, and politics is about compromise. It has been ever thus in this country, and it will continue to be.
C Bowen| 7.30.11 @ 8:09AM
Read closer, Oldbull.
The Congress can instruct the Federal Reserve to tear up $1.7 trillion in debt they hold. This would create plenty of time to put budgets together.
This entire political charade is to ensure the people are betrayed to the Wall Street debt machine that counts on commissions and interest payments from the American tax payer.
axbucxdu| 7.30.11 @ 11:13AM
"...This entire political charade is to ensure the people are betrayed to the Wall Street debt machine that counts on commissions and interest payments from the American tax payer."
Quite simple, isn't it? Primary dealers my ass, they primarily need to be thrown into the pit.
Waaah, waaah, this is uncharted territory...these privileged bankers, these subhumans, sicken me.
If the idiotic House leadership would just sit on its hands, instead of trying to save the day for bambi, these gbangsters along with the whole prog edifice would come crashing down without so much as a bang but a whimper.
C Bowen| 7.30.11 @ 6:17PM
Lets not sugar coat it. They'll bring the market, in this case the stock market, down as a threat--it will be nasty like it was in '08 when TARP was muscled through--they understand timing.
It might sound strange, internet stranger, but the under-40 crowd sees the writing on the wall, where the over 40 crowd maintain a run out the lock mindset. Abortion, divorce, Affirmative Action, Feminism, public school...they threw everything they could at us to break our spirits, but what they didn't count on is that we would cease to care, that we harden our spirits and say, now, on our watch.
The default is coming next week, a few years, even a decade, from now. Lets do this now. On our watch.
For all her many warts, we actually love this damned country and refuse to kick the can to another generation.
axbucxdu| 7.30.11 @ 8:10PM
The only thing I disagree with above is that not all of us over 40 (Obama's age) are blind to the writing on the wall. Growing up immediately behind the baby boom hippies and frequently caught in their social and economic jet wash gives one perspective.
Even as a kid, I could see they were trouble. My oh my, and he we are...all grown up and at the time tested and logical conclusion to all their save the world on other people's money nonsense: bankruptcy. And we're all supposed to await another election so that the RETHUGS can ride up over the hill to save us all.
JP| 7.30.11 @ 8:21AM
"Really, people, governing is about politics, and politics is about compromise. It has been ever thus in this country, and it will continue to be."
Yes Really, Old Bull. You are blissfully unaware that niether Reid nor Obama ever put to paper thier own plans. One cannot compromise without something to compromise with.
Ried will not allow Cloture, and announce the House Plan DOA. He and the President will beat thier chests and yodel manfully. They will sniff disgustingly at the House while they announce to voters Boehner refuses to compromise. And people like you will say, "Right On, brother!!!"
If I was Boehner, I would announce that it is over. Either the Senate and the President accept one of the 6 House proposals, or be prepared to default. Game over.
R Martin| 7.30.11 @ 8:43AM
Your post is now part of the thread, so what does that make you--in Mr. Shakespear's terms? It also contains nothing, nothing but huffing and puffing and suggests a solution can be found in the leftist buzzword compromise, i.e. give Obama exactly what he wants.
Saying "no" is indeed an actionable strategy. It is drawing a line in the sand and an acknowledgement that politics, which got us into the fiscal/debt mess, is unlikely to get us out--at least considering the politicians in place.
"Ever" is a long time and sufficient, I suspect, to prove you wrong.
RayH| 7.30.11 @ 9:01AM
Wake up people. No one is as stupid and/or incompetent as the RINOs are given credit for.
Let's just face the fact that they love big, expanding government as much as the Left does and that they do what they do to try to hide that fact from the voters.
I would submit that it's long past time that we stopped giving them the benefit of the increasingly non-existent doubt and admit the truth. Namely that the Republican party is as much a part of the problem as the Democrat party.
Teflon93 | 7.30.11 @ 9:25AM
That was certainly the lesson of the Gingrich Congress post-95 and even more so the experience of the 00's to 2006, aka the RINO interregnum.
Conservatives have a stark choice---take back the Republican Party by toppling Boehner and his leadership now or go all in with the Tea Party. There is no alternative given the constant treachery and incompetence of the RINOs.
Tenn Slim| 7.30.11 @ 9:33AM
"Conservatives have a stark choice---take back the Republican Party by toppling Boehner and his leadership now or go all in with the Tea Party.
Agree. The RHINOS vs T party 2010 electees.
The 2012 elections may well be the final nail in the Cloward Piven Socialistic Coffin, designed for you and me.
Semper Fi
They Lie| 7.30.11 @ 11:02AM
Pat Buchannan was way ahead of us 20 years ago, when he abandoned the Republican Party and stated that there was not a nickle's worth of difference between the two parties. He was exactly right. It is time to acknowledge that the two party system is corrupt to the core and it's time for the tea party to become the third party. The time will never be better than the present. In fact, there may not be enough time left. The Republican party has never liked conservatives. They use us like a cheap whore to contribute our time and money and votes and then tell us to disappear until they need us to help keep them in power. I can't believe how stupid we are. And it sure didn't take Allen West long to sell us out.
simon templar| 7.30.11 @ 11:18AM
I agree totally and that time may just come when it is the only option left. What really needs to be done here is the taking back of the party by conservatives and the removal of the betrayors. Our founding fathers did not like multiple party systems for various wise reasons. They knew something about politics and human nature. Often when you break away and start anew, you bring the same devils with you. In a short time your new group suffers the same maladies as the old group. These devils must be confronted by good men with resolve and the relentless pursuit of the truth..no retreating on the truth..and they must be purged out the body.
simon templar| 7.30.11 @ 11:07AM
Let me tell you a secret about warfare. There are times when you may lose but you actually win. The issue here was not whether we got what we wanted or this bill contained this or that, or everyone was in agreement, or whether we had enough or did not have enough legislative and government power to get it done. The real issue and aim is to play the game (the conflict) smart and use it as an opportunity to change the perceptions and nature of the game. This is exactly what the RINO's and establishment GOP failed to do. The objective should have been to break out of being played by the Dems and regaining control of the narrative not the outcome. Listen and listen carefully, conservatives. They key is the narrative. The Left has known this from the beginning. Do you understand?
Otherwise, you are playing their game and its rigged.....
Wayne | 7.30.11 @ 1:56PM
You are correct, and much of that narrative is semantics, whether it is gay marriage (an oxymoron), compromise (after the original terms are already a compromise), calling tea party members extremists on the right. Control the language, control the debate.
JASmius | 7.30.11 @ 2:11PM
Pardon me, Matt, but have you lost your mind? Whatever happened to the {ahem} adult recognition that, to quote Otto Von Bismarck, "politics is the art of the possible"? You call the Boehner plan "colossally awful," but that's what compromises usually look like. And in a time of divided government, compromises are inevitable if actually mature governing is ever to take place.
You also seem to be forgetting just a week ago, when Obama d0uble-crossed the Speaker by sneaking in last-minute demands for more and bigger tax increases that were clearly designed to scotch any genuinely bipartisan debt ceiling accord, and Boehner walked away rather than cave. Indeed, you seem to think that from the narrow platform of one house of Congress, the GOP should be able to, in the words of Daniel Webster to President John Tyler, "drive [the Dems] before me". Sorry, pal, but it doesn't work that way when the other side has the Senate and the White House. I wish it did, but it doesn't. And that's the world our party has to live in, at least until 2013.
And frankly, if the Tea Party is so moronically hidebound that it is willing to commit ideological suicide by handing the keys to an undivided kingdom back to Red Barry, Dirty Harry, and Crazy Nancy all because the Cryin' Man isn't sufficiently "pure" for their delusionally unrealistic tastes, then TPers deserve the marginalization and political irrelevance to which they will be condemning themselves and the United States of America.
Here's a parting thought: Why can't our grassroots emulate Donk loyalty? Hmmm?
Matthew Vadum | 7.30.11 @ 3:44PM
Such whining from people like JASmius. What a tedious, thoughtless reply.
No matter what the House sent to the Senate, the Senate would have rejected it. The House should have sent over a strong bill, allowed it to get rejected by the Senate, and then negotiate. Boehner undermined his own bargaining position by caving so soon. He should be ousted as Speaker (dare to dream).
Oldefarte| 7.30.11 @ 2:16PM
It's simple, but probably not for some of these idiot tea partiers here. 1/3, get it? To repeat, 1/3. That's how much of government that is EFFECTIVELY CONTROLLED by Republicans, while Democrats control the other 2/3. Any why is that? Partially because of bonehead tea partiers who can distinguish between an ELEPHANT and a JACKASS, and the politicaly philosophies of the two. Until Republicans control a minium of 51%, they are the minority, political effectiveness speaking. Duh, what morons! These tea partiers obviously can't count, and reason that because they overturned congress in 2010 and converted the House from being Democrat controlled to be Republican so, that that translated in to a total victory. These idiots don't understand that 1/3/33% does NOT equal 3/3 [which equals 1 or 100%]. They don't understand that Reid, Pilosi, Durbin, Obama, Clyburn etc control the government still; and that until/if more Republicans are elected next year, that this situation will not change. As to the issue of raising the debt ceiling, it does not [as stated] have to be raised, and if not, the administration of the government simply has to priortize it available spending dollars if the ceiling is not raised. The funny thing that these bubbas don't comprehend is that El Chosne One and his political domestic terrorists are in charge of deciding who/what gets paid with these limited federal funds [if they wish to pay their constituents' welfare payments and not pay say SS recipients or the military service members, then the latter will be excrement out of luck no doubt]. In a perfect world, the government's administrators would rationally decide on a priority basis who/what to pay, and the remainder [non or less essential] would not be paid by the government; but we're talking radical, street merchants from Chicago' s south side here so you can throw rationalization out of the window]. Once again, THANKS TEA PARTIERS FOR YOUR STUPIDITY IN GUARANTEEING A DEMOCRATIC PARTY VICTORY FROM THIS DEBT FIGHT!!!!!!!
axbucxdu| 7.30.11 @ 2:52PM
Now the defenders are divining Bismarck. Art of the possible means recognizing that intelligently managed control of the House is sufficient to obtain a conservative solution. That's the trouble with the "oh woe is us we've only got the House" argument. It squanders that leverage, hard earned I might add, not by RETHUGS, but by those hidebound morons, the Tea Party .
Yes by all means, compromise, so that RETHUGS can truly change things in 2013, and if not then, then they'll really really change things in the election after that, and so on and so on. Loyalty is demanded so that RINO mountebanks may continue to fiddle...
The only morons are the RETHUGS that think the next time the results of go-along to get along will be different.
Oldefarte| 7.30.11 @ 3:30PM
HAVE A NICE NICE DAY!!!!!!!!:
How many tea party patriots does it take to change a lightbulb? Ten million and five: One to go to Wal-Mart and buy a lightbulb (and a gun because he’s going to the store anyway), one to scoff at global climate change, one to draw a rally poster making fun of Al Gore, one to complain about the socialist conspiracy to bring light to all Americans, one to change the bulb, and 10 million to sit in the dark even though the light is on.
“Knock, knock.” “Who’s there?” “A communist-fascist dictator.” “That’s impossible — communism and fascism are at opposite ends of the philosophical spectrum.” “You’re supposed to say ‘a communist-fascist dictator who.’” “Fine. A communist-fascist dictator who?” “Oh, never mind. You’ve ruined the joke. I’ll go next door to the tea party patriot’s house.”
What do Fox News and pâté have in common? They’re both popular with crackers.
Did you hear about the new e-Beck from Amazon? When you click “download” it whines about socialism for an hour and then breaks into tears.
What’s the difference between Cinemax After Dark and a tea bag convention? One’s a show about people who are agitated over stimulus packages and the other is a group of people with their mouths full of balls.
Why did the tea party patriot miss the anti-tax meeting? She was too busy driving on taxpayer-funded roads, sending her kids to public school, living in a safe neighborhood, drinking clean water, breathing clean air, enjoying public parks, using public lands, buying safe products, eating inspected food, and enjoying countless other services funded by tax dollars, but this isn’t shaping up like much of a punch line, so let’s say she ate so many bologna and cheese Hot Pockets that she was too fat to fit into the public library meeting room.
Why did the tea party militia fail to stop the spread of socialism? Because they forgot to write “Ready, Aim, Fire!” on the palms of their hands.
Why couldn’t the tea party patriot afford to go to the NRA rally? Because he spent all his money buying unlicensed guns at the flea market.
What’s the difference between Tiger Woods and a tea party patriot? One’s a half-black linksman with ass on his mind and the other’s a half-assed thinksman with blacks on his mind.
A liberal, a conservative and a tea party patriot appear on “Good Morning America.” George Stuffenenvelopes asks them how they’d solve the economic crisis. The liberal says, “We should tax the rich and provide health care for all.” The conservative says, “We should cut taxes on the rich and run up huge deficits on endless wars.” The tea party patriot says, “We should neither tax nor borrow nor spend. We should drill, baby, drill before the Nazi death panelists take away our freedom and destroy the nation. Abortion! Terrorism! Ditto! Git-R-Done! Obamanation! Freedom! Pit bull! Dale Earnhardt!” Noticing that the conservative has been violently twisting the tea party patriot’s nipples, George Snuffleuppegus says, “What’s going on?” The conservative says, “Oh, sorry about that. I was just tuning my AM radio.”
Mankind finally destroys the planet, and Sarah Palin, John Yarmuth and Barack Obama all arrive at the pearly gates at the same time. When Palin steps forward, St. Peter says, “I’m sorry, ma’am. This will probably come as a shock to you: No Christians are allowed in heaven.” Yarmuth steps forward and says, “What about me? I’m not a Christian.” St. Peter says, “Sorry, sir, no Americans are allowed either. The Lord has ruled that absolutely no Christians and no Americans are allowed into the kingdom of heaven.” And Barack Obama goes, “SWEET!”
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and a tea party patriot walk into a bar. The bartender says, “I’m surprised to see you guys together!” The tea party patriot says, “Why are you surprised? All of my beliefs are based on the principles of the Founding Fathers!” Jefferson says, “Indeed, I wrote, ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal’ while schtupping my slaves.” Washington says, “I too was a slaveholder. And as ‘father of our country,’ I led the military against my own citizens in the Whiskey Rebellion because they refused to pay taxes.” And Franklin says, “Yeah, I pretended to be a Puritan, yet rarely attended church and fathered an illegitimate son.” The bartender says, “So what you have in common is that you’re all hypocrites?” “No,” says Franklin. “What we have in common is that we’re all living in the 18th century.”
Herb Tarlek| 7.30.11 @ 5:38PM
Your a genius man, the best post I ever read on this site. Way better than the real Oldfarte. My favorite was the Fox news & pate one. The conservative tuning his radio was pretty good too.
Here is how this is going to play out. No agreement will come from congress. The "Kenyan Muslim Communist" (did I get that right Ken?) will be forced to try & use the 14th, Rush & the dittos (entire Republican party) will challenge in court & probably impeach because that is what they do. Joe Sixpack trends Democrat next year as result & it's 4 more years of Socialism, African style.
axbucxdu| 7.30.11 @ 5:58PM
Struck a nerve there, fartee. Good. Your false us versus them strategy has given the country Nixon and not one, but two, Bushes.
Oldefarte| 7.31.11 @ 1:31PM
I'll take Nixon and two Bushes anyday, anytime, anywhere over Kennedy, Johnson, Carter, Clinton, Obama, Pilosi, Reid, Clyburn, Durbin, Rangel, Weiner, Schumer, McKinney etc; as the latter Democrats [if you don't know the difference between a D and a R] gave us the Great Society, the War on Poverty, 'the meaning of IS is', Affordable Housing, the CRA of 1977, Fannie/Freddie, the Viet Nam War, the Waco massacre, Janet Reno, Robert McNamara, Barney Frank, Cynthia McKinney, DON'T ASK DON'T TELL, homosexual marriage rights, etc. Need any more, DA????????????
axbucxdu| 7.31.11 @ 11:46PM
"I'll take Nixon and two Bushes anyday, anytime, anywhere..."
See, and that's why your party's a failure. You just keep struggling there oldfarte, hope springs eternal.
Clint| 7.31.11 @ 2:50PM
WTF ?
Mike| 7.30.11 @ 5:32PM
Is it legal for the President to decide to eliminate the salaries of all members of congress?
martin j smith| 7.31.11 @ 8:02AM
This entire episode has been a game played against a much more serious backdrop--that is in simple terms this: What kind of country do you want ?
Specifically do you approve or disapprove of Obama and his Socialist agenda yes or no ? I would bet at least 100 donuts stale and eaten by cucurachas that the ONLY REAL ISSUE IS THIS GRAND REFERENDUM WHICH IS A SUPER STYLE VERSION OF 2010. The Americans I speak with which include many liberals do not like Obama, many for the "wrong reasons" but some for the " right reasons"--its about the state of our nation. The dynamic about the Boehner plan is really not the plan itself which is a bunch of BS but it shows the slime the Socialists really are. Look you can put forth the Mickey Mouser Donald Duck Plan-- if it isn't the Socialist6 plan they would knock it down. In the end this will be and endless struggle for hearts and minds of the voter and its about the appearance of which type of GOVERNANACE works best. This will never end so take your meds and get a rest.
darcy| 7.31.11 @ 10:53AM
How's this Martin: One young man told me yesterday that "this was not what I signed up for" when he voted for Obama.
No. It's not that Obama has not been leftist enough for him, but he thought he was voting for that change, that transparency, that "fixing" things in Washington Obama lied to the nation about three years ago.
Since he's just fled California -- like hell he's going to let his kids be indoctrinated into homosexual culture through the public school system (the straw that broke the camel's back) -- to live in Arizona, he'll be getting his new drivers license tomorrow; then I'm registering him to vote, since I'm an elected precinct committeeman. And yes, he's registering as a Republican. Next item on his agenda is a .38 revolver.
darcy| 7.31.11 @ 10:55AM
" . . . registering him to vote." That is to say, I have the paperwork handy for him to fill out and mail in.
martin j smith| 7.31.11 @ 11:18AM
Darcy, that could be one vote for the right side--more need to wake up or be woken up.
somnolence| 7.31.11 @ 6:05PM
I'd rather be dead on principle, rather than dying by compromise, to all who have snubbed and backstabbed the Tea Party in recent days.
yisong| 10.28.11 @ 9:08PM
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