Two questions appear to be answered even before a single vote is cast in the 2010 mid-term elections: Republicans are going to pick up a lot of seats in the House of Representatives and a lot of governorships as well. The G.O.P. winning 30-35 governorships is a crucial must in the eyes of the politically savvy if the personal popularity of Barack Obama is to be overcome in 2012 so the country can veer quickly away from Marxism. The governors will be in charge of drawing up district boundaries based upon the 2010 Census and for the G.O.P that means a huge opportunity to counter the Democratic Party machinery that so dominates in Big States with Big Cities like Illinois, New York, Ohio, and California.
Listening to House Republican Leader John Boehner, one comes to believe that the Republicans have faced up to the shortcomings which betrayed the voters in 1994 and again in 2004 . . . and that the G.O.P. will focus on creating jobs; express and enforce Constitutional-fidelity; aim to dramatically reduce the size and interference power of the federal government; defund Obamacare; aim to cut taxes, spending deficits, the National Debt; and the size and scope and power of the federal government. More than his words, it is the fact that Boehner has never, not even once, given us an “earmark.” That’s an utterly distinguished record of integrity.
Boehner talked about such “Congressional reform” themes last week while speaking at the American Enterprise Institute. Unlike the “reform” touted by Ms. Pelosi and Mr. Obama in naming all their corrupt bills, Mr. Boehner promised straightforward changes that would increase transparency and assist in reducing the growth of government -- including a promise that all legislation be constitutional—which may appear to be a token bow to the TEA (Taxed Enough Already) party but which would, according to the Wall Street Journal” provide the wonderful “practical effect of making the Constitution's limits on government part of our contemporary debates.” Glenn Beck must be purring like a kitten to hear that kind of talk.
Mr. Boehner's vow to publish the full text of all bills online at least three days prior to a vote, as well as allowing open rules on all spending bills are both simple, but sensational ideas clearly in line with the intents of the Founding Fathers. Besides joining the progressive Dems’ spending binge, the G.O.P. most disappointed conservative voters when former GOP leader Tom DeLay abused open rules constantly. Of course, Nancy Pelosi has seen DeLay’s evil practices and pushed all-in so that her legacy is the first Congress (in history? in long memory?) not to consider one single bill under an open amendment process . . . nothing is more corrupt than the agenda and the policies of Sweet Nancy from Nob Hill.
The country needs a statesman like William Proxmire again. Mr. Proxmire’s “Golden Fleece Award,” highlighting the most self-serving and corrupt use of the public trust and our taxes, kept his fellow politicians on their toes and somewhat honest. Thanks to Pelosi’s abuse of process, Arizona Republican Jeff Flake, a noted spending critic, has been absolutely prevented from putting embarrassing spending items before the media and public and up for a floor vote. Flake is also the sort of guy who would have exposed Obamacare to such intense ridicule that the bill would never have become law. Imagine him talking about the provision referring to Gold-Sellers in a healthcare “reform” bill . . . it would be hilarious. It’s unimaginable that the present funding of abortions under Obamacare would have occurred with Flake focusing every eye on the bill. If Republicans want to win back the respect of the voters for Congress . . . process reforms such as these are crucial. The G.O.P. canNOT succeed in their professed goals of restoring the Constitution, cutting spending, re-energizing the economy, and abolishing the entitlement state without first undoing the corrupt base of Congress’s evil tax-and-spend machinery.
A few crucial questions are still to be determined on November 2nd. Will the Republicans win the House (yes, they only need 39 seats, but will they win it , or win it with a 61-vote majority – a pickup of 100 seats overall – like Dick Morris is predicting?); will Republicans win the Senate (which Morris is also predicting)? Will the G.O.P. sit in 33 or more of the governors’ mansions? Will the apparent national “wave” of disgust with incumbents and progressives carry over to the individual states and see a lot of incumbents and progressives of both parties shooed out the door? But if the Republicans take the House, one has the feeling that a statesman of absolute integrity will be wielding the speakers’ gavel. Ex-health educator Rajjpuut, only hopes that Speaker Boehner is indeed in our future and that Mr. Boehner's either quits or cuts down markedly on his smoking . . . he looks like one we could bear to have around a long, long time.
Ya’all live long, strong and ornery,
Rajjpuut
