Right to work issues, mostly.
Moe Lane (crosspost)
A Senate Full of Squishes
Aside from defeating Obama, the most important goal of the 2012 elections is to win back the Senate. Or is it?
On days like today we should begin to wonder if there really would be much of a difference when there are 51 senators with an R next to their name as opposed to just 47. In another terrible day on the Hill, Senate Republicans caved on two issues; judicial nominations and the stimulus highway bill.
When Obama announced his illegal appointments to executive positions last month, Republicans shook their fists heavenward and pledged to vigorously challenge those nominations. Well, instead of engaging in vapid rhetorical promises, Senator Mike Lee took action. He pledged to block all of Obama’s judicial nominations until he agrees to rescind his illegal appointees and resubmit them for confirmation before the full Senate.
A Senate Full of Squishes
Aside from defeating Obama, the most important goal of the 2012 elections is to win back the Senate. Or is it?
On days like today we should begin to wonder if there really would be much of a difference when there are 51 senators with an R next to their name as opposed to just 47. In another terrible day on the Hill, Senate Republicans caved on two issues; judicial nominations and the stimulus highway bill.
When Obama announced his illegal appointments to executive positions last month, Republicans shook their fists heavenward and pledged to vigorously challenge those nominations. Well, instead of engaging in vapid rhetorical promises, Senator Mike Lee took action. He pledged to block all of Obama’s judicial nominations until he agrees to rescind his illegal appointees and resubmit them for confirmation before the full Senate.
Again, Conservatives Were Right
On and on it goes.
Republicans in Congress cut deals with Democrats. The Republicans’ favorite reporters and pundits tell us just how awesome those deals are. Then those deals blow up in our faces.
More tragically, then the same Republican leaders who negotiated those deals go back and negotiate the next deals and the same reporters and pundits at the same publications who told the last ones were so awesome tell us these are so awesome and then these deals too blow up in our faces. Conservatives always raise the alarm. The Republicans always run to the usual suspects to spin their way out of the mess.
On Facebook yesterday, Senator Jim DeMint noted this folly. Republicans were supposed to have big wins on the debt ceiling and on the Keystone XL Pipeline. They told us they had played the Democrats. Instead, we played ourselves.
From Senator DeMint:
The two political victories leading Republicans planned on celebrating today only showcase how much we have to lose by compromising with the Democrats.
The non-binding vote of disapproval on the debt ceiling increase held in the House today and the Obama Administration’s decision not to authorize the Keystone Pipeline were supposed to be excruciating political exercises for the Democrats. They turned out to be a walk in the park.
Instead of generating a great public uproar over the debt, economy, and jobs, all President Obama had to do was reiterate his long-held positions—that the debt ceiling should be increased and the Keystone Pipeline should not be authorized.
Giving the President exactly what he wants and then asking him to remind the public that he wanted it after the fact isn’t a strategy to win. It’s a strategy to cover-up a stunning loss under the guise of a compromise.
Again, Conservatives Were Right
On and on it goes.
Republicans in Congress cut deals with Democrats. The Republicans’ favorite reporters and pundits tell us just how awesome those deals are. Then those deals blow up in our faces.
More tragically, then the same Republican leaders who negotiated those deals go back and negotiate the next deals and the same reporters and pundits at the same publications who told the last ones were so awesome tell us these are so awesome and then these deals too blow up in our faces. Conservatives always raise the alarm. The Republicans always run to the usual suspects to spin their way out of the mess.
On Facebook yesterday, Senator Jim DeMint noted this folly. Republicans were supposed to have big wins on the debt ceiling and on the Keystone XL Pipeline. They told us they had played the Democrats. Instead, we played ourselves.
From Senator DeMint:
The two political victories leading Republicans planned on celebrating today only showcase how much we have to lose by compromising with the Democrats.
The non-binding vote of disapproval on the debt ceiling increase held in the House today and the Obama Administration’s decision not to authorize the Keystone Pipeline were supposed to be excruciating political exercises for the Democrats. They turned out to be a walk in the park.
Instead of generating a great public uproar over the debt, economy, and jobs, all President Obama had to do was reiterate his long-held positions—that the debt ceiling should be increased and the Keystone Pipeline should not be authorized.
Giving the President exactly what he wants and then asking him to remind the public that he wanted it after the fact isn’t a strategy to win. It’s a strategy to cover-up a stunning loss under the guise of a compromise.
DeMint endorses…
In an email to supporters this morning, South Carolina Senator and conservative leader Jim DeMint opted not to endorse a particular candidate for President ahead of the South Carolina primary:
The presidential primary in South Carolina has intensified and my name is being tossed around a lot.
I have complimented several of our candidates when they spoke out on conservative issues, but the media has suggested that I favor one over the others.
I am afraid that I disagree with Sen. Jim DeMint about Ron Paul.
That the good Senator is apparently at least considering the idea of endorsing Mitt Romney is one thing: everybody does endorsements, they’re not always going to be for your candidate, so suck it up and walk it off. But – unlike the Senator – I want Ron Paul out of my darn primaries. Yesterday, if possible. The non-Republicans that he’s bringing in won’t vote for our candidate – shoot, I don’t expect even a third of them to vote for Ron Paul – and the Republican ones… well, I can’t fault a person for making a protest vote. In the primary.
And I’ll tell you this: as long as Ron Paul is in the race the less crazy things that he likes to talk about are going to continue to be ever-so-slightly radioactive among the general public, simply because it’s Ron Paul Of The Newsletters saying them. Like it or don’t like it, as you please: this simply is. It is my opinion that libertarians (which I am not, although I am definitely libertarian-leaning) would be better suited to find somebody else to be their public face, because Ron Paul isn’t going to win the Republican nomination and he’s going to promptly implode once he tries that third party run that everybody quietly expects…
Via Hot Air Headlines.
Moe Lane (crosspost)
I am afraid that I disagree with Sen. Jim DeMint about Ron Paul.
That the good Senator is apparently at least considering the idea of endorsing Mitt Romney is one thing: everybody does endorsements, they’re not always going to be for your candidate, so suck it up and walk it off. But – unlike the Senator – I want Ron Paul out of my darn primaries. Yesterday, if possible. The non-Republicans that he’s bringing in won’t vote for our candidate – shoot, I don’t expect even a third of them to vote for Ron Paul – and the Republican ones… well, I can’t fault a person for making a protest vote. In the primary.
And I’ll tell you this: as long as Ron Paul is in the race the less crazy things that he likes to talk about are going to continue to be ever-so-slightly radioactive among the general public, simply because it’s Ron Paul Of The Newsletters saying them. Like it or don’t like it, as you please: this simply is. It is my opinion that libertarians (which I am not, although I am definitely libertarian-leaning) would be better suited to find somebody else to be their public face, because Ron Paul isn’t going to win the Republican nomination and he’s going to promptly implode once he tries that third party run that everybody quietly expects…
Via Hot Air Headlines.
Moe Lane (crosspost)
Ted Cruz Wants to Save the Free-Market Economy
Download Podcast | iTunes | Podcast Feed
On today’s edition of Coffee and Markets, Brad Jackson and Ben Domenech are joined by Ted Cruz to discuss his race for the US Senate, his ideas for entitlement reform, and how he would fix the economy.
We’re brought to you as always by BigGovernment and Stephen Clouse and Associates. If you’d like to email us, you can do so at coffee[at]newledger.com. We hope you enjoy the show.
Related Links:
A Test for the Tea Party in Texas Senate Race
Ted Cruz: on a mission to save the country
Coffee and Markets Archive: Ted Cruz on His Race for the Senate in Texas
TedCruz.org
Follow Brad on Twitter
Follow Ben on Twitter
Follow Ted on Twitter
The hosts and guests of Coffee and Markets speak only for ourselves, not any clients or employers.
Ted Cruz Wants to Save the Free-Market Economy
Download Podcast | iTunes | Podcast Feed
On today’s edition of Coffee and Markets, Brad Jackson and Ben Domenech are joined by Ted Cruz to discuss his race for the US Senate, his ideas for entitlement reform, and how he would fix the economy.
We’re brought to you as always by BigGovernment and Stephen Clouse and Associates. If you’d like to email us, you can do so at coffee[at]newledger.com. We hope you enjoy the show.
Related Links:
A Test for the Tea Party in Texas Senate Race
Ted Cruz: on a mission to save the country
Coffee and Markets Archive: Ted Cruz on His Race for the Senate in Texas
TedCruz.org
Follow Brad on Twitter
Follow Ben on Twitter
Follow Ted on Twitter
The hosts and guests of Coffee and Markets speak only for ourselves, not any clients or employers.
Neil Stevens
Moe Lane
Steve Maley
Daniel Horowitz
Jake Walker
