Category Archives: republicans

Debt ceiling negotiations, July 31, 2011, 2:45 PM, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Avoid default

Debt ceiling negotiations update, July 31, 2011, 2:45 PM, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Avoid default

From the Wall Street Journal July 31, 2011.

“With the risk of a government default less than three days away, congressional leaders on Sunday said they were getting closer to a deal that raises the government’s borrowing limit, resolving the federal debt crisis.

“I can pretty confidently say this debt-ceiling increase will avoid default,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) said on CNN.

Live Blog: The Debt Battle
The White House and congressional leaders are scrambling to agree on a deal before Aug. 2 to raise the U.S. federal borrowing limit. Follow developments in Washington and reaction globally here.
.Sen. Charles Schumer, a top Democrat from New York, also speaking on CNN, said there was no “final agreement” but that default was “far less of a possibility now than it was even a day ago.” He added, “If there’s a word right here that would sum up the mood, it’s ‘relief.’ ”

Sens. McConnell and Schumer spoke before the Senate voted not to consider a debt plan by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) to raise the debt ceiling and reduce the deficit by $2.2 trillion. The vote was 50-49, with 60 votes need to advance the bill.

But by the time of the vote, the result was anti-climactic; the real action is unfolding far from the Senate floor, as leaders of both parties try to hammer out the final details of a deal by day’s end to raise the debt ceiling from the current $14.29 trillion. That would be accompanied by deficit cuts of about $3 trillion.

Washington leaders face a Tuesday deadline by which the nation’s $14.29 trillion borrowing limit needs to be increased so the government can meet its financial obligations.

The framework emerging over the weekend likely would allow an immediate increase to the debt ceiling, lasting through the end of 2011, accompanied by government spending reductions of roughly $1 trillion over 10 years.

To get through 2012, Congress would form a special committee made up of an equal number of Democrats and Republicans to negotiate up to $2 trillion in additional cuts as part of a package containing a further debt-ceiling increase.

A House Republican leadership aide cautioned that a deal wasn’t yet in hand. “Discussions are moving in the right direction, but serious issues remain. And no agreement will be final until members have a chance to weigh in,” the aide said

The targets for savings appeared to remain subject to negotiation. Earlier proposals by legislative leaders were aiming for a total of between $2 trillion and $3 trillion total in savings over the next decade. Mr. McConnell on Sunday said he sees a $3 trillion deal.

The two-stage deal would include a deficit-cutting mechanism that would kick in should the special committee fail to act. Several people familiar with the talks said a key element could be a new process for sequestering—or holding back—federal spending if lawmakers can’t agree on further deficit reduction.”

Read more:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903520204576480123949521268.html

House passes Republican deficit plan, July 29 2011, Congress to pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution

House passes Republican deficit plan, July 29 2011, Congress to pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution

From the Chicago Tribune July 29, 2011.

“The House of Representatives approved a Republican deficit plan on Friday that has no chance of becoming law but could pave the way for a last-ditch bid for bipartisan compromise to avert a crippling national default.

With time running short ahead of a Tuesday deadline to raise the debt ceiling, the Republican-controlled House pushed the deficit-cutting plan through by a vote of 218-to-210 after the party’s leaders reworked the bill to appease anti-tax conservatives in their ranks.

The legislation, denounced earlier by President Barack Obama who had admonished lawmakers to stop wasting time and find a way “out of this mess,” was doomed to defeat in the Democratic-led Senate where all of Obama’s Democrats have vowed to vote against it later on Friday.

But the House vote broke weeks of political inertia and opened the door to talks on a compromise that could pass Congress before Tuesday. That is the deadline to lift the $14.3 trillion U.S. debt limit or else render the world’s largest economy unable to pay all of its bills.

Delays and procedural hurdles will now make it all but impossible for Congress to strike a deal and send it to Obama’s desk until the 11th hour, injecting a dangerous level of uncertainty into already rattled global financial markets. A late deal also raises the prospect of the United States losing its top-notch AAA credit rating.

Both sides have been at impasse for weeks with lawmakers locked in a blame game that has brought the country to the brink of an unprecedented default, which could plunge America back into recession and trigger economic turmoil globally.

World leaders have been stunned by the dysfunction in Washington. World Bank President Robert Zoellick on Friday said the United States was playing with fire.

America’s largest foreign creditor, China, has repeatedly urged Washington to protect its dollar investments and its state-run news agency on Friday said the United States had been “kidnapped” by “dangerously irresponsible” politics.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-rt-us-usa-debttre7646s6-20110705,0,7498607.story

Obama eligibility poll, Wenzel poll reveals 9 percent believe Obama documentation, World Net Daily poll

Obama eligibility poll, Wenzel poll reveals 9 percent believe Obama documentation, World Net Daily poll

“Why has Obama, for over 2 years, employed numerous private and government attorneys to avoid presenting a legitimate birth certificate and college records?”…Citizen Wells and millions of concerned Americans

From World Net Daily March 20, 2011.

“Not even one person in 10 believes Barack Obama has shown that he is eligible to be president of the United States, according to a stunning new scientific poll that also reveals political independents have less tolerance than even Republicans for his efforts to obfuscate the issue.

“The shocking result in this survey is that just 9 percent said they believe Obama has met the requirements to prove he was born in the United States and is therefore qualified to be president,” said Fritz Wenzel, president of Wenzel Strategies, which conducted the survey.

“Even when you combine those who say such questions are not valid with those who believe he has satisfied the requirements, it still falls short of equaling the percentage who said he should step forward and prove his birth origin once and for all,” he said.

Wenzel Strategies, an independent public opinion research firm based in Ohio, conducted a nationwide telephone poll using a randomly selected sample of adults. The survey, including 1,095 respondents, was conducted March 15-17 and carries a confidence interval of 95 percent and a margin of error of +/- 2.93 percentage points.
“The question of whether Barack Obama is eligible to hold the office of president is remarkable in that so many people are aware of the questions that remain unanswered. The survey shows that 77 percent are aware of the issue, and another 12 percent said they are unsure, which likely means they know a little but not enough to articulate details,” Wenzel said in his analysis of the results.

“Given the level of interest that the American public now devotes to politics, especially in an off-election year, this finding is remarkable. It speaks volumes about Obama’s unwillingness or inability to satisfy this question once and for all,” he said.

It was back in June 2009 when a Wenzel poll showed 51.3 percent were “aware of questions raised about Barack Obama’s constitutional eligibility for the office of president.”

This month, 77 percent of the Democrats who responded said they are aware of the controversy. Nearly 82 percent of the Republicans are aware and almost 69 percent of the independents. Overall, 76.8 percent said yes, and another 11.7 percent said they were unsure. Only 11.5 percent said there were not aware of the questions.

“Half of those surveyed said they believe these questions about Obama’s legitimacy as president are either troubling or should be satisfied by Obama. In fact, more people want Obama to prove his legitimacy – 42 percent – than believe that the lingering questions are not valid – 32 percent,” Wenzel said.

The survey showed 41.9 percent say Obama should prove his birth story, including 60.9 percent of independents, 58.6 percent of Republicans and 13.2 percent of Democrats.”

Read more:

http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=276865

Mike Huckabee Obama eligibility extraneous, US Constitution extraneous, Huckabee book interview

Mike Huckabee Obama eligibility extraneous, US Constitution extraneous, Huckabee book interview

“Why has Obama, for over 2 years, employed numerous private and government attorneys to avoid presenting a legitimate birth certificate and college records?”…Citizen Wells and millions of concerned Americans

Mike Huckabee was recently interviewed by George Stephanopoulos  about his book “A Simple Government.” During the interview Huckabee was asked about the controversy about Obama’s citizenship. Mike Huckabee committed 2 unforgiveable errors.

  • Instead of correcting George Stephanopoulos about using citizen interchangeably with natural born citizen, he followed the Orwellian line.
  • Huckabee then stated that the issue was extraneous, effectively stating that the natural born citizen clause and the US Constitution are extraneous.

This will not be tolerated.

I am requesting that you send this far and wide and bombard Mike Huckabee and the Republican party with our response to this unacceptable behaviour. We will no longer tolerate this disregard for the US Constitution and rule of law.

Let’s make an example out of Mike Huckabee. Perhaps the others will then take notice.

Wells

Thanks to GORDO et al.

Huck Pac contact info:

http://www.huckpac.com/?Fuseaction=ContactUs.Home

Alan Keyes to Republicans, Lower debt, Refuse to raise the debt ceiling, House Republicans chastised

Alan Keyes to Republicans, Lower debt, Refuse to raise the debt ceiling, House Republicans chastised

From World Net Daily February 7, 2011.

“Former GOP presidential candidate and Reagan administration official Alan Keyes has joined the ranks of those calling on House Republicans to reject another hike in the debt limit that will permit the federal government to keep borrowing money to propel its spending programs.

He joins Sens. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., and Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and Reps. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., Ron Paul, R-Texas, and Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., in rejecting House Speaker John Boehner’s concession to raise the debt limit, which is expected to be reached toward the end of next month.

“We should demand of our representatives in Congress that they refuse to raise the debt ceiling,” said Keyes. “But we must also demand of ourselves that we refuse any longer to choose our political leaders from candidates produced by political parties intrinsically dependent on political vehicles fueled by unbridled government spending. Where politics is concerned, restoring the ceiling must be just the first expression of our determination to rebuild, as a home for responsible freedom, the house of constitutional liberty our forsworn elites are determined to destroy.”

Shock the Washington establishment by participating in the “No More Red Ink” campaign and shut down all new plans for bailouts, “stimulus” spending and even the funding for Obamacare.

Keyes, whose coming book, “And Crown Thy Good: Restoring America’s Covenant in 2012,” will address the issue, said Boehner tipped his hand late last year when he spoke to House Republicans sent to Washington by Americans fed up with business as usual in Washington: “We’re going to have to deal with it as adults,” Boehner instructed his colleagues. “Whether we like it or not, the federal government has obligations and we have obligations on our part.”

“U.S. government finance has evidently become a Ponzi scheme predicated upon access to fresh streams of borrowed capital,” said Keyes. “If done in ignorance, we might excuse the scheme as childish. Otherwise, we call it crooked, and treat adults who knowingly perpetrate it as criminals. Many of those who voted Republican in 2008 are demanding an end to precisely this kind of institutionalized chicanery. Sadly they may have cast their votes in vain. Of course, in order to mask the fact that the Republicans mean to go on with ‘business as usual’ GOP leaders are claiming instead that it’s ‘business as necessary.’ Naturally, the Obama faction Democrats heartily agree.”

Keyes continues: “They agree because what’s happening isn’t child’s play, it is power play. The GOP leaders blather about ‘meaningful cuts in government spending,’ but as I’ve pointed out before neither wing of the sham two-party system can have any intention of fundamentally curbing the U.S. government’s appetite for the nation’s resources. The political power of both parties depends on it. They won’t give up that power until the force of circumstances compels them to do so.”

Keyes made his comments in support of a plan led by Joseph Farah, editor and chief executive officer of WND, to persuade House Republicans to defy their own leadership and refuse to raise the debt limit – an act that will force government to live within its means.

Called the “No More Red Ink” campaign, it empowers America citizens to send messages to every member of the House Republican caucus inexpensively and efficiently – with guaranteed delivery by Fed Ex.”

Read more:

http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=258801

Congressman Paul Broun, Obama eligibility, US Constitution, Broun response, Broun Paul Boehner no more status quo

Congressman Paul Broun, Obama eligibility, US Constitution, Broun response, Broun Paul Boehner no more status quo

“Why has Obama, for over 2 years, employed numerous private and government attorneys to avoid presenting a legitimate birth certificate and college records?”…Citizen Wells and millions of concerned Americans

We have come to  expect anti American unconstitutional positions from the Democrats. The following actions and attitudes from Republicans are unacceptable.

When asked about challenging Obama’s eligibility during the certification of Electoral College votes in 2009.

“If I did that, I would be laughed out of Congress.”…Ron Paul, December 2008

The day of the reading of the US Constitution in the House of Representatives, Speaker Boehner allowed “citizen” to be used interchangeably with “natural born citizen.”

Speaker of the House John Boehner was interviewed by Brian Williams last friday after the reading of the US Constitution in the House Chambers and the shout of “Except Obama, except Obama” when the Natural Born Citizen clause was read. Williams continues the Orwellian tradition of the mainstream media of obfuscating the Obama eligibility issues by using citizen instead of Natural Born Citizen. Boehner, as Speaker of the House, should know better and should have corrected Williams. Otherwise, we have just another Pelosi look alike.

From The Post & Email February 2, 2011.

“I sent the following email to my U.S. congressman, Rep. Paul Broun:
Dear Rep. Broun,
I saw your interview following the SOTU with CBS.
I think it is imperative that just ONE elected Representative in D.C. stand up for the Constitution. I am PRAYING you are that hero. Barack claims that his father is Barack Sr., a British/Kenyan subject/citizen. It makes no difference where he was born, by our Constitution, he is not eligible as a dual citizen. He has admitted his dual citizenship on his own website, and in his own writings.”

“Rep. Broun’s response:
Thank you for recently contacting me with your kind remarks regarding the strong stances I have taken in Congress. Your words were very encouraging, and I am excited to hear that you are engaged in the political process.
In these tough times we must all work together to make America better for future generations. For my part, I will continue to fight for life, fiscal responsibility, and transparency in government. I hope that you will join this fight and encourage your friends and family to be as engaged as you are.”

Read more:

http://www.thepostemail.com/2011/02/02/constituent-to-u-s-congressman-be-a-hero/

The response from Congressman Paul Broun’s office appears to be a form letter, standard response. We need to contact Paul Broun and educate him. Once again, when you are discussing Obama’s eligibility issues with congressmen or those around you, keep it simple. While I agree that Obama is not a natural born citizen due to his father being British/Kenyan, it is subject to debate. Ask the non debatable question first.

“Why has Obama, for over 2 years, employed numerous private and government attorneys to avoid presenting a legitimate birth certificate and college records?

Next mention that the Governor of Hawaii, Neil Abercrombie, could find no birth certificate for Obama.

Then inform them that Tim Adams, who worked in a Hawaii elections office in 2008, has signed an affidavit stating that there was no birth certificate in Hawaii for Obama in 2008.

If they mention the COLB, inform them it is a document that refers to another document and is not proof of birth in Hawaii.

Keep it simple and non debatable.

House Republicans propose $2.5 Trillion in Spending Cuts, Spending Reduction Act of 2011, GOP promises to slash the federal budget

House Republicans propose $2.5 Trillion in Spending Cuts, Spending Reduction Act of 2011, GOP promises to slash the federal budget

From US News January 20, 2011.

“Moving aggressively to make good on election promises to slash the federal budget, the House GOP today unveiled an eye-popping plan to eliminate $2.5 trillion in spending over the next 10 years. Gone would be Amtrak subsidies, fat checks to the Legal Services Corporation and National Endowment for the Arts, and some $900 million to run President Obama’s healthcare reform program. [See a gallery of political caricatures.]

 
What’s more, the “Spending Reduction Act of 2011” proposed by members of the conservative Republican Study Committee, chaired by Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, would reduce current spending for non-defense, non-homeland security and non-veterans programs to 2008 levels, eliminate federal control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, cut the federal workforce by 15 percent through attrition, and cut some $80 billion by blocking implementation of Obamacare. [See a slide show of the top Congressional travel destinations.]

Some of the proposed reductions will surely draw Democratic attack, such as cutting the Ready to Learn TV Program, repeal of the Davis-Bacon Act, the elimination of the Energy Star Program, and cutting subsidies to the Woodrow Wilson Center. [See editorial cartoons about the GOP.]

Here is the overview provided by the Republican Study Committee:

FY 2011 CR Amendment: Replace the spending levels in the FY 2011 continuing resolution (CR) with non-defense, non-homeland security, non-veterans spending at FY 2008 levels. The legislation will further prohibit any FY 2011 funding from being used to carry out any provision of the Democrat government takeover of health care, or to defend the health care law against any lawsuit challenging any provision of the act. $80 billion savings.

Discretionary Spending Limit, FY 2012-2021: Eliminate automatic increases for inflation from CBO baseline projections for future discretionary appropriations. Further, impose discretionary spending limits through 2021 at 2006 levels on the non-defense portion of the discretionary budget. $2.29 trillion savings over ten years.

Federal Workforce Reforms: Eliminate automatic pay increases for civilian federal workers for five years. Additionally, cut the civilian workforce by a total of 15 percent through attrition. Allow the hiring of only one new worker for every two workers who leave federal employment until the reduction target has been met. (Savings included in above discretionary savings figure).

“Stimulus” Repeal: Eliminate all remaining “stimulus” funding. $45 billion total savings.

Eliminate federal control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. $30 billion total savings.

Repeal the Medicaid FMAP increase in the “State Bailout” (Senate amendments to S. 1586). $16.1 billion total savings.

More than 100 specific program eliminations and spending reductions listed below: $330 billion savings over ten years (included in above discretionary savings figure).”

Read more:

http://www.usnews.com/news/washington-whispers/articles/2011/01/20/house-gop-lists-25-trillion-in-spending-cuts

Republicans vow to cut spending repeal health care bill, John Boehner, New Speaker of the House, Citizen Wells open thread, November 5, 2010

Republicans vow to cut spending repeal health care bill, John Boehner, New Speaker of the House

From the Chicago Tribune November 5, 2010.

“Victorious at the polls, congressional Republicans asserted their newfound political strength on Thursday, vowing to seek a quick $100 billion in federal spending cuts and force repeated votes on the repeal of President Barack Obama’s prized health care overhaul.

At the White Houses, Obama said his administration was ready to work across party lines in a fresh attempt to “focus on the economy and jobs” as well as attack waste in government. In a show of bipartisanship, he invited top lawmakers to the White House at mid-month, and the nation’s newly elected governors two weeks later.

Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, in line to become the new speaker of the House, brushed aside talk that the No. 1 GOP goal was to make sure Obama is defeated at the polls in 2012. “That’s Senator McConnell’s statement and his opinion,” he told ABC, referring to the party’s leader in the Senate and adding that his own goals included cutting spending and creating jobs.”

“Many House Republicans campaigned on a platform of cutting government spending to levels in effect in 2008, before enactment of an economic stimulus bill and other increases that Democrats passed. Rep. Jerry Lewis of California, the senior Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, notified Democrats during the day that GOP lawmakers will try and implement the cuts when Congress considers the spending bill needed to keep most agencies running for the next eight months. The estimated savings total $100 billion.

“The unmistakable message sent by the American people on Tuesday is that they are justifiably angry at Washington. They want Congress to cut spending,” wrote Lewis, who faces an internal challenge in his attempt to become chairman of the panel next year.

At a news conference on Wednesday, the president signaled he was ready to jettison his campaign-long insistence that tax cuts be extended for earners at incomes up to $250,000 but be allowed to expire for higher-income people.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/sns-ap-us-washington-new-reality,0,4954825.story

New Congress action plan, Work together, Create job creation environment, Fix health care, Citizen Wells open thread, November 4, 2010

New Congress action plan, Work together, Create job creation environment, Fix health care

As many of you know, I am not in love with either political party or party politics. Choosing to vote for the Republican Party candidates in 2010 was clearly the lesser of evils, a real no brainer. That being said, any candidate involved in the recent elections should realize that the American public is fed up with status quo from both sides. Come the next election cycle, any candidate, Republican or Democrat who has not listened to their constituents, who has not done the right things for America, who has not upheld the US Constitution, will be booted out of office.

Here is a simple emergency action plan, not a complete agenda.

  • Restore confidence in the business world. Define as soon as possible what the taxes will be and assure business that there will be no hidden health care surprises. This will begin to allow them to consider hiring and expansion.
  • Assure the country that the Tax & Spend Bill, aka Health Care Bill that was rammed down the throats of Americans will be deactivated or disarmed in it’s current state. It has too many negative connotations.
  • At the same time assure the country and reach out to the Democrat Party to achieve real health care reform. Maintain our present quality and then adjust the system beginning with a few goals such as portability and opening up health insurance across state lines.
  • Begin phasing in a series of incentives to small businesses in energy technology and practical residential applications such as passive solar and small scale wind energy. I happen to be knowledgeable in this area.
  • Restore confidence in Congress and our institutions. Begin acting more like statesmen and less like politicians.
  • Lastly, and I believe most important, acknowledge and pledge a new allegiance to the US Constitution as the supreme law of the land.

Obviously I have more to say, but will reserve those comments for the appropriate time.

We have put a bandaid on this country, now is the time to heal it.

God bless and preserve America.

Nancy Pelosi, Buh Bye, Republicans take House, Citizen Wells open thread, November 3, 2010

Nancy Pelosi, Buh Bye, Republicans take House

This is a happy day for me and millions of Americans. The Democrat Party has been dislodged from control of the House of Representatives in a huge way. Nancy Pelosi will no longer be Speaker of the House.

Buh Bye Nancy.