Obama wants Republican ideas for his new Congressional think tank

https://www.janereinheimer.com ^ | January 27, 2009 | Jane Reinheimer

[quintr]

Yesterday has already been dubbed as "Bloody Monday." That's because there were some 71,400 job cuts announced by different companies. I was able to find most of them, but certainly not all.

Obama heads over to Congress today. He wants to meet with the Republicans, of all things.

Well, of course he wants to meet with the Republicans. It's all about the economy. While he was running around on his campaign trail telling everybody how bad the economy was because the Republicans had the White House, he kind of forgot to mention that the Democrats have had control of both houses of Congress since the mid-term election in 2006.

Obama knows and he's hoping that the voters don't know that all things like taxes and appropriations and money stuff come out of the House Ways and Means Committee. And since Charlie Rangel, the chairman of that used-to-be-august committee is being investigated right now for ethics violations because he didn't declare real estate income for his Caribbean villa. Another "innocent Democratic oops," I guess.

Anyway, you can bet Obama wants to know what the Republicans think is needed. After all, in October 2008, the DOW was at a lofty 13,264 according to Dave Manuel.

Obama was in his glory running around the country telling everybody who'd listen how horrible the economy was and the voters needed to elect him so he could fix it. And you know full well that Obama knows what happens at mid-term elections when campaign promises don't get kept.

And where is the DOW now, after the Democrats have been at the helm of all things financial since 2006?

The DOW is set to open at today 8161. And yes, the Republicans have some good ideas of how to get the economy back on track.

If Obama listens to the Republicans, then he'll advertise himself as the champion of bipartisanship.

Except for some Republican economic savvy that he can benefit from if he'll ask, the Democratic idea of fixing the economy seems to be another stimulus package of $825 billion of rubber checks. And we're supposed to believe that the National Park Service didn't include maintenance for the National Mall in its budget so they'll need another $200 million from the pork-encrusted bailout that Pelosi/Reid/Obama now want to foist onto the taxpayers of this country.

This is not a stimulus package. Nosirree Bob. It's payment of campaign debts to cronies who helped the Democrats come to power.

It's rubber check money, folks. The country is in deficit spending mode. That defines as insolvent. Insolvency defines bankruptcy.

Congress has bankrupted what used the be the wealthiest nation on the planet.

Here's an interesting history of the DOW: http://www.davemanuel.com/2008/10/08/the-worst-years-in-the-history-of-the-dow-jones-industrial-average/

[Tijeras_Slim]

We do, but once a Senator has a “seat for life” there’s not much that can be done.

[TADSLOS]

So you expect John Kyle, the Minority Whip of the senate and junior senator from McCain's home state of Arizona to rein McCain in while McCain is simultaneously dropping Kyle's name on the Sunday talking head shows as a potential 2012 Presidential nominee over his own recently former running mate?

LOL!

Besides, no one tells McCain what to do, except for his liberal associates and The One. He's a maverick, remember...LOL!

[PGalt]

Yeah that says it all, astounded. (and a great tagline BUMP!)

[alloysteel]

Obama deigns to allow these racist bigots and Neanderthals in his presence, and even to give them permission to SPEAK?

His hold on power is crumbling even faster than anyone thought. He may not be able to hold all the Democrats in the House and Senate in line, and this is his insurance card.

The Republicans may have SOME power, then, but they shall have to get their act together.

[knarf]

1) Get a copy of The Constitution (ask a Republican)
2) Read it
3) Obey it
Confess and resign

Those are the best Republican ideas I can come up with.

[DieHard the Hunter]

> We do, but once a Senator has a “seat for life” there’s not much that can be done.

In New Zealand he would be ejected from the party and, I believe that under “Waka Jumping” rules, his seat would be filled by the next person on the party list. End of problem. (It used to be he could sit as an Independent, but I believe that has now changed.)

Obviously, under a system such as ours the Whip is a very powerful party role.

[DieHard the Hunter]

See #21.

In NZ the Party Whip would settle his hash quick-smart.

[TADSLOS]

Any chance you can talk your whip into coming over to the U.S. and kick lil’ Johnnie’s tired old ass? I’d pay to see that.

[johnthebaptistmoore]

Just a nice dog and pony show by Obama before he officially agrees with the Democrats in Congress on all of the issues.

[sniper63]

How about.....

Reduce all elected officials pay to 1978 levels and then,
freeze all elected officials pay until the budget is balanced.

[MinuteGal]

Why isn't a "party whip" all over McCain like a "bad rash?"

Because the GOP senators belong to the House of Lords. You don't whip GOP Lords. They are an entity to themselves. Many of them don't even answer to the serfs in their own fiefdoms. They run their domains independent of each other. Party discipline is for the Lower House. They are way above that.

Now, the Dem Lords are different. They don't HAVE to be whipped to fall into line. They have been trained in party discipline during all the years coming up through the ranks. They think in terms of the "group" rather than as individuals. If necessary, they have no compunctions about whipping other Dem Lords, even themselves, if it's for the greater good of their Shining Path Party or the state communes they represent.

All Lords are in office for 6 years and can do anything they want (hopefully discreetly like good bluebloods) because by the time election rolls around, all is forgiven and forgotten by the peasants. Therefore, they really don't worry too much about any "controlling legal authority" as they lead their lives of privilege in moated, oops, gated strongholds in Georgetown and McLean.

Or.....to answer your question more succinctly, controlling Republicans (even conservatives) is like herding cats.

Leni

[DieHard the Hunter]

(grin!)

> Or.....to answer your question more succinctly, controlling Republicans (even conservatives) is like herding cats.

Thanks for that comprehensive and entertaining reply!

[astounded]

Saw it. Good stuff, there.

[MortMan]

He wants cover, not ideas.

[hedgetrimmer]

I think the author means, RINO ideas.

[toast]

I always thought the only change the Dems could make that actually might work would be to put forward the Fair Tax as their own idea. They would tout the following Dem benefits:
It taxes lavish living and high consumption, not saving and investment.
No more loopholes for the rich.
No advantages for foreign manufacturers.
Nearly eliminate the IRS.
They would get to hand out rebate checks to everybody at the beginning of each year.
Seniors could get larger rebate checks to offset their years of paying income tax.

[ScottinVA]

Here’s an idea for O’vomit:

If you truly love your country (I mean the USA), step down and go back to Chicago.

[quintr]

“...Whip is a very powerful party role...”

but only if the Whip whips

[Tijeras_Slim]

I like it!

[Vaduz]

Republicans should let the democrats run the bail out pork program and when it fails and it will only the democrats will be blamed think 2013.