Posted on 12/22/2009 7:07:17 PM PST by opentalk
The big political news of the day is the party-switch by Alabama Rep. Parker Griffith. Elected to his first term in 2008 as a Democrat, today he announced he has become a Republican.
Meanwhile, a press release from the White House Office of the Press Secretary, which arrived only moments ago, reads as follows:
The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Alabama and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by Tropical Storm Ida during the period of November 9-10, 2009. There was more to the release, but let's face it, we all know what Obama is talking about. Personally, I think he was overreacting.
But here's some fun stuff about the Griffith switch -- stuff I'm NOT making up.
Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee, was understandably thrilled with the news of Griffith joining the party:
I would like to sincerely welcome Congressman Parker Griffith to the Republican Party. On the eve of the Senate voting on President Obama's and Harry Reid's government-run health care experiment and in the wake of four House Democrats announcing their plans to retire, Dr. Griffith's party switch sends a strong message to all Americans that there is no longer room in the Democrat Party for mainstream Americans. ... Elected officials like Parker Griffith that faithfully represent their constituents and their own personal convictions even under the extreme political pressure are the kind of politicians Americans want and deserve. John Boehner, the Republican leader in the House, was equally ebullient:
Parker Griffith is a dedicated public servant who has consistently put the best interests of his constituents first, and it is in that spirit that Republicans welcome him. All year long, Alabamians have been well-served by Congressman Griffith's support for conservative principles and his rejection of Washington Democrats' wrong-headed, liberal policies. Whether it was the trillion-dollar 'stimulus,' the national energy tax, or a government takeover of health care, Congressman Griffith has consistently sided with Republicans and the American people to call for better solutions rooted in common sense. He has also stood up to Speaker Pelosi by joining efforts to advance 'read the bill' reform and to ensure that not a single taxpayer dollar is used to fund abortions. Now, check out the ad the National Republican Congressional Committee ran against Griffith in 2008, when he faced GOP candidate Wayne Parker, who was strongly backed by the NRCC. Politics is politics, but this one is worth watching (courtesy the Daily Beast):
Hey Zero - STFU!
How about declaring a major disaster for the entire United States? That disaster is the US Congress declaring war on We The People?
Is this true? He declared a disaster in AL?
I don’t believe this. Yes he did, I just googled it.
Check this out: http://www.abc3340.com/news/stories/1209/689833.html
You have to understand Alabama politics to understand how important this switch is and why at all costs Griffith has to win that primary. I have retired from working and haven’t been on a campaign in several years and hadn’t been looking to do it.
I’m willing to go up to Huntsville and rent a dingy apartment for a year if my being there is necessary to get Griffith re-elected as a Republican. That I’m willing to give up fishing and waking up at noon tells you how serious this is and how vital it is.
“Parker Griffith is a dedicated public servant who has consistently put the best interests of his constituents first, and it is in that spirit that Republicans welcome him.”
Okay, Chairman Steele, I really have to disagree with this. Congress’ first concern should not be their own self interest, but the long-term viability of the United States of America. The reason we are in the horrible debt we now have is the pathetic, corrupt, self-serving decisions made in Congress by pathetic, corrupt, self-serving people. I hope Rep. Griffith is not this type of person.
My hubby says the Governor has to ask for the help. Betcha they asked nov. 8-9 when the storm happened and were turned down. Is this another bribe?
I don’t understand why Obama did this. Would someone kindly explain it to me, please.
I will say this over and over and over again...Parker Griffith will be nothing more than another RINO added to the GOP.
Alabama - On Tuesday the President declared a major disaster exists in the State of Alabama and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by Tropical Storm Ida during the period of November 9-10, 2009.
Federal funding is available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by Tropical Storm Ida in Baldwin and Mobile Counties.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard
He thinks the US tax money is his to throw around for his own agenda and discretion. As Michael Steel said recently , He his giving Americans the middle finger (paraphrase)
We can only speculate, or in my case, hope. Hope that maybe somewhere in America, some principled prosecutor is beginning to dig into some of these pay-for-vote bribes and Obama is getting worried.
Perhaps Obama did this to protect himself - “See, I gave to Alabama even when I was wronged. So the others couldn’t have been bribes.”
Please, please let this be a Christmas gift to me.
I’m with you. A guy’s switching from D to R is related to federal disaster aid how, exactly? Or, weather?
Good God.
Steele is such a pussy, what a disaster, refuses to call the democrats the socialist crook sex pervert sons of whores they are, call them "liberals", as if that means anything today.
Drum that silly country clubbers ass out of the Chairmanship as soon as possible.
Steele is against a resolution renaming the Democratic Party.’
RNC showdown over ‘socialist’ resolution may be avoided
Posted: May 20th, 2009 06:00 AM ET
From CNN Political Producer Peter Hamby
Steele is against a resolution renaming the Democratic Party.’
OXON HILL, Maryland (CNN) — Members of the Republican National Committee appear to have reached a compromise that would let GOP leaders avoid a possible dispute over a controversial resolution that calls on Democrats to re-name their party the “Democrat Socialist party.”
Steele has come out against the resolution, calling it “not an appropriate way to express our views on the issues of the day.” One of Steele’s allies on the committee, Florida GOP chairman Jim Greer, told CNN the resolution is “stupid” and “ridiculous.”
However, New Jersey committeeman David Norcross, one of the sponsors of the resolution, told CNN the language is being massaged so that Steele and others on the committee will be more receptive.
“The language is being changed so that the proposers and chairman Steele are on the same page,” Norcross said.
He said that as of Tuesday afternoon, the chairman of the RNC Standing Committee on Resolutions had changed the language to “condemn the Democrats’ march to socialism” instead of “talking about the ‘Democrat Socialist’ party.”
The change was made, Norcross said, so that members “wouldn’t have to fight about it, and I think everybody agreed.”
Wisconsin GOP chairman Reince Priebus, another Steele ally, expressed confidence the proposal will be tweaked in the resolution committee, and that it should pass without issue.
I think that is very close. He is a shrewd and corrupt politician that is paying to keep the AL. base intact. Governor Riley should be able to give his two-cents worth on the matter.
Parker Griffith is someone who we can take all across North Alabama and speak out to those white voters who still see themselves as Democrats tying every one of those Democrat incumbent legislators to Barack Obama and Artur Davis.
Dump him after we take the legislature in 2010. I don’t care. But for 2010 I want Griffith campaigning up their with our campaigns. I want him campaigning with whoever runs against Lowell Barron. I want him campaigning with whoever runs against Roger Bedford. I want him to give Paul Hubbert a coronary.
If we take the legislature then all of those sheriffs will become Republican. If they become Republican the voters in those counties will abandon the Dem primary. If they do that the Democratic Party is dead in this state for generations, perhaps forever.
I have to agree with you there. Just about all of congress has been doing that. I love my country, but, I’m sick to death of our government.
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