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Just Say No to Earmarks
opinionjournal.com (WSJ) ^ | February 10, 2006 | TOM COBURN

Posted on 02/10/2006 1:27:57 PM PST by neverdem

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To: Moonman62
I 'll spend it more wisely than Congress. I promise.

And you know what? I believe you, too.

41 posted on 02/11/2006 11:54:58 AM PST by inquest (If you favor any legal status for illegal aliens, then do not claim to be in favor of secure borders)
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To: inquest
Of course, but we're faced with a bit of a chicken/egg problem.

It really is...do remember that the mandatory spending though dwarfs the discretionary by over three to one. If at this point the pork helps get generally conservative (not necessarily fiscally but politically) Republicans elected and re-elected, we will make progress on both...

Their are plenty of voices like yours to make the big spenders toe the line (or at least realize what they are doing), while the SC evolves and a way is found to reign in the relics of LBJ. The heart of big government is the liberal interpretation of the Commerce Clause, and until it is changed, not much overall will change.

However, we are a lot better off than we were with Dems in charge, and the last thing anyone should do is hand those fools the keys to the Congress.

Just the way I look at it inquest...

42 posted on 02/11/2006 1:38:10 PM PST by A.Hun (Common sense is no longer common.)
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To: Moonman62
and I 'll spend it more wisely than Congress

... You probably would, you need to throw your hat in the ring.

GWB gave Congress the green light to spend as much money as they wanted with his "new tone in Washington" philosophy.

I believe GWB has had more important things to deal with than vetoing his own party's budgets. You know...war on terror, 9/11, stock market crash, Enron and related business screw ups, recession, tax cuts, two elections, about 12 hurricanes and one flooded major city, two wars, two supreme court appointments....

Once again, just my opinion on it.

43 posted on 02/11/2006 1:46:30 PM PST by A.Hun (Common sense is no longer common.)
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To: A.Hun
If at this point the pork helps get generally conservative (not necessarily fiscally but politically) Republicans elected and re-elected, we will make progress on both...

Theoretically, but our practical experience with GOP rule hasn't given much encouragement in that direction. Sacrificing progress on a long-term cancer (pork) for the sake of a largely imaginary short-term gain is not good strategy.

The heart of big government is the liberal interpretation of the Commerce Clause

Actually that's secondary to the real heart of the problem, which is the liberal interpretation of the "general welfare" clause, which sanctifies federal spending on virtually anything. It's these purse strings that enable the federal government to extend its control over society even more effectively than direct regulation under the commerce clause. Taxing and spending have to be the Numero Uno target for conservatives of all stripes (at least as regards purely domestic policy).

44 posted on 02/11/2006 3:15:14 PM PST by inquest (If you favor any legal status for illegal aliens, then do not claim to be in favor of secure borders)
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To: A.Hun
I believe GWB has had more important things to deal with than vetoing his own party's budgets.

Now there's one clear advantage to having Congress and the White House controlled by different parties than by the same party.

45 posted on 02/11/2006 3:17:42 PM PST by inquest (If you favor any legal status for illegal aliens, then do not claim to be in favor of secure borders)
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