Dick Armey: The Boehner Banner? (House Republicans must return to their reformist roots)

Wall Street Journal ^ | February 12, 2006 | Dick Armey

[RWR8189]

With the election of John Boehner as House majority leader, Republicans have, in effect, taken over the House of Representatives for a second time. And not a moment too soon. After over 10 years in the majority, House Republicans had lost their way, too focused on parochial pork over public policy.

More than anything, Rep. Boehner's success represents the intent of Republican members of the House to repair their credentials as reformers with the American people. His victory was made possible because he was able to find common purpose with John Shadegg, Jeff Flake, Mike Pence and the rest of the Young Turks of the party eager to regain what some are calling the Spirit of '94. As such, interpret Rep. Boehner's victory as a Republican Conference mandate to restore the party of limited, honest government and big reform ideas that move money and power out of Washington.

Foremost, the majority leader is an officer of the House. His first responsibility is to the House as an institution of our Republic. His second is to the nation and to pursue the broad national interest. My advice is best summed as follows: If it is about power, you lose. The majority leader must serve the job, not use the job to serve himself. If Leader Boehner serves the job well, the trust of his colleagues and the American people will naturally follow.

Unless the speaker decides to change his delegation of responsibilities, the majority leader will continue to manage the legislative agenda of the House. In doing so, he must put his policy duties ahead of his political duties, knowing that good policy makes good politics.

 

[stevem]

Dick Armey: The Boehner Banner? (House Republicans must return to their reformist roots)

If they don't, what's the point of having them around?

[ncountylee]

The new majority leader needs to operate with a process that brings Democrats to the table without compromising our principles.

The hard left will not allow cooperation but showing the obstructive mantra of the democrats is good policy.

[JohnBovenmyer]

Make this so, but don't bet the farm on it. To learn about a stealth Bush budget mechanism improvement that Congress needs to duplicate at CBO see this.

[q_an_a]

another example of how a traitor is allowed back into the fold, because he mouths words that he hopes others will take as his serious side.

Armey, my former congressman, is a loser. He does not know the difference between small government and taking responsibility for your voters. He let the highways in his North Texas districts go without money, while Jim Wright got Ft Worth all they needed to be years ahead of Dallas.

[SC33]

Too bad Boehner is an open-borders guy.

[Siena Dreaming]

I have a feeling Boehner is going to do well.

He is not a media hog. Also, even though I liked Tom Delay a lot, he was too much of a brawler which the Democrats love.

Boehner is not a brawler. That being said, his style will be more effective IMO. He will slowly and methodically do his job without rising to the bait of the Dems. His is extremely cool under fire. He is going to see that the budget gets cut and he will do it coolly and methodically. He is the Dems's worst nightmare IMO.

[Ole Okie]

If they don't, what's the point of having them around?

That's a good question. The Republicans are pushing the Democrats further to the left because the Republicans are storming and occupying the ground the Dumbs used to have.

I hope Boehner has the balls and desire to push the House back to the right. If he can, they may be able to shove the Senate rightward.

I think the enormity of how far we've veered off the righteous path was finally brought home to me by the Alaskan bridges to nowhere.

That is still unbelievable to me. And the bridges to nowhere pork is still in the budget, I think.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

He let the highways in his North Texas districts go without money, while Jim Wright got Ft Worth all they needed to be years ahead of Dallas.

Sounds like you are mad you didn't get your pound of pork. If you liked Jim Wright and Martin Frost better join the Democrats.

Dick Armey was a great conservative Representative and Phil Gramm was a great Senator. Too bad they decided to leave. However, Jeb Henseling is also good and you can't beat John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison.

If you can't be happy with that take either a chill pill or a laxative.

[q_an_a]

Since I pay highway taxes via the gasoline I buy and since Texas gets less money for roads than the amount we send to Washington, my pound of pork is your pound of silliness. We earn the right to road work by paying for gasoline.

The whole point of taxation and representation which was the start of our country is that the people elected make sure that the taxes we pay produce value for the people. Is it to much to ask that our GAS taxes build our roads?

Armey took great pride in insuring that 0 - zero - dollars came into his district. Did he get gas taxes reduced?? NO. He did not stop federal spending it just meant that his voters got no help for the roads we need to get to work. You should see the backlog of work that is being done NOW to fix 10 years of neglect.

By the way - you never address the traitor issue about Armey. Did you think he was a man of honor to knife his friend, mentor and supporter in his attempt to make himself the leader??

Finally back on task. Gas taxes pay more money into the government - just like social security used to - than the government spends on the reason the taxes are collected. You let me know when they reduce gas tax or social security. / rant off

[Mind-numbed Robot]

By the way - you never address the traitor issue about Armey. Did you think he was a man of honor to knife his friend, mentor and supporter in his attempt to make himself the leader??

I have no idea what you are talking about.

[q_an_a]

What I'm talking about is that Armey lead a midnight effort to kick Newt out as Speaker and for Armey to take his place - that is why Hastert is now the Speaker. The party was boxed into a corner to get rid of Newt and they had no good choice to replace him after the various people realized that they would have to vote for a Judas.

By the way - not helping your people get highway dollars, from the gas tax trust fund, when your area is doubling in size every 8 years is another form of Judas to you district.