Posted on 08/04/2011 6:41:14 PM PDT by LibFreeUSA
The talking points prevailing in the wake of the debt ceiling debacle would have you believe that this deal had been a compromise, and the best for which conservatives and Tea Party ought to have hoped possible.
At the end of the debates lies a truth concealed by all the fluff: There was no compromise in this debate; one side prevailed, but it wasnt the Tea Party. In a betrayal reminiscent of the movie Braveheart, when the Scottish nobility deserted the field, abandoning William Wallace to defeat, Republican leaders likewise abandoned the Tea Party, not for compromise, but in infamy by betrayal and surrender for the sake of their own hides.
Willing to risk nothing, the Republican establishment has become an increasingly intractable part of the Beltway Axis. Like the nobles in the movie, theyre taking their special privileges and carve-outs in exchange for their complicity and silence.
For an outcome to be considered a compromise implies that both parties to the exchange ought to have obtained equal measure of consideration for their part, in trade for a yielding of approximately equal value. There can be no compromise where ones position isnt ultimately advanced, and any examination of the much-ballyhooed Budget Control Act reveals that for their part, the Republicans accepted complete capitulation with a few face-saving bones thrown their way. None should be so foolish as to accept these bones for anything other than an insult, and the injury done by this act will exceed by many times the few strings of rancid gristle left to the Tea Party are more cause for anger and despair than for celebration.
Lets consider what this bill has wrought:
- A new Super-Congress that ultimately answers only to the establishment
- A total of $917 billion in cuts the vast bulk of which occur some time in the future
- A failure to sufficiently reduce deficit spending credit rating downgrades now seem inevitable
- A failure to first pass a Balanced Budget Amendment out of both houses
- A failure to make anything other than token cuts to FY 2012 or 2013
- A virtual guarantee on the expiration of the so-called Bush Tax Cuts in January 2013(after the election)
- A complex process of triggers that allows politicians to shrug their shoulders and disclaim responsibility
- A guarantee that for at least two years, Barack Obama will continue to spend your money and your future
Now, Id like to contrast this with what was gained, in exchange, as the nobles quickly scurry from the field of battle, trumpeting victory as the advancing tide of Longshanks Army descends upon us to put an end to our uprising:
- A vote on a Balanced Budget Amendment with too many loopholes and no guarantee of passage
- More than $7 Trillion in additional debt
- A greater proportion of the budget going to service that debt, and at higher rates
- A brief respite from the harangue that Republicans hate people
This is what the Republican nobles quit the fight to achieve by way of so-called compromise? Why bother? Why not simply slap the shackles and chains upon us themselves? For all intents and purposes, that is precisely what they have done, because this new law does nothing to immediately begin the process of changing our course to something closer to sustainability.
This bill does nothing to preserve the value of the dollar or the credit-worthiness of our government. This bill is a disaster unmitigated by the bare bones were being fed as scrap from the establishments table. Those in the Republican leadership in DC, who call this bill a compromise, are simply concealing what it really is: Complete betrayal, and unconditional surrender.
Now, there are those conservatives who are still looking for some scrap upon which to rest the premise that this compromise has been anything but a disaster, but the proof will be in the final tally of its effects, and from any angle I view it, the alleged benefits are more smoke and mirrors, and the detriments are vast and self-defeating.
There can be no compromise on first principles without an effective surrender. In this case, what the Republican leadership has accomplished is to deliver the Tea Party and conservatives to the adversary. For this monstrous betrayal, what have establishment Republicans received? For all intents and purposes, even they have received nothing, except some temporary restraints in the vile language ordinarily hurled against them. The target of that defamation is now almost solely the Tea Party, or Sarah Palin.
Compromise offers a potential good, when thats what it is, but when its mere surrender dressed up as pragmatism, you had better stand opposed to it. In this entire miserable battle, only one politician of national prominence continued to rail against these so-called compromises, and she was berated by Republican operatives and leftists in the media for her trouble. She warned and cajoled and prompted and yet, at the end of the day, they ignored her, and you. Sarah Palin stood in as William Wallace in this debate, and the turncoats in the GOP did their level best to deliver her to Edward the Longshanks. The good news is that we and she survived the engagement, but a new battle is looming. Dont leave her on the field as shes the only prospective presidential candidate whos stepped onto the field without reservation. Shes defended your honor and your good name. Its time to return the favor.
Its time to begin to rally to those who dare to put their names at risk, because such people are few, and we know who they are, so if we believe in all that we claim, its long past time that we at least stand up to say so.
The sad aspect of this betrayal is that 75% of the American people were behind a balanced budget and lowering the deficit. A rare occurence in this climate, the a majority of Republicans turned on their conservative base. ANYONE who voted for this ‘raise the debt ceiling bill’ should be voted out of office next election,period!
Start the mantra, ‘Obama is turning the American dream into the American nightmare and destroying our childrens future’. Repeat loud and often.
I’m going over to survivalblog.com now thank you!
You make a good point (about the 75% of the people in support), because it goes to show (all the more to prove the point of the article), that the Establishment (Republican establishment in collusion with the Democrats) conspired against the people’s wishes. They ‘feared’ the criticism from the Democrats would jeopardize their lofty positions of power. They were not willing to put their jobs on the line for the sake of doing, not only what was the right thing to do, but to do so on behalf of, and in support of, the wishes of the people.
Stock up! We’re going to need all the supplies and support for the battles coming up.
>>The sad aspect of this betrayal is that 75% of the American people were behind a balanced budget and lowering the deficit.
70% of Americans opposed Obamacare, but the Rats passed it anyway.
75% of Americans didn’t want the debt ceiling raised; the Rats and RINOs raised it anyway.
80% of Americans don’t want their taxes to increase; The Rats and RINOs will raise taxes anyway.
We don’t have a representative government anymore. The “awkward stage” Claire Wolfe described is rapidly coming to an end. Some might argue that it already has.
2.Ballot Box (2012 Elections)
If that fails, then it is on to #3. AMMO BOX
Take note Pubbies in DC: we don't give a damn if you have an "R" behind your name. Either do what your constituents want, or become unemployed.All of you in DC should study some more history. You are fueling the fires of a new American Revolution.
Ask any ye shall find:
FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 690 (House)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2758143/posts
And in the Senate:
ping for later
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.