Posted on 02/11/2012 10:50:08 PM PST by JediJones
The Washington establishment believes that the government shutdown of 1995 was a disastrous mistake that accomplished little and cost House Republicans politically.
The facts are exactly the opposite.
While the shutdown produced some short-term pain, it set the stage for a budget deal in 1996 that led to the largest drop in federal discretionary spending since 1969. The discipline imposed by this budget — overall spending grew at an average of 2.9 percent a year while I was speaker of the House, the slowest rate in decades — allowed us to reach a balanced-budget deal in 1997.
...the balanced budget was an outcome driven by House Republicans with limited support from skeptical Senate Republicans [Me: RINOs.].
House Republicans passed a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget. Seventy-two Democrats joined us, giving us the required two-thirdsmajority to amend the Constitution. Unfortunately, the Senate failed to reach this threshold by one vote.
Our constitutional amendment would have set a seven-year deadline to balance the budget. We adopted the same timetable and created a plan that would end deficit spending by 2002.
It was President Bill Clinton’s veto of our budget in December 1995 that closed the government. The White House knew that it could use the power of the presidency and the support of liberal media to blame us.
We could cave in and be accepted by the Washington establishment, or we could stand firm for a balanced budget for the American people.
We decided to stick to our principles through a very contentious and difficult period.
Nonetheless, the ultimate result was the first four consecutive balanced budgets since the 1920s...
Becoming one more promise-breaking, Washington-dominated, sellout group is a much worse fate — politically and ethically — than having the government close for a few days.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
“Newt would have kept the gov’t shut down! It was quisling Dole that genuflected— I can still vividly see him standing at his desk in the Senate, cutting the rug form under the House conservative insurgents and Newt.”
And, the shut down was seen as hurting Dole’s chance to be elected...................as if.
You are both right!
I believe the ‘rats were one day away from caving before Dole pulled the rug out.
For everybody else, the 1994 election was about the American people and the Constitution. Why for Gingrich and his supporters, it's all about Gingrich and slamming everyone else. If nothing else, this throwing Reagan, the Constitution, the American people, all the other Senators and Reps under the bus is a real turnoff. If Gingrich was a real conservative, he wouldn't need to put himself above everyone and everything. If only Gingrich would praise Reagan or the Constitution as much as he does Nancy Pelosi.
(Why don't you read the post Gingrich put on his web site after endorsing Scozzafava, where he declares jihad on conservatives/ Oh, yeah, he took it down to fool conservatives)
“Newt Gingrich saved his presidency.”
Bob Dole saved Clinton’s presidency.
PS. Rick Santorum has backtracked from his 2008 endorsement of Mitt Romney by saying he was for “anyone but McCain.” In this 2008 interview with Laura Ingraham Santorum praised Romney at great length — contradicting some of what he says today. In the interview, Santorum calls Romney a “true conservative” and says he “is someone we can trust.” http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/seven-minutes-of-rick-santorum-talking-about-how-g
To be fair, I was here in ‘98 and ‘99, too...just not registered.
Man oh man, what a free for all it was back then! You guys scared me to death! lol
And Dole now supports? RS
I was here in ‘98 using WebTV....LOL.
“The second he was caught having his affair Clinton was saved.”
How can that be? Newt didn’t resign until ‘99.
Clinton was reelected in ‘96.
You better check the threads, because I have held my tongue for about a month. But now there’s a conservative that can beat Romney, not just Romney Jr.
Dole endorsed Mittens.
WebTV?
God love you for being so smart. I never could figure that thing out. lol
Here’s the link.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/18/us-usa-campaign-romney-dole-idUSTRE7BH0HH20111218
You really aren’t going to convince anyone. Nancy Reagan was the most protective of President Reagan, and in ‘95 she handed the mantle or torch that belonged to Reagan to Newt Gingrich that was handed to him by Barry Goldwater!
Now THAT’s funny.
Oh, I didn’t post after I got told off after my second post, when I neglected to close the bold font, so when I got a computer I signed up under this screen name instead of the variation of my own name. I was a mess trying to learn on WebTV!
More importantly, the timeline is off from what you claim. Once Ginrich's affair was out, the public was never going to tolerate Clinton being removed from office. So in December of '98 and January 1999, the damage was done. You can't blame Santorum for the situation Gingrich put all of them in. He was the traitor.
Ha! Now that you mention it.......;o)
Very clever, lwoodham!
I was talking about his impeachment/removal from office.
I’m impressed that you tried!
I remember one of my first posts, and someone didn’t close their tags. I had no clue as to what that was. I thought I broke FR!
It was a while before I figured that one out. lol
First of all, we all know Nancy was never as conservative as Reagan, and supported many things he didn’t. She endorsed McCain in ‘08, and would endorse Romney this year, if he’s the nominee. Second, is Nancy now claiming she doesn’t support Gingrich, etc.
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.