GOP leaders steering for the iceberg
U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind. (AP photo)
Mike Pence, Republican of Indiana, is chairman of the House Republican Conference and is the third highest ranking Republican in the House. Yesterday, in a visit to Florida, he discussed his plans should the GOP take control of the House of Representatives.
TAMPA – Indiana Congressman Mike Pence, a likely 2012 presidential contender, told a gathering of local Republicans Thursday night that Republicans will refuse to compromise with the Obama administration on health care, the economy or anything else if they win the House majority back Nov. 2.
Pence also told the crowd of several hundred Republicans that the nation’s future is at risk, and the country could become a failed power if Republicans don’t win….
“The last Republican Congress didn’t suffer from too little compromise, it suffered too much,” he said. If they retake the majority, he said, there can be “no compromise that allows more borrowing, more spending, more deficits and more debt … no compromise on stopping their government takeover of health care.”
“If I didn’t make myself clear, no compromise,” he said. “We didn’t come this far to … seek consensus with the political liberal elite in Washington.”
Pence’s comments about “no compromise that allows more borrowing, more spending, more deficits and more debt” are particularly interesting, given that sometime next spring, Congress will be required to raise the nation’s debt ceiling or face a shutdown of the government.
I think it’s pretty clear where we’re headed, which is directly into the iceberg. In fact, a good portion of the GOP seems downright giddy at the prospect of hearing the popping of rivets, the shearing of metal, the inrush of water and the cries of those trapped below deck.
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681 comments Add your comment
Southern Comfort
October 22nd, 2010
10:36 am
Welcome to the United States of America… sonsored by KY Brand lubricants. Only in America does people get democratically elected to screw the very people who put them in office. Time to stock up on KY, Astroglide, or whatever brand is your choice of lube.
md
October 22nd, 2010
10:37 am
“I think it’s pretty clear where we’re headed, which is directly into the iceberg.”
Well you are right Jay, we are definetly currently on the Titanic……………..
getalife
October 22nd, 2010
10:38 am
I am for shutting down corrupt congress to end corporate socialism.
Lil' Barry Bailout
October 22nd, 2010
10:42 am
Sorry Jay, but I completely missed your point. What part of stopping the obscene spending and getting government out of our health care decisions do you find troubling?
TaxPayer
October 22nd, 2010
10:42 am
So, does Mr. Pence stand in front of a mirror when he just says no to more spending and more borrowing and more debt and only turn away when he says tax cut or how does that work. These Republicans are so confusing.
larry
October 22nd, 2010
10:43 am
Government in our health care decisions? When did this happen?
Peadawg
October 22nd, 2010
10:44 am
“no compromise that allows more borrowing, more spending, more deficits and more debt”
Besides the debt ceiling issue, what exactly is wrong with this statement?
TINSTAAFL
October 22nd, 2010
10:44 am
Jay: You should get luckovich to sketch a cartoon of this. I think it’d be pretty funny.
larry
October 22nd, 2010
10:45 am
•Let you choose your own doctor: Health reform makes it clear that you can choose any available participating primary care provider as your provider, and any available participating pediatrician to be your child’s primary care provider.
getalife
October 22nd, 2010
10:45 am
Peadawg,
After watching them spend last time, do you actually believe they will change?
HDB
October 22nd, 2010
10:46 am
“The last Republican Congress didn’t suffer from too little compromise, it suffered too much….”
Interesting….shut down the government….keep the peoples’ needs at bay….and score points with the elites…..
Hypocracy…thy name is GOP!! Where’s my life preserver?? The ship’s already HIT the iceberg…..and going down!!
larry
October 22nd, 2010
10:47 am
Let the Republicans continue to talk. The more they talk, the more the Democrats move up in the polls.
Thank God We Escaped!
October 22nd, 2010
10:47 am
Oh My My! Well and truly flocked you are… Hey, Ugmerica may well destroy the world. It is off to a good start in that direction. At least it looks certain that they will be reaping some of what they have sown. Gonna get UGLY.
P.S. Ugmerica is a word i just created; it is a wonderful summation so use it early and often.
Peadawg
October 22nd, 2010
10:48 am
“After watching them spend last time, do you actually believe they will change?”
Atleast they are saying they’ll try. I haven’t seen or heard any indication from Obama that he plans on cutting anything. All I hear from him is raise taxes.
Southern Comfort
October 22nd, 2010
10:49 am
Peadawg
If the GOP wasn’t gung ho about extending Bush’s tax cuts, I’d believe that statement. The money to pay for that tax cut will not just appear out of thin air.
AmVet
October 22nd, 2010
10:49 am
“Government in our health care decisions? When did this happen?”
When the “free-market”, profiteers decided they were going to act completely irresponsibly.
When they earned the title of the Titans of Malfeasance and Criminal Negligence.
When the “Let the free market police itself” idiots allowed them to subvert we the people’s sovereignty.
When the American plutocracy neared maturity.
And if it is already too late, we are all hopelessly screwed
md
October 22nd, 2010
10:50 am
“After watching them spend last time, do you actually believe they will change?”
Highly doubtful………….but I’ll take balanced gov’t any day over either party with total control.
And the current group sure hasn’t done very well on the spending issue…….
getalife
October 22nd, 2010
10:50 am
Peadawg,
He formed the cat food commission.
The gop will not change.
Wake up.
Peadawg
October 22nd, 2010
10:51 am
“If the GOP wasn’t gung ho about extending Bush’s tax cuts”
Ya I agree that the rich should pay more. If only we had that PERFECT candidate…..
Mick
October 22nd, 2010
10:51 am
I guess all the spending up to january 2007 was OK? How’s about revisiting that medicare drug bill that was pushed into law by tom delay? Democrats are annoying but republicans are shameless bullies driven by ideology that services the rich.
AmVet
October 22nd, 2010
10:51 am
“After watching them spend last time, do you actually believe they will change?”
The rubes and loyalists are not concerned with credibility.
Or the complete lack thereof.
Oh hello, Mr. Fox! I know you’ve changed your ways. Here is the key to the gate to the American hen house.
Hook, line and sinker, baby…
Harry Callahan
October 22nd, 2010
10:52 am
Realx Jay…only 11 more days until we put adults back in charge.
LOL at Bookman…like continuing to run Barack’s $1.3 trillion deficit every year for the forseeable future isn’t “steering for the iceberg”…
md
October 22nd, 2010
10:53 am
“The money to pay for that tax cut will not just appear out of thin air.”
And that depends………..it the money gets spent, it WILL get taxed, and some times many times…………
Halftrack
October 22nd, 2010
10:54 am
Jay, What is your solution for the fine mess we find ourselves in? I know if my credit card debt is high there is a need to quit spending or bankruptcy is around the corner. Our debt is now at 13 + Trillion dollars. Rich people, the top 3% of our nation pay 97% of the Income taxes now. Also there are 47% of the nation on food stamps. If we raised taxes to 100% of the tax paying citizens, there would not be enough money to pay our national debt. What part of unsustainable do you not understand? The journey of a 1000 miles begins with 1 step. Let’s get off the Socialist bus because its destination is Povertyville for all.
Mick
October 22nd, 2010
10:55 am
harry
We can begin to solve that problem pronto – let the tax cuts expire for everyone…
Thank God We Escaped!
October 22nd, 2010
10:55 am
Ughmerica Ugmerica!
God shed disgrace on Thee!!
There is no Good, or Brotherhood
from sea to shining sea!
Ugmerica = just a con job for the masses now.
md
October 22nd, 2010
10:55 am
“Oh hello, Mr. Fox! I know you’ve changed your ways. Here is the key to the gate to the American hen house.”
Now Am – what exactly is the difference between 2 foxes???? One already has the keys………
Ragnar Danneskjöld
October 22nd, 2010
10:55 am
One thing the Dems haven’t tried: responsible governance. In an essay titled “Republicans Kind Of soock . . . Which Is Why They Will Win Huge in November,” Frank J. Fleming presents an imaginary dialogue that perfectly captures the Democrats’ approach:
Americans: “So, the economy is pretty bad and there’s high employment [sic]. You think you can do something about that?”
Democrats and Obama: “We can spend a trillion dollars we don’t have on pork and stuff.”
Americans: “No . . . that’s not what we want. We’d really like you not to do that.”
Democrats: “You’re stupid. We’re doing it anyway.”
Americans: “That’s not going to help us get jobs!”
Democrats: “Sure it will; millions of them … though they may be invisible. You’ll have to trust us they exist. And guess what else we’ll do: We’ll create a giant new government program to take over health care.”
Americans: “That has nothing to do with jobs!”
Democrats: “We don’t care about that anymore. We really want a giant new health care program. We’re sure you’ll love it.”
Americans: “Don’t pass that bill. You hear me? Absolutely do not pass that bill.”
Democrats: “Believe me; you’ll love it. It has … well, I don’t know what exactly is in the bill, but we’re sure it’s great.”
Americans: “Listen to me: DO. NOT. PASS. THAT. BILL.”
Democrats: “You’re not the boss of me! We’re doing it anyway!”
As Fleming notes, “The Democrats soocked. But not just plain old, usual politician soocked. . . . It’s Godzilla-smashing-through-a-city level of soock–but a really patronizing Godzilla who says you’re just too stupid and hateful to see all the buildings he’s saved or created as he smashes everything apart.”
Harry Callahan
October 22nd, 2010
10:56 am
…and LOL at AmVet. I’d argue that the rubes and loyalists are the ones who really think Barack, Pelosi, and/or Reid have any intention of ever reigning in government spending, given their record over the last four years, but it makes him sleep better at night to believe he has loving, caring, and compassionate government angels to protect hime from the eveil corporate boogieman crouching in the closet.
Southern Comfort
October 22nd, 2010
10:56 am
Ya I agree that the rich should pay more. If only we had that PERFECT candidate…..
I’m not saying the rich should pay more. I’m saying that none of the tax cuts should be extended. That’s what they should be fighting for if they are serious about no more borrowing or spending compromises.
Jefferson
October 22nd, 2010
10:56 am
I think we are used to “NO” by now. Nothing new, prepare for the tax increase on the high income groups.
getalife
October 22nd, 2010
10:56 am
Come on cons and libs.
w punked the cons.
Obama punked the libs.
Now the cons think the gop will not punk them again.
Look up the definition of insanity gullible Americans.
Geez.
jt
October 22nd, 2010
10:56 am
“In fact, a good portion of the GOP seems downright giddy at the prospect of hearing the popping of rivets, the shearing of metal, the inrush of water and the cries of those trapped below deck.”
I’m no GOPer, but I still relish that prospect.
Let the leviathon die.
Let Liberty ring.
TaxPayer
October 22nd, 2010
10:57 am
Anyway, the message appears to be that if the Republicans seize power again, they will return our healthcare system to the way it was, for starters. Go for it. Then, they’re going to do something about our debt and borrowing. Riiiiiight. What would that be. Let me guess. They’ll recommend a tax cut to fix it. Pence, like all the rest of his “just say no” crowd have gone well beyond stoopid. That pack of losers is just plain insane.
Union
October 22nd, 2010
11:01 am
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303339504575566481761790288.html?mod=WSJ_hp_MIDDLETopStories
thomas
October 22nd, 2010
11:01 am
getalife
October 22nd, 2010
10:56 am
So what is the solution if they both say one thing and do another.
Should we not continue to vote out those who spend like drunken sailors and pay little to no attention to the wants, and desires of the American voting public?
Seems to me if we keep voting out liars we may eventually get some honest people who will try to do what is best for the country, not what is best for them as an individual or what follows their ideology?
retired early
October 22nd, 2010
11:01 am
Oh hell, Callahan is back. This blog is doomed once again to nonsense.
Jefferson
October 22nd, 2010
11:02 am
Nothing wrong with spending, just have to balance the revenue side.
md
October 22nd, 2010
11:02 am
Tax cuts vs stimulus…………..tax cuts go into the pockets of everybody, stimulus goes into the pockets of the chosen……….think about it.
Maybe we need to modify the tax cuts vs yanking that money away from everybody in the middle of a recession……..
Who Cares?
October 22nd, 2010
11:03 am
@ Halftrack at10:54 am, please don’t confuse them with facts. Life in the fantasy world is much more enjoyable.
TaxPayer
October 22nd, 2010
11:03 am
I decided to Google “Tax Cuts” and I ended up going through this strange gyration of setting up shop in Ireland to do business in the Netherlands before sending funds to the Caymans where I then transfer them back to Washington state. It’s the weirdest thing I ever did see. There must be some sort of virus or worm or something at work.
Lil' Barry Bailout
October 22nd, 2010
11:03 am
Punkd?
—————–
After news of Google tax dodges, Obama raises money with Google execs
On the day it was reported that Google uses income shifting techniques known by such arcane names as the “Double Irish” and the “Dutch Sandwich” to avoid paying taxes on its foreign profits, President Obama attended an intimate, high-dollar fundraiser at the Palo Alto, California home of a top Google executive.
Lil' Barry Bailout
October 22nd, 2010
11:04 am
thomas, amen. Vote them out until they do what they’re told.
kitty
October 22nd, 2010
11:05 am
Why do I suspect all we will really see from the GOP will be more nonsense on abortion and gay marriage that does nothing as well as increasing deficits…I for one have had enough of the nonsense of the GOP. They didn’t do anything when they had control but spend spend spend so why should I believe anything they say now?
Mick
October 22nd, 2010
11:06 am
I guess if obstruction is going to become a valid tactic, then maybe the repubs shouldn’t whine if the dems become the minority. Filibuster every repub bill, two can play it that way, since compromise is unnacceptable in today’s politics.
getalife
October 22nd, 2010
11:06 am
The only question I ask the fed pols is when and how would you fix our corrupt system?
All Americans should be asking this question.
Atlas Shrugging
October 22nd, 2010
11:07 am
The parasites …my tax money at work…
http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=618
JohnnyReb
October 22nd, 2010
11:07 am
Southern Comfort@10:49 – the Progressives scored bonus points with your buy-in to their lies about tax cuts and increases.
There can only be increases, regardless of everyone getting an increase or only the selected few. The current tax rates will go up or stay the same; therefore no tax decrease, only the possibility of an increase.
The BS line about paying for tax cuts for the wealthy, is just that BS. Obama and his supporters have framed that part of the conversation like it will cost the government, therefore the people, billions if taxes on the wealthy are not increased. No, if the Bush tax cuts are extended for all the situation would be status quo.
What has happened is, Obama has a budget, which the Democratically controlled Congress failed to address for political reasons, which is based on expiration of the Bush tax cuts. Without the increase on the wealthy, his budget will have a bigger deficit.
Jefferson
October 22nd, 2010
11:08 am
The GOP is still and will be a bunch of outdated, petty, and uncreditable geezers with little power but will continue to put sticks in the spokes and woo the weak minded.
Doggone/GA
October 22nd, 2010
11:09 am
” Filibuster every repub bill”
They can’t filibuster a bill in the House. Only in the Senate.