House conservatives obsessed with playing Samson
Last night, rebellious Republican congressmen sent Plan B to outer space, banished their speaker to the corner and sent a message to the American people that yes, we really are this crazy.
In the end, voting for permanent tax cuts for 99.81 percent of Americans turned out to be unacceptable to those obsessed with maintaining 100 percent ideological purity. Downtrodden millionaires and billionaires must be protected, whatever the cost.
Afterward, Speaker John Boehner seemed to throw up his hands in frustration at his own caucus.
“The House did not take up the tax measure today because it did not have sufficient support from our members to pass,” Boehner said in a prepared statement. “Now it is up to the president to work with Sen. Reid on legislation to avert the fiscal cliff.”
Boehner made no public statement and took no questions.
On critical issues of taxation and spending, this represents an enormous loss of clout for Boehner. To get future fiscal-cliff legislation through the House, he will now have to rely upon votes from both Republicans and Democrats — and probably more Democrats than Republicans. That in turn will make Nancy Pelosi his de facto co-speaker, with the two leaders trying to cobble together enough moderate votes from their parties to do the nation’s business.
It will be interesting to see whether Boehner’s fellow Republicans tolerate him playing that role, tolerance not being one of their strong points. And after the fiscal cliff will come the looming need to raise the debt ceiling, a vote that now becomes fraught with even more danger for Republicans. There too, it’s now clear that Boehner will have to turn to Pelosi and her caucus for votes, increasing the odds of a dramatic cleavage within the House GOP.
It’s also important to note that conservative bravado notwithstanding, refusing to pass such legislation is not an option. It will pass because it must pass. The House may vote no once. It may vote no twice. But eventually, it will vote yes. It is only a question of how much damage the conservatives are willing to do to their party and their country as they play out their Samson Complex, intent on pulling the whole corrupt, Philistine temple down around their ears rather than compromise.
In that sense, the serenity prayer offered by Boehner in last night’s private GOP caucus was a rare touch of poetry from the saloon-keeper’s son:
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.”
As last night demonstrated, such wisdom is in pitifully short supply right now. Republicans find themselves divided and in retreat, pitted against a president whose approval/disapproval ratings now stand at 56/37. Perhaps more important, they are playing out their dysfunction in front of a citizenry already inclined to see the GOP as extremist and unwilling to bend for the good of the country.
Asked last night whether Boehner deserves blame for this failure, U.S. Rep. Steve LaTourette, Boehner’s fellow Ohioan, was blunt in rejecting the notion:
“It’s like saying the superintendent of an insane asylum should be discharged because he couldn’t control the crazy people. That’s nuts.”
Then again, isn’t it the job of the superintendent to control the crazy people?
LaTourette is an interesting figure. He was first elected to the House in 1994, part of the Gingrich wave that gave the GOP its first House majority in half a century. But the party’s hard move to the right has left him frustrated, and this year he declined to run for re-election. That has given him the freedom to utter hard, difficult truths.
“It weakens the entire Republican Party…,” he said after last night’s disaster. “It’s the continuing dumbing down of the Republican Party, and we are going to be seen more and more as a bunch of extremists that can’t even get a majority of our people to support our own policies that we’re putting forward. If you’re not a governing majority, you’re not going to be a majority very long.”
– Jay Bookman
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
365 comments Add your comment
GT
December 21st, 2012
10:02 am
America is paying attention for once to this crazy element which fights like gorillas in the night. The right wing congressman have pledged their loyalty to an individual not even a member of their district over the voters in their districts. Same with the gun lobby, you send them up there to vote for the highest bidder to their personal pocketbooks. You know it now and the weight of this is on the shoulders of the America that has pulled away from sanity and favor lobbyist over voters.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
December 21st, 2012
10:03 am
“Obama’s hard stance against republicans has definitely been a factor in going over the cliff”
bollocks
bollocks
bollocks
bollocks
from the day he won the election, he has reached out to the GOP – THEY are the ones who couldn’t even be bothered to come to the phone.
Cons Throwing Poor Cons Under The Bus for the Downtrodden Rich
December 21st, 2012
10:03 am
CONS look out for that BUS.
BuckeyeInGa
December 21st, 2012
10:05 am
Obama’s hard stance against republicans has definitely been a factor in going over the cliff
In the president’s previous term he tried to meet people half way, and people still wanted to play hard ball. Well now his stance has harden. can’t blame him.
RF
December 21st, 2012
10:05 am
“stressing the superiority of American capitalism, questioning the Founding Fathers’ commitment to a purely secular government and presenting Republican political philosophies in a more positive light.”
UsinUK: I remember that battle royale. Problem is, current events aren’t exactly playing out in their favor. Whatever will they do? I guess they could take over the media and internet…and then we’d be just like those supposedly hated tyrants they’re always wanting to start a war against…
Skip
December 21st, 2012
10:06 am
How important can any of this be when Boehner sends his people on an extended vacation?
mm
December 21st, 2012
10:06 am
Plan BS failed. What a surprise.
DebbieDoRight -
December 21st, 2012
10:06 am
Enter your comments here
Regnad Kcin
December 21st, 2012
10:08 am
Seems like only yesterday that Mr. Speaker accused Mr. President of being unable to deliver his party’s votes…
Cons Throwing Poor Cons Under The Bus for the Downtrodden Rich
December 21st, 2012
10:08 am
@Joe Hussein Mama
December 21st, 2012
10:02 am
Recon — “punishing successful people for their success”
When President Clinton got him a younger, hotter blonde in the Oval Office, were you in favor of punishing him for his success?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This AIN’T about President Clinton.
This is ABOUT:
Cons LOVE THE RICH. Ain’t that RICH.
So DON’T blame the Democrats BECAUSE you just
got THROWN UNDER THE BUS because you are POOR.
So DON’T blame the Democrats BECAUSE you just
got STABBED IN THE BACK because you are not RICH.
So DON’T blame the Democrats BECAUSE you just
got BAMBOOZLED by your OWN CONS.
“If you ain’t RICH….BLAME YOURSELF.” Herman Cain
Gee
December 21st, 2012
10:09 am
The Mayan civilization ended circa 1300. Obviously, they were forcasting the end of the Republican party. RIP- Repubs!
East Cobb RINO, Inc (LLC)
December 21st, 2012
10:09 am
Does Newt U offer a GOP history class on how things worked out for him when he was speaker in the 90’s? Boehner must have stayed out late the night before playing beer pong and missed it.
Corbin Sharpe. Baby Boomer...and Ban the Gun Thug!
December 21st, 2012
10:09 am
Talk about a bus? The Republican Conservatives never saw the bus…they just saw a big gray dog…
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
December 21st, 2012
10:09 am
RF – 10:05 – meh – when do they care about current events? they seriously don’t care what the rest of the world thinks – in fact, if the rest of the world is against them, they wear it as a badge of honor that they MUST be doing something right!
Buzzy
December 21st, 2012
10:09 am
The Republican Congressman got it right: his Party is crazy; and the good news is that the American people are beginning to notice.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 21st, 2012
10:10 am
Cons Gibberish — “This AIN’T about President Clinton.”
And I didn’t say that it was. I simply asked a question. Have you got the stones to answer it substantively? I doubt it.
“This is ABOUT:”
Snipped and ignored.
DebbieDoRight - Destructive Politics Is The New Black..
December 21st, 2012
10:10 am
It is becoming painfully obvious that the House Republicans are psychopaths.
Tantrum throwing, a-social, attention seeking, self delusional psychopaths!
===========
Morning Usink!!! I am going to try out one of your recipes for the holidays (please pray for my family)! My mom is here and she’ll be here until my sister delivers; so I decided to dazzle her with my new cooking skills.
PS: Please pray for my family!
Peter
December 21st, 2012
10:12 am
Plan B was to raise taxes mostly on the poor and lower income earners…….
RF
December 21st, 2012
10:12 am
“CONS look out for that BUS”
Actually it’s a luxury rv something like that their uber-rich masters drive:
http://usarvcamping.com/huge-luxury-rv-bus/
Lord Help Us
December 21st, 2012
10:13 am
‘PS: Please pray for my family!’
Too funny, my wife is cooking for the whole family this weekend. We have alerted the local firestations…
breckenridge
December 21st, 2012
10:13 am
House republicans are probably waiting for a bill that will have large spending cuts, small tax increases and further restrictions on women’s choice.
But they would do well to remember that God hates dirty filthy disgusting perverted social conservatives.
N-GA (economic base jumper)
December 21st, 2012
10:13 am
The new conservatives are anarchists!
BuckeyeInGa
December 21st, 2012
10:14 am
A great question posed by a commentator. How can Boehner negotiate with the President if he can’t even negotiate with his own House?
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
December 21st, 2012
10:14 am
DDR – whatcha makin???
Doggone/GA
December 21st, 2012
10:17 am
“A great question posed by a commentator. How can Boehner negotiate with the President if he can’t even negotiate with his own House?”
You can’t lead if no one will follow
Erwin's cat
December 21st, 2012
10:17 am
Just as long as we have someone to blame it’s all good
Steve
December 21st, 2012
10:18 am
Who Is The Smallest Government Spender Since Eisenhower? Would You Believe It’s Barack Obama?
(conservative heads explode)
http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2012/05/24/who-is-the-smallest-government-spender-since-eisenhower-would-you-believe-its-barack-obama/
barking frog
December 21st, 2012
10:18 am
Jm 9:41
I have my puts.
……………
guess that makes you a putsy.
Lynnie Gal
December 21st, 2012
10:18 am
Peadawg & Friends–Your photoshopped pic of Pelosi is misogynistic and demonstrates your disrespect for women by mocking their appearance. Knock it off. It’s the reason your party lost the last election. Women don’t like you.
As far as what the Republican party is doing to our economy by refusing to be legislators and instead, acting like vandals, the Business community who support Republicans overwhelmingly need to get on their phones and tell these fools they’d better come up with something to keep us from going over the cliff, pronto. The stock market is plummeting and our economy is on a fast track to crash and then it won’t matter if billionaires and millionaires pay a measly 4% more in taxes. They’re gonna lose a lot more money than that if Republicans continue to act like economic terrorists.
Peter
December 21st, 2012
10:18 am
Boehner is AFRAID to put the Obama plan before the House…….. It just may pass and he and the rest of the Ultra Right-wing for the RICH Only Republican’s will come more UN-glued.
rightwingextreme
December 21st, 2012
10:19 am
ATL Born and Raised
December 21st, 2012
9:58 am
“We have 48% of this country who pay nothing in taxes to the federal government.”
Will this lie ever die?
My error: The bottom 50% pay 2.25% of all income taxes. the complete breakdown is below. data is for the 2009 tax year. source: http://ntu.org/tax-basics/who-pays-income-taxes.html
Top 1% 36.73
Top 5% 58.66
Top 10% 70.47
Top 25% 87.30
Top 50% 97.75
Bottom 50% 2.25
Steve
December 21st, 2012
10:20 am
What absolutely FLOORS me is that the Bush tax cuts were an EXPERIMENT. Remember??????Think, people. Think back. And the economy went to a near depression after major military spending, deregulation of the mortgage/bank industries. Three trillion dollar failed wars.
So we PUT THE TAXES BACK to where they were, and every Confederate Con wails about the hardships on the wealthy.
We are so screwed up as a country. It really makes you want to move to one of the thriving, happy, prosperous Scandinavian socialist nations that actually live in the 21st century.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
December 21st, 2012
10:20 am
“How can Boehner negotiate with the President if he can’t even negotiate with his own House?”
you just know that Obama is saying “dude … welcome to my world”
TaxPayer
December 21st, 2012
10:21 am
Obama: “I’ll give you tax hikes on those making over 1 million.”
Cons: “No.”
Obama: “I’ll give you tax hikes on those making over 400 thousand.”
Cons: “No.”
Obama: “I’ll give you tax hikes on those making over 250 thousand.”
Cons: “Yes.”
Cons. Ya gotta love ‘em.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 21st, 2012
10:21 am
B. Frog — “guess that makes you a putsy.”
Beer Hall Putsch?
Peter
December 21st, 2012
10:22 am
“We have 48% of this country who pay nothing in taxes to the federal government.”
Yes all the McDonald’s workers in America, the Burger King Workers of America, and the likes should bail out the George Bush mess……. They should pay for the two Wars, and the Republican hole because Deficits didn’t matter !
Yes …………. they should pay 50% percent of their minimum wage so the Super Rich can continue to pay 14%.
Ben The Independent
December 21st, 2012
10:22 am
Mr O has previously said the fiscal cliff would not occur. Well; the “my way or the highway” proposed by Mr O is going to result in the highway. The cliff seems the only way to end his ever increases in spending.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
December 21st, 2012
10:23 am
Two Points:
1) ” ………intent on pulling the whole corrupt, Philistine temple down around their ears rather than compromise.”
If you are talking about Congress and our government in general that is an excellent analogy !
2) “It’s the continuing dumbing down of the Republican Party ………… ”
No ……….. it’s the “dumbing down” of the American electorate that has gotten us into this mess.
Moochers vs. Producers !
indigo
December 21st, 2012
10:24 am
It would be more accurate to refer to these Republicans as maintaining a 100% loyalty to their Big Business sponsors. This is easy for them since these sponsors have given orders that under NO circumstances are tax breaks for the rich to be allowed to expire.
That going over the cliff will punish the vast majority of Americans clearly means nothing either to the rich or most Republicans.
In the end, MONEY is the one and only thing of true value to them.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
December 21st, 2012
10:24 am
“Well; the “my way or the highway” proposed by Mr O is going to result in the highway”
please. do share a quote where he said “my way or the highway” …
with link.
Jm
December 21st, 2012
10:26 am
frog 10:18
sure, if that’s your word for smart
Erwin's cat
December 21st, 2012
10:26 am
What absolutely FLOORS me is that the Bush tax cuts were an EXPERIMENT. Remember??????Think, people. Think back.
Income tax itself was supposed to be temporary in the first place…think back
Personal Income Tax Introduced in U.S. (1913): At first, income taxes were considered a temporary tax to help raise money for war.
wiki
Lord Help Us
December 21st, 2012
10:26 am
‘Moochers vs. Producers !’
And which are you?
Welcome to the Occupation
December 21st, 2012
10:27 am
Steve: “What absolutely FLOORS me is that the Bush tax cuts were an EXPERIMENT. Remember??????Think, people”
But those who instituted said “experiment” knew that getting them rolled back would be well nigh impossible.
It was a perfect policy speedball. An exploding bullet. A dirty bomb.
TaxPayer
December 21st, 2012
10:27 am
Two Points:
1) Sheldon and Co. say to the GOP, “If you want my 100 million, you’ll do as I say.”
2) The GOP replies to Sheldon and Co., “I love your trickle down. It’s the bestest warm yellow rain evah.”
teacher
December 21st, 2012
10:28 am
Jm,
I was long banks and cashed before years end. which companies are you short?
TaxPayer
December 21st, 2012
10:29 am
At first, income taxes were considered a temporary tax to help raise money for war.
What a novel idea. Too bad you didn’t sell that idea to G.W. when he was in office.
weetamoe
December 21st, 2012
10:31 am
Poor Boehner. Tolerant democrats have ridiculed him for his skin color, for his (real) tears and for not being able to control those darn common sense, don’t spend more than you can afford, clean up after your peaceful demonstrations conservatives. Boehner’s only problem is that he is willing to take one more chance that the agitator-in-chief will be honest for a change. Even if only a relatively powerless minority in congress continue to distrust the assurances of the shifty, divisive guy in the White House at least by their resistance they validate Lincoln’s observation that you can not fool all of the people all of the time.
Jm
December 21st, 2012
10:31 am
teacher 10:28
none – I very rarely short (I use puts strategically, not with the intent to short)
I’m fully invested but hedged with puts through March
Erwin's cat
December 21st, 2012
10:31 am
Too bad you didn’t sell that idea to G.W. when he was in office.
he never returned my call
Welcome to the Occupation
December 21st, 2012
10:33 am
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801: “Moochers vs. Producers !”
What about the Wall Street financiers who will carve up the giant turkey of Social Security that they expended no sweat of their own in producing just to line their pockets, and those of their cronies? Are they moochers?
If not, please do explain.
Can’t wait to hear. Please, have at it.
ITS ALL BUSH'S FAULT
December 21st, 2012
10:33 am
How ironic the GOP destroyed from within by the Tea party . Merry Christmas CONs.
Jm
December 21st, 2012
10:34 am
when the house begins behaving like the senate, we have a problem.
clem
December 21st, 2012
10:36 am
st ronnie and w accelerated debt issue but conservs never attacked successfully those gambits, but cry bloody murder now despite the ever widening economic disparity in this country. maybe folks on low end would pay more taxes if they got a little better shake on the economic pie. dick armey is getting 8 million parachute thanks to rubes on the right.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
December 21st, 2012
10:36 am
“And which are you?”
I’m an “earner” !!
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
December 21st, 2012
10:37 am
Jm:
“when the house begins behaving like the senate, we have a problem.”
And with the President behaving like a dictator we have an even BIGGER problem.
weetamoe
December 21st, 2012
10:38 am
Bush never said *my way or the highway,* but his opponents interpreted his behavior as the unspoken assertion. Same as Obama’s behavior gives rise to the same interpretation. And I should think that Jay’s astute and intelligent readers of all things newsy would understand that and not demand some citation in some footnote or other.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 21st, 2012
10:38 am
E. Cat — “Income tax itself was supposed to be temporary in the first place…think back”
While I am not opposed to considering other bases for our revenue system, I freely admit to being antipathetic towards consumption-based taxation.
That said, do you have some thoughts regarding what might replace the income tax, or were you perhaps just posting a little Strange But True nugget for our edification?
clem
December 21st, 2012
10:38 am
you must have short memory, what did dictator bush do? go recon that
Joe Hussein Mama
December 21st, 2012
10:39 am
weetamoe — “Bush never said *my way or the highway,*
I’m the Decider.
Regnad Kcin
December 21st, 2012
10:39 am
“How ironic the GOP destroyed from within by the Tea party .”
How ironic, also, that moderate republicans get threatened with being “primaried”. The starategy seems to be, “we would rather lose this seat to the democrats than elect a moderate republican.
Conervatives, I think this strategy is going to be a real winner for y’all, and I plead with you, “Please, please don’t throw me in the briar patch!”
Lord Help Us
December 21st, 2012
10:40 am
‘I’m an “earner” !!’
Oh, from your ‘moodchers vs. producers’ statement, it appeared you put everyone in one or the other category.
Two questions:
1. What tangible things do you produce?
2. Do you receive any money from the gov’t?
Thanks in advance…
yuzeyurbrane
December 21st, 2012
10:40 am
They will end up voting for a bill that is even less generous than one the President of the United States has offered. But we will have TARP redux first.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
December 21st, 2012
10:40 am
Great news ! Looks like Mexico didn’t want to risk a U.S. tourist slowdown !
“UPDATE: Former Marine To Be Released From Mexican Prison… “
clem
December 21st, 2012
10:41 am
w ” i have political capital and i plan to spend it” after narrowly beating kerry (though ohio likely stolen by rove machine)
Peter
December 21st, 2012
10:42 am
isn’t the Republican way to cut taxes, invade another country, and let the grand kids pay for it all ?
Corbin Sharpe. Baby Boomer...and Ban the Gun Thug!
December 21st, 2012
10:42 am
Just to throw out there…
http://www.upworthy.com/in-case-you-missed-it-a-very-curious-google-search-pattern-happened-this-year?c=upw1
Welcome to the Occupation
December 21st, 2012
10:43 am
Erwin’s cat, Taxpayer:
You can sometimes learn something from Beltway centrist types, despite their errors:
Tax hikes for the rich? Blame George W. Bush
The reason we’ve got a fiscal cliff is that back in the early aughts, when people like Alan Greenspan were worried that federal budget surpluses would become excessive (you can snicker now), President George W. Bush came up with a seemingly brilliant strategy to force through enormous tax cuts. Rather than compromise with Senate Democrats to get substantial permanent cuts, the Bushies used a legislative process called “reconciliation” to push through mega-cuts with the narrow Senate majority they held, avoiding the need for 60 votes to overturn a filibuster (had the forces of fiscal sanity decided to mount one).
Because of the way reconciliation works, the 2001 Bush cuts had to expire in 10 years (eight years for the huge 2003 cut in rates on investment income). But hey. At some point, the zealots figured, they’d get the votes to make the cuts permanent. And even if they didn’t, by the end of 2010 no one would dare let the cuts lapse. We would be in an economic boom, thanks to lower taxes. Life would be grand, especially for the mega-upper-classes, with no estate tax and the lowest taxes in the modern era on investment income.
http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/12/21/bush-tax-cuts-obama/
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
December 21st, 2012
10:43 am
” ……………… Boehner said in a statement that Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) needed to come up with a solution — not exactly the message that the White House was hoping to hear.
Now, negotiations move onto unusual turf.”
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2012/12/obamas-dilemma-85392.html#ixzz2FhYxUBbT
barking frog
December 21st, 2012
10:45 am
House conservatives obsessed with playing Samson.
……………………………………………………
and now we know why Mitt was invited to the White House,
haircut lesson…
Just Saying..
December 21st, 2012
10:45 am
“The thing I don’t understand is the brain washed sheeple that will post here supporting the stupidity of the Republican Congressmen. They don’t make millions of dollars (despite their lying claims) so why are they cutting their own throats for those who are sucking America dry like the vile vampires they are?
The original plan Obama had would have increased MY taxes, but I was ready to make the sacrifice. And it’s MY money? Why do these blockheads fight so rabidly for other peoples money/ Money they will NEVER see? What is so wrong with the rich helping to foot the bills for the things that make them rich? Just damn.”
Fred: Right there with you.
DebbieDoRight - Destructive Politics Is The New Black..
December 21st, 2012
10:45 am
LHU: Too funny, my wife is cooking for the whole family this weekend. We have alerted the local firestations…
Hey! A little support from our dearly departed spouses would be nice……
Peter
December 21st, 2012
10:46 am
What happened to ” Family Values “……. isn’t teaching your child to pay for things and NOT Steal, a family value ?
How did Republican’s pay for the two WARS they started ?
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
December 21st, 2012
10:47 am
Lord Help Us:
I “earned” my pension by serving YOU and my country at the risk of my life for 36 years.
I know in your heart you are thankful that I (and many others) were willling to do that …………… so:
I THANK “YOU” IN ADVANCE !
Got to go do some Christmas shopping to help out those “producers” so everyone be nice.
Jm
December 21st, 2012
10:48 am
Jay. What US government policy did this?
“US traffic deaths climb 7.1% in first 9 months of 2012″
Joe Hussein Mama
December 21st, 2012
10:48 am
D. DoRight — “Hey! A little support from our dearly departed spouses would be nice…… ”
How are you coming with red beans and rice, ma’am? If you’re going to be lounging around the house over the holiday weekend, a big pot of beans would have plenty of time to cook slowly and come to the proper texture. And if you have a rice cooker, guests can just scoop up some rice n’ beans whenever they take a fancy to!
larry
December 21st, 2012
10:50 am
I’m puzzled, Why do Republicans keep defending people who dont want to be defended?
I look for Boehner to lose his speakership after the first of the year.
Then we will be disfunctional, at least until we vote the rest of the TP out in 2014.
Lord Help Us
December 21st, 2012
10:50 am
‘I “earned” my pension by serving YOU and my country at the risk of my life for 36 years.’
You didn’t answer my questions…
By your own definition, since you do not produce anything AND you receive money from the gov’t…YOU ARE A MOOCHER.
Own it…moocher,,,
Jm
December 21st, 2012
10:50 am
Maybe the Mayans were just talking about the fiscal cliff. Not the end of the world. Which appears to be an abeyance for the moment.
Steve
December 21st, 2012
10:52 am
It kills me how wrong Republicans are on nearly every issue. They are wrong in that the 2nd Amendment DOES HAVE LIMITATIONS, and it was written to address local militias, not individuals. But they twisted that to hell 30 years ago. Now we are fighting about legalizing assault weapons. Insanity.
Then we have the taxing issue. We all know we need to cut spending but heaven forbid the very wealthy should pay a little more in taxes too. Complete, utter insanity, and this is going to be the demise of the conservative movement in this country.
Lord Help Us
December 21st, 2012
10:54 am
‘Got to go do some Christmas shopping to help out those “producers” so everyone be nice’
You gonna use your EBT card or do you get your gov’t handout by some other means?
Peter
December 21st, 2012
10:54 am
‘I “earned” my pension by serving YOU and my country at the risk of my life for 36 years.’
Just like a Congressman or Senator…….. Got him a free ride !
TaxPayer
December 21st, 2012
10:56 am
Scout fools himself by thinking that Obama and the Democrats are in need of anything from Boehner and the Republicans. Obama is not returning Boehner’s calls. Next year, after the Republican tax hikes have been implemented and defense cuts are in place, Boehner will be much more receptive to the most generous offer by Obama to cut taxes for all those making less than 250k.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
December 21st, 2012
10:57 am
“I “earned” my pension by serving YOU and my country at the risk of my life for 36 years. ”
as do teachers, cops, firefighters, doctors, nurses, and thousands others … everyday, ya frickin whiner.
appleseed
December 21st, 2012
10:59 am
We’ll being an organizer among all his other talents, might as well add BARBER to the titles.Obama reigns.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
December 21st, 2012
11:00 am
Hmmm, Senior Digits sure do want some thank yous. Funny, that they really are not “thank yous” if you have to whine and demand them.
blahblahblah
December 21st, 2012
11:02 am
Republicans have consistently overplayed their hand since the 2010 elections. Now it’s coming home to roost.
For a guy who supposedly have “the experience to be President”, President Obama sure has done an amazing job of handing Boehner his a$$.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
December 21st, 2012
11:02 am
” Funny, that they really are not “thank yous” if you have to whine and demand them.”
well, it ENDS in “… you”, anyway …
clem
December 21st, 2012
11:02 am
nra not taking questions today….what cowards
appleseed
December 21st, 2012
11:03 am
well
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
December 21st, 2012
11:04 am
“nra not taking questions today….what cowards”
gah.
a-holes, more like.
larry
December 21st, 2012
11:05 am
“I “earned” my pension by serving YOU and my country at the risk of my life for 36 years.
And i say thank you for your service
But , keep in mind, your pension and other benefits has been called welfare by the party you so strongly defend.
Regnad Kcin
December 21st, 2012
11:06 am
Mr. Digits, an acknowledged member of the despised 47%, receiver of the humiliating “free stuff”, cannot bring himself to accept a tax increase on the rich. Since his self-interest is to keep taking free stuff, I wonder why that is? Because, as all conservatives know, once a moocher, always a moocher.
larry
December 21st, 2012
11:06 am
nra not taking questions today….what cowards
Not suprised
DownInAlbany
December 21st, 2012
11:07 am
We all know we need to cut spending but heaven forbid the very wealthy should pay a little more in taxes too.
But, all we are hearing about is the revenue side of the equation. Whatever become of Simpson-
Bowles? Oh yeah, Obama chose to ignore his own commission! But, yeah, we are where we are today because of the Republicans?
Peter
December 21st, 2012
11:07 am
“I “earned” my pension by serving YOU and my country at the risk of my life for 36 years.
Well here is a 47% guy……….
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
December 21st, 2012
11:07 am
EXCELLENT!!! someone finally yelled back at Wayne LaPierre
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2012/12/21/live-blog-nra-press-conference/
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
December 21st, 2012
11:08 am
CAN’T STAND Wayne LaPierre … he is SUCH an odious man.
Regnad Kcin
December 21st, 2012
11:09 am
Mr. Speaker tried, failed, threw up his hands in defeat, and gave up. What a quitter. Who could respect him now?
clem
December 21st, 2012
11:10 am
is lapierre a dip or what