Kill The Ghost of 1995
Right now, a budget fight is brewing. The "Continuing Resolution" to fund government operations --- essentially the tail end of the financial year -- is in trouble. Andrew Stiles reports in NRO:
A source close to the situation tells NRO that opposition to the CR is “definitely gaining some momentum.” Today freshman senator Marco Rubio (R., Fla.) announced that he would vote against the bill, assuming it can make it past the House, which still seems likely, but as this GOP freshman class has proven in the past, you can’t take anything for granted.
It's probably going to pass, in the end. Again, from Andrew Stiles' excellent roundup, with updates:
“Let’s get serious here,” Cantor said. “Let’s make sure that we don’t shut down the government. I hope this is the last stop-gap measure and that we can finally come to some resolution.”
UPDATE IV: At a press conference this afternoon, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) said he thinks the three-week CR will pass, that passing it is a “good idea,” but doing so “is not going to be easy.”
So it's really the Ghost of 1995 -- Newt Gingrich's PR disaster, when the government stopped, Clinton stood firm, and the Republicans blinked -- that haunts the current crop of Republicans in Congress.
They should grow a pair.
Or so say the folks over at Heritage:
To have the upper hand in a negotiation, your opponent must know that you are willing to stick with your principles, no matter what. But right now, Democrats are looking at Republicans and they see weakness. They see weakness because time after time Republicans say their number one priority is to avoid a government shutdown — which is most certainly not a principle. They say this because they believe that a government shutdown is a political loser for them, even if they do nothing to cause it.
Hmmm. But what about, you know, the blowback from a shutdown?
When asked by reporters today on Capitol Hill about conservatives who oppose the short term CR, one of the bill’s chief proponents, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), immediately reached for his trump card by saying those conservatives just want to shut down the government.
Wrong. Those conservatives want to do what the American people sent them to Washington to do: cut spending and get government under control. Do they want the government to shutdown? No. But they are not willing to allow liberals like Chuck Schumer and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to blackmail them in to turning their backs on the American people. In other words, those conservatives are being courageous while the rest of the Washington Establishment seeks to keep their heads down and avoid the limelight.
There is a proverb that says “as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Likewise, as freshmen lawmakers — fresh of the heels of an historic victory — and other conservatives in the House and Senate begin to step forward and refuse to be managed, they too will grow stronger. Let’s make sure they continue to do so before it is too late.
It is time for Republicans to show courage in the face of the Democrats’ tired blackmail tactics. By maintaining their fidelity to the mandate of November 2, Republicans can negotiate from a position of strength and accomplish what they were sent to Washington to do.
Easy to say, I guess, from the comfort of Heritage's offices. On the other hand, there's something persuasive and powerful about the idea of actually doing something bold, and clear, and principled.
This is not 1995. We're not flush and fat and happy. This isn't about government waste, or even run-of-the-mill government spending. This is about a country on the road to financial ruin, and a president who is willfully and inexcusably taking us there.
In the end, yes, they'll probably end up passing the Continuing Resolution. But before they do, I'd like to see some broken glass and blood on the floor, some screams, some begging for mercy. I'd like to see some fight. I'd like to see a signal from our side that this is the beginning of the beginning of major, irreversible, fundamental change in the financial direction and oversight of the federal behemoth.
My vote: Kill the Ghost of 1995. Grow a pair and vote "No!"
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Comments :
May '10
Re: Kill The Ghost of 1995
I'm not following this real closely, but I kind of like the idea of funding the gubbermint in two- and three-week increments. If nothing else, it gives budget-cutters almost absolute control of the agenda.
Dec '10
Re: Kill The Ghost of 1995
Love it ! Beats former President Ford's WIN button by a country mile! Add it to the Ricochet gear page!
Jul '10
Re: Kill The Ghost of 1995
"Grow a Pair"
Before the federal government has "pair" panels and begins to ration 'em.
And again, "government shutdown" always means "paid vacations."
Oct '10
Re: Kill The Ghost of 1995
“Shutting down the government”—it's not a bug; it's a feature!
Μολὼν λαβέ!
Dec '10
Re: Kill The Ghost of 1995
My guess is this will be the last CR (for awhile). My guess is the R leadership is using these two CRs to deflect accusations that they want to shut down the government. After doing this twice they can claim the Ds are not bargaining in good faith, and let it shut down if necessary.
As I understand it what the Rs want is to pass a budget that makes the equivalent of $2 billion a week in cuts part of the budget for the rest of the fiscal year.
What the newly elected and aggressively chomping at the bit Rs want to do is get this step over with so the debate can move on to other things, like what to cut next and how.
Once a budget is set the debt ceiling will be adjusted accordingly in one big chunk, instead of a little at a time as is done with each CR. When the ceiling is again reached, in a year, more or less, we'll do this over again.The debt ceiling will be continually hit, year after year, until the budget is balanced.
Mar '11
Re: Kill The Ghost of 1995
When the government "shut down" in 1995 everyone got along just fine, except the Republican congresscritters who seemed unable to make a case for themselves.
2011 is a different time. Are the Republicans a more feisty herd of congresscritters?
Re: Kill The Ghost of 1995
"Congresscritter" is my new favorite word. Thanks, Gus.
May '10
Re: Kill The Ghost of 1995
Seriously, especially in the age of new media and talk radio, a shutdown is a good idea if that's what it takes. BUT the groundwork must be done first. The public must know what's ahead; "little Johnny" and his parents must be clued in the Yosemite will be closed so that the family postpones their trip.
Time to get serious, but prepare everyone first.
Jul '10
Re: Kill The Ghost of 1995
The key element missing in 2011 that was present in 1995 is Bob "Let's Make a Deal" Dole. His isn't present in the Senate ready willing and able to pull the rug out from under the House.
This time the Senate is run by Democrats. So the Senate Majority Leader cannot undermine the Speaker of the House.
That is one important distinction in this mix that will allow a Republican Party playing Hardball to win.
The other factor that's beeing overlooked is the Tea Party. They mean what they say even if Republican politicians don't.
Re: Kill The Ghost of 1995
In 1995 I was preparing to take my new start-up public.
I served as an entrepreneur in 1995, I knew 1995, 1995 was a friend of mine. 2011, you're no 1995. (Apologies to Lloyd Bentsten and Dan Quayle).
Grow a pair, Republican congresscritters, grow a pair.
May '10
Re: Kill The Ghost of 1995
Shutting down the government is a stupid idea. It won't save a dime of taxpayer money, in fact, it will waste more time, money and resources. It will put us in a worse position fiscally. It's a political stunt. A Congress that shuts down the government is unserious. And members of Congress that endorse a shutdown are unserious. Shutdowns don't mean paid vacations, not this time around.
May '10
Re: Kill The Ghost of 1995
Now is not the time to tip this over the edge - assuming the proposed 3 week extension, $6 Billion reduction sails through.....though I would have preferred 6 weeks over 3. The reason is that this agreement will expire just as Ryan is introducing his budget and will muddle the debate & message.
If after 2 attempts at compromise an agreement can not be made......our position will be better EXCEPT THAT at precisely the same time we will be debating the 2012 budget and the GOP is not equal to that communication task.
Karen, I do not agree that a shut down would put us in a worse fiscal position. I seriously doubt we will make it through this period of a thousand flash points without a shutdown - and I do not think the Democrats will take the GOP seriously without one.
Feb '11
Re: Kill The Ghost of 1995
Democrats and their interests still largely have control over the master narrative/discourse. If there's any sort of shutdown, rest assured Republicans will get the blame. Then they'll have to face the rage of the People, that highly educated agglomeration that wants cuts, sure---just as long as they're somebody else's cuts.
Pessimism is rational--- but stay active, spread the truth; ideas can effloresce, &c.
Sep '10
Re: Kill The Ghost of 1995
I think the Republicans need to start explaining their plan and letting people know where their numbers come from and why the numbers are important. If they want to bring spending back to 2008 levels (pre-"stimulus"), then explain why that's important and what that does long term. They need to come up with agreed upon numbers and just continue to parrot the numbers and the plan.
Eventually, they'll end up like Chuck Schumer - and I admit that's an unfortunate side effect. I think he wakes from sleep in the morning and the instant his head leaves the pillow he shouts, "They want a shutdown!"
What is the Republican version of this? It needs to be simple enough that it can be explained on TV in 2 minutes without graphs so that even Chris Matthews can understand. I don't think he'll get a thrill up his leg, though.
Sep '10
Re: Kill The Ghost of 1995
If the GOP had even half a pair what they would do is pass a 2 week CR cutting 6B, 3B per week now and announce that if the Democrats did not produce a meaningful long term CR proposal in the Senate the next 2 week CR would be at a rate of 4B per week, and the following at 5B. per week. If they established a pattern like this the GOP might end up cutting the 100B they promised instead of the 60B they delivered. However, the GOP leadership more likely will borrow Monica’s blue dress than grow a pair and we will end up with 30B.
Sep '10
Re: Kill The Ghost of 1995
I think it is interesting to hear McConnel talk since the Republicans in the senate are a minority and as such don't really count. Even if they all vote no the resolution will pass with only Democtrat votes. It is Boehner and Cantor and the house Republicans that are on the hot seat.