Would Everybody Please Cheer Up?
Late last night I put up a happy post (see "Bliss it Was," just a few items down), but received a string of gloomy comments in reply. Tell me I'm wrong if you'd like--Ricochet is a place where conservatives talk to each other--but I'm convinced the gloom is misplaced.
Why the gloom to begin with? Because even though the House enacted some $60 billion in budget cuts yesterday, it rejected a proposal by a group, composed largely of freshmen, for an additional $22 billion in cuts. Kenneth linked to this dispiriting piece. Steve Macdonald said he wasn't sure we have time for this "glacially paced revolution."
Folks, hang on here. Really. In the last few days we've seen a Republican governor stand up to the unions in Wisconsin, demonstrating real political heroism--and setting a example for Republicans in state houses everywhere--while back in Washington the Republicans in the House have enacted measures defunding ObamaCare (for now, but that was all they could legally do), defunding Planned Parenthood, and reducing the budget in the current fiscal year by some $60 billion. In addition to which, a few further points:
Item: House Republicans did indeed promise to cut $100 billion from the 2012 budget. But what got voted on yesterday was the continuing resolution for the current fiscal year--that is, for 2011, not 2012. Paul Ryan, Eric Cantor--they're all still committed to taking at least $100 billion out of next year's budget, to which they'll be turning soon.
Item: A "glacial pace?" Lord, the House voted on the continuing resolution that the leadership proposed plus more than one hundred amendments, all in four days. We're dealing with a legislative body here--435 men and women, each of whom has the right to submit amendments and give speeches. All that in four days--and note, by the way, that the leadership kept the House in session until almost five in the morning yesterday. Warp speed--that's what that is.
Item: Those voting against the additional $22 billion in cuts for the current fiscal year included nearly all the leadership, among them Dan Lungren, who called the drafting of the amendments "lazy." Now I know Dan, and I had quite a talk with him down at the Reagan Library just last weekend. I guess I'll have to ask you to take my word on this, but Dan Lungren is as stout a conservative as you'll ever meet--and he's utterly committed to deep, deep cuts. If Dan said the legislation was badly drafted--if he called it "lazy"--then I'm confident it was just that. You can't enact mere good intentions into law.
Item: With the deadline for raising the debt ceiling falling on March 4, Pelosi and Reid have already floated the idea of continuing, so to speak, the continuing resolution--of just permitting current funding levels to stand to allow for more budget debate. Speaker Boehner has publicly and unambiguously refused. He will not move any legislation, the Speaker insisted, that lacks deep spending cuts.
As I say, folks, really. The last 48 hours have been astonishing. The GOP and the Tea Party have placed unions, the mainstream media, Democrats in the House, the Senate and state legislatures, and the President of the United States--the entire liberal establishment--on the defensive. Our side has seized the initiative. It commands the high ground. It is transforming the national debate.
Cheer up!
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Jun '10
Re: Would Everybody Please Cheer Up?
OK,OK,OK!! Peter, you convinced me. I'm coming in off the ledge. Anybody got a beer?
Jul '10
Re: Would Everybody Please Cheer Up?
As I noted elsewhere, the press filed and went drinking at 5PM Friday, the House was in session until 4-something this morning and at that point Boehner was declaring success on $100B in cuts from FY2011. The hungover press will get to it as soon as the Wisconsin State Troopers round up the usual news readers.
This is a wonderful time to be alive. Put a shoulder to the load and don't let the news readers get you down.
PS: Scratch that. Boehner deleted that tweet and Roll Call says $61B in FY2011. Must've thought he had it and then realized not.
Edited on Feb 19, 2011 at 10:45amJun '10
Re: Would Everybody Please Cheer Up?
I'm with you, Peter, but for different reasons. The opening moves in any chess match only set the strategy for the game to come. Remember that the objective in chess is to trap the king. We haven't even seen a pawn fall in this game.
Now, to switch metaphors slightly, what's happening in Wisconsin today is like the Battle of Bull Run. It's an opening salvo. The key is to understand that wars are fought on hundreds of battlefields across many fronts. No one battle, especially at the beginning, is going to determine the outcome of the war. We'll win some and lose some before the opposition is finally crushed. Keep in mind that we're fighting for the restoration of our beautiful republic. We will not compromise with socialism. If it's not utterly defeated both politically and philosophically, we'll just have to fight the same war over again. The left put all their chips on the table with the election of Barack Obama. So be it. It's all or nothing. We can afford to be patient.
Jun '10
Re: Would Everybody Please Cheer Up?
I agree with Peter. For the near term, we'll see more concrete action in states where the Republicans control the legislature and where the governor is a Republican (or, as in NJ, where a Republican governor can stand up to a Democratic legislature). In the case of NY, maybe even a Democratic governor can push the envelope--we'll see. That's why we're seeing Wisconsin in the news, and why Christie has been able to drive the agenda in NJ.
In D.C., we must realize that the game won't be won this or next year--the Dems still have the Senate (Senator Paul can give great speeches--which I support--but he won't get his agenda passed in the Senate) and "the One" is still president. I am heartened that the House is continuing to push (and that the Freshmen are helping control the agenda).
But, let's get real, we aren't going to kill the nanny state right away. It will take both time and discipline. And we must control the narrative.
So, cdor, after you have that beer, let's all keep pushing the rock a few more feet.
Jul '10
Re: Would Everybody Please Cheer Up?
This harkens back to another discussion where the argument was advanced that Democrats are better at government, which when they rule consists of circumventing or subverting the will of the people in the interests of its web of special interests and grievance groups. Democrats are good at government because it is their livelihood while conservatives come to it reluctantly and only after great provocation. Implacable hunger for power over the long term beats blowing hot and cold about its dangers. Some of us on the right find it hard to believe we've got the steady determination it will take to turn things around. The tea party people will return to private pursuits in time but the left will never give up burrowing into the foundations. Thus, pessimism.
May '10
Re: Would Everybody Please Cheer Up?
The pace of Congressional actions means exactly nothing if the President can veto whatever they pass. The role of Congressional Republicans is merely to put Democrats on record for rejecting a variety of issues.
But yes, the Wisconsin governor's actions are good news.
May '10
Re: Would Everybody Please Cheer Up?
Pfui! I disdain your chipperness, Peter. Sure, there are lots of good things going on in the states. But in DC, it's the same old same-old.
If we lose half the caucus on cutting a mere 22 billion, that's not a hopeful sign. It signals that congresscritters are worried about taking serious decisions. If they won't cut the easy stuff, what will they cut? Thank God we have a Tea Partier on this week.
I like to think you know me as a happy, cheerful, optimistic sort. But if we lose half the GOP on basic blocking and tackling, where's the Hope?
Re: Would Everybody Please Cheer Up?
As befits a history teacher, beautifully stated. What's amazing to me is that the GOP has indeed opened multiple fronts. The Reagan Revolution was just that--Reagan. Since then? Well, let's put it this way: George W. Bush did many good things, but the record of Republicans in the House and Senate during his administration was less than impressive. But now? Republicans are fighting everywhere at once--and with many tough, principled colonels and captains instead of a single, heroic general. This is a truly astonishing development--to my mind, anyway. There's no single figure or small group of figures that Obama and the press can intimidate or cow or buy off. The fight is everywhere. As I say, astonishing.
Nov '10
Re: Would Everybody Please Cheer Up?
Peter Robinson
But now? Republicans are fighting everywhere at once--and with many tough, principled colonels and captains instead of a single, heroic general.
That's pretty good for now, of course.
But in a year or so, we're going to need a general. Would be nice to promote one of these guys, naturally. But that'd take them off the battlefield where they are doing good so far. Do we go with our current McClellans, or do we find a Grant?
May '10
Re: Would Everybody Please Cheer Up?
I do hope you're right, Peter, but I remain full of misgiving. When someone notes the glacial pace of spending cuts, he's not talking about current efforts in comparison with congresses past; he's talking about current efforts in comparison with the size of the debt and the urgent need of the moment.
Is there enough civic virtue left in America to effectively withstand the overwhelming tide of power-grabbing and corruption that has been gathering momentum for decades and is now breaking on our heads?
I hope so! But I worry. I worry that it's too little too late. There's such a lot of rot in our timbers.
Edited on Feb 19, 2011 at 11:38amDec '10
Re: Would Everybody Please Cheer Up?
It is odd that so many people enjoy the jovial spirit of Ricochet podcasts; I certainly do, but then turn all somber on the blogs.
Edited on Feb 19, 2011 at 11:52amRe: Would Everybody Please Cheer Up?
Peter Robinson
Republicans are fighting everywhere at once--and with many tough, principled colonels and captains instead of a single, heroic general. This is a truly astonishing development--to my mind, anyway. There's no single figure or small group of figures that Obama and the press can intimidate or cow or buy off. The fight is everywhere. As I say, astonishing. · Feb 19 at 11:11am
Brilliantly put. Like the Tea Party itself, the Republican party is becoming de-centralized and -- to use that awful word -- dis-intermediated. Which is an excellent thing. Six independent governors are worth six self-appointed "party leaders." As you mentioned, figures like Romney, Huckabee, and Palin now look like professional talkers, speechifyers, yesterday's news.
The future in politics, media, even social movements like the Tea Party and -- dare I say it -- the angry mobs in the middle east -- belongs to distributed networks. It's a little scary, but I don't see how it goes back.
Sep '10
Re: Would Everybody Please Cheer Up?
I'm with you Peter, I don't know what the cuts will be but if Repblicans can claim a cutting victory of any sort, this will bring a lot of credibility to our cause. I am told by someone at least weekly that there are no real differences between D's and R's except spending priorities. I reply that in all cases D's want to spend more and R's want to spend less.
I am happy the House R's are showing they are the ones for fiscal restraint. This is the Republican brand long may it survive.
Aug '10
Re: Would Everybody Please Cheer Up?
Bliss it was to hear Steyn mention my home town on the podcast even as I ran its riverside.
Dec '10
Re: Would Everybody Please Cheer Up?
Peter Robinson
Republicans are fighting everywhere at once--and with many tough, principled colonels and captains instead of a single, heroic general. This is a truly astonishing development--to my mind, anyway. There's no single figure or small group of figures that Obama and the press can intimidate or cow or buy off. The fight is everywhere.
Even when our House votes the repeal of the Affordable Health Care for America Act, as promised, it is still being implemented, as expected.
What happens after our historic first Islamic apostate president vetoes the budget?
What happens after the Senate votes down the budget before it even rises to the Oval Office for a veto?
Our House majority is overwhelmingly outnumbered in the final passage of bills.
Even with the fortitude of a Leonidas—obviously missing in action during the lame-duck session—the barbarians swarming every institutions of our nation have already settled into place.
The rule of law a convenience to them when it is on their side, only a contour to step around when the forces of thugocracy, the rule of men, take control.
We are outnumbered, they more determined. Whenever our states our winning, they federalize.
May '10
Re: Would Everybody Please Cheer Up?
I'm with you all the way, Peter. (I've been away and was forming in my head a Member Feed post to be titled "Republicans: These are the Good Old Days." You beat me to it!)
Aren't we all more inclined than before to describe ourselves as "Republican"?--not as much need now for the safer "conservative" or "libertarian". Wisconsin (and soon enough Ohio) has got me jazzed: Hell yes I'm a Republican!
Sep '10
Re: Would Everybody Please Cheer Up?
And Newt Gingrich. Ah, Newt.
Re: Would Everybody Please Cheer Up?
I hadn't thought of it that way, Scott, but that's a critical insight. For years now, to be a Republican was to be defensive and apologetic--what was George W. Bush's "compassionate conservatism" if not a half-apology for conservatism? For perhaps the first time since the Gipper sat in the Oval Office, Republicans can feel really and truly proud of their party. That will have powerful, rippling implications. Republican and proud. Who'd a thunk it?
Jun '10
Re: Would Everybody Please Cheer Up?
Well, I was disgruntled before reading this. Now I'm gruntled. Quite emphatically gruntled.
Nov '10
Re: Would Everybody Please Cheer Up?
Seeing first Gov. Christie and then Gov Walker gives me powerful feelings of optimism and hope. Gov. Christie jumped and did a cannon ball into the pool, (he can make a big one) and now Gov. Walker is creating his own waves in the same direction. They have both made it easier for others to follow their lead, and harder for others to oppose. Another reason for optimism? Guess who blinked first in Wisconsin? The Unions have now said they will accept the changes to their health and retirement benefits. Crack! Onward! Keep pushing until they crumble.