The Republicans Who Voted to Lose — Again

 

This is about the 1.7 TRILLION dollar spending bill, but it might as well be the title of a weekly column.

The Democrats shoved a four THOUSAND page bill under the pen of Mitch McConnell while they were in a lame-duck House session.  All the Republicans had to do was threaten (or force) a shutdown and resolve it with yet another CR, a Continuing Resolution to bridge the operation of government until the next session, in which the Republicans control the House by a slim majority.  If I recall correctly, all bills not signed before the next session become moot.  This would force the production of a new bill in a House controlled by the GOP, and since this is revenue, it’s the House’s job.

A handful of House Republicans have threatened the Senate GOP with dire consequences if they let this apocalyptic bill pass, and now the Senate has done just that instead of working to peel one or two Democrats away, with the following Republicans joining the Democrats to pass the damned thing by a supermajority:

Richard Shelby – AL
Lisa Murkowski – AK
Tom Cotton – AR
James Inhofe – IA
Todd Young – IN
Jerry Moran – KS
Mitch McConnell – KY
John Boozman – LA
Susan Collins – ME
Roy Blunt – MO
Roger Wicker – MS
Rob Portman – OH
Lindsey Graham – SC
Mike Rounds – SD
John Thune – SD
John Cornyn – TX
Mitt Romney – UT
Shelley Capito – WV

Rep. Chip Roy (R – TX) seems to be leading the charge from the House to hold Senate Republicans accountable.  This is right and good, and I hope he gets the support he deserves.  He will certainly have my support.  You all know me — I could not possibly argue against this:

“Kill this terrible bill or there is no point in pretending we are a united party.”

Hit ’em again, Chip!

The incoming House majority is a slim one indeed, which weakens the GOP.  It, therefore, strengthens the crunchy-cons who want the GOP to straighten up and act like something other than Democrats.  Whatever the GOP wants in the House, it can be threatened by a kingmaking minority.  And the GOP’s response will as usual be to partner up with Democrats to defeat conservatives.  They did this to “crush the Tea Party” and they did it when Trump was President.

Watch for the numerous inevitable instances of Republicans lining up to negotiate with their Democrat pals while fighting against the conservative base.  I’ll certainly have no interest in your point of view if you refuse to see it for what it is this third time around.  Chip Roy ain’t havin’ it and neither am I.

His Twitter feed is a great place to start.

He has been calling out earmarks, sponsoring amendments to cut various abusive expenditures and naming names for the wall of shame.

I do not suspect that he will go the way of Tom Cotton or Dan Crenshaw any time soon.  This is my guy.

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  1. genferei Member
    genferei
    @genferei

    Enough of these purity tests. Politics is the art of the possible. You have to reach across the aisle to get anything done. Without all four branches of government it’s impossible to advance the conservative agenda. If we don’t give the Dems everything they want the press will be mean and Moderate Independents (TM) will vote for them and then they’ll get everything they want. Remember Reagan’s 11th commandment. We have to make sure the Adults in the Room stay in charge. 

    What did I forget?

    • #1
  2. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    I feel as if I’m in the Twilight Zone and wish someone would wake me up. There are no more excuses for what they have done. It’s despicable and unconscionable. Give me time and I’ll come up with more adjectives.

    • #2
  3. Modus Ponens Inactive
    Modus Ponens
    @ModusPonens

    We have a gangrenous limb of the GOP. If they don’t go, the party will die.

    • #3
  4. JoelB Member
    JoelB
    @JoelB

    They don’t even pretend to be responsible anymore.

    • #4
  5. BDB Inactive
    BDB
    @BDB

    genferei (View Comment):

    Enough of these purity tests. Politics is the art of the possible. You have to reach across the aisle to get anything done. Without all four branches of government it’s impossible to advance the conservative agenda. If we don’t give the Dems everything they want the press will be mean and Moderate Independents (TM) will vote for them and then they’ll get everything they want. Remember Reagan’s 11th commandment. We have to make sure the Adults in the Room stay in charge.

    What did I forget?

    The conservative case for bakrupting our children’s children’s children.

    • #5
  6. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    This would not be happening if Chuck Grassley was alive.

    • #6
  7. BDB Inactive
    BDB
    @BDB

    Percival (View Comment):

    This would not be happening if Chuck Grassley was alive.

    https://nypost.com/2022/12/15/sen-grassley-demands-biden-take-active-role-in-stalled-big-tech-antitrust-bill/

    • #7
  8. DonG (CAGW is a Scam) Coolidge
    DonG (CAGW is a Scam)
    @DonG

    What happened to the talking filibuster?   Is there nobody in the Senate that has a few hours to delay this partisan abomination? 

    • #8
  9. BDB Inactive
    BDB
    @BDB

    Percival (View Comment):

    This would not be happening if Chuck Grassley was alive.

    This would not be happeneing if conservatism were alive.

    • #9
  10. Ekosj Member
    Ekosj
    @Ekosj

    It’s virtually the same group that voted to pass the McConnell/Schumer rules change allowing the debt ceiling  to be raised with a simple majority vote.   

    Some Ricochetti tried to explain that move as genius 6 level chess by McConnell.

    Yeah.  Right.   The GOPe rolled over on us …again.   McConnell and this group are worse than useless.

    • #10
  11. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    Mike Lee on Larry Kudlow says if Republicans ever vote for something like this again, it will end the party. 

    Uh, that ship has officially sailed. It’s dead to me.

    • #11
  12. Modus Ponens Inactive
    Modus Ponens
    @ModusPonens

    Ekosj (View Comment):

    It’s virtually the same group that voted to pass the McConnell/Schumer rules change allowing the debt ceiling to be raised with a simple majority vote.

    Some Ricochetti tried to explain that move as genius 6 level chess by McConnell.

    Yeah. Right. The GOPe rolled over on us …again. McConnell and this group are worse than useless.

    That wing has ousted true conservative reform twice now. The only solution is a good kick in the rear as they’re primaried out of political life.

    • #12
  13. Flapjack Coolidge
    Flapjack
    @Flapjack

    Not for nothing, but if members of Congress don’t have to be present to vote, then they probably don’t need staff, travel budgets, etc., either.  It doesn’t take much time or money for “representatives” to push a red or green button.  If only there were a way to strip members of Congress of all that they just don’t need.

    • #13
  14. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Modus Ponens (View Comment):

    We have a gangrenous limb of the GOP. If they don’t go, the party will die.

    Maybe we should let it die.

    • #14
  15. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    I saw Lyndsey Graham put on an embarrassing performance on Fox last night.  In his view, everything that’s wrong with this bill is compensated for by a significant increase in defense spending.  Graham claims we get an increase beyond the rate of inflation, which is much needed, as if that justifies everything else.  I’m thinking Tom Cotton is using the same cover, without, of course, telling us what we’re getting for this extra dough.

    • #15
  16. Gazpacho Grande' Coolidge
    Gazpacho Grande'
    @ChrisCampion

    genferei (View Comment):

    Enough of these purity tests. Politics is the art of the possible. You have to reach across the aisle to get anything done. Without all four branches of government it’s impossible to advance the conservative agenda. If we don’t give the Dems everything they want the press will be mean and Moderate Independents (TM) will vote for them and then they’ll get everything they want. Remember Reagan’s 11th commandment. We have to make sure the Adults in the Room stay in charge.

    What did I forget?

    Conservatism.

    31 trillion in debt.

    100 trillion in unfunded liabilities.

    Maybe try writing it down?

    • #16
  17. JoelB Member
    JoelB
    @JoelB

    Hoyacon (View Comment):
    a significant increase in defense spending

    Backfilling for munitions we are sending to Ukraine (and lost in Afghanistan)?

    • #17
  18. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    JoelB (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):
    a significant increase in defense spending

    Backfilling for munitions we are sending to Ukraine (and lost in Afghanistan)? Money laundering.

     

    • #18
  19. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    genferei (View Comment):

    Enough of these purity tests. Politics is the art of the possible. You have to reach across the aisle to get anything done. Without all four branches of government it’s impossible to advance the conservative agenda. If we don’t give the Dems everything they want the press will be mean and Moderate Independents (TM) will vote for them and then they’ll get everything they want. Remember Reagan’s 11th commandment. We have to make sure the Adults in the Room stay in charge.

    What did I forget?

    Perfect~!

    • #19
  20. Fritz Coolidge
    Fritz
    @Fritz

    DonG (CAGW is a Scam) (View Comment):

    What happened to the talking filibuster? Is there nobody in the Senate that has a few hours to delay this partisan abomination?

    That was moot the day the Senate had the procedural vote, easily passed,  to proceed on the bill.

    Oh, and nine “Republican” members of the House voted ‘aye’ as the House passed the monstrosity as well, and it is now on the way to the vegetable in the White House to sign into law. (I saw that Cheney and Kitzinger were two of the 9, as was WA’s primaried-out Jaime Herrera-Butler, whose seat then went to a Dem.)  What a bunch of weak sisters.

    • #20
  21. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    This is where I learned everything I know about this topic. I recommend you listen to it. 

    https://www.clayandbuck.com/videos/audio-clips/former-congressman-jason-lewis-on-the-gop/

     

     

    • #21
  22. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    Gazpacho Grande' (View Comment):

    genferei (View Comment):

    Enough of these purity tests. Politics is the art of the possible. You have to reach across the aisle to get anything done. Without all four branches of government it’s impossible to advance the conservative agenda. If we don’t give the Dems everything they want the press will be mean and Moderate Independents (TM) will vote for them and then they’ll get everything they want. Remember Reagan’s 11th commandment. We have to make sure the Adults in the Room stay in charge.

    What did I forget?

    Conservatism.

    31 trillion in debt.

    100 trillion in unfunded liabilities.

    Maybe try writing it down?

    They needed to have foresight about this stuff before Greenspan went crazy starting in 1996. 

    • #22
  23. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    Fritz (View Comment):
    What a bunch of weak sisters.

    You’re waaayy too kind.

    • #23
  24. Fritz Coolidge
    Fritz
    @Fritz

    Western Chauvinist (View Comment):

    Fritz (View Comment):
    What a bunch of weak sisters.

    You’re waaayy too kind.

    Well, it’s Christmas.

    • #24
  25. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    BDB (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):

    This would not be happening if Chuck Grassley was alive.

    https://nypost.com/2022/12/15/sen-grassley-demands-biden-take-active-role-in-stalled-big-tech-antitrust-bill/

    Chuck can make some noise, but he can’t get enough attention. It’s not his fault, exactly.

    • #25
  26. BDB Inactive
    BDB
    @BDB

    Percival (View Comment):

    BDB (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):

    This would not be happening if Chuck Grassley was alive.

    https://nypost.com/2022/12/15/sen-grassley-demands-biden-take-active-role-in-stalled-big-tech-antitrust-bill/

    Chuck can make some noise, but he can’t get enough attention. It’s not his fault, exactly.

    Agreed.  Ten years ago his podcasts were great stuff.  I wish him well.  He turns ninety next year.

    • #26
  27. Modus Ponens Inactive
    Modus Ponens
    @ModusPonens

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Modus Ponens (View Comment):

    We have a gangrenous limb of the GOP. If they don’t go, the party will die.

    Maybe we should let it die.

    Maybe if we cut off the infected limb, it doesn’t have to. It will depend on the will of the voters. If the voters in these states want more of this and continue to reject true conservatives in the primaries, then we’ve truly reached the death spiral of our country and no party change will fix it.

    • #27
  28. Max Knots Member
    Max Knots
    @MaxKnots

    Senator Dan Crenshaw defended it as the “best that could be achieved” given the weakness of the House GOP majority and its uncertain support for McCarthy. He thought that pushing it to the House would result in chaos and no budget. And the GOP looking even worse. Does that sound right?

    • #28
  29. Modus Ponens Inactive
    Modus Ponens
    @ModusPonens

    Max Knots (View Comment):

    Senator Dan Crenshaw defended it as the “best that could be achieved” given the weakness of the House GOP majority and its uncertain support for McCarthy. He thought that pushing it to the House would result in chaos and no budget. And the GOP looking even worse. Does that sound right?

    Odd how the Democrats never say this. Even when they didn’t have the House, Senate, or Presidency, they were uncompromising in every way. Just once I’d like to see it from the other side. 

    • #29
  30. BDB Inactive
    BDB
    @BDB

    Max Knots (View Comment):

    Senator Dan Crenshaw defended it as the “best that could be achieved” given the weakness of the House GOP majority and its uncertain support for McCarthy. He thought that pushing it to the House would result in chaos and no budget. And the GOP looking even worse. Does that sound right?

    Same excuse as ObamaCare, and same result.    Crenshaw is a cardboard Republican cut-out.

    • #30
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