Erick Erickson's Blog, page 195

Morning Briefing for January 5, 2011

RedState Morning Briefing

For January 5, 2011

Go to www.RedStateMB.com to get
the Morning Briefing every morning at no charge.

1. The Myth of the Government Shut Down

2. Now Is The Time. Today Is The Day. Let's Have a Coup.

3. Slowing Down Congress

4. Boehner dismisses Reid on Obamacare repeal.

5. Rep. Eric Cantor submits a health care bill every member of Congress will be able to read

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1. The Myth of the Government Shut Down

There is a lot of talk these days about how the GOP cannot afford to shut down the government like they did in 1995. "Remember," they the chattering class say, "the GOP got destroyed at the polls in 1996."

That talk has everything to do with the Democrats winning the message battle in the media, but has nothing to do with anything else. Let's roll the tape, shall we?

In 1995, Republicans in Washington shut down the government. They got creamed by the media and Democrats. The Democrats were interested in scoring points. The media was interested and remains interested in "good government," never mind what that may or may not be.

But what actually happened?

Please click here for the rest of the post.

2. Now Is The Time. Today Is The Day. Let's Have a Coup.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is time for a tea party led coup of the GOP.

Now is the time. Today is the day. Let's not waste one minute.

It is time to take over your precincts.

Much has been written here and elsewhere by great people on how to do it. The basics are straightforward.

Over the next few months, the GOP will begin selecting new officers at the municipal, county, and state level. Those people will then pick new committeemen for the RNC, etc.

To get involved, you must call your local or state Republican Party and find out where your precinct meetings will be. They should be later this month or in February.

You show up at your precinct meeting and, more often or not, you will be the only one there. Guess what? In most states that makes you the precinct captain for the GOP.

You will then move on to your county party with a vote.

If enough of your tea party activist friends do the same thing, guess what? You run your local party. And if the tea party members from enough other counties have done the same, you will control your state party.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

3. Slowing Down Congress

How can it possibly be bad to have mechanisms in place that slow down Congress?

In the 111th Congress, there were 4059 bills introduced in the Senate, and 6561 bills introduced in the House - resulting in 342 laws enacted.

In the 110th Congress, there were 3741 bills introduced in the Senate, and 7336 bills introduced in the House - resulting in 460 laws enacted.

This all the while - gasp - the rules of the Senate require 60 votes to shut off debate before proceeding to a matter or voting on it, often referred to as the filibuster.

So, what's the problem? Does anyone in America - besides the arrogant Democrats in Congress who have been engaged in an unprecedented power grab since being handed a historic defeat by the American people last November - honestly believe that Congress needs to pass more legislation?

Do a better job? Sure. But MORE? Of course not.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

4. Boehner dismisses Reid on Obamacare repeal.

The memo you are about to read is real. I did not write this.

Background: recently, Harry Reid (in a moment of bravado), deigned to inform Speaker-designate John Boehner that he should not bother to pass a repeal of Obamacare in the House, because it would not succeed in the Senate. So there, neener neener, and similar big talk from a guy who just presided over the literal decimation of his party's caucus in 2010 - and will likely preside over its transition to minority status in 2012. Left unexplained was why Senator Reid thought that he had any business telling the People's House what they can or cannot do, mostly because such a question implies that Harry Reid actually had any motivation beyond the resentment of a petulant man-child.

This was John Boehner's response.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

5. Rep. Eric Cantor submits a health care bill every member of Congress will be able to read

It's not on the calendar for consideration until January 12, but House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) has drawn up a nice, short, easy-to-read bill that would do something very important for the nation's fiscal and physical health: repeal Obamacare. A pdf of the bill can be accessed here; its full text is also included in this post below the fold.

While it remains to be seen what, if anything, will come of it, Cantor certainly doesn't waste any space in this brief (two-page) bill, as he very succinctly (but definitely not subtlely) channels the American people's opposition to the massive government power grab that Obama perpetrated, with the assistance of several Democrat Political Suicide Bombers, with the passage of his massive (and largely unread) health care law.

If this bill faces any problems in the House, going unread should not be one of them.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

The Myth of the Government Shut Down

There is a lot of talk these days about how the GOP cannot afford to shut down the government like they did in 1995. "Remember," they the chattering class say, "the GOP got destroyed at the polls in 1996."

That talk has everything to do with the Democrats winning the message battle in the media, but has nothing to do with anything else. Let's roll the tape, shall we?

In 1995, Republicans in Washington shut down the government. They got creamed by the media and Democrats. The Democrats were interested in scoring points. The media was interested and remains interested in "good government," never mind what that may or may not be.

But what actually happened?

The House Republicans lost only nine seats. Nine. In fact, nationally, the House GOP got 47.8% of the popular vote to the Democrats only getting 48.1%. In fact, the House GOP outperformed Bob Dole who only got 40% of the vote.

The Senate Republicans lost only two seats. Two.

I would argue that these losses had much more to do — more than a year removed from the government shutdown — with Bob Dole's anemic, struggling campaign and national infrastructure, than with the government shut down.

As we get to a fight on the debt ceiling, the media will tell the GOP to remember the spanking they got when last they shut down the government.

I would tell the GOP to not be afraid to shut down the government. Contrary to the myth, the reality was it did not hurt them and actually forced the Democrats to cooperate on balancing the budget and reforming welfare.

Brinksmanship works. So does shutting down the government.

Now Is The Time. Today Is The Day. Let's Have a Coup.

"In 2010 the tea party movement led outside the GOP. This year the tea party should take over the GOP."

It is abundantly clear as we head toward finding a new chairman for the Republican National Committee that the committeemen of the RNC have grown out of touch with the Republican activists they rely on each year to give money, knock on doors, and vote.

The race has broken down between two candidates who lean toward the grassroots, but have establishment bona fides — Anuzis and Wagner — and three candidates who are political technocrats of the establishment order.

It is shocking to me, frankly, that Reince Priebus would have as much support as he does at this time and even more shocking that much of his support could go back to Steele.

Plainly, the committeemen of the GOP have been untouched by the tea party movement and need a taste of what the House and Senate GOP suffered.

And believe it or not, it is much, much easier to shake things up for the committeemen than the congressmen. Ladies and gentlemen, it is time for a tea party led coup of the GOP.

Now is the time. Today is the day. Let's not waste one minute.

It is time to take over your precincts.

Much has been written here and elsewhere by great people on how to do it. The basics are straightforward. And read everything Coldwarrior writes.

Over the next few months, the GOP will begin selecting new officers at the municipal, county, and state level. Those people will then pick new committeemen for the RNC, etc.

To get involved, you must call your local or state Republican Party and find out where your precinct meetings will be. They should be later this month or in February.

You show up at your precinct meeting and, more often or not, you will be the only one there. Guess what? In most states that makes you the precinct captain for the GOP.

You will then move on to your county party with a vote.

If enough of your tea party activist friends do the same thing, guess what? You run your local party. And if the tea party members from enough other counties have done the same, you will control your state party.

Then guess what? Those committeemen who are supporting the establishment candidates for RNC Chairman can get fired by you.

Friends, in 2010 the tea party movement led outside the GOP. This year the tea party should take over the GOP. It is very easy. All you need to do is pick up the phone, find out where your precinct meeting will be, and show up with your friends. That begins the process of necessary change.

Fight Back!

"One enterprising Senator can blow the whole thing up by threatening to object to every unanimous consent over the next two years."

Within the next 24 hours, liberal senators will try to kill the filibuster. Many of the senators who will support killing the filibuster were its most ardent supporters when the Republicans controlled the White House and Senate. My how times change.

Here's what will happen when the Senate convenes. It will largely be ceremonial. Then Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) will raise a point of order regarding whether the Senate is a continuing body or not. Then Harry Reid will put the Senate in recess for a few weeks and try to cut deals with the Senate GOP. The Senate GOP should pre-emptively threaten to go nuclear.

One enterprising Senator can blow the whole thing up by threatening to object to every unanimous consent over the next two years. It would grind the Senate to a halt. And if the Democrats decide to proceed with gutting the filibuster, the GOP needs to be prepared to blow the whole thing up.

Senate Republicans should stand together to uphold the filibuster as it now exists. In fact, Senate Republicans should not cede any ground to the Democrats who already abuse the present rules of the Senate.

For example, one of the major talking points of the left these days is that the Republicans have filibustered so much, Harry Reid has been forced to file cloture — the way debate is cut off in the Senate — for almost every piece of legislation.

In fact, the Congressional Research Service reports that Harry Reid filed cloture concurrent to bringing legislation to the floor. Republican filibusters had nothing to do with filing cloture so much. Reid just did it to cut off debate. He has done so nearly three times more than the previous six Senate majorities.

Republicans need to fight this and cede no ground to any rules changes.

If the Senate starts the new Congress on the belief that the Senate is not a continuing body, then the individual Senators can offer up all the rules they want. Likewise, some courageous senators, should the Democrats actually bring to the floor a filibuster gutting package, should promise there will be no unanimous consents ever again in the Senate.

Then on day one, should the Democrats go there, the GOP should flood the floor with a host of rules changing designed both to improve their standing and make it extremely awkward for Democrats. While they're at it, maybe we should go back to 67 votes to kill a filibuster if spending is involved.

Morning Briefing for January 4, 2011

RedState Morning Briefing

For January 4, 2011

Go to www.RedStateMB.com to get
the Morning Briefing every morning at no charge.

1. Fight Back!

2. National debt increased 60% under Speaker Pelosi

3. Senator Jim DeMint: Conservative Of The Year 2010

4. Pence for President

5. East St. Louis Cops Get a Bad Case of the Blue Flu

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1. Fight Back!

Within the next 24 hours, liberal senators will try to kill the filibuster. Many of the senators who will support killing the filibuster were its most ardent supporters when the Republicans controlled the White House and Senate. My how times change.

Here's what will happen when the Senate convenes. It will largely be ceremonial. Then Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) will raise a point of order regarding whether the Senate is a continuing body or not. Then Harry Reid will put the Senate in recess for a few weeks and try to cut deals with the Senate GOP. The Senate GOP should pre-emptively threaten to go nuclear.

One enterprising Senator can blow the whole thing up by threatening to object to every unanimous consent over the next two years. It would grind the Senate to a halt. And if the Democrats decide to proceed with gutting the filibuster, the GOP needs to be prepared to blow the whole thing up.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

2. National debt increased 60% under Speaker Pelosi

There are lots of reasons I will not miss Nancy Pelosi's extreme left wing speakership. There's Air Pelosi and radical legislation such Cap and Tax and ObamaCare. But the biggest reason to cheer the end of the ultra-Liberal/Progressive Pelosi Speakership is the national debt.

In the four years that Pelosi was Speaker the national debt increased an unbelievable 60%.

When the Pelosi Democrats took control of Congress on January 4, 2007, the national debt stood at $8,670,596,242,973.04 — that's $8.67 trillion. Today, the last day of the 111th Congress and Pelosi's Speakership, the national debt is $13,871,130,353,817.40 — that's $13.87 trillion. A $5.2 trillion in just four years.

The Pelosi debt works out to $44,662 for every man, woman and child who make up the 310,574,015 U.S. populace.

And Liberals wonder why they are perceived as big spenders.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

3. Senator Jim DeMint: Conservative Of The Year 2010

Human Events has named Senator Jim DeMint the 2010 Conservative of the Year. They asked me to write the profile.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

4. Pence for President

Let me be clear: I will support the nominee, whoever she or he may be.

Right now I see plenty of candidates the establishment really likes, but very few that the grassroots could agree on across the board. Certainly Romney fans like Romney. Pawlenty fans like Pawlenty, Huckabee fans like Huckabee. But largely those fans of the individual candidates then hate the other guy.

This is not like most other elections. It is not like a 1988 or 1996 or 2000 when the "heir apparent" became the nominee. That is typically how a GOP primary goes. These are extraordinary times and in extraordinary times I think you can do something extraordinary.

No member of the House of Representatives has made it to the White House since the late 1800's. The odds are surely against Congressmen. But I think Mike Pence could do it.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

5. East St. Louis Cops Get a Bad Case of the Blue Flu

If they had been paying attention, criminals in East St. Louis could have had run of the streets on New Years Eve when nearly an entire shift of police officers came down with something highly contagious called a strike. However, since police aren't legally allowed to strike, it's not called a strike. Instead, it's called the "blue flu" and, like other union-related illnesses, it sometimes comes on all at once.

On Friday, all but one of the officers called in one hour before their shift was due to start (and one day after the city council voted to lay off one-third of the police force in order to balance the 2011 budget).

Oddly enough, the head of the police union doesn't seem to think it was a strike either. In fact, it would appear that whatever affliction ailed an entire shift of East St. Louis police officers was wholly approved of by their union.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

Much Ado About Palin

The left and Republican Palin Haters have been in open pants soiling mode late this afternoon over my post on Mike Pence. It is truly a matter of reading what one wants to read.

Here's what they are reading.

But right now I am not excited by or inspired by any of them save Sarah Palin and, as much as I love Sarah Palin, I am adamantly convinced that she cannot win given the ridiculous smears and hate thrown her way by Democrats and, frankly, by a lot of Republicans. She has been made radioactive.

I would, however, still gladly vote for her and support her. I'd rather go down with her than up with some of the others. Let's be honest here — Lyndon Johnson won in 1964 largely because of Barry Goldwater as the GOP nominee. The alternative would have been Nelson Rockefeller.

I'd have rather gone down swinging with Barry than sell out with Nelson any day of the week and twice on Sunday. I feel the same way with Palin.

But I don't think it has to be Palin.

There are a few choice bits that I'd like to point out.

First, I do believe that as it presently stands Sarah Palin can make it through a Republican Primary, but given her present negatives and the additional sh…tuff that will be thrown at her by her Republican opponents and a willing media, she will not be able to spend adequate resources to pick up the independents to beat Obama.

That could change.

Second, I am not going to sit around and wait on someone else to enter the picture if Mike Pence will get in.

Third, and I think this is the key point:

I'd have rather gone down swinging with Barry than sell out with Nelson any day of the week and twice on Sunday. I feel the same way with Palin.

As it stands right now, if the election were held tomorrow and Mike Pence isn't in, Palin has my vote. Don't get me wrong, I can be persuaded by any of the other candidates in all seriousness. And the odds are in the favor of several of them. But my heart is with Palin. I just know the fight she'd be in for and think we can get what we like about Palin, minus her looks and the First Dude and well . . . you know what i mean, with Mike Pence.

Pence for President

If confession is good for the soul, let me pour out my soul for you. As I stood at the beginning of 2008, I find myself in the same position here as we now begin the very real discussions of who should be the candidate for the GOP in 2012.

Let me be clear: I will support the nominee, whoever she or he may be.

But right now I am not excited by or inspired by any of them save Sarah Palin and, as much as I love Sarah Palin, I am adamantly convinced that she cannot win given the ridiculous smears and hate thrown her way by Democrats and, frankly, by a lot of Republicans. She has been made radioactive.

I would, however, still gladly vote for her and support her. I'd rather go down with her than up with some of the others. Let's be honest here — Lyndon Johnson won in 1964 largely because of Barry Goldwater as the GOP nominee. The alternative would have been Nelson Rockefeller.

I'd have rather gone down swinging with Barry than sell out with Nelson any day of the week and twice on Sunday. I feel the same way with Palin.

But I don't think it has to be Palin.

We need someone who can bridge the gap between the establishment that usually picks the nominee and the grassroots who pour out their blood, sweat, tears, and money for the nominee.

Right now I see plenty of candidates the establishment really likes, but very few that the grassroots could agree on across the board. Certainly Romney fans like Romney. Pawlenty fans like Pawlenty, Huckabee fans like Huckabee. But largely those fans of the individual candidates then hate the other guy.

This is not like most other elections. It is not like a 1988 or 1996 or 2000 when the "heir apparent" became the nominee. That is typically how a GOP primary goes. These are extraordinary times and in extraordinary times I think you can do something extraordinary.

No member of the House of Representatives has made it to the White House since the late 1800's. The odds are surely against Congressmen. But I think Mike Pence could do it.

He bridges the gap between the establishment and the grassroots. He is in the comfort zone of both. He has a private sector background that shines in comparison to anything Barack Obama ever did before elected politics.* He has the free market think tank background to reassure fiscal conservatives. He has the social conservative bona fides to reassure the social conservatives who, this year, feel marginalized.

I do not envy Mr. or Mrs. Pence right now. The Indiana Lieutenant Governor is not going to seek the Governor's Mansion. It has been widely reported that this is to free up the slot for Congressman Pence.

I hope, however, that he does something extraordinary. I hope he runs for President.

I'll support the nominee, whoever that might be. But Mike Pence gets me excited to support the nominee.

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Mike Pence established one of the first free market think tanks within the State Policy Network, building up a lot of conservative ideas to foster the free market in Indiana. He went on to start a radio show in Indiana and did that for a decade.

You Are Entering a Republican Zone

This post was originally written by Bob Hahn on July 1, 2005. I have tweaked it just a bit and am bringing it back. Please note that while generally written about the great Democrat vs. Republican divide, the advice herein applies equally well to those all on the same side of the big ditch but who, for varying reasons, cannot get along.

Who should read this?

You should, if you're a Democrat and are coming over to find out what those Republicans are up to.

Why should I read this?

Because, based on experience, you are highly likely to get troll-rated and banned in short order if you don't.

What, are Democrats automatically considered trolls here?

Not necessarily, but it happens often enough that we thought a guide on how not to have it happen might be useful. Read on.

Like any collection of human beings, RedState exhibits emergent behavior. This is a set of behavioral norms that people here follow in dealing with one another.

If you are coming here from Daily Kos, the first one you'll need to know about is no profanity. Using profanity is the fastest way to be shown the door. There is no Official List of dirty words you can't use, so don't use any until you've been around a while and see what gets by and what doesn't. Be aware that the Life Is Not Fair principle applies to all judgments concerning what is profane.

Until you've been around here a while and have established some creds as a serious participant, don't get snarky. Snarky Democrats have a short half-life in these parts, especially if they are new to the community. See the Life Is Not Fair principle for details. In particular, this means you might get snarked, and want real badly to snark back. Don't do it until people understand that you're basically an OK person. This will take weeks.

Do not assume you can win an argument with Known Facts. Many things that Kossacks consider to be Known Facts are considered to be Known Lies on this side of The Big Ditch. Reciting Known Facts is another quick way to meet the bouncer. Ordinary facts are welcome, but Known Facts are considered to be evidence of hostile intent. "Bush lied" is an example of a Known Fact.

Leave your assumptions at the door. You do not know any of these people, you do not know their backgrounds, and you do not know what they may have done in their lives. Whatever picture you have in your mind of what a "Republican" is, it's wrong, so until they all don't look alike, refrain from assuming anything about what positions your fellow bloggers might hold.

Avoid using the diary feature until you have established some creds with the residents. A diary that is full of what we would consider to be "liberal tripe" will not impress anyone. You can't tell us any Democratic Party talking points that we haven't already heard a hundred times, so please do not think you need to inform us concerning what they are.

If you haul out a wonderful new Democratic Party talking point with which to slay us, and it gets "troll" rated, it probably means we've already heard that one, beaten it to death, and don't want to talk about it anymore. We are only going to entertain "But Reagan tried to make ketchup a vegetable" so many times. If you are the Nth-plus-one person to use it, we are just not going to deal with it. Instead you'll be labeled a troll.

Do not go around poking people with pointy sticks. A pointy stick is any comment that has no purpose other than to annoy or enrage. If your first post here is, or contains, a sharp pointy stick, your first post will probably be your last.

Ultimately, whether you stay — or are shown the door — depends on whether you are perceived to be making a positive contribution to the site. Staying within the rules will not help you if you are basically here to annoy people or count coup. Conversely, if you make positive contributions by discussing things fairly and can back up your claims with cites, you will earn more leeway to make mistakes.

If you are unclear as to what any of this means, watch for a while before you post. At any given time, there will Democrats who are accepted members of the community, Democrats who are on the way to The Pile and either don't know it or don't care, and Democrats who just walked in without reading any of this. You can tell from the ratings which is which. Emulate the ones whose notes are being up-rated, and you will be on your way to a happy experience here.

Senator Jim DeMint: Conservative Of The Year 2010

Human Events has named Senator Jim DeMint the 2010 Conservative of the Year. They asked me to write the profile.

He did not start out a conservative fighter.  He was no warrior when he first arrived on Capitol Hill in 1999.  Jim DeMint had replaced Rep. Bob Inglis in South Carolina's 4th Congressional District.  Inglis had vacated the seat to run a losing race against Senator Ernest Hollins.

 

DeMint's tenure started out like that of most freshmen congressmen — anonymous and committed to bringing home the bacon, much like Rep. Inglis who, when Senator DeMint moved up to the Senate, moved back into his old House seat until the tea party movement threw him out in 2010.

 

Something happened to DeMint though.  In a National Journal article last month, Michael Hirsh fingered the fight over No Child Left Behind, which DeMint originally opposed, but then ultimately supported.

You can read the whole thing here.

A Concern About Reince Priebus

I have a concern about Reince Priebus and it has nothing to do with whether or not he or his law firm helped communities get stimulus money.

Back in January of 2009, I raised the concern that Michael Steele was using Blaise Hazelwood to run his campaign for the RNC. The concern related to the willingness and ability of the Republican consultant class to glum on to their preferred RNC Chairman and bilk the GOP of gobs of cash.

At the time, Michael Steele, seeking to address the concerns I raised, sent out an email saying, "No member of the RNC staff will benefit financially from the RNC beyond their salary. The RNC will utilize a RFP process that mirrors best practices among national non-profit organizations. Contracts will be awarded strictly on merit."

In fact, after Michael Steele won, Hazelwood, the Andersons, and others — all good people mind you — did in fact continue getting grand sums from the RNC. The RNC paid Hazelwood $761,000 for grassroots targeting, $48,000 for web advertising, and her husband received over $2 million. See here, here, and here.

Well, this year it turns out that the same cadre of consultants who backed Michael Steele in 2009 are backing Reince Priebus. I'm told that these same consultants were consultants for the Wisconsin GOP in the 2010 campaign cycle.

There is speculation among the parlors of Republicans interested in these games that Priebus is a moderate proxy for Steele to divide up conservatives — much like what happened in 2009.

I don't think that is necessarily the case. But I do think it is a very troubling sign that the same consultants who pushed Michael Steele in 2009 and then went on to make large sums from the RNC are pushing Reince Priebus in 2011.