Obama Rally Turns Ugly as Jimmy Hoffa Threatens GOP: “Take These Son Of Bitches Out”

Jimmy Hoffa with President Obama

   Labor Day is quickly becoming a legalized commemoration of totalitarianism and socialism. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have anything against “labor”. I often participate in it myself. So I have nothing against a day commemorating the social and economic achievements of American workers. But I do have a problem with the holiday being used by big unions to change the day’s meaning and turn it into celebration of totalitariansim  and  as a tool in the proiferation od their socialist agenda. I also don’t appreciate the day being used by extremists to essentially declare war on those who disagree with their socialist agenda.

Yet Jimmy Hoffa, Jr. did that when he warmed up a crowd in Michigan before President Obama addressed them. In his own words, Hoffa roared;

“We got to keep an eye on the battle that we face: The war on workers. And you see it everywhere, it is the Tea Party. And you know, there is only one way to beat and win that war. The one thing about working people is we like a good fight. And you know what? They’ve got a war, they got a war with us and there’s only going to be one winner. It’s going to be the workers of Michigan, and America. We’re going to win that war,”.

He then declared;

“President Obama, this is your army. We are ready to march. Let’s take these son of bitches out and give America back to an America where we belong,”.

Had Sarah Palin, Rand Paul, Mitt Romney, John Boehner,  Newt Gingrich or any other Republican made such public, or even private remarks, not only would they be forced to walk those words back, they would forever be labeled as violent extremists.

But if you notice, it is only the right that has an extremist wing. The left does not seem to have one accordin to Democrats or the lamestream media. You never hear Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, an admitted and committed socialist, or Nancy Pelosi being called an extremist by Chris Matthews, Wolf Blitzer, Jonathon King, Candy Crowley or any of their comrades. But Michele Bachmann sure is an extremist according to them. You never hear socialist organizations such as La Razza , or the SEIU being called extreme, but you sure hear those in the TEA movement being called extreme.

Yet today we heard a perfect example of liberal extremism (which amounts socialism), from Jimmy Hoffa, . Today we heard the leader of a wing of the extremist left call those who disagree with his totalitarian beliefs, “sons of bitches” and told his thuggish minions to take those who disagree with him “out” and rid the nation of any differences of opinion in an attempt to take the America for themselves. Be they spoken figuratively or literally, these are words you would expect to have been spoken by Stalin, Mussolini, Hitler, Idi Amin,  Saddam Hussein, Osama bin Laden  and Maxine Waters. They are not the words of an American leader and they are not the words that should be representative of any American political ideology.

But somehow these words are acceptable because they are spoken by the leader of an overwhelmingly Democrat dominated union and in celebration of Labor Day. And our President simply went along with those words without rejecting any of them. That in essence was an endorsement of Jimmy Hoffa’s divisive and provocative language and call to arms. Yet just a few short months ago President Obama said the following in the wake of the horrific shooting spree in Tuscon that killed and maimed nearly two dozen people, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords;

“But at a time when our discourse has become so sharply polarized – at a time when we are far too eager to lay the blame for all that ails the world at the feet of those who think differently than we do – it’s important for us to pause for a moment and make sure that we are talking with each other in a way that heals, not a way that wounds.”

Since then, union thugs have beaten on  TEA party members, Maxine Waters has told the TEA Party to go to hell, Jimmy Hoffa calls upon union members to take out the opposition, and an endless array of hate filled, disrespectful, rhetoric has been randomly thrown around by the left, against those who have a different opinion than them. It’s time for President Obama to either put his extremist buddies, from Bill Ayers, to Jimmy Hoffa, in their place and demand that they adhere to the advice he offered in Tucson, or he needs to take credit for the war that his friends and allies are calling for and that he is participating in.

For if it is war that the left wants, I am more than willing to give it to them, and so are tens of millions of other Americans,……….. Americans who do not appreciate being held hostage to the whims of big unions and federal czars. Americans who are tired of seeing the government take their wealth and use it to enslave the people to the federal bureaucracy through agencies like the E.P.A. or legislation like Obamacare. If it is war that the left wants, bring it on! Because to tell you the truth, I am just looking for an excuse to wage a battle against them. I am tired of being the victim of the Democrat Party’s double standard and having to be politically correct to avoid being called a right wing radical. I am tired of the failed liberal ideology that is turning America into everything that it was designed not to be. And I am tired of Democrats from the President on down, not taking responsibility for their words, their deeds, and the devastating results of their policies.

In the meantime, to take a tone similar to Jimmy Hoffa, Jr., I hope and suggest that he follows in his father’s footsteps and disappears. I also prepare myself for the battle Hoffa, President Obama, and the Democrat Party wishes to wage. Hopefully it is a battle fought at the ballot box and not with the bats that union thugs and anti-TEA Party Democrats typically use.  But either way, I’ll be ready. And for those of you who will now tell me that this is not the right attitude to have………don’t tell me. Tell it to our President! Maybe after nearly three years in office, he should start showing some leadership and set the proper tone?

On a final note, I would just like to add that if Jimmy Hoffa thinks he’s tough, he should come ‘on over here to Jersey.  I got a Governor who’ll kick his ass and throw his considerable weight around to  the res of the goon union bosses out there in their place.

Chris Christie Tells Jersey Visitors and Residents to Go to …….. the Beach

   In the lead up to Hurricane Irene’s strike on New Jersey, Governor Christie had been on top of things and was not allowing New Jerseyans to take the storm or its potential for granted.  In doing so, he spoke a number of frank truisms, or as I call them, Christieisms………………..brutally honest and blunt statements of fact that respond to the stupidity of the masses and the mass media.  One of his most potent lines came during a Friday afternoon briefing of state efforts to prepare for the storm and get citizens out of harms way.

At one point during the briefing,  the Governor mentioned that before his press conference, he was not thrilled to see on TV, hundreds of people on the beach at Asbury Park, a municipality that had ordered a voluntary evacuation.  The Governor then suggested that these people were acting stupidly and bellowed “Get the hell of the beach…..you’ve maximized your tan, get in your cars and get out of these areas”

Now as New Jersey recovers from what turned out to be a powerful tropical storm that still wreaked havoc throughout state, most of the coastal beaches are ready to host this Labor Day weekend’s vacationers and visitors who want to have the Summer’s last hurrah.  So today Governor Christie’s Twitter feed featured this tweet………

“Get the hell back on the beach! Are you planning on going #dts this labor day weekend? #jerseyshore”

Governor Christie still has his hands full with state efforts to recover from Irene.  Inland as well as coastal properties still have a great deal of clean up and repair to contend with, but the Governor knows that this last official weekend of Summer is critical to New Jersey’s economy and the hundreds of thousands of coastal businesses that rely upon season profits to get through the entire year.  As such, his creative spin on his previous warning to get off the beach before Hurricane Irene, is an amusing and welcome way to get people back there for the traditional end of Summer profit push in the state’s endless number of beach based communities.

 

New Jersey Shore Hurricane Irene Information Directory

  POLITICS 24/7 is receiving a number of questions regarding the circumstances in the many different municipalities. With over 645 of them, establishing precise and up to date information regarding each one of them is a task too big for one person. I will do my best to answer any questions there may be or direct individuals to the proper entities to contact for answers to their questions.

In the mean time I have compiled what should be a good start for getting information regarding Hurricane Irene that is specific to you and your location.

The very first site that I suggest you take a look at is Jersey Shore Hurricane News .   It is a Facebook page that is being run by a few concerned citizen.  Here you are asked to post information you become aware of, particularly if it is news peratining to conditions or orders made by local authorities.  But you will also find good information for yourself and may find answers to many of your own questions.

Public Service and Emergency Assistance Phone Numbers

3 digit dialing codes provide easy dialing for New Jersey consumers needing to reach various public services or obtain emergency assistance.

• N-1-1 (3 Digit Dialing Codes)
• 9-1-1 Emergency Services
• 2-1-1 For Community, Human Services and Emergency Management / Security Assistance
• 5-1-1 Traffic and Transportation Information

Municipal Web Sites

Below is a directory of  New Jersey municipalities in alphabetical order.   To find your municipality’s website, click on the letter which the municaplity begins with.  Then click on the name of that municipality.  These links may or may not be “official” pages for these towns. They contain some useful information about the municipality and its surrounding area and if those that are official sites, will provide you with warnings or at least the numbers of the proper authorities and management teams that can provide you with the information you need.

A    B    C    D    E    F    G    H    I    J    K    L    M    N    O    P    R    S    T    U    V    W

County Government Websites

Click on your county to be taken to their site

• Atlantic County  
• Bergen County
• Burlington Township
• Camden County
• Camden County
• Cumberland County
• Essex County
• Gloucester County
• Hudson County
• Hunterdon County
• Mercer County
• Middlesex County
• Monmouth County
• Morris Township
• Ocean County
• Passaic County
• Salem County
• Somerset County
• Sussex County
• Union County
• Warren County

TRACK THE WEATHER

Track color-coded maps with New Jersey’s real-time NWS weather forecasts, shore, tidal and river information:

• NWS Philly/Mount Holly Site
• NWS NYC/Upton Site
• Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service

 Community Groups:

For Preparedness Info,
Call Your County OEM or 609-963-6964

Advice, Tips and Shelters Info

What to do NOW, before a Hurricane or Tropical Storm strikes

Basic StepsFor Preparedness

Find Out if You Are In A High-Risk Area

Know How You Will Evacuate Or Shelter-in-Place

What to do when a storm is APPROACHING

• Pay Attention To Weather Forecasts
• Listen For Official Instructions
• While You Are Waitingto Receive Official Instructions
• Evacuation Orders : Mandatory vs. Voluntary
• Pay Attention To Weather Forecasts

 The last thing I would like to advise people to do is not panic.  If you prepare your emergency kits and take all the precautions or heed all evacutation warnings now, rather than later, you will be fine.  Stressing out over the material things in your life, is not worth risking your life.  So err on the side of caution.

Jersey Shore Hurricane News Update

  The track of Hurricane Irene is still projected to place the New Jersey shore in or very near the eye of the storm.  Many experts are now preparing for the worst case scenario that there is with a storm like this.

Some of the latest developing information includes a mandatory evacuation in Cape May County, and Long Beach Island, and the Mayor of Asbury Park has urged al residents to evacuate to higher ground by Saturday afternoon.

As of the writing of this post, a mandatory evacuation order was put in to effect in Atlantic County effective tomorrow ( Friday) morning.

Visit the New Jersey Shore Hurricane Page for more information and updates and see previous POLITICS 24/7 posts for links to important information and maps involving Hurricane Irene.

New Jersey Residents Can Provide and Receive Valuable Hurricane Information on Facebook

   With no changes in the forecasted track of Hurricane Irene, New Jersey residents are urged here and also here.  In addition to those links there is now a Facebook page that provides valuable, up to date infortmation for New Jersey residents.  It is called the Jersey Shore Hurricane Page .

On it you will find information from other Jersey residents regarding such things as where there are gas shortages, ongoing storm preparations in local communities, storm tracking data and other such data.  You are also urged to provide any updates or information that you feel are pertinent.

This page is an excellent use of Facebook.  In a society where Facebook communications have become pervaisve, this is an example of just how much good Facebook can be used for.

Also 

Governor Christie Declares a State of Emergency in Advance of Hurricane Irene

   As of 1:00 pm, Governor Chris Christie wrapped up a half hour longe press in which he declared a state of emergency in advance of Hurricane Irene.

In his presser the Governor stated that he understood how the people of New Jersey are “cynical and tough”.  He added “So amI.  I suspect that maybe that is why they elected me”.  But Christie warned that no one should be cynical about the warnings he was issuing nor should they think they are tougher than the potential of Irene.

Christie said that at the moment he issuing a voluntary evacuation warning to people in low lying areas of the state and in shore communities, especially those who are on  the state’s barrier islands.  He told residents that while the evacuatuin is now voluntary, the potential exists for him to make it a mandatory evacuation and asks residents to leave now, before such a mandatory order sends a hign volume of New Jerseyansd on to roads all at the same time and thereby creating traffic jams and delaying the evacuation process.

Christie also warned that this storm will impact the entire state, not just the coast and that with recent heavy rainfalls, all of the states rivers and streams are at risk of reaching catastrophic flooding levels due to an additional 6 to 12 inches of rainfall just from Irene alone.

Politics 24/7 urges all New Jersey residents to monitor the storm as closely as possible.  We also suggest that they take the following tips for their safety.

Learn what disasters or emergencies may occur in your area. These events can range from those affecting only you and your family, like a home fire or medical emergency, to those affecting your entire community, like an earthquake or flood.

• Identify how local authorities will notify you during a disaster and how you will get information, whether through local radio, TV or NOAA Weather Radio stations or channels.
• Know the difference between different weather alerts such as watches and warnings and what actions to take in each.
• Know what actions to take to protect yourself during disasters that may occur in areas where you travel or have moved recently. For example, if you travel to a place where earthquakes are common and you are not familiar with them, make sure you know what to do to protect yourself should one occur.
• When a major disaster occurs, your community can change in an instant. Loved ones may be hurt and emergency response is likely to be delayed. Make sure that at least one member of your household is trained in first aid and CPR and knows how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED). This training is useful in many emergency situations.
• Share what you have learned with your family, household and neighbors and encourage them to be informed.

Emergency Contact Cards for All Household Members
Get your cards online at http://www.redcross.org/prepare/ECCard.pdf.

• Print one card for each family member.
• Write the contact information for each household member, such as work, school and cell phone numbers.
• Fold the card so it fits in your pocket, wallet or purse.
• Carry the card with you so it is available in the event of a disaster or other emergency.

Residents are also advised to begin preparing emergency or disaster kits that consist of the following:

 1Water – at least 1 gallon daily per person for 3 to 7 days

1Food – at least enough for 3 to 7 days
— non-perishable packaged or canned food / juices
— foods for infants or the elderly
— snack foods
— non-electric can opener
— cooking tools / fuel
— paper plates / plastic utensils 1Blankets / Pillows, etc.

1Clothing – seasonal / rain gear/ sturdy shoes

1First Aid Kit / Medicines / Prescription Drugs1Special Items – for babies and the elderly1Toiletries / Hygiene items / Moisture wipes1Flashlight / Batteries

1Radio – Battery operated and NOAA weather radio1Telephones – Fully charged cell phone with extra battery and a traditional (not cordless) telephone set

1Cash (with some small bills) and Credit Cards – Banks and ATMs may not be available for extended periods

1Keys

1Important documents – in a waterproof container or watertight resealable plastic bag
— insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, etc.

1Tools – keep a set with you during the storm1Vehicle fuel tanks filled

1Toys, Books and Games

1Pet care items
— proper identification / immunization records / medications
— ample supply of food and water
— a carrier or cage
— muzzle and leash

For more information click on the image link below:

 

 

Congressman Scott Garrett Asks New Jersey Residents to Prepare for Hurrican Irene

       With the potential for Hurricane Irene to affect the  Tri-State area in one form or another, POLITICS 24/7 asks all New Jersey residents, especially those who live along  the state’s coast, to heed the advice of Congressman Garrett whose message to his constituents is shown below this post.

  The latest models have Hurricane Irene beginning to effect our region late Saturday, but on Sunday, they expect us to be experiencing the worst of it, which weather experts are describing as “some of the worst weather many in our area have ever seen.”  Of course it is possible for the storm to change course and lose some of its strength, but that is not how it looks now.  No matter what , some effects will be felt and it is best to hope for the best but expect and prepare for the worst.  This precaution should be especially heeded by those living along the Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut Coasts.  Those who live along these areas will be  particularly vulnerable to what is responsible for most hurricane related deaths………the tidal surge that is swept inland by the hurricane’s winds. 

The larger the winds, the higher the surge and Irene can be anywhere from a Category 1 to Category 3 hurricane as it approaches us.  This means you must at the very least take the precautions that Congressman Garrett suggests in the letter you will find below the following tracking map. 

This map is the most recent projected path of Irene as of  11:00 pm, Wednesday.  The cone of possibility that is shown in the track of the storm demonstrates that there exists a chance for Irene to wobble further East or West of the center path.  The further East it moves, the less effects we will see.   The further West it wobbles means that we are in for the worst that the storm has to offer.  Right now, indications are that we could experience winds anywhere between 70 to 90 mph or more. 

Preparing for Hurricane Irene

With Hurricane Irene tracking towards New Jersey this weekend, I wanted to make sure residents of the 5th District were prepared for the storm.

 If you haven’t already, I encourage you to visit the American Red Cross’s website to review the precautionary steps you should be taking ahead of the storm. While we may not face the brunt of the storm, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t prepare for the worst.

After all, preparation is the best protection against the dangers of a hurricane as powerful as Irene, which may bring flooding, tornadoes and high winds to North Jersey.

I encourage all 5th District residents to take three quick steps to prepare for Irene:

1.  Build a kit;
2.  Make a plan; 
3.  Be informed. 

In addition, please review the Red Cross’s Hurricane Safety Checklist.

If you need anything at all, please don’t hesitate to contact one of my district offices for assistance.

Sincerely,

 

 

Scott Garrett

 

 

Washington, DC 2244 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-4465 Fax: (202) 225-9048 Eastern District Office 266 Harristown Rd, Suite 104 Glen Rock, NJ 07452 Phone: (201) 444-5454 Fax: (201) 444-5488 Western District Office 83 Spring Street, Suite 302A Newton, NJ 07860 Phone: (973) 300-2000 Fax: (973) 300-1051

CONNECT WITH SCOTT GARRETT

Who Sits on the Deficit Reduction Committee Will Determine Who Has Won the Debt Ceiling Debate

    The pending multifaceted, two staged deal on raising the debt ceiling has received mixed reaction. Those on the left despise the fact that the deal does not include any immediate tax increases, or as they have been defined in this debate, revue increases. Those on the right despise the deal because it does not contain any significant reforms on entitlements and does no go far enough in proposing cuts. Then there are those who have no partisan political allegiances. These are for the most part, the average independent, middle of the road voter. These individuals understand that the proposal’s almost $3 trillion in deficit reduction over a ten year period is really only a drop in the bucket that does little to put a dent into our long term debt and is still not enough to maintain the United States’ AAA credit rating.

While the deal is not yet a done deal, despite conservative angst with the proposal and liberal disgust for the bill, it is more than likely going to pass in the Senate. So ultimately, look for passage of the bill.

That brings up another debate. One that is totally based on political perceptions and asks who won this deficit ceiling debate?

Seeing as how the bill raises our debt ceiling and does not reduce our debt significantly enough, there are no winners. At least not immediately. In fact the lack of immediate results makes us all losers here. But at the same time, it is clear that Republicans have settled on a deal that moves things in their direction. Democrats received none of the tax increases they wanted, they received none of the spending increases they wanted, and they were forced to accept some bitter pills. Some of these pills include the Republicans desire to get Democrats on record with a future vote on a balanced budget amendment and immediate spending caps. Another Republican victory in the proposal that is hard for the left to swallow is the automatic wholesale cut of up to $1.2 trillion that will occur if several terms of this bill are not met by the time Congress goes on their Thanksgiving recess in October.

So it would seem that Republicans have advanced their conservative agenda far more than liberals advanced their socialist agenda. Still, the need to reduce the deficit significantly enough to insure that our debt does not continue to exceed our GDP, has not been achieved.

Solving that problem will require deficit reduction actions that more than double the nearly $3 trillion proposed over the next decade. And that will have to be done in the not so distant future.

In the meantime, while Republicans did not have to compromise as much as Democrats were forced to, they are not yet winners in the debate. That will only be determined in October when the newly created Select Committee on Deficit Reduction proposes the $1.2 trillion in cuts and expense saving reforms that the bill demands. From the Republican perspective, the danger here is that this super committee is not limited to spending cuts and entitlement reforms. It could end up proposing tax increases (revenues). The committee could also shirk its responsibility to significantly reform entitlements, something that will be quite hard to pass the Senate anyway.

Given the flexibility that the Select Committee on Deficit Reduction has, the only way the G.O.P. will have proven that they were successful in this recent deficit ceiling debate will come from what the Select Committee on deficit Reduction comes up with.

The committee is to be comprised of 6 Democrats and 6 Republicans, presumable chosen by the legislative leaders of the perspective political Parties. Boehner and McConnell for Republicans, and President Obama, Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi for the Democrats.

The Party leaders will initially consider the usual cast of characters as candidates for this committee. People like Tom Kean, Erskine Bowles, Alan Simpson, Lee Hamilton, Judd Gregg, and other seemingly, now non-partisan, elder statesmen. Now while there may not necessarily be anything wrong with the usual cast of candidates for typical D.C., bureaucratic committees, the crisis we are in is not typical. Our debt crisis is so severe that for the first time in history, military experts warn that it has become a national security crisis. Furthermore; President Obama’s leadership has awakened the nation to just how distinct the political ideologies that divide our nation are. People have come to question what kind of nation America will be. Will we be the type of nation with a government that controls more and more of our lives with greater control, or do we want less spending, less government, and more freedom. Including economic freedom.

The ideological differences have become so divergent, that it is incumbent on the G.O.P. to make sure that the 6 members they choose for the deficit reduction commission are true conservatives who believe in limited government. Any one of those who doesn’t hold true to that belief, can easily defect and give the balance of power to the 6 liberals that Democrats will appoint to that committee.

So who should the G.O.P. appoint to the committee?

The first choice should be House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan.

Ryan is a must. He is a deficit hawk who is reasonable but passionate. He understands the need for entitlement reform, supports a balanced budget amendment, is brave enough to stand against the tide of popular opinion and not looking for anything more than getting the job done.

Another appointment should be Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels.

Daniels has been there and done that when it comes to the budget, deficits, and spending. As Governor, his state has been one of the most economically stable states in the nation and he brings to the table some first hand experience with the excellent built-in, economic structural aspects of the budget process that Indiana has and that the United States would be wise to adopt.

Former Tennessee Fred Thompson is another excellent choice.

Thompson has proven to have a wealth of understanding for our existing problems and a unique down-to-earth and often blunt approach to the problem that can be refreshing.

Other good choices would be individuals who do not come from the often self-contained alternative reality that is Washington, D.C. People who are students of sound economic policy and people who have operated with and successfully crafted budgets that created jobs. The type of people who come from the real world……the private sector. People like Jack Welch, the most studied CEO of the 20th century, who had a successful 41- year career with the General Electric Company, one of the nation’s most preeminent names in the free market. Lawrence Kudlow is another refreshing suggestion. The CEO of Kudlow & Co., LLC, an economic research firm was a chief economist and senior managing director of Bear Stearns & Company, back when Bear Sterns ran things right, he improper workings of the Federal Reserve Bank regarding open market operations and bank supervision. Kudlow is also the host of The Kudlow Report on CNBC.

With the exception of Paul Ryan, there are probably others who would make even better members than those suggested above. These are the type of people who should have a seat at the table that represents the conservative, free market, economic principles which can get us back on track. Without conservative voices who will stand firm on these values, Democrats will wind up being the real winners of this most contentious recent debt ceiling debate.

Gabrielle Giffords Makes A Surprise Return To D.C. to Cast a Bipartisan Vote

    Gabrielle Giffords made a surprise return to Washington, D.C.  today. After a tweet on Twitter that said Gabriele Giffords returns to Washington to support bipartisan legislation, the Congresswoman walked on to the floor of the House for the first time in over seven months.

In the middle of the final House vote on a bitterly battled debate to raise the ceiling, the Congresswoman entered the chamber to a round of spontaneous applause that lasted for over five minutes. With that, she cast her vote and  added her support for the bill which passed with 269 votes in support and 161 opposed.

Gabby Giffords’ return to Washington was probably one of the most difficult one in the history of the House. While many have endured tough reelection campaigns and some have even had to cope with set backs in their health, none have taken a bullet to the head in the line of duty and none have had to enter a recovery and rehabilitation regimen as difficult as hers. Back in January, while holding a constituent service in her home district of Arizona, the Congresswoman was shot by a madman whose rampage killed several and wounded dozens.

As if the final vote on the contentious debt ceiling bill needed any more drama added to it, the return of Giffords to work on the House floor added an almost surreal, made-for-TV-like flavor to it all. But it also offered us al a dose of reality in the alternate reality that is often D.C. politics. Giffords exhibited the type of strength and stamina that proves to us nothing is impossible and that with the right determination and passion, all odds can beaten and goals can be achieved. That goes too for controlling spending and balancing our federal budget.

No matter what though, Gabrielle Giffords helped end an otherwise ugly and negative process on an positive high note. We should all join in a hearty congratulations to the Congresswoman and her family as well as to thank her for what is an exemplary commitment to public service and dedication to participation in the democratic.

Are Republicans the Party of ‘No” or Are Democrats the Party of “No-Can-Do”

   As many, or depending on how one looks at it, as few as 25 Republicans are refusing to support Speaker’s John Boehner’s deficit reduction plan. A late scheduled vote on the plan on Thursday was pulled after it became clear to the House Republican leadership that they did not have the 217 votes needed to pass the Boehner plan and it is not yet known when or if the vote will take place on Friday. This leaves the Senate and House with approximately only three days to cut a deal that would allow the federal government to raise the debt ceiling before it has the potential of defaulting on its current debt on Tuesday, August 2^nd.

But on Thursday, financial institutions reported that based upon all of the deficit reduction plans that are being considered, no matter which one is passed, the markets are likely to downgrade the United States’ credit rating because none of the plans reduce the national debt sufficiently enough to sustain its current AAA rating. This fact has only helped to reinforce the position of the 25 or so House Republicans who have taken the position that they can support any of the plans out there, because they do not go far enough in cutting spending.

Given the new data, these approximately two dozen Republicans are right. If President Obama and Democrats are to be believed, we were going to default on our debt by August 2^nd, if we did not raise the debt ceiling. Aside from bogus Democrat attempts to scare senior citizens by claiming that they would then not receive their Social Security checks, the main argument for the need to raise the debt ceiling was that a failure to do so would force a downgrade of our credit rating. This would produce a significant increase on interest that all Americans would have to pay. But now that it is clear that neither Boehner’s or the Democrat’s plans would cut spending enough to avoid a downgrade of our credit rating, it only makes sense to do what is necessary to avoid that form happening. As such, the position held by the Republican who are holding out for more spending cuts and a more significant deficit reduction plan, are right to oppose the existing plans.

With the facts as they are, to do anything other than come up with a bill which that significantly and quickly cuts our deficit and debt, would be meaningless. If the G.O.P. led House does now pass the Boehner plan, the only possible reason for it would be an obvious desire to avoid the political fallout from leftwing rhetoric designed to make the Republican Party look like the Party of “no” and as obstructionists unwilling to compromise. But the question is what are the compromises choices? Pass a hike in the debt ceiling by August and see our credit rating downgraded because our current debt obligations and future debt is unmanageable? Or default on our debt by not raising the debt ceiling and still see our our credit rating downgraded because our current debt obligations and future debt is unmanageable?

 That is not a compromise. It is insanity as described by Albert Einstein it is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. .

The only sincere political move here would be to hammer out a bill that cuts costs and reduces spending. Part of those spending reductions must include true entitlement reform. Entitlements are the largest portion of the existing and future debt. They are the elephant in the room and to ignore them or pretend that it is not there is not just stupid, it is lethal to our economy.

As for Speaker Boehner, I appreciate the direction he has been going in. His leadership has been pushing for less spending and more cuts. However, as we can see, he was not pushing for enough cuts in spending. Under pressure from President Obama and the Democrat led Senate, he has been encouraged to compromise. In his unique position, Boehner has tried to accommodate both his conservative caucus and the liberal President and Senate. But it is clear that in this case, compromise will not save our economy or our economic future. So speaker Boehner must ask himself this. Will he act on this issue as a politician or as a leader?

Currently the following 25 members are said to be voting Nay on Boehner’s bill.

Todd Akin (Mo.)
Justin Amash (Mich.)
Michele Bachmann (Minn.)
Paul Broun (Ga.)
Jason Chaffetz (Utah)
Jeff Duncan (S.C.)
Jeff Flake (Ariz.)
*Scott Garrett (N.J.) -as 0f 10:30 am, Rep. Garrett’s office tells POLITICS 24/7 that he has not announced his position
Phil Gingrey (Ga.)
Louie Gohmert (Texas)
Trey Gowdy (S.C.)
Tom Graves (Ga.)
Andy Harris (Md.)
Tim Huelskamp
Jim Jordan (Ohio)
Steve King (Iowa)
Raúl Labrador (Idaho)
Connie Mack (Fla.)
Mick Mulvaney (S.C.)
Ron Paul (Texas)
Dennis Ross (Fla.)
Tim Scott (S.C.)
Steve Southerland (Fla.)
Joe Walsh (Ill.)
Joe Wilson (S.C.)

These men and women understand that passing the Boehner plan would be nothing more than a purely political vote and they would rather lead than play politics. Hopefully, these 25 members can influence Speaker Boehner in a way that will force him to do the same.

In 2010, voters clearly and loudly called for leadership, not compromise. Much of the electorate is tired of political compromises that benefit the political careers of the political players but do great harm to the long term health of our nation. The 25 members holding out for more cuts understand this. They are also making this moment in time a pivotal one for the career of John Boehner.

Boehner promised to be a different kind of Speaker of the House. He promised those who put the G.O.P. in control of the House that he would not cave in to politics-as-usual, would not forget the need for fiscal responsibility, and would uphold a commitment to accountability. Now is his chance to prove that he was not lying. Now is the time for a political leader who will stop playing games and get the job done. Right now, that job is to come up with a plan that significantly reduces our debt and does not just move numbers around. John Boehner must be brave and willing to turn the tables around on the Democrats who live in a world of perpetual taxing and spending. Instead of being on the defensive and afraid that Democrats will paint Republicans as the Party of “no”, Boehner must be brave and demonstrate how Democrats are being the Party of “no can do”, the Party that can’t propose a budget, the Party that can’t cut spending, can’t avoid a downgrading of our credit rating, can’t stimulate our economy or create jobs, and that can’t reform the entitlement programs that will go broke if they are not reformed.

What it comes down to is who is the Party of “no-can-do”, and who is the Party that is willing to say no to the right things? John Boehner can make the answer to that question clear to the American people, but only if he is willing to side with those who are more concerned with solutions than they are with political perceptions.