GOP Debate Linkfest From September 7, 2011

Fixing up some computer glitches today but wanted to provide some links to analysis, opinions and news from yesterday's Republican debate held at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California.

New York Times provides the entire transcript for those who want to read the questions and answers for yourselves instead of media and bloggers opinions.

Ann Althouse live blogged the debate so for as it happened reactions, visit her site.

Since the GOP debate is focused mainly towards conservatives and geared to helping them choose who will be the GOP nominee to run against Barack Obama in 2012, it will be links to conservatives and their opinions I will be pointing to.

RedState has "Perry vs. Romney" and concludes that Rick Perry is still the front runner in the GOP field of candidates after his performance in last night's debate.

Robert Stacy McCain over at RightWing News headlines with "Gov. Benzene: Huntsman a ‘Green’ Phony."

Stanley Kurtz at NRO hands the debate squarely to Rick Perry while pointing out the potential problems Perry will be faced with going forward.

QandO echoes much of what I am seeing from conservatives around the blogosphere and in the media, with "The Republican Debate–then there were two,", meaning Romney and Perry. The rest are in the race but at the moment they seem to be no more than background noise.

Kevin McCullough over at Hot Air's Green Room calls it "Rick Perry’s BIG Win!"

Bryan Preson at PJ Tatler scores the debate for Perry as well.

It is a two man race at this point and I also think Perry deserves the leader of the pack status. Romney appears too practiced, to smarmy at times, while Perry showed a very different side to himself. During his campaign stops Perry has often shot from the hip, doesn't worry about politically correct wording, but in last night's debate he obviously thought about his answers and would stop and carefully word them as to not allow himself to be misquoted or his answers misrepresented.

Many love the shoot from the hip style but also want their leader to know what time and place that style is appropriate and when it is not.

I did not specify answers and questions because there is a link above to the entire transcript and those that did not see the debate but want to know where candidates stand on issues, should read those answers for themselves, not depend on me or anyone else to tell them how to "interpret" them.



Related

WSJ with "Why They Cheered."

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Polls: High Obama Disapproval, Party Trust and Taxes Vs Spending Cuts

Multiple polls from Rasmussen over the weekend show that the GOP has gained the trust on economic issue over Democrats by a 10 percent margin as well as being trusted more on 9 out of ten issues presented to likely voters, Barack Obama is showing the highest level of Strong Disapproval since last November and the majority of voters have more fear the debt deal being negotiated in Washington will raise taxes too much and cut spending too little.

Rasmussen- Trust on issues

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters shows that 45% trust Republicans more when it comes to handling economic issues, while 35% put more trust in Democrats. Nineteen percent (19%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

.......

Voters now trust Republicans more than Democrats on nine of those 10 issues. In May, Republicans led on just six issues after being trusted more on all 10 in early January. Two years ago Democrats were trusted more than Republicans on most issues. Still, there are several issues that the parties are close on in terms of trust.

Health care, which voters rank second behind the economy in terms of importance, is an issue the GOP holds a tight 46% to 43% advantage on. Before President Obama was elected, Democrats had a huge advantage on this issue. During Election 2010, the advantage switched to the GOP. In May, the parties were essentially tied.

.......

Taxes are a big part of the debt ceiling debate, and voters trust Republicans more than Democrats by a 46% to 40% margin on that issue.

.......

The one issue Democrats do hold an advantage in trust on is education, 42% to 38%. Nineteen percent (19%) aren’t sure which party they trust more, however.

The parties are nearly tied on the issue of Social Security, with Republicans holding a statistically insignificant 42% to 40% lead. In May, Democrats barely edged the GOP on this issue.

Republicans hold a slight 38% to 35% edge in the area of government ethics and corruption, a reversal from the modest lead Democrats held in May. But 27% of voters don’t know who to trust more on this issue.

On immigration, Republicans hold a sizable 47% to 33% advantage, with 21% of voters are undecided.

.......

As is always the case, Republicans hold the trust advantage when it comes to national security and the War on Terror and the handling of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Rasmussen- Taxes and spending cuts

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 62% of Likely U.S. Voters are worried more that Congress and President Obama will raise taxes too much rather than too little in any deal to end the debt ceiling debate. Just 26% fear they’ll raise taxes too little. Twelve percent (12%) aren’t sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Similarly, 56% worry that Congress and the president will cut spending too little in the final debt ceiling deal, while only 25% are concerned that they will cut spending too much. Nineteen percent (19%) are undecided.

Rasmussen- Obama Approval/Disapproval

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Sunday shows that 23% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as president. Forty-four percent (44%) Strongly Disapprove, giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -21 (see trends).

That’s the highest level of Strong Disapproval since last November.

......

Overall, 45% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the president's performance. Fifty-four percent (54%) at least somewhat disapprove.

Once again I will point out that polling, especially this far away from the presidential election, is simply a snapshot of how voters feel at the time and many things can happen to turn the numbers around. At this stage polling is best used to see patterns and trends which a change from one week from another or a bounce stemming from a certain event generally does not alter those patterns or trends in the long run.

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Pew Research Shows GOP Gains Support With All But Hispanics

According to the side by side comparison chart Pew Research shows (will show it below) the GOP has gained ground with all voters except Hispanics since the 2008 elections, but their biggest gains are among younger white voters and those making $30K or less.

Republican gains/losses:

4 percent gain among all voters
6 percent gain among whites
2 percent gain among blacks
6 percent loss among hispanics

Republican gain among whites broken down by age groups:

10 percent gain among those aged between 18 and 29
6 percent gain among those aged between 30 to 49
5 percent gain among those aged between 50 to 64
5 percent gain among those over 65 years old

Republican gain among whites broken down by income:

2 percent gain among those making $75K or more
7 percent gain among those making $30-75K
10 percent gain among those making $30K or less



Overview from Pew:

As the country enters into the 2012 presidential election cycle, the electorate’s partisan affiliations have shifted significantly since Barack Obama won office nearly three years ago. In particular, the Democrats hold a much narrower edge than they did in 2008, particularly when the partisan leanings of independents are taken into account.

Notably, the GOP gains have occurred only among white voters; a 2-point Republican edge among whites in 2008 (46% to 44%) has widened to a 13-point lead today (52% to 39%). In sharp contrast, the partisan attachments of black and Hispanic voters have remained consistently Democratic.

While Republican gains in leaned party identification span nearly all subgroups of whites, they are particularly pronounced among the young and poor. A seven-point Democratic advantage among whites under age 30 three years ago has turned into an 11-point GOP advantage today. And a 15-point Democratic advantage among whites earning less than $30,000 annually has swung to a slim four-point Republican edge today.

Yet, the Republican Party’s growth has been limited in two important ways. First, the steep gains in GOP leaning that helped the party in the 2010 midterms have not continued, as the overall balance of partisan attachments has held steady in the first half of 2011. Second, while more independents say they “lean” toward the Republican Party, the GOP has not gained in actual party affiliation since 2008 – just 28% of registered voters, in both years, call themselves Republicans. Instead, the growth category continues to be political independents, with a record high 34% of registered voters choosing this label in 2011.

Keeping in mind that Obama was elected over John McCain by a 7 point margin, the GOP gains almost across the board should be very concerning to Obama for his reelection hopes heading into 2012. Especially if the GOP nominates a candidate that conservatives can get behind.

Semi-related: CNN finds that Rick Perry, should he decide to toss his hat in the ring, is the first choice Republicans and Independents who lean towards the GOP, are picking.

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Debt Limit Talks: Bush Era Rates Off Table And House Democrats Feel Ignored

After the bipartisan talks imploded last week when Democrats insisted that part of the deal include $400 billion in tax increases. This forced Barack Obama to finally come to the table in negotiations over raising the debt ceiling, which stands at $14.3 trillion now, to allow the U.S. to borrow more money.

There have been a flurry of meetings that now include Obama, Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), a separate meeting with House Speaker John Boehner and another meeting with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (Md.) and Rep. James Clyburn (S.C.), assistant to the leader.

The Hill reports that the administration has stopped insisting on ending the Bush-era tax cuts.

I am starting to get a vague sense of deja vu though as I see headlines like "House Democrats feel jilted by the president in budget, debt talks."

Just as House Democrats did in December after Republicans took a large net gain of House seats,the biggest turnover of seats in decades, to take control of the House of Representatives, House Democrats are now upset, feeling that they are being taken for granted and ignored and complaining publicly.

“How is it that the House Democrats played such an important role [in the majority], and all of a sudden [the White House says], ‘Forget it, we’ll work with the Senate and the Republican leadership?’ ” asked Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), vice chairman of the Democrats’ Steering and Policy Committee.

House Democrats’ frustration with Obama is boiling in the intense heat of negotiations to reach a budget deal and raise the nation’s $14.3 trillion debt ceiling.

Capitol Hill Democrats have been steaming for months, since being sidelined during talks to extend the George W. Bush-era tax rates and fund the government this year. Many say the White House takes their support for granted but ignores them when it comes to making policy.

“Before this year we were playing a strong role,” said Cuellar, but “now a lot of us feel like we’re almost being ignored.”

Before this year they played a strong role because they had an overwhelming majority, and they had a Democratically controlled Senate and White House and were able to shove anything that they wanted through because the GOP could not stop them from railroading laws and bills.

November 2010 midterms ended that one party reign.

They are frustrated, speaking out to reporters, angry and aren't at the point where they can admit the reason they are being "ignored" treated as if they are "irrelevant" is because House Democrats are irrelevant at the moment.

Of course Obama is taking them for granted, who else are they going to support in 2012? The Republican candidate against Obama?

I don't think so.

Obama knows the answer to that question and so do the House Democrats that are throwing their temper tantrums.

The Obama administration needs the debt ceiling voted on, passed and raised by August 2, 2011.

Republicans have made it clear that for any debt ceiling raise to pass the House of Representatives, an equal amount of spending cuts be part of the deal. Want $2 trillion (example) then cut that same $2 trillion. Republicans want a balanced budget amendment to show they are serious about stopping the practice of spending more money than we have.

Republicans seem to have learned their lesson when they were thrown out of leadership positions the last time by their base for spending like drunken sailors with taxpayer money. They understand they campaigned in 2010 on the premise of cutting spending and lowering our deficit and if they do not fight to keep those promises, they can be replaced again in the next election.







Wasteful Government Spending

Gallup found that 73 percent of national adults understand what liberal Democrats and Barack Obama (yes, redundant) do not seem to be able to... that wasteful government spending is more to blame for the rising federal budget deficit than not raising enough money in taxes.


Corporate Taxes vs Budget Cuts

In May, a New York Times/CBS News poll (neither organization can be accused of a "conservative slant") shows that most Americans prefer budget cuts over raising corporate taxes.

In general, however, few Americans back increasing taxes on American businesses: only 37 percent said corporate taxes should be increased to help reduce the federal budget deficit. The rest agree with an alternative argument that increased taxes would discourage American companies from creating jobs and hurt them in the global marketplace. Thirty-two percent would rather see corporate taxes remain as they are now and 26 percent said taxes on corporate profits should be decreased.

Government Shutdown vs Spending Cuts

In April Rasmussen found that 57 percent of polled voters suggest that a government shutdown would be preferred to not doing the deep spending cuts necessary to get the federal budget on its way toward balance. Only 31 percent believe that avoiding a shutdown is more important.


The bottom line here is that this battle, like the previous budget battles since November is being aired publicly with the same public referred to in the polls above, watching as Republicans fight for spending cuts, a balanced budget amendment and Democrats fighting to raise taxes.

I can almost see all those public statements used in GOP campaign videos with Democrats and Obama stating over and over again "raise taxes" with the GOP candidate saying "cut spending."

Democrats need to stop playing to their 13 percent fiscally liberal base and start playing to Americans as a whole or even to the 38 percent that view themselves as moderate on fiscal issues, or 2012 is going make their massive losses in 2010 look like a walk in the park.

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The New Hampshire GOP Debate From An Undecided Voter

A few thoughts after watching the debate last night with the eyes of someone who hasn't made up my mind who I would vote for in 2012 but was interested in seeing the candidates speak and not just the sound bites the media likes to edit up, answers they cut portions from, or the spin they decide they want their readers to believe.

Media is supposed to report the news, bloggers give opinions and good bloggers, in my mind, provide links to the data that forms their opinions so that readers can look for themselves and determine if they agree or disagree.

CNN and King failed miserably. To much of a circus and King was more confrontational than a moderator should be and lacked even a pretended objectivity.

The GOP candidates were Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, Michele Bachmann, Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich.

I will admit upfront and honestly that I am one of the many that believe "anyone but Obama" is better than Obama and whoever the GOP nominates in the end will have my support because I personally believe the damage Obama has done will take decades to undo.

With that said, there are a few I simply cannot see getting that far. While I did not see any clear cut winners last night, I did find a few losers.

Tim Pawlenty, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich, all three seemed to under perform, appeared to be boring almost with Gingrich seemingly defensive, argumentative and uncomfortable.

If I am to be totally honest, Pawlenty and Santorum actually bored me to the point that I started hearing a loud buzzzzzzzzzzzzzz in the my ears every time they answered a question. They simply do not have the charisma or personality needed to gain supporters in the numbers needed to win the GOP nomination.

Ron Paul, not my favorite candidate and his "spin" when asked about a five year old illegal and whether they should be treated medically if brought to the hospital was almost sad. Say yes, then explain how to address the problem so that question would not be relevant in the future but the beating around the bush did nothing but give the impression of evasiveness.

On the other hand, I was pleasantly surprised at some of Paul's other answers and while I did not become a fan overnight, I think he showed decently considering this is such an early debate in terms of the campaign season.

Herman Cain decently showed and probably gave him a little additional support because to me, his major disadvantage is that he doesn't have the name recognition the rest of the candidates have at this point. So, as an introduction to those that have never heard of him, it wasn't spectacular but he will be recognized now by more people.

Now to the meat and potatoes: Michele Bachmann and Mitt Romney.

Bachmann caught the spotlight early by announcing she had filed the paperwork to run. Her answers were clear and concise and many who only knew her through the media's attempt at spin by using soundbites to mislead their readers, were probably pleasantly surprised. She didn't pull punches, she was eloquent and she got her point across in a manner that made her likable, which right or wrong, a candidate must be to win in a general election.

I would not be surprised if she bumped up in the polls considerably after her performance last night.

Mitt Romney did well also. Romney has appeal, he speaks well, has executive experience and with the economy in the tank he was a strong candidate going in and remained so. He is likable, friendly even, has charisma and is knowledgeable on the issues of the day. In an election that most probably will be focused on jobs and economy, Romney should do very well.

I still maintain that a Rick Perry entry into this group would shake up the entire field in a good way and I am not the only one mentioning this again.


On the whole, stepping back from judging winners and losers within the GOP field, I think the GOP candidates made a politically smart move in uniting against Barack Obama, reminding viewers at every opportunity the mess he has made on healthcare, the economy and unemployment with lack of job recovery ideas.

Plenty of time to go up against each other in the upcoming months and argue ideas and individual plans, but showing respect to each other this early on and focusing on the Obama administrations failures was politically advantageous and smart.


Before hitting publish on this, it is worth mentioning an AP News Break which reports that "Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman is getting into Republican presidential race."

Let me be the first to say "Big Whoop!".

[Update] CNN has the transcript from the debate up.

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Note To The Far Right : CUT. IT. OUT... Pretty Please

Seriously folks, get your act together.

Here is the deal as I see it (me being a conservative voter)- In 2008, Barack Obama, a man with no experience to warrant a position like the President of the United States of America, was elected as the President of the United States of America.

Why?

Voters turned against Republicans, pure and simple. They were the tipping point.

In 2010, after a far left extreme liberal agenda was jammed down America's throat, debt rising at unimaginable speed, government spending reaching monumental levels, bailouts mania, stimulus that stimulated nothing but higher unemployment and Obamacare, voters turned, yet again, and handed a victory to the GOP on the largest scale in over 70 years.

They did with the promise from the GOP that they would get serious on spending cuts, work on job creation and get the ball rolling to lower our debt.

From the 2008 election to the 2010 midterms, many of us, myself included, watched and wrote about the far left liberal so-called progressive extremists tearing the Democratic party apart, piece by piece, insisting that for the "good" of all, the far left liberal agenda should be shoved down American's throats and Americans would understand afterward what a wonderful thing Democrats had done.

How'd that work out? Huh? Huh?

Hint: 2010 Midterm elections.

So here we are, April 2011. A budget deal was negotiated, one that should have been passed last year while Democrats held the House, the Senate and White House, but the hard choices that needed to be made were too much of a "political hot potato," so they kicked the can down the road and the deal had to be made between a Republican controlled House of Representatives, a Democratically controlled Senate and a Democratically controlled White House.

The deal was made. Government didn't shut down, the GOP set the tone of discussion to surround spending, deficits and job creation by the end, and even had Obama and Harry Reid touting spending cuts as historic and the largest ever seen.

The GOP did so in a manner which kept voters (you know the people that will determine what direction and what message to send in 2012)engaged, informed and took into account that voters would rather see the major battle fought over trillions and not just billions. Those same voters, the majority, (which again for those that are slow, determine the outcome of elections) did not want to see a government shutdown over billions when the real fight is to come to cut spending by trillions.

Now I see hardcore conservatives, who admittedly are taking a principled stand, criticizing the size and scope of the deal that was made. I see them willing to tear into anyone that dares look at the good the GOP has done with the first initial battle.

Whether they admit it or not, there was plenty of good done. Starting with setting the public debate stage with the proper theme of debt, spending and jobs.

Lets take a quick look at what the GOP has accomplished, being in control of only the House of Representatives: (Via The Politico)

***The $40 billion in cuts was not only historically high, it was more than Boehner himself wanted to push for a few short months ago.

***Earmarks, which many thought would never go away, are now taboo - even to earmark addicts like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who reluctantly gave them up after the 2010 election.

***Deficits are all the rage on Capitol Hill, and will be until Congress wends its way through the debt limit fight and the next budget. The word “deficit” appeared in 470 documents in the Congressional Record between the beginning of January and the end of March, more than in any session’s opening since 1995, according to a review by POLITICO. And Americans listened: Asked by Gallup to identify the most important problem facing the nation, 13 percent said “federal debt” in March of this year, up from 8 percent a year ago.

***The broader budget debate is now fought on the tea party’s terms: It’s not whether to reduce government, it’s by how much. This helps explain why serious centrist commentators and even some liberals PRAISED a $6 trillion budget cut plan proposed by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.). Remember how a similar plan was received two years ago?

***Thanks to a pickup of 675 legislative seats in 2010 - many because of these budget principles

***The most sweeping work is getting done in states. Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana are now working, real-time labs for discovering how much the party can cut government - without cutting off the support of independents. A GOP senator told us the party studies what happens in these state showdowns to test the limits of what will work here. One early finding: Many think Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) went too far, too fast by gutting union power without first educating the public.

***The real fight over spending erupted in late spring of 2009, and consider the results: The GOP won the governor’s races in Virginia and New Jersey in 2009; the Scott Brown Senate race in Massachusetts in early 2010; then won back the House, picked up Senate seats and captured the most state legislative seats in a single year since Watergate — all in November of last year.

Most Republicans and moderate conservatives are looking at the big picture, seeing the messaging war won, the stage for the future battle set to fight the bigger fight over trillions and time being bought to inform the public each step of the way so that the majority of the public is behind them.

All that in a few short months.

I took a political leanings test once, assumed I would come out as a moderate conservative, and was extremely surprised to see the test tell me I was in the top 10 percent of "ulta-conservative".... wow, really? I thought I was mellow.

The reason I tell you about that test is because I happen to agree with the hardcore far right extreme conservatives on quite a few of their political beliefs.

I believe the budget deal should have been fought over trillions (as the 2012 budget battle will be with Paul Ryan's GOP's Path to Prosperity). I believe a government that spends more than it takes in will go bankrupt, it is unsustainable. I believe saving billions in the face of a $14 trillion debt is ridiculous.

So far I agree with almost everything the far right wants and believes we need as a country.

So, why am I telling the far right to CUT. IT. OUT?

I disagree with how they want those goals achieved and how they are prepared to tear the Republican party into pieces as the far left progressives did with the Democratic party.

Back to the top everyone:

From the 2008 election to the 2010 midterms, many of us, myself included, watched and wrote about the far left liberal so-called progressive extremists tearing the Democratic party apart, piece by piece, insisting that for the "good" of all, the far left liberal agenda should be shoved down American's throats and Americans would understand afterward what a wonderful thing Democrats had done.

I am watching the far right head down the same path as the far left extreme portion of the Democratic party did from 2008 to 2010. I am watching the far right encourage Republican politicians to make the same mistakes the far left liberals forced their politicians to make from 2008 to 2010.

The principles, to which I agree with them on most issues, of the far right and their own thoughts on how our Representatives should achieve those principles, seem to be more important to them than the majority of the public and the voters in the upcoming elections.

Voters, the majority of them, must be behind everything that is done. They must have time to research the available information. They must be given time and the respect shown to them to decide issues for themselves without being told "you have to pass it to learn what is in it" (Nancy Pelosi, Obamacare quote)

Inevitably we see the argument how politicians shouldn't make their decisions based on "polls" and for the most part that is true but politicians are elected to represent their constituents and if the majority of voters turn against a party as they did Republicans in 2008 and Democrats in 2010, those voters can and will replace those politicians they feel did not represent them.

Most Tea Party supporters seem to have found a good balance here. They are arguing that more needs to be done at the same time acknowledging the limitations the politicians have to work with.

Ever heard the expression "pick your battles"?

The war is the 2012 budget, the one just passed was simply a skirmish to set the stage.

Politicians- Please do not make the same mistake Obama/Reid/Pelosi made. Do not allow the extreme portion of the GOP party to cause you to lose the majority of voters.

Far right- Please do not make the same mistakes the far left liberal so-called progressives made. Don't rip the Republican party to shreds when we will need them to unite and fight the biggest war to come.

We are all on the same side here. Can we start acting like it?

I am begging you... CUT. IT. OUT. Pretty please.

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Budget Battle: Tea Party The Willing Cudgel Used To Beat Democrats Over The Head

Here are some facts that everyone knows but recent budget battle talks and disagreements overshadow.

Fact One: Republicans only control one third of the Government. Democrats control two-thirds of the Government

Fact Two: Republicans control the House of Representatives. Democrats control the U.S. Senate and the White House.

Tea Party members, for all the talk about them, understand this. They are willing to be used as the cudgel that beats Democrats over the head over and over again. They allow this because they are actively involved in the political process and understand the talk about good cop, insane cop, can be used heavily in favor of cleaning up our fiscal mess, one billion at a time.

Michael Ettlinger and Michael Linden take note of what this means. Democrats are now ready to cut $30 billion below 2010 levels for the 2011 budget. That was the Republican leadership’s initial offer, basically a pro-rated version of their $100 billion in cuts from the Obama 2011 budget request. They went further to the right after losing the tea party conservatives and then sought $100 billion overall from that budget request, or in real dollars a $61 billion reduction. So here come the Democrats, offering the $30 billion in cuts that the Republican leadership wanted in the first place.

Look at the budget battle continuing on the Hill at the moment.

Despite controlling two thirds of the Government, Democrats have been forced to concede time and time again because they understand the Republicans owe the Tea Party. They owe them because the GOP made promises during their campaigns and the Tea Party has every right to expect, demand even, those promises be kept to the best of the GOP's ability.

From NBC's Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg
*** Caving in: If the current Washington fight over spending was a game of chicken, the Obama White House would already be pulled over on the side of the road, as House Republicans continue to barrel down the deserted highway. The fact is, the White House and Senate Democrats keep caving, while House Republicans -- at least publicly -- have yet to budge an inch. The latest development, as Politico reports, is that the administration has agreed to an overall cut of $33 billion, which is near the number that the House leadership originally proposed (before the Tea Party caucus forced it to go higher). And now the White House appears to be backing away from its demand that no riders be attached to the deal. Press Secretary Jay Carney said there is no veto threat from the White House on a deal that contains ANY riders, as was originally the position. And here’s what Vice President Biden said on the matter yesterday: “The president and I are not really big on any riders at all. But this is a process which is normal for the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to get into the details. We’ve made it clear what we think are non-starters, both in numbers and riders. But I’m not going to go -- I’m not going to negotiate out here.”

Media outlet after media outlet as well as Democratic leaders [Reid] continue to cry out "The Republicans are scared of the Tea Party".

I beg to differ.

Republicans are not scared of the Tea Party, Republicans love the Tea Party.

Republicans that are serious about spending cuts and understand that America continues to spend more money than it has, also understand the Tea Party is the best friend they have and the best weapon against Democrats that wish to continue spending more money than we have.

I suspect there will be no government shutdown. A budget deal will be made, Republicans fighting tooth and nail for each and every spending cut made, publicly. Democrats fighting against each and every spending cut, just as publicly.

The Tea Party will say it is not enough. Republicans will point to Democrats, reminding folks that Democrats control two-thirds of the government and say that's why they couldn't get more spending cuts.

Translation to Tea Party- 2012 elections.

The Tea Party and the GOP are tag teaming the out-of-control, spend-more-than-we-have Democrats and they are doing it brilliantly.

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Budget Battle On The Hill And In The Blogosphere

We spend too much. We spend more as a country than we take in.

That is the underlying concept the GOP has been preaching since before the November midterm elections and their promises to cut government spending was, in large part, one of the major reasons voters handed them the biggest victory seen in decades with one of the largest turnover of House seats, giving control of the House of Representatives to the Republicans and stripping that gavel from Nancy Pelosi to make John Boehner the Speaker of the House.

Let me repeat myself.. we spend too much.

Ezra Klein runs the latest reports in the ongoing budget battle down in one paragraph:

Back in February, Paul Ryan unveiled what was supposed to be the opening bid from the House Republicans: $32 billion in cuts for the rest of 2011. But the Tea Party demanded more and House leadership quickly caved, doubling their proposed cuts to more than $60 billion -- or almost $100 billion less than barack Obama’s 2011 budget request (quick note: different news stories present these numbers differently, as it depends on whether you use Obama’s budget request or 2010’s funding as a baseline. I’m using the difference from 2010 funding, which makes for lower sums). Now Democrats are offering as a compromise measure $30 billion in total cuts, or exactly what Ryan’s original proposal had called for. Pretty neat, huh?

Progressive liberals in the blogosphere are having another woe is me moment over the latest $20 million in cuts the Democrats are offering up. Calling their party leaders losers, calling the offer pathetic because they don't want spending cuts and generally peeved that Democrats are supposedly caving in.

People like Ezra are handing out the talking points as evidenced by his title "A huge win for the Tea Party, a win for Republicans and a big loss for Democrats."

Really?

Is that truly where they want to go with this?

The U.S. is over $14 trillion in debt, we spend more than we take in, and Republicans were handed the largest victory in 70 years in the last elections on the campaign promise that they would cut spending massively.

$30 billion is a start, I will admit that because I see each "drop in the bucket" as going toward the eventual outcome of filling the bucket, emptying it, then putting it back down to collect more.

Liberals like Ezra would love for conservatives to see the "Democrats have lost" meme and kick back, smile happily and stop pushing for more spending cuts, but that is not going to happen.

It is not a we win, you lose game. It also shouldn't be a conservative vs liberal battle either, but it is because the priorities of the left do not match the priorities of the right or Independents.

Gallup recently found that 71 percent of Americans say they worry about the economy "a great deal," 22 percent say they worry about the economy a "fair amount" with only 7 percent listed as "only a little/not at all."

64 percent of Americans say they worry about federal spending and the budget deficit a "great deal" with 23 percent saying they worry about it a "fair amount" and 12 percent listed as "only a little/not at all."

Those are the top two out of 14 issues Gallup polled on.

The breakdown of those Gallup findings are telling though and explains why supporters claim Democratic leaders are folding or losing in their eyes.

Click image to enlarge

Federal spending doesn't even register in the top four for Democrats while it is in the top two for Republicans and Independents.

The fiscal showdown continues as Congress returns to their jobs this week and in this specific case Republicans have the majority support of the American people who understand what liberal pundits do not seem able to grasp.

40 days ago the GOP controlled House passed a bill to fund government and cut spending and 40 days later the Senate, which is still Democratically controlled, has not because they are fighting to prevent the spending cuts the House passed.

We spend too much.

If Democrats force a government shutdown because they refuse to understand that basic concept, Americans are more than aware of which party is fighting to cut spending and which party is fighting tooth and nail to prevent those cuts.

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Obama Out Of Control As U.S. Sets $223 Billion Deficit Record

The GOP needs to hold firm and if Obama and Democrats refuse to allow the House budget to be voted on, passed and/or Obama vetoes the GOP bill that passed the House, then let them take responsibility for shutting down the government.

We spend more than we take in. That is unsustainable. It truly is that simple.

In February 2011 the U.S. set a new record, for one month with a $223 billion shortfall (deficit), amidst a budget battle between the GOP House of Representatives that want to start with cutting $61 billion, the Democratically controlled Senate that only wants to cut $10 Billion and the Democrat in the White House, Barack Obama that sent a proposal to congress for a budget that at no point in the 10-year projections would the U.S. government spend less than it's taking in.

What is wrong with this picture?

Enough is enough.

The federal government posted its largest monthly deficit in history in February, a $223 billion shortfall that put a sharp point on the current fight on Capitol Hill about how deeply to cut this year’s spending.

That one-month figure, which came in a preliminary report from the Congressional Budget Office, dwarfs even the most robust cuts being talked about on the Hill, and underscores just how much work lawmakers have to do to get the government’s finances in balance again.

The Senate plans to vote Tuesday on competing proposals to cut spending, but Democrats have rejected GOP-backed cuts of more than $50 billion, and Republicans have ruled out Democrats’ cuts of less than $10 billion, meaning neither plan will draw the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster and pass.

“We’ve all done the math and we all know how these votes will turn out: Neither proposal will pass, which means neither will reach the president’s desk as written. We’ll go back to square one and back to the negotiating table,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat.

The GOP's cuts aren't enough but they are a start, the Democrats cuts are laughable and show clearly that Obama/Democrats have no desire to stop the out-of-control spending or to get our deficit under any type of control.

.....“The American people voted to cut spending, but they also voted for a change in direction. Defunding ObamaCare [and] defunding Planned Parenthood are part of the new direction the American people embraced in 2010,” said Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) an influential conservative and former chairman of the House Republican Conference.

He would not specify a minimum level of cuts, but said, “Nobody wants a government shutdown, but the American people are losing patience, and I’m losing patience.” (Source)

Count me in as one of those people losing patience.

Vulnerable Senate Democrats are even starting to worry and stating publicly that Obama has "failed" to lead on cutting the deficit.

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin ripped President Barack Obama on his budget proposals in a Senate floor speech Tuesday, a rare rebuke from a freshman Democrat who clearly is worried about the politics of deficit spending as he faces a tough reelection in 2012.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Democrat, is more worried about saving federal funding for "Cowboy Poets" than he is getting our fiscal house in order.



The Politico files Reid's ridiculousness under the heading "Did Harry Reid just say that?"

In the middle of his tirade against House Republicans' "mean-spirited" budget bill on the Senate floor Tuesday, the Senate Majority Leader lamented that the GOP’s proposed budget cuts would eliminate the annual "cowboy poetry festival” in his home state of Nevada. (See also: Reid’s prostitution lecture bombs.)

Reid clearly has a soft spot for the Baxter Blacks of the poetry world and thinks Republicans don't.

“The mean-spirited bill, H.R. 1 … eliminates the National Endowment of the Humanities, National Endowment of the Arts,” said Reid. “These programs create jobs. The National Endowment of the Humanities is the reason we have in northern Nevada every January a cowboy poetry festival. Had that program not been around, the tens of thousands of people who come there every year would not exist.”

Talk about a WTF moment.

Dueling headlines: "U.S. sets $223B deficit record" and "Reid: Save federal funding for the cowboy poets!"

I saw those two headlines and just shook my head in amazement.

[Update] House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) pins the tail on the Donkey-in- Chief by asking "Where's the president's proposal" to cut spending?"

“I said to Mr. Daley, and I will say here, where is the president’s proposal? There’s a lot of rhetoric about meeting the Republicans and working with them … but then we see Leader Durbin saying that their – between $5 and $10 billion in cuts – has pushed the limit,” Cantor told reporters on Tuesday.

Via The Hill.

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Senate GOP Letter To Majority Leader Reid On Congressional Priorities

Senate GOP Letter To Majority Leader Reid On Congressional Priorities:

Dear Leader Reid,

The nation’s unemployment level, stuck near 10 percent, is unacceptable to Americans. Senate Republicans have been urging Congress to make private-sector job creation a priority all year. President Obama in his first speech after the November election said “we owe” it to the American people to “focus on those issues that affect their jobs.” He went on to say that Americans “want jobs to come back faster.” Our constituents have repeatedly asked us to focus on creating an environment for private-sector job growth; it is time that our constituents’ priorities become the Senate’s priorities.

For that reason, we write to inform you that we will not agree to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to any legislative item until the Senate has acted to fund the government and we have prevented the tax increase that is currently awaiting all American taxpayers. With little time left in this Congressional session, legislative scheduling should be focused on these critical priorities. While there are other items that might ultimately be worthy of the Senate's attention, we cannot agree to prioritize any matters above the critical issues of funding the government and preventing a job-killing tax hike.

Given our struggling economy, preventing the tax increase and providing economic certainty should be our top priority. Without Congressional action by December 31, all American taxpayers will be hit by an increase in their individual income-tax rates and investment income through the capital gains and dividend rates. If Congress were to adopt the President’s tax proposal to prevent the tax increase for only some Americans, small businesses would be targeted with a job-killing tax increase at the worst possible time. Specifically, more than 750,000 small businesses will see a tax increase, which will affect 50 percent of small-business income and nearly 25 percent of the entire workforce. The death tax rate will also climb from zero percent to 55 percent, which makes it the top concern for America’s small businesses. Republicans and Democrats agree that small businesses create most new jobs, so we ought to be able to agree that raising taxes on small businesses is the wrong remedy in this economy. Finally, Congress still needs to act on the “tax extenders” and the alternative minimum tax “patch,” all of which expired on December 31, 2009.

We look forward to continuing to work with you in a constructive manner to keep the government operating and provide the nation’s small businesses with economic certainty that the job-killing tax hike will be prevented.

Emphasis mine.

Recently Gallup found that keeping estate taxes aka death taxes from increasing significantly topped the list with 56 percent of Americans saying that is very important, 26 percent saying it is somewhat important to deal with during the lame duck session of Congress, and 50 percent saying that extending Bush tax cuts in some form is very important with 31 percent saying it was somewhat important, came in second.

All other questions came in below 50 percent in the "very important" category with unemployment benefits at 48 percent, somewhat important 28 percent, START treaty at 40 percent,very important,33 percent saying somewhat important, DADT repeal at 32 percent,very important, 24 percent somewhat and DREAM Act at 31 percent, very important and 29 percent somewhat.

The two top issues that are most important to Americans deal with taxes.

Reports from today and yesterday show that the Senate GOP, 42 members (which increases by 5 in January as newly appointed senators are seated after midterm election gains) have signed the letter (shown and linked above) which vows to block any other Senate issue until those found to be the most important, Bush tax cuts and some type of spending bill which would keep government running and prevent a shutdown, are dealt with.

Throwing down the gauntlet, all 42 members of the GOP caucus are sending the letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid warning him that they will bring matters to a standstill unless he swiftly brings those tax-and-spending issues to the floor.

While Reid/Democrats still have a majority in the Senate, if all 42 GOP Senators stay united, Reid will not be able to bypass a filibuster, which would require 60 votes.

Although the spending bill to keep government running was not surveyed in the Gallup poll linked above, the tax issues were and they, by far, are the most important to Americans during the lame duck session.

Reid has previously stated a desire to try to pass the DREAM Act, extending unemployment benefits and DADT repeal during the lame duck session and while all three of those issues were surveyed in the Gallup poll, the Bush tax cuts were stated as the biggest concerns, so the GOP's vow seems to be an acceptable position that should prove to be popular with the American public as well as another indicator that they have listened and will abide by their promises to prioritize what Americans want.

[Update] The Hill reports:

Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) highlighted the new strategy in an interview with ABC. McConnell and other congressional leaders met with President Obama at the White House Tuesday to try to reach a deal on the tax cuts.

"One thing I think we all agreed on at the White House is that we ought to do first things first," McConnell said in an interview with ABC News. "And what the American people want to know is, 'Are our taxes going up, and how are you going to fund the government?' Let's do those things first, and see what kind of time is left."

Asked whether that meant the Senate would have time to tackle all the other issues, like repealing "Don't ask, don't tell," passing the DREAM Act or extending unemployment benefits, McConnell said: "No, I don't think so."

[Update] The left is having a cow, The Atlantic headlining with "The Dickishness Of The GOP," other far left liberals whining about the GOP holding legislation "hostage".

Well NEWFLASH leftist liars, lets be honest about the last two years, shall we?

The Democratically controlled Congress has shoved massive legislation down the throats of Americans which each and every single poll conducted at the time, showed the American people DID NOT WANT (Obamacare as one example), but Democrats went right ahead and bribed, wheeled, dealed, twisted the arms of their own party members forcing them off the November 2, 2010 cliff, head first, without a parachute and then tried to call those betrayals against the American people, "achievements".

Polling is clear here, Americans find taxes as the number one priority and after the midterms, John Boehner, who will be the next Speaker of the House, said "The people's priorities will be our priorities; and the people's agenda will be our agenda. This is our pledge to American and this is our pledge to you....."

He spoke for the Republican politicians, and I, for one, am very happy they are keeping that promise.

Obviously the left, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi nor Barack Obama heard the message Americans sent and if they did, they are simply ignoring it as they ignored Americans for the last two years... they work for us, not the other way around and Americans got damn tired of Democrats ignoring them and pushing their own agenda through by hook and by crook.

Now the progressive liberal left is crying because Harry Reid cannot push DADT, START, and the DREAM Act amnesty bill through the Senate before addressing the number one concern for Americans... taxes.

Poor freaking babies.

Thank you Senate GOP for keeping Boehner's promise and as long as you continue to keep American's priorities as your priorities, we will continue to support you.

(Correction made to post- Thanks to commenter Nedd)

Related, via Memeorandum:

In Tax Cuts, the Options Run Short

After meeting, Obama and Republicans hopeful about a deal on Bush tax cuts

Commission's final deficit report preserves controversial spending cuts; panel to vote Friday on whether to endorse plan

Vast Majority Wants Some Aspect of Bush Tax Cuts Extended

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Quotes- No Partying For GOP On November 2, 2010

Republicans are making it clear that there will be no over-the-top partying being done on November 2, 2010, the day of midterms, even if they take control of the House of Representatives and/or the Senate.

When unemployment is at record highs as is our federal deficit, the GOP is determined not dance as if the fight is over should they see the massive wave that has been predicted.

ABC News reports:

“You will not see giddy aides and members [of Congress] dancing on the stage like the Democrats did in 2006. America is facing tough times with people out of work and a sputtering economy,” John Murray, Director of Communications for Office of the Republican Whip, said. “We understand that it's roll-up-the-sleeves time, not dance party USA.”

CNN reports more quotes:

Although the invitation, obtained by CNN, asks Republican guests to come in appreciation for "making calls, knocking on doors, [and] selling the fight," GOP sources say they will do their best to keep the atmosphere low key.

“This event is not a fundraiser and it is not a ‘party’ – even if voters remove Democrats from power, you don't celebrate at a time when one in 10 Americans are out of work and our children's future is threatened by mountains of debt," NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain told CNN.

The Hill reports:

Even though election forecasters are predicting big wins for Republicans, party leaders have emphasized there is still more work to be done before they can claim victory.

Boehner has said there are as many as 100 seats in play in the House, but said this month that "we have a lot of work to do."

Smart because it shows the GOP leadership understands November 2, 2010, the night of midterm elections, if the GOP sees major gains, it is not the end game but is the beginning of undoing the damage Pelosi, Reid and Obama have done under their one party rule.

Now, for us at home.... I am sure should we see the gains we are hoping for, some might just pop that champagne before preparing to hold our GOP leadership to their promises and making sure they keep them.

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Foreign Money: Fact Check.Org Intercepts The Democrat's Hail Mary

A Hail Mary pass is a sports term for a football team, desperate to score before the time runs out and they throw a long pass, praying their own team member catches it and scores.

FactCheck.org has analyzed the Democrats and Obama's latest attempt to motivate their base by accusing the Chamber of Commerce of using foreign funds to produce political ads aimed at defeating Republicans going into the November 2, 2010 midterm elections.

Titled "Foreign Money? Really?", sub header "Democrats peddle an unproven claim."

Analysis

As we reported last week in an Ask FactCheck item on this subject, the claim that money from foreign corporations is funding Chamber of Commerce attack ads originated with a Democratic-leaning organization headed by John Podesta, former chief of staff for President Bill Clinton. That report noted that the chamber took in foreign dues (without reporting the amount) and then said that the chamber is "likely skirting longstanding campaign finance law" against foreign spending in U.S. elections. The word "likely" made clear the author was engaging in speculation, which the chamber flatly denied. Tita Freeman, the chamber’s vice president of communications and strategy, told us that money the chamber takes in from foreign corporations "is not used for political ads."

Now others have challenged the claim. The New York Times reported:

New York Times, Oct. 8: [T]here is little evidence that what the chamber does in collecting overseas dues is improper or even unusual, according to both liberal and conservative election-law lawyers and campaign finance documents.

In fact, the controversy over the Chamber of Commerce financing may say more about the Washington spin cycle — where an Internet blog posting can be quickly picked up by like-minded groups and become political fodder for the president himself — than it does about the vagaries of campaign finance.

The Times reported, for example, that U.S. subsidiaries of corporations based overseas have set up more than 160 political action committees. The Federal Election Commission states that this is perfectly legal so long as U.S. residents make the decisions and provide all the funds. The Times also noted that groups such as the AFL-CIO and the Sierra Club also have international affiliations. The AFL-CIO has pledged to spend $53 million on the midterm elections, mainly supporting Democrats.

Nevertheless, the Democratic National Committee repeated the foreign-money claim in an ad it released to weekend news shows. It was played on CBS’ "Face the Nation."

They conclude:

It’s certainly true that millions are being spent without public disclosure, and that much of the money is coming from corporations taking advantage of a Supreme Court ruling easing restrictions on political spending. But using foreign funds to finance political ads is still a legal violation. Accusing anybody of violating the law is a serious matter requiring serious evidence to back it up. So far Democrats have produced none.

Obama and Democrats have let desperation make them irresponsible in making accusations they cannot produce evidence to support, although some Democrats are now becoming uncomfortable with those attacks against the Chamber, as reported by LA Times.

Democrats expressing reservations have worked on behalf of moderate candidates with business backing. They recalled past attacks on former President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore for receiving foreign money and warned that White House charges now could lead to GOP reprisals, particularly if Republicans gain control of the House.

"The White House may reap the whirlwind," said one top Democratic staffer. "What are we going to do next year if a Republican Congress is making baseless claims about President Obama? We'll want the media to hold them accountable to the facts and the evidence."

The Democratic staffer and a handful of other prominent Democrats spoke on condition of anonymity because of the political sensitivity of the topic.

ABC News also reports:

Yet while Obama is trying to tie Republicans and some of their backers to the specter of foreign interference in U.S. elections, an examination of the evidence provides little support for the claims.

"We have no idea if the Chamber or any 501(c) organization as defined by the IRS code, is taking foreign money for the purposes of playing politics," said Dave Levinthal of the Center for Responsive Politics. "Saying that that foreign money is actually going toward attack ads or any type of messaging in the political realm, you just don't know. It's speculation and nothing more."

Some funding for the Chamber of Commerce does come from foreign companies and foreign-based Chamber affiliates (called "AmChams") similar in operations of some international nonprofit groups and labor unions.

Chamber of Commerce director of media relations J.P. Fielder said that money goes to the group's general fund and then to the international division, keeping it away from any political activities.

"No foreign money is used to fund our political activities," the Chamber said in a statement, citing the rules established by Congress more than a century ago.

"We are seeing an attempt to demonize specific groups and distract Americans from a failed economic agenda," said the Chamber's vice president for government affairs Bruce Josten of the charges.

Pamela Geller says "Finally":

Finally.

I have been calling for a special prosecutor for years, ever since I exposed the millions Obama received from Muslim nations, Hamas-controlled Gaza and other foreign countries.

David Axelrod has asserted it is the responsibility of the Chamber of Commerce to prove these baseless claims wrong, but Axelrod forgets we live in America where people are innocent until proven guilty and the obligation to prove their claims falls on Obama and Democrats.

Then again, it never was about the ads per se, it was all about Democrats trying to distract American voters from the economic situation and unemployment numbers and to motivate their base to attempt to prevent the landslide that is due to hit them in November.

The attacks against the Chamber of Commerce have another motive behind them as well though and that is to give far left progressive liberals something to cling to to explain the massive loss Democrats and the White House is expecting in November, to their readers.

The spin is already starting because they know what is in store for them.

HEH

Looking at the headlines over at Memeorandum today, I predict this line of unsubstantiated attack on the part of Obama and Democrats, isn't going to go over so well.

LA Times' Top of the ticket- Nearly half of Obama's supporters have now given up on him: poll

The Hill- Gallup poll shows GOP isn't losing steam with likely voters

Fox- Fox News Polls: GOP Sees Senate Chances Improve

New York Times- For Democrats, Even ‘Safe’ Seats Are Shaky

Public Opinion Strategies- The Myth of the Democrat Surge

As Hail Marys go, this one was thrown short, the receiver wasn't even in the right place and the other team intercepted it and is running it back the length of the field to score yet another touchdown with the timeclock ticking down toward the end of the game.

If this is the best that Obama and Democrats could do after so many months of polls showing major GOP gain projections, then they are in more trouble than we originally thought.

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Romney, Palin Favored For 2012 Presidential Run

Gallup reports:

Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin lead other potential candidates in Republicans' preferences for the party's 2012 presidential nomination. Mike Huckabee, Newt Gingrich, and Ron Paul also receive more than 5% support from Republicans nationwide.

Botom Line according to Gallup:

Generally speaking, the better-known candidates tend to fare best in early tests of support for presidential nominations. That helps explain why 2008 presidential candidates Romney and Huckabee, 2008 vice presidential nominee Palin, and former House Speaker Gingrich currently generate more support for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination than those who have not previously run for national office or held a high position in national government, such as Tim Pawlenty or Haley Barbour.

HEAR THAT?

That is the sound of heads exploding across the country.

Heh.

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VIDEO- GOP Weekly Address: This Is Our Pledge To America

Video below compliments of The Hill.



Representative Kevin McCarthy said it all. Well said.

If you want to read the GOP's "Pledge to America" in full, go here.

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GOP Releases 'Pledge To America' :UPDATE- Embedded Document Added

(Full GOP Pledge to America embedded at the end of this post for those that want to read the entire document.)

Some are satisfied with the newly released draft of a21 page GOP "Pledge to America" and some are underwhelmed by it.

To me it strikes the middle ground, not between the Democrats and Republicans, but within the two factions of the Republican Party, the hardcore conservative and the right of the center type, and will probably appeal to Independents who are unhappy with how bills have been written and barely glanced at before being passed through the House and Senate these last few years.

Fact is, political pundits will rip into this to address what they don't see in this Pledge, media will draw out the analysis for maximum benefit, ultra conservatives will want more, Democrats will criticize and generally everyone will have an opinion one way or another.

The typical, average American citizen, those that do not spend their days sifting through every piece of political news, is who this Pledge is aimed at and I think that is who will react positively to it.

Face it, ultra conservatives are not going to the polls and voting for a Democrat, Democrats are not going to the polls and voting for a Republican.

Moderates, Independents and right of the center voters are the people that need to be addressed because the majority is not ultra Conservative nor ultra Liberal, the majority of Americans are right of the center and those are the people, the voters, the GOP needs to connect with in a major way right now.

CBS gives a short quick run down, to include Jobs, Repealing and replacing Obamacare, Cutting spending, Reforming Congress and Defense. Below that I will highlight portions of the "Pledge to America" that caught my eye specifically.

Jobs:

- Stop job-killing tax hikes

- Allow small businesses to take a tax deduction equal to 20 percent of their income

- Require congressional approval for any new federal regulation that would add to the deficit

- Repeal small business mandates in the new health care law.

Cutting Spending:

- Repeal and Replace health care

- Roll back non-discretionary spending to 2008 levels before TARP and stimulus (will save $100 billion in first year alone)

- Establish strict budget caps to limit federal spending going forward

- Cancel all future TARP payments and reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

Reforming Congress:

- Will require that every bill have a citation of constitutional authority

- Give members at least 3 days to read bills before a vote

Defense:

- Provide resources to troops

- Fund missile defense

First and foremost and written, I am sure, with Obamacare and the issues of constitutionality involved in requiring Americans to buy a service, the "Pledge to America" addresses this on Page #5.

We recognize that these solutions are ambitious, and that we are proposing them at a time of intense public distrust in politicians and the political system. That’s why we are offering a plan to reform Congress and restore trust so that we can put power back where it belongs: in the hands of the people. We will govern differently than past Congresses of both parties. We will require that every bill contain a citation of Constitutional authority. We will give all Representatives and citizens at least three days to read the bill before a vote. We will make sure that the floor schedule and operations reflect the priority of revitalizing the economy, and ensure there is an open process that makes it easier – not harder – to eliminate unnecessary spending on any legislation that spends the people’s money.

One of my personal big complaints is the way Congress packages bills, adding things into bills that have no connection to the actual bill, just to get unpopular legislation passed within the framework of something that absolutely has to pass.

It is sneaky, unfair and takes advantage of the public taxpayer as well as their money and the issue is addressed in this Pledge.

Advance Legislative Issues One at a Time: We will end the practice of packaging unpopular bills with “must-pass” legislation to circumvent the will of the American people. Instead, we will advance major legislation one issue at a time.

Remembering Nancy Pelosi's infamous comment about having to "pass the bill before people could see what was in the bill", I especially like the addition below:

Read The Bill: We will ensure that bills are debated and discussed in the public square by publishing the text online for at least three days before coming up for a vote in the House of Representatives. No more hiding legislative language from the minority party, opponents, and the public. Legislation should be understood by all interested parties before it is voted on.

The Democrats promised that to the American people then went right ahead and passed bills without giving the politicians, nor the public, a chance to learn what was in the bills, so this was a major issue that I am glad they addressed.

Obamacare aka Healthcare is addressed as well, not just a "Repeal" refrain but with ideas of what the GOP will try to replace it with..

Our Plan to Repeal the Job Killing Health Care Law and Put in Place Real Reform:

Repeal the Costly Health Care Takeover of 2010: Because the new health care law kills jobs, raises taxes, and increases the cost of health care, we will immediately take action to repeal this law.

Enact Medical Liability Reform: Skyrocketing medical liability insurance rates have distorted the practice of medicine, routinely forcing doctors to order costly and often unnecessary tests to protect themselves from lawsuits, often referred to as “defensive medicine.” We will enact common-sense medical liability reforms to lower costs, rein in junk lawsuits and curb defensive medicine.

Purchase Health Insurance Across State Lines: Americans residing in a state with expensive health insurance plans are locked into those plans and do not currently have an opportunity to choose a lower cost option that best meets their needs. We will allow individuals to buy health care coverage outside of the state in which they live.

Expand Health Savings Accounts: Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are popular savings accounts that provide cost-effective health insurance to those who might otherwise go uninsured. We will improve HSAs by making it easier for patients withhigh-deductible health plans to use them to obtain access to quality care. We will repeal the new health care law, which prevents the use of these savings accounts to purchase over-the-counter medicine.

Strengthen the Doctor-Patient Relationship: We will repeal President Obama’s government takeover of health care and replace it with common-sense reforms focused on strengthening the doctor-patient relationship.

Ensure Access For Patients With Pre-Existing Conditions: Health care should be accessible for all, regardless of pre-existing conditions or past illnesses. We will expand state high-risk pools, reinsurance programs and reduce the cost of coverage. We will make it illegal for an insurance company to deny coverage to someone with prior coverage on the basis of a pre-existing condition, eliminate annual and lifetime spending caps, and prevent insurers from dropping your coverage just because you get sick. We will incentivize states to develop innovative programs that lower premiums and reduce the number of uninsured Americans.

Permanently Prohibit Taxpayer Funding of Abortion: We will establish a government-wide prohibition on taxpayer funding of abortion and subsidies for insurance coverage that includes abortion, this includes enacting into law what is known as the Hyde Amendment. We will also enact into law conscience protections for health care providers, including doctors, nurses, and hospitals.

"A Plan to Create Jobs, End Economic Uncertainty, and Make America More Competitive" will be the portion that hits closest to home for many Americans. The economy and unemployment figures are the number one issue on the minds of those polled throughout the year, so addressing that specifically was politically shrewd and necessary in order to capture the attention of voters.

Permanently Stop All Job-Killing Tax Hikes: We will help the economy by permanently stopping all tax increases, currently scheduled to take effect January 1, 2011. That means protecting middle-class families, seniors worried about their retirement, and the entrepreneurs and family-owned small businesses on which we depend to create jobs in America.

• Act Immediately to Reduce Spending: There is no reason to wait to reduce wasteful and unnecessary spending. Congress should move immediately to cancel unspent “stimulus” funds, and block any attempts to extend the timeline for spending “stimulus” funds. Throwing more money at a stimulus plan that is not working only wastes taxpayer money and puts us further in debt.

• Cut Government Spending to Pre-Stimulus, Pre-Bailout Levels: With common-sense exceptions for seniors, veterans, and our troops, we will roll back government spending to pre-stimulus, pre-bailout levels, saving us at least $100 billion in the first year alone and putting us on a path to begin paying down the debt, balancing the budget, and ending the spending spree in Washington that threatens our children’s future.

• Establish a Hard Cap on New Discretionary Spending: We must put common-sense limits on the growth of government and stop the endless increases. Only in Washington is there an expectation that whatever your budget was last year, it will be more this year and even more the next. We will set strict budget caps to limit federal spending on an annual basis. Budget caps were used in the 1990s, when a Republican Congress was able to bring the budget into balance and eventual surplus. By cutting discretionary spending from current levels and imposing a hard cap on future growth, we will save taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars.

Those are the aspects I believe will be the focus of the American people, not media, the White House, politicians or political pundits, but the every day voters that just want jobs, economy and the majority that wants Obamacare dealt with, repealed and/or replaced, focused on before dealing with anything else.

The expected these issues to be addressed and they are.

GOP Pledge to America



[Update] Reactions to this draft of the GOP "Pledge to America" are coming out fast and furiously, which is good, because even those criticizing are highlighting it as well, getting this into the hands of more people, getting more to read the entire document... in effect advertising it.

(Link is a snapshot of the discussions surrounding the Pledge at the moment, when you click over to Memeorandum, just refresh the page to see how many more discussions have been started since I posted the link)

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