Quotes of the day
posted at 10:40 pm on January 4, 2011 by Allahpundit
“John Boehner takes the Speaker’s gavel from Nancy Pelosi today, and the transfer represents much more than a change in partisan control. It marks perhaps the sharpest ideological shift in the House in 80 years, and it could set the stage for a meaningful two-year debate over the role of government and the real sources of economic prosperity.
“We say ‘could’ because much depends on which Republican Party chooses to show up. Will it be the incumbent-protection and business interest-group machine that prevailed under the final years of Tom DeLay? Or will it remember that the real sources of it power and legitimacy are the tea party activists and independents who voted for Republicans in November? So far the signs suggest the latter, but the forces of Beltway inertia are formidable and will weigh on the drive to change the politics of K Street perks and payoffs.
“Merely in taking the gavel, Mr. Boehner will fulfill his most important mandate, which is stopping the damage done by the two Pelosi Congresses. To adapt the Hippocratic Oath, first there will be no more economic harm.”
***
“‘The problem is going to be the grass-roots movement out in the countryside,’ said Vin Weber, a former Republican House member and Washington lobbyist who served with Mr. Boehner in the 1990s. ‘They have no sense of the limits on a party that controls only one of the three seats of power. Managing that relationship is going to be difficult.’…
“‘He has worked his way back, and he has thought this through,’ said Senator Saxby Chambliss, Republican of Georgia and part of Mr. Boehner’s inner circle from their days together in the House.
“‘But, gee whiz, it is not going to be easy,’ Mr. Chambliss added. ‘We have a bunch of those House guys who are really on fire.’”
***
“To say that the Tea Party won a mandate is to imply that the public registered approval for its specific remedies for changing government as well. And here the picture is considerably blurrier, especially since neither the Tea Party nor the Republican Party laid out a very specific program for cutting spending during the campaign…
“In other words, while voters endorsed the Tea Party ideal of a radically more parsimonious federal government, they haven’t yet gotten their heads around the excruciating choices it entails — or even the relatively easy ones. And that’s not really much of a mandate, when you think about it…
“What this means, though, is that even the most resounding mandate is likely to be a limited one. Which is why Republicans who would refuse to raise the debt limit may find out that the only thing voters like less than a gushing federal spigot is being forced to shut it off.”
***
“Fresh from a nearly two-week vacation in Hawaii, Mr. Obama told reporters aboard a Washington-bound Air Force One last night that he expects Republicans ‘to play to their base for a certain period of time.’
“Indeed, one of the first acts of the new GOP-led House next week will be to vote to repeal Mr. Obama’s signature accomplishment, the health care overhaul. Asked specifically what he thought about that largely symbolic vote, Mr. Obama declined to say…
“Incoming House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell will realize, Mr. Obama added, ‘that there will be plenty of time to campaign for 2012 in 2012.’”
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Sigh.
cynccook on January 4, 2011 at 10:46 PM
in between golf games and Christmas par-tays…. that is.
ted c on January 4, 2011 at 10:47 PM
That’s rich coming from him.
Cindy Munford on January 4, 2011 at 10:51 PM
Obama: You guys wait until 2012 to start the campaign, I’ll just be over here waiting and sniping.
SaintGeorgeGentile on January 4, 2011 at 10:53 PM
Manage h*ll. The GOP does what it can to stop Obama and the democrats, this country will be ruined, for a very long time.
Skandia Recluse on January 4, 2011 at 10:53 PM
Really…?
Seven Percent Solution on January 4, 2011 at 11:00 PM
….
Especially if Me, Myself, and I, start now.
Lily on January 4, 2011 at 11:03 PM
How about this for a mandate:
please stop raping our Constitution and our economic and civil rights !
Repeal Obamacare ! With every ounce of ruthlessness that went into passing it.
silverfox on January 4, 2011 at 11:03 PM
I hear it’s real tough to kick heroin or cigarettes too.
GnuBreed on January 4, 2011 at 11:05 PM
The shear arrogance of this guy makes my blood boil.
Tim Zank on January 4, 2011 at 11:07 PM
You can shut it off now, or when you run out of money.
Either way, the well is running dry.
Kini on January 4, 2011 at 11:11 PM
Says the guy who started his 2008 Presidential campaign in January of 2007. Uhhh.
JohnInCA on January 4, 2011 at 11:12 PM
The Tea Party movement is just getting started. We’re taking back the country from the Statists.
John the Libertarian on January 4, 2011 at 11:12 PM
It’s something. I’d like to see a recent picture of his teeth.
SouthernGent on January 4, 2011 at 11:13 PM
Is that a seven-iron stuck up your @ss Mr. President, or are you still campaigning?
Rovin on January 4, 2011 at 11:15 PM
“‘Me? I’ll be campaigning every day. It’s all I know,’ said the smartest president ever, flashing that winning smile that still makes Katie Couric blush.” /mainstream media impersonation.
smellthecoffee on January 4, 2011 at 11:18 PM
Start now?!?!? When did the son of a bitch stop???
BigWyo on January 4, 2011 at 11:18 PM
From the WSJ article. The other articles, NYT’s and CBS, are bias in any event, so as QOTD, they can be viewed as the narrative for the next two years.
It’s important to counter the propaganda, the journalist malpractice that will be inevitable. I.e. more Wasserman-Weiner shouting matches and fact distortions. With accompanying cheer-leading by the Lame Stream Media.
Insist on televised debates and committee meeting that were promised, but never delivered. Force the
otherDark Side to justify their spending.Kini on January 4, 2011 at 11:25 PM
By the way Allah…
… Can you please use the picture of that event anytime you post a Nancy Pelosi thread from now until the end of time?
Seven Percent Solution on January 4, 2011 at 11:26 PM
Hey gohawgs your hawgs are making a comeback!
John the Libertarian on January 4, 2011 at 11:30 PM
I think we have tried the government approach, and the results speak for themselves…
… How about trying “We The People” again?
I know that is not taught in the schools anymore…
… but it has worked every time it has been tried.
Just a suggestion…
Seven Percent Solution on January 4, 2011 at 11:38 PM
Me? Umm.. ah… ugh… There is no question of starting now. I never stopped.
antisocial on January 4, 2011 at 11:42 PM
Once a punk always a punk.
darwin-t on January 5, 2011 at 12:03 AM
There was a discussion here the other day about SS benefits, and some here on HA were all in defense of making sure that they get their full SS benefits.
That right there is exactly why even the savviest Republican politicians don’t know what the hell to do to curb the spending in Washington – when we have idiots among our ranks who refuse to deal with the harsh choices ahead.
Because the GOP base can’t be trusted with simple math, I have no expectations of the GOP in Washington. I’m focusing on business and making money for my family. Maybe someday, the rank and file will take responsibility for allowing current day politicians to spend their childrens’ futures away, but until that happens, nothing will change.
beatcanvas on January 5, 2011 at 12:07 AM
Didn’t that happen about 13 trillion ago?
miConsevative on January 5, 2011 at 12:08 AM
Well of course there is only room for his perpetual campaigning, he does not want to share teh stage.
bluemarlin on January 5, 2011 at 12:11 AM
They’re all easy. Stop spending.
Every time something’s listed as an absurd expenditure, like digitizing the Grateful Dead albums, don’t spend it.
Start there, work up.
CPL 310 on January 5, 2011 at 12:13 AM
Unfortunately, congress members have learned, by experience, that the best way to protect their job, over the long term, is keep their fingerprints off anything controversial. That leads members to do things largely by horsetrading and by stealth. They try to do everything in ways that can’t fit into a 30-second attack ad. Is that their fault, or the voter’s fault? Probably both.
RBMN on January 5, 2011 at 12:15 AM
China keeps raising the limit on America’s VISA card, along with the interest rate.
Yes, we are living on borrowed time
Kini on January 5, 2011 at 12:17 AM
Oh, let us hope so!
bluemarlin on January 5, 2011 at 12:17 AM
If old Nancy doesn’t lose it in the gavel exchange it will be because she will be heavily sedated…
I So Can’t Wait to Watch!
And no more precious precious plane for San Fran Nan..
WhoU4 on January 5, 2011 at 12:40 AM
I’m not that happy with O-hi-o right about now. Boehner needs to remember that TEA stands for TAXED ENOUGH ALREADY…
Don’t drop the ball(s) R’s or you’ll lose the game…
Gohawgs on January 5, 2011 at 12:53 AM
Speaking of Botox Nan, the gavel and precious – I could see here going full out Gollum when it’s time to pass the gavel on to Boehner.
miConsevative on January 5, 2011 at 12:53 AM
Sorry about that Gohawgs, I am never happy with them either, especially since my wife went to Michigan.
bluemarlin on January 5, 2011 at 1:01 AM
If you want to see something to make you smile, go to
speaker.gov
Happy Day!
No Nancy Pelosi!
They must have switched over at midnight!
INC on January 5, 2011 at 1:26 AM
http://www.speaker.gov/
INC on January 5, 2011 at 1:26 AM
Its so very, very, very important that the grassroots public stay engaged.
Not just to keep the GOP on the straight and narrow but to also lend credence, that seal of approval that’s so necessary to effect short term and long term return of the nation to our Constitutional mandate.
Republican leaders need and have no choice but to include all of us in their actions with a great deal of public interaction.
The Conservative message, bright, bold and articulate, just say yes.
Speakup on January 5, 2011 at 1:39 AM
Here’s where we need to hold their feet to the fire. They explicitly stated they would do these things:
*Act immediately to reduce spending by cancelling unspent stimulus funds
-Cut government spending to pre-stimulus, prebailout levels saving at least $100 billion in the first year alone
-Establish a hard cap on new discretionary spending
-Cut Congress’ budget
*Hold weekly votes on spending cuts
-End TARP once and for all
-End government control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
-Impose a net federal hiring freeze on non-security employees
-Root out government waste and sunset outdated and duplicative programs
Some are a little nebulous, but we can get a pulse of things to see if they follow through on the 2 things I put asterisks by. If they don’t cancel stimulus spending withing the month or don’t hold weekly votes on spending cuts it’s time to let them know we’re watching and they’re failing.
Now say asterisks 5 times fast – I’m not doing so well saying it one time slow. Who-da thunk plural could make is so hard.
miConsevative on January 5, 2011 at 1:56 AM
Thank you for the link, INC.
I encourage everyone here at HA to congratulate Mr Speaker, and also let him know exactly what you voted for and are expecting of him, and when, using the contact form on the speaker.gov website.
I did.
AZCON on January 5, 2011 at 1:57 AM
On the other hand, when voters endorsed the ideal of “everyone should have health insurance, but if you like your doctor you can keep your doctor, oh and the whole thing will cost less,” that was a mandate to pass a 2,000-page bill without reading it. Got it.
Fabozz on January 5, 2011 at 1:58 AM
AMEN!
Kini on January 5, 2011 at 1:58 AM
“
Easier said than done.
We’ll see how the American pimples react if they shut off the spigot.
I would my money on the Republicans popularity crashing and burning.
I’d love to see the government slashed and Departments eliminated; i fear however we are past the point of no return.
rickyricardo on January 5, 2011 at 2:21 AM
Yeah, the folks who gave Boner the numbers needed to put him in a position for his buddies to hand him the gavel are “The Problem”…/
Just a heads up to Boner and cretins like Weber: This purge is far from over.
SuperCool on January 5, 2011 at 3:50 AM
voters need to grow up and get real…we need to cut ACROSS the board….no more hand outs…
cmsinaz on January 5, 2011 at 6:21 AM
from the man who hasn’t stopped campaigning since 2006….
what a piece of work
cmsinaz on January 5, 2011 at 6:22 AM
if boehner and crew can get their message across without the msm badgering them (i know i can dream), then I believe folks will understand the situation the US is in and can make the sacrifices, they know that if they have to do it within their households, that congress needs to do it as well..
cmsinaz on January 5, 2011 at 6:25 AM
There is necessary pain in cutting off the extra limbs and organs of government.
That must be done to stop the harm.
Letting those cancers stay as they are is doing harm, and that is what must end.
ajacksonian on January 5, 2011 at 6:28 AM
paul ryan held his own on morning joe…
great segment….
cmsinaz on January 5, 2011 at 7:22 AM
While flipping through the channels (plausible deniability) Spitzer & Ditzer was landed on. You will be so glad to know that that conservative icon, Ms. Ditzer says that those Tea Party types like to talk and complain but will not allow any cutbacks on what the government gives them.
Cindy Munford on January 5, 2011 at 7:38 AM
she is a worthless tool…
good morning cm :)
cmsinaz on January 5, 2011 at 8:01 AM
Good morning! But she has a Pulitzer Prize!!!
Cindy Munford on January 5, 2011 at 8:03 AM
lol :)
cmsinaz on January 5, 2011 at 8:05 AM
dear leader with a peace prize?
cmsinaz on January 5, 2011 at 8:06 AM
At a brief break in campaign stops, Mr. Obama added, ‘that there will be plenty of time to campaign for 2012 in 2012.’”
in between golf games and Christmas par-tays…. that is.
FIFY!
belad on January 5, 2011 at 8:06 AM
Notice the all or nothing talk. Keeping the gushing federal spigot where it is (not increasing the flow again) and then slowly turning it down a notch or two to a reasonable level is not shutting it off.
Fallon on January 5, 2011 at 8:25 AM
Phonyface Obama projects his phonybaloney strategies on everyone else. He has no idea what he’s dealing with.
disa on January 5, 2011 at 8:51 AM
Sigh, my Georgia Republican Senator, unfortunately a little weak in the spine. He took out Max Cleland though, gotta give him credit for that.
slickwillie2001 on January 5, 2011 at 10:41 AM
He thinks he’s being clever, but he really just comes across snarky and petulant.
fossten on January 5, 2011 at 11:56 AM