13 hours that changed the Republican Party
“Under duress and under public humiliation,” Mr. Paul said with a smile, “the White House will respond and do the right thing.”
Yet there was more than just a simple answer to an elementary question. The stand taken by the spry young pups of the Senate, while the fat old dogs dined with the president, proves there are some new pack leaders in town. No longer will a president chew up the Constitution — not as long as we’re here, the alpha pups said. And we don’t need to ask nicely over and over and over — we’ll just stand here, all of us, until the president answers.
So if old dogs really can learn new tricks, they better learn ’em, and quick, ’cuz these new dogs are growling and showing their teeth. And one thing is clear: Their bite is worse than their bark.
Blowback
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Hopefully they can force out the current leadership in the process (if you want to call it that) and finally provide some G-D backbone for once.
Bohenor + McConnell + Cantor = Dead weight.
Myron Falwell on March 11, 2013 at 5:25 PM
I really really get tired of the premature ejaculatory celebation (spelling intent!) Republicans seem to need to participate in. How about they accomplish something concrete before we go about patting ourselves on the backs and talking about how awesome we have become!
astonerii on March 11, 2013 at 5:37 PM
Senator Paul truly shamed the old lords of the senate. They all need to pack it in. We need new blood like Senator Paul.
Panther on March 11, 2013 at 5:56 PM
You have to be able to hold them to consequences for them to be shamed. They know they will not be held to any consequences. McCain and Graham are untouchable in their districts. This why our nation is so full of degenerates who feel no shame in living lives of non productivity. Because they are not held to consequences for their actions. Instead, they get to prey on the labor of the virtuous.
That is why you get welfare tramps talking about it openly.
astonerii on March 11, 2013 at 5:59 PM
Baby steps and positive reinforcement.
You aren’t going to get Churchill out of Chamberlain in one turn. Be patient.
Paul is a True Believer in his cause and sometimes we’re not going to like it. However, if you are a constitutionalist you are going to be very happy.
Cruz is very ambitious and smart. Not sure how far right he will go and should be interesting.
kim roy on March 11, 2013 at 6:11 PM
I understand part of the positive reinforcement thing, but I really want results before celebrations. My 21 month old knows that simply trying is not enough to get a good girl cheering out of me. So she tries harder. She always gets some reinforcement when she does better than the last attempt, but when she succeeds, its a celebration.
astonerii on March 11, 2013 at 6:21 PM
Don’t worry. No one really thinks the GOP is going to win an election decisively ever again with the current electorate. Even if they do they won’t govern conservatively. The numbers just aren’t there for the votes.
We’re all duly pessimistic on the future of the Republic. Politicians aren’t your kid. They most assuredly don’t crave your approval. They don’t crave mine either.
That being said, there’s no where else to go and those 13 hours on C-Span was the only touch of optimism we’ve had in a long time.
happytobehere on March 11, 2013 at 6:37 PM
He meant, “while the Precedent dined on the fat old dogs.”
ThePrimordialOrderedPair on March 11, 2013 at 6:40 PM
A little back bone can go a long way.
NeoKong on March 11, 2013 at 7:00 PM
Well, Mr. WantedItYesterday, the fact that you had a handful of senators who actually gave a cr*p about the constitution and were willing to put their necks out isn’t a positive start for you?
It has been years since anyone actually DID something in this regard. It’s time to see what else they will do or if this was a one time only. It’s too early to say right now.
But if you want to rend some garments and find negativity in what might be the beginning of something good, by all means.
I think you like to fail because it gives you something to b!tch about. Until this fizzles (which we don’t know yet), you are being “premature” in your garment rending ejaculations, which is just as silly as getting too positive (which I believe was the crux of your complaint).
kim roy on March 11, 2013 at 7:00 PM
Particularly when the big name here is Rand Paul, the guy who wants to also legalize dope and grant amnesty to illegals.
I appreciate his filibuster, which is about the limit of what he has thus far accomplished.
Considering the fact that he allowed the White House to fool him into imagining he got a compromise hurts this action. He should have pushed back for something more concrete.
Now then, reigning in the government on drone strikes is nice, but it is not like he faced down the demons that are going to destroy the nation. Lack of personal responsibility and the entitlement welfare state, which he is perfectly happy to feed additional people into. Somehow I think the president droning us to death is highly unlikely, he needs us to fund utopia for the degenerates Paul is all too willing to add to.
astonerii on March 11, 2013 at 8:03 PM