Redstate

It doesn't matter if someone else posted on it...Your's is superb!

CFR, Amnesty, Spending, Corruption,
Earmarks, Socialized Medicine:
”Your Silence Is Your Consent!”

Newt is the big thinker, and we should always consider his views. Just don't put him in charge of implementing them. Some of these ideas are good, and some aren't. We should pick and choose.

BTW, while I liked the Contract With America, I never thought it was vital to winning the majority in 1994. The GOP won that year because people were fed up with the Clintons and the Democrats. After all, the exact same thing happened in 2006, from the other side, and except for their laughable claim of "We Will Stop the Iraq War" (laughable because only the nutroots thought they were going to end it), the Democrats had no positive plans to campaign on. What this might mean is that only another negative turn - likely in response to a President Obama and Democratic Congress raising taxes - could bring the GOP back in both Houses.

We were successful in nationalizing an off year election. It took the Contract to do that. We actually won two seats in Massachusetts that year for example. It is central to why we won. And after seeing Thaddeus McCotter speak last week, and his anathema to the Contract I now know why we are in the dire straits we are. We need to fire our leadership. As Newt said to those of us at the Young Republican Leadership Conference, "Ignore your leaders. If they are not leading, then they are not leaders." Our current crop of House Leadership are not leaders.

Go over to The Minority Report (link in my sig) and check out a video that Steve posted today of Newt. Newt expands on his gas tax idea. He points to polls that show where Americans agree with him.

Also, despite anecdotal evidence to the contrary, how has our economy's demand for oil changed in the last year? Everything that i have seen says not much. So, drop prices by a few bucks a gallon. It will help.

not BRad Smith.

But I am worried about the long term effects on whether this can seriously be offset by trimming spending, also I find the idea that we are going to be able to reduce spending with Democrats in control of Congress naive at best and flat out disingenuous on McCain and Newt's part at worst. I think what ends up happening is that this would get attached to some sort of minimum wage end tax cuts for "the rich" bill and then lambast the GOP for favoring their "big oil cronies". I think that this is a fiscally irresponsible plan, and one that does not work considering the fiscal habits of Congress-we'll end up paying this temporary relief back double.

Someone's got to punch the hippies.

We can point to this as another example of the Democrats not responding to the needs of the citizens. We put forth an idea. They said no. They didn't provide for a counter plan other than "Windfall profits tax". It really is easy enough to appeal to people on that issue in terms they understand.

Oil companies are evil (play along)

Evil oil companies like to make money.

Congress raises their taxes.

Evil oil companies still like to make money.

Evil oil companies raise their prices.

You pay the increase in taxes. Evil oil company still makes money. So does Congress. You are left holding the check.

The solutions to our problems are going to take radical thinking. This sounds to me like as good a place as any to place a wedge between the two parties.

It's more like $0.18 a gallon. Remember that this money is also used to fund Federal road building and maintenance. How will we fund those initiatives? More borrowing? Tax increase somewhere else? Or, just leave roads and bridges crumbling for a year or two? I'm sure that the cost to repair my axle or realign my front-end when I hit a monster pot-hole will cost more than I save on federal gasoline taxes.

1. Mea culpa. I meant a tank.

2. You are willfully ignorant of the suggestions that are being made to offset the reduced revenue with revenue from the general fund.

but it is not willful. I can certainly Google, but it would be nice if you could post some here for all of us to see.

is the census. Newt proposes that allowing private entities to conduct the census with technology that already exists could cut $9-10B from the federal budget. That is about the amount of money that it would take to offset a three month suspension of the federal gas tax.

I would love to see McCain run with it. The MSM is giving Obama a lot of kudos for his "principled" opposition to the gas tax holiday. McCain could school Obama on the issue of economics and score major electoral points, in my opinionm, simply by showing that cutting government spending means that we can cut taxes for the average American.

in my mind. If we can start to show people that there is massive waste in government spending, we can hopefully start a tidal wave of real conservative reform to drain the swamp.

BTW, I apologize for the harsh tone earlier. I forgot that I had mentioned this on another thread last night.

But I don't feel assured that the Congress would actually make good on their promises to cut spending. Let's see the spending cut first or at the same time as repealing the gas tax. My guess would be it would go with a timetable for withdrawal and then paint Republicans as being warmongers in the pockets of Big Oil.

Someone's got to punch the hippies.

Here's my problem on this "If suspending Gas taxes is a good idea...why don't we get rid of them permanently???

In particular the tax on Diesel needs to end because of the added expense transporting goods across the country is a direct contribution to the inflationary influence on prices!

CFR, Amnesty, Spending, Corruption,
Earmarks, Socialized Medicine:
”Your Silence Is Your Consent!”

We use the gas tax for federal roads and maintenance of federal projects. We have nothing to offset the costs permanently of killing the gas tax entirely, although drastically cutting spending could do that.

Someone's got to punch the hippies.

The gas tax came into being to build the interstate system. It's built...turn the maintenance over to the States!

CFR, Amnesty, Spending, Corruption,
Earmarks, Socialized Medicine:
”Your Silence Is Your Consent!”

my main point is...if repealing the tax for a while is a good idea...isn't it a better idea to end it permanently.

I take the same position on my stimulus checks...if they're such a good idea now...why not send me my money back every year?

CFR, Amnesty, Spending, Corruption,
Earmarks, Socialized Medicine:
”Your Silence Is Your Consent!”

In my fantasyland, there would be very very little federal government at all rather than an extremely strong military. It would be great if we just turned these things over to the states-but with the realistic unlikelihood of this happening, repealing the gas tax is fiscally irresponsible. I would love for each state to maintain all of their affairs, but we both know it ain't gonna happen with the current crop of folks in charge. Although once we cut down on spending, entitlements and pork we can have stimulus checks and no gas taxes all the time-after which temperatures in Hell will continue to decline. :-) Hook Em-Go Lakers :-)

Someone's got to punc

CFR, Amnesty, Spending, Corruption,
Earmarks, Socialized Medicine:
”Your Silence Is Your Consent!”

I say Gig'em :)

___________________________________________________________

Molon Labe!

LOL..well...we can't al be ferfect...Can we?

CFR, Amnesty, Spending, Corruption,
Earmarks, Socialized Medicine:
”Your Silence Is Your Consent!”

___________________________________________________________

Molon Labe!

Is the gas tax a lockbox fund that only goes to roads? I doubt it, it goes into the cauldron just like other taxes. This is where Washington fleeces us. "Oh, we need new taxes for roads." Well, how about cutting back somewhere else in the budget.

Ask not what I can do for my country, ask what my country can do for me. Washington Elected Elite

Sure, just like the lockbox for SSI!

The same thing happens at the state level. Here in Maine the sales taxes on gasoline, ostensibly for road and bridge repairs/construction, go into the 'General Fund' and are then disbursed. Amazingly the amount that goes in is greater than the amount spent for roads and bridges. The infrastructure degrades into a state of disrepair, people complain and magically some bright, liberal solon devises a brand new tax/fee to solve the problem!

In Maine the tax revenue associated with motor vehicle fuel sales originally was a separate fund and always had a surplus. Some time in the "War on Poverty™" era, to offset shortages in other areas of the state budget, it was decided to aggregate all revenue sources into one fund. The rest is history!

Doing away w/ gas tax will not affect demand. It will take our money away from bloated government and put it back on the pockets of Americans.

Government has to be put on a diet. I'll take a refund wherever I can get it. Running high deficits and racking up debt is the only way this country will take a serious look at smaller government.

The people have to get sick enough of this crappy mismanagement and Washington and force real change. Leaving it up to the Elected Elite to practice fiduciary responsibility is a recipe for disaster every time.

Government has to learn money doesn't grow on trees.

Ask not what I can do for my country, ask what my country can do for me. Washington Elected Elite

Romney or Gingrich for VP!

Ask not what I can do for my country, ask what my country can do for me. Washington Elected Elite

I'm pretty sure "Egoer" isn't a word, but you get the idea.

"I will look for people in the cast of John Roberts, Samuel Alito, and my friend the late William Rehnquist – jurists of the highest caliber who know their own minds, and know the law, and know the difference." - John McCain

We agree BR...It's what Rush calls "Symbolism over substance". It would have little positive impact on the economy and wouldn't help Republicans anyway so what's the point beyond making some feel like they've done something while the underlying causes of the problem that have to be dealt with continue to go unresolved!

CFR, Amnesty, Spending, Corruption,
Earmarks, Socialized Medicine:
”Your Silence Is Your Consent!”

And perhaps surprisingly to some of y'all, I actually listen to Rush whenever I get the chance and his talk on populism vs conservatism really is part of what pushed me over the edge towards becoming a vehement opponent of Huckabee. Rush talks a lot about symbolism over substance and I think that what we need to do is some solid spending cuts, and get the economy under control. Then when we've cleaned up the cr*p out of the economy, then we can work on getting some real cuts on things like the gasoline tax.

Someone's got to punch the hippies.

Not sure whay we have to keep bringing up the Huckster...But I realize you can't help yourself...LOL

anyway...the only way I would get on board a gas tax repeal is if it were permanent and accompanied by spending cuts to pay the difference!

CFR, Amnesty, Spending, Corruption,
Earmarks, Socialized Medicine:
”Your Silence Is Your Consent!”

I do!

Newt is right.

And Oz is spot on, the Beltway Republicans either don't get it or don't care.

Now.... How do we wake them up?

Regards

I have always been fond of giving a reason to support, instead of relying on being against. The dems have been relying on enough being against Pres. Bush (for many, thinking that the rest of the country hates every fiber of his being with every fiber of theirs)& are somewhat coming out of that - not that much, but some. We believe our ideas are correct & good, what is better for the country, so let's become more bold in saying what we're for & why.

Offer your own solutions as to what it will take. Don't just poo-poo someone trying to effect needed change.

I agree with you which is why I put the big five back on the table in my post above.

Doing something about earmarks is the best of Newt's ideas, but it would take GOP politicians with some [guts] and their don't appear to be many.

Click on over to the Minority Report (link in my sig) and watch a video that Steve Foley posted their yesterday. He expands on some of these notions.

And as an aside, he is advocating English as the language of government. He also advocates campaigning in every language that is necessary to get the message to every neighborhood. Those are not incompatible concepts.

Thanks, I'll check that out!

Re: English, I guess it depends what the implication of "English as the language of government" is. Some people, I presume, mean that as, all government correspondence, forms, etc only in English. Others, I presume, mean it more as a symbolic gesture like having an official bird or song. In regards to the former I can't see how a candidate could seriously appeal to non-English speakers with a non-English website in an attempt to receive their votes while at the same time proposing to eliminate or curtail any non-English government communications. But again, it's not clear to me what exactly "English as the language of government" means to McCain, I will check out your sig link...

"Again I please [plead] ignorance, perhaps I missed this but is there some national issue of concern among citizens regarding "secret ballots""

You may plead so. JK
I think you have not been around a union organizing campaign, (I have) when the goons shoot at peoples houses and cars for being on the wrong side of the argument. The secret ballot then becomes a serious issue.
Not throwing any rocks, just wishing to educate.

Regards

basically, there's some stuff going around about how workers' ballots regarding whether ornot to unionize are being compromised.

.

Sorry, I assumed the rank and file were familiar with the union organization process. My error.
Goes like this. Workers at a location that support the proposed union get workers at the location to sign a signature card. I have seen people sign to keep bad things from happening to them or their family.
Enough signature cards results in a secret ballot watched over by the Dept of Labor, etc.
The employee can then voice his real opinion without fear of beating, having his house shot at,or children injured.

Magically, there are often less positive votes compared to the number of signature cards.

Kommisar Pelosi proposes to eliminate the secret ballot, so as soon as enough employees sign the signature cards, boom the union is in.

Hope the insight helps.

Regards

Newt is speaking to young Republicans and Conservatives all over the country getting this message out to the future leaders of the movement. His decision not to run was that it would be far more important work to build the farm team. I agree.

BTW, is it really that bad of an idea to follow the advice of the person who brought about the first GOP majority in several decades?

We must continue to innovate.

Here in CA we have brownouts when the AC are turned on in the central valley but no effective way of getting more power plants approved. I believe Newt is a supporter of nuclear power (as is McCain) so he probably has this under control.

I still do not think much of the gas tax holiday, it will cost more to have the government manage the turn on and turn off of the gas tax once the beltway folks get into the act. A holiday on drilling protests would go along way with me. I don't much like the arguement that the public likes it, the public likes free health care and a free lunch too.

they aren't all that fond of him. So, he puts his message out so the people can put pressure on the leadership.

From the "gotta start somewhere" department... The main thrust I take from this is that Republican leadership needs to understand that (as trite & banal as it may sound to some) "Real" change is needed & what they're doing isn't working - to use another cliche, they're in a hole & need to first stop the digging.

Newt has studied culture-think extensively. When you are trying to change a groups culture you have to work incrementally. Anything else scares too many people into retrenching in their ways.

Liberals have been very good at this. That is why we have the concept of "creeping socialism".

a push for upholding the English language would resonate with a hell of a lot of voters. One of the biggest complaints you always hear when the subject of illegal immigration is brought up are people's personal stories of not being able to communicate with someone in a work environment, and a resentment of the perceived catering toward Spanish speakers.

"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle

also comes from his Platform of the American People (go to americansolutions.com to check it out) where his polling says that 87% of the American electorate would favor such a proposal.

Also, 74% still support the measure if it also means that ballots are English only.

83% believe that new immigrants should learn English

There's a whole lot more there...check it out.