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EDITOR OF REDSTATE

If Only They Don’t Go Wobbly

By: Erick Erickson (Diary)  |  June 7th, 2012 at 04:46 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Our Republican Leadership in Washington, D.C. is extremely risk adverse. It is very clear the leadership has convinced itself, despite historic truth, that Newt Gingrich lost his job because of the government shutdown way back when. They do not want to have protracted fights. They want to appear reasonable. They crave the press’s adoration of “grown ups” and “reasonable men.”

I expect Barack Obama to capitalize on this Republican lack of self-esteem before October. I expect him to manufacture some fight with the GOP on fiscal issues and expect the GOP to cave so he can appear “reasonable.”

The media will aid him with choruses of “good government” and “government working” and “bipartisanship.”

I hope the GOP pays attention to Wisconsin.

In Wisconsin, the GOP drew a line in the sand and used brute legislative force to get its agenda passed. It did what Barack Obama did with Obamacare. The Democrats perversely gambled that the people were with them on healthcare and against the GOP on public sector unions. They got both badly wrong.

We know from Wisconsin that the coalition that swept the GOP back into power in the House of Representatives still stands. We also know that a majority of independents are desperate for someone to stop the spending in Washington.

I expect Barack Obama to manufacture a fiscal crisis to try to force a compromise to make himself look strong. In Wisconsin, the GOP stood up, fought, and did not compromise. They won. The public supported them both before and after on the issue of the day. They support the GOP against the President too. They support cuts to spending.

Will the GOP learn that compromise with Barack Obama is no longer an option? Will they learn that “reasonableness” on the path to fiscal ruin is not what the American people want? Will they fight?

We will see.

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COMMENTS

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  • ihateliberals

    In the House Boehner and his minions are What use to be called RINO’s but are really Liberal Republicans. Boehner proved his lack of leadeship by first biting the hand that fed him control of the House the Tea Party. Secondly when he promised $100 billion in cuts in the 2011 budget and then behind closed doors he negotiated down to only $33 billion. The Democrats only wanted $30 Billion to start with. With Republican leaders like this who needs Democrats to screw-up things? Boehner proved that the Democrats can get whatever they want by putting pressure on him and holding out until the last minute. Then the create “Compromiser” will cave and give them what they ask for. Boehner proves one of two thngs wither he has no guts or he is a Liberal Republican of which we want neither.

  • rj145

    The GOP has promised much and delivered little. The second Republican revolution in 2010 is just as much a failure as the previous edition. Apparently their unofficial motto has become “image before substance”. Unfortunately there is little of either.

    The “fix” is a simple one” Grow a spine! Say what you mean and mean what you say. No compromises.

  • ihateliberals

    n/t

  • anjinconsulting

    It’s already here in the form of a government without a budget and an unsustainable deficit. Conservatives should strike while the iron is hot. Senator DeMint, et.al could propose a constitutional amendment for a flat tax and a balanced budget; something along these lines:

    A maximum tax rate of of 10% shall be applied to each citizen in order to fund the federal government. The congress shall prepare a budget of expenses and debts for the federal government each year, a budget in which expenses shall not exceed 90% of the previous years tax reciepts except in times of war and national emergencies. An auditor shall be appointed by the President to ensure the accuracy of the expenses and debts as itemized in the budget.If congress does not pass the budget, or if the president does not sign the budget, the members of congress or the President shall not be eligible for re-election.

    Just a thought….and your opening paragraphs were remarkably kind. Thats a lot of ink to say the GOP leadership is for the most part a bunch of invertebrate sissies.

  • marlajean

    Until we have Jim DeMint, Rand Paul and Mike Lee in leadership positions, the Senate will continue to be useless The same goes for Congress. I would love to see Allen West as the speaker, at least he tells it like it is..

  • trutexan

    “In Wisconsin, the GOP drew a line in the sand and used brute legislative force to get its agenda passed. It did what Barack Obama did with Obamacare.”

    No they didn’t. They didn’t hide a secret panel behind closed doors in the middle of the night to Deem and Pass the issue at hand. And they didn’t make promises to detractors on their own team to strong-arm their vote nor did they conceal their intentions in legislation nobody could read. They outwardly fought, in a free and open election to get their message across. OK, so both instances won their point and I’m assuming that’s what you meant. But beyond that, the comparisons stop. One was done to support the message of the people, and one wasn’t. One is Constitutional and the other isn’t (I’m sure). Somebody else brought this fight to Walker, vs the other way around. Please don’t ever compare what happened in Wisconsin on Tuesday to anything anywhere near how Obamacare came to be.

  • michaelbowler

    The GOP just needs some good old fashioned primary action. The only way to get what you want is to make it clear failure leads to election losses.

    When Boehner and Co. fold to the democrats, they must be removed from office. It is the ONLY answer.

    Largely it’s not lack of spine that republicans suffer from, it’s lack of conservative principles…in many cases, principles at all.

  • michaelbowler

    The current crisis couldn’t be done better if it were intentional, assuming those responsible wanted at least some level of “plausible” deniability.

    The current mess is intentional, the left has done it on purpose, it took decades to get here.

  • michaelbowler

    The conservatives in congress will continue to be the outcasts for at least a few more election cycles. It will be decades before they are leaders…if ever.

  • spinoneone

    It is already here and, since 0 did not raise the debt ceiling enough to avoid another confrontation just before the election, he doesn’t have to “manufacture” anything. The crisis with the debt ceiling will erupt in another couple of weeks. All of the old shibboleths will be trotted out and Boehner and McConnell will shuck and jive again. The only tactic that might avoid that would be for McConnell and Boehner to introduce the exact same bill in both Houses on the same day and do so in a manner that will not allow amendments. They could kick the can to the next Congress…where, with a little luck, we will be able to replace both of them with more able Republicans.

  • http://www.plumbbobblog.com Plumb_Bob

    Risk AVERSE.

    Not “risk aDverse.”

    Just sayin’. Carry on.

  • http://www.plumbbobblog.com Plumb_Bob

    The word you’re focusing on is “forwardness,” but that word does not appear in the verse. The word is “FROwardness,” an obsolete word meaning “contrariness” or “ill will.”

    Moreover, “forward,” in and of itself, is not bad thing, either biblically or otherwise, so I’m afraid you’re not going to be able to find a sound, biblical reason to say that Obama is unbiblical simply by focusing on his campaign slogan.

    There are plenty of sound reasons why we should judge the current President an evil man; we don’t have to twist or misquote bible verses to do it.

  • richtfan

    take a lesson from LBJ. He was the master stiff-armer in chief from a legislative standpoint. he worked people tirelessly and just wore them down until they submitted. he didn’t care if he was characterized as tough, mean etc. the GOP MUST resist being called names by the media. THEY DON NOT LIKE YOU no matter what you do. They want you to lose. They love liberals because that’s who they are. Stop trying to curry favor with them by being the “grown ups” in the room or by attempting to appear “moderate”. That is weak, and the last thing we need is weak. Wisconsin is the barometric testing ground for the November elections wherever conservatives are on the ballot. Be strong. Be principled no matter what is being said. Do the right thing, and you’ll end up on the right side of the debate ultimately.

  • fredflintlock

    How hard could it be to take out a Senate Minority/Majority Leader with a megaphone like that?

    It’s our party. How many conservatives do you need to wrestle control away from the spendthrifts?

  • ctredstater

    the best explanation I have ever read on the REAL threat to the level of reform needed – as in NOW and forever – to get the country back on track.

    this is why the US Senate primaries (Cruz up next) are so vital. The Spirit of Bob Dole lives in the Republican Party. a worship of the “Grand Bargain” and the self-congratulations (amidst media applause) for the value of “reaching across the aisle” – for its own sake – is a toxic disease to the body politic.

    this is the reason I was such a strong Perry supporter – I felt he had the combination of gravitas, ideology and spine best suited for this task. this is my fear of a Romney administration – possible replay of Bush 41 (who began his Presidency by taking a shot at the great Ronald Reagan by calling for a “kinder, gentler nation” and by “holding out my hand” to the Dem leaders in his Inaugural Speech. I just can’t see Romnney pulling a “Scott Walker” – it isn’t in his policy playbook, his nature or his nurture.

    this is all why the Congressoinal races, especially the Senate races, are a critically important part of the miedicine our republic needs.

  • mkozikowski

    Walker succeeded because he said what he would do and he did what he said.

    J. Boehner is not capable of either. He has shown himself to be a Big Government, Progressive and his rhetoric is nothing more than hot air sound bites for the proles.

    Until he can draw a line in the sand, declare ‘here and no farther’ he will be contrary to the healing of this country.

  • edintexas

    Is it OK if I don’t hold my breath waiting for the Republican “Leadership” to actually employ principles and lead? Those of us who are lucky enough to have a Representative who “gets it” can only write to advocate voting for different “leaders”. Until there is a majority of Republicans who “get it” in both House and Senate, there isn’t likely to be any change.

  • cwfoster

    Have the GUTS to force a govt, shutdown??? We HAD a speaker like that once. The RINO who ran against Clinton blamed him for hi sloss, instead of admitting his squishyness turned off his base. He had challengers from gthe squishy estabishment who helped the Democrats trump up charges against him, that later he was cleared of, even going so far as reimbursing the govt for additional investigation made necessary by a mistatement by one of his attorneys. In the most recent primaries, THAT VERY POINT got brought up as proof of some admision of worngdoing on his part, and he was denied the nomination. Be careful what you ask for, would you wish Newt’s fate on Allen West? Are you prepared to nstand by your speaker, if you get one, even if he demonstrates some flakiness? Everybody’s human, and has warts, you can bet that political rivals within the party will find SOMETHING that’s can be exploited, the Democrats will press him on it and his “allies” will call upon him to “step down for the good of the party”. ARE you prepared to overlook that flakiness and go to the mat for him if he’s balanced the budget in four years, pushed through welfare reform and put the budegt on a trajectory towrds a surplus? Or will you stand idly by and watch him get railroaded?: You can bet Tip O’Neil never had to worry about the kind of internacine backstabbing that Newt Gingrich did. Yes, Newt had some flakiness, but he also had some accomplishments, you don’t punish success because a person has made some mistakes. Otherwise, you get what you have now, squishy leadership that tries not to anger the opposition, because everybody thinks that others are like themselves, and that if they give the Dems an opening their rivals within the GOP will form a circular firing squad. So far they’ve been right!

  • commonsenseobserver

    He just doesn’t have the courage we need.

  • kaminsti

    We think ?wobbly? is much too kind of a word to use regarding the GOP?s behaviors.

    No the GOP, in it?s current state, won?t fight. They?ll do more of the same and pick an occasional fight and then immediately run away. Or, they?ll go wobbly and lose the fight almost immediately. The end result is always the same and the GOP essentially flees the field of battle before the fight ever gets going. The GOP is afraid and lives in fear.

    The RINO M&M twins (Senators McCain and McConnell) have repeatedly proven their willingness to capitulate or surrender. If you doubt it, please ask yourself when was the last time M & M haven’t surrendered almost immediately when a fight started? Remember Senator McConnell even undermined the House (paul Ryan’s) budget efforts late last year.

    The GOP is the party without a plan, has lost any semblance of conservative values and the party with no guts or spine. What?s the point of the GOP when it has lost sight of the core values of real conservatism and it too wants to be ?me too? liberals? How does being a bunch of ?liberal lights? make a clear distinction and offer a real choice for the People? The GOP is NOT our friend in it?s current form.

    At risk of stating the obvious?.ALL politicians in D.C. are ?out of touch.? (We liked Governor Perry?s idea about Senators and Congressmen only spending two weeks per quarter in D.C. Our politicians in D.C. are making-up work and then get too wrapped up in the intrigue and drama of politics while the Country and People lose. We suggest they just have too much time on their hands!)

    The GOP establishment didn?t learn anything from the 2010 elections about the changed mood and temperament of the American people. The GOP establishment still resents the TEA party and does everything possible to undermine it?except when it?s useful to the GOP establishment and perpetuation of GOP cronyism.

    From everything we?ve read and heard in the past 24 hours it is clear the DNC also totally misread and miscalculated the temperament of the American people in Wisconsin .

    We seriously doubt the GOP will learn anything from the Wisconsin recall election and embrace what the People crave and want: Real Conservatism instead of offering ?liberal light.?

    BOTH parties are in absolute denial and still think ?they know best? and were just a bunch of dolts out here. They underestimate the growing resentment of Americans sick and tired of D.C. romper-room shenanigans. The GOP clearly underestimates the resentment of its own constituents. (We are not members of the TEA Party, but we are confident the TEA Party will eventually solve this issue as the RINOS are finally unseated one-by-one and we take the Party back?something the GOP establishment fears.)

    It is intuitively obvious that ?real conservatism? is a winning agenda and that the GOP thinks it?s a poison pill. (We assert it is only poison to their personal gravy trains.) So we have a GOP establishment who can?t (and won?t) see that the American people have had enough of their romper-room antics. We have a GOP establishment that is afraid of real conservatism and wants to take the easy way out and it embraces “liberal light.”

    Both parties seem to want to ?just feed them cake? (appease the masses). Neither party has the ability to ?govern? and chooses the easy path of ?ruling? instead.

    Where have all the real Leaders gone? When did real Leadership fall out of vogue? Why does the GOP continually want to appease liberalism instead of defeating it?

    The GOP is still believing (and enriching) ?consultants? instead of getting in touch with the American people and embracing the Will of the American people. Why can?t the GOP see that the People crave real conservatism and will support it?

    These lines from an article on American Thinker captures our points more beautifully and succinctly:

    http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/06/big_labors_big_boo-boo.html

    ?GOP Establishment: ?the GOP Establishment took a bit of a whipping last night — because Walker is exactly the kind of Republican the establishment constantly warns us is poison for the party?.?

    ?GOP Consultants / Conventional Wisdom. See above, but the consultant class deserves their own space in the biggest loser category. They have cost us many elections over the decades, and last night was a huge blow to their entire foundational template. This may be Walker ‘s biggest gift of all to conservatives.?

    We have some work to do to get the GOP to work for the People again.

  • chriser

    are the Republicans willing to allow the federal government to shut down or not? If not, then the Democrats know they can get pretty much whatever they want if they hold out to the last minute. If you give up your only weapon in a fight, then you don’t have much chance of winning.

  • markeckenrode

    I live in a new US House district and have four candidates running for the new seat. At every debate or forum I go to, I plan to request that they pledge to remove Boehner, Cantor, McCarthy and the rest of the “leadership” team. I’m encouraging everyone else to, at the very least, force your GOP congressman to address the lack of spine they have demonstrated. Cantor really got to me when his PAC got behind Richard Lugar in Indiana. That demonstrated to me that he is not looking to strengthen the conservative wing of the party, but likes the “old guard” instead. They all have to go!

  • cam1

    will help John Boehner grow a spine? I think not. We need the grass roots efforts that began to change the political landscape in last year’s election to continue as is has done in recent weeks to elect true conservatives and defeat liberals and moderates where ever they are.

  • hayekwasright

    is a part of the picture as is seeking the praise of the media and others in DC society. But these are really just symptoms of the root problem. The root problem is that the GOP leadership does not have the conviction that Scott Walker has and many of us on Redstate look for in our leaders. Returning government to sustainability and to being an entity which preserves liberty rather than robbing us of it is not their reason for being in office anymore (if it ever was). Conservatism is or has become their branding only and not their essence. GOP leadership in both houses is much more concerned with their prestige and proximity to the levers of power than in using those levers to achieve conservative change. This will not change until either their positions are stripped from them, or they are convinced that they must behave very differently if they want to maintain those positions. Either way, the recent events in WI are a big step in the right direction. Next step (in my state) — see that Ted Cruz is our next Senator.

  • zollistar

    Mr. Boehner lacks conservative convictions. That’s the biggest problem.

  • anjinconsulting

    because republicans have gone along with liberals and democrats and spent like drunken sailors (no offense to drunken sailors) over the last several decaades draining the credit and the coffers of the US, then Capatin Zero pulled the plug with that ridiculous Stimulus package. Presidents, and the congress past and present are culpable however; the people who elected them are ultimately responsible for allowing them to run amok. We have no one to blame but ourselves.

    But now it is apparent that a) the SCUM and liberals dont stand a chance when conservatives become politicallyactive and engaged, and b) no one with a brain is buying that BS about class warfare. So in my mind, now is the time to enage these clowns and stake a position. That requires leadership with conviction of principles but clearly the present leadership in the GOP has neither.

    If DeMint, et al want to be the leaders (and I could go along with that at this point), now is the time to step up and be heard.

  • trimulchio

    1) Real change needs to occur.

    2) On the other hand, some kind of Newt Gingrich-style over-reach could be fatal.

    Have reasonable arguments and point out that you can’t solve a debt crisis with more debt, as hosueholds tried to during the “Re-fi Economy.”

  • trimulchio

    while being plausably able to say you had no choice.

  • kaminsti

    If my memory serves me correctly Cantor was all for the LOST (Law of Sea Treaty) where America loses again. This article was about 2 weeks ago.

  • lerm

    I’d like to add a word about Gingrich if I may. Not only did Newt have to fight Bill Clinton and the millionaire media, but he also had to fight the republican establishment.

    We really need to start thinking about term limits and reducing K-street and miscreants like Tren Lott.

    Fight the power.

  • soljerblue

    from Obama’s playbook — “leading” from behind. WAY behind!

  • rightlane1111

    OK…I would like another leader besides Boehner and McConnell…and I don’t want Cantor (who I DO NOT TRUST). This is what they hear from the public…and this is what is said to the public.

    Obama gets on the airwaves every time the debt ceiling comes up and the first threats he voices is…cutting off Social Security, Medicare and Military Pay/Health Plans. He never, ever talks about Welfare, student loans, money going to Illegals, his salary and those of Congress and their staffers. He never cuts vacations…in fact…they become more lavish every time the debt ceiling comes up.

    Who has become the BIGGEST VOTING BLOCK in the USA? Seniors and many of them, unfortunately did not budget for this. We can’t afford not to pay our Military…or their families…they live on money that, I figure, is less than Welfare.

    This administration and, for that matter, the Republican RINOS want to keep BIG GOVERNMENT going. They want their perks and when we squawk about it…they threaten.

    So…we can shut down the government…OK … let’s cut some of these programs….let’s get rid of departments that eat our revenue…but WHO in the current Congress has the courage to do that. My answer…probably nobody…and if that person did have a following…HOW many would back he/she?

    If only we had a leader in the WH who is interested in the country rather than his power and control.

    Want to cut a program? Start with the Department of Energy. We don’t need the Department of Education either…let the states have it. There are too many chiefs and not enough indians…this government is TOP HEAVY.

  • tankertodd

    ?The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure.? Sven Goran Eriksson

  • JSobieski

    A shutdown before November makes no sense. I supported one in 2011 if the upside wasn’t trivial, but a given Obama’s current political momentum, a shutdown before November makes no sense.

  • red_oakster

    But, there is a basis for optimism. If we take the White House and Senate, a lot can be done through budget reconciliation. However, without that level of control, nothing is going to happen.

  • ghostship

    Is that even if we hold the House and take both the WH and the Senate the republicans won’t make any significant spending cuts, reduce the size of the Federal government, or seriously attempt to repeal Obamacare.

    Then the media that has carried water for Obama all these years will suddenly hype the still bad economy and succeed in putting the blame on republicans.

    But perhaps the biggest fear is that both of those scenarios are the most likely to happen.

    Optimism? No. Desperation is all that many of us have left.

  • jpmhofct

    Nevermind the question of going wobbly, there is no way the stripes change on the entrenched RINO.
    Even if they are truely motivated to limit Obama and his Democrat Party Radical spending and tax agenda designed to advance socialism and destroy our capitalistic private enterprise economy it is only by degree.

    Their self serving desire to remain in power is so strong that they have come to accept the need for big government as the source of their power every bit as much as it is the Democrats power. Consequently it is a “go along to get along world ” of the DC BELTWAY that is most important to the long term entrenched RINO establishment.

    The election of 2010 brought some new ideas and a fresh crop of conservative Republican Representatives to Congress.
    Whether Romney wins or not it will be critical to elect many more conservative REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ( there are still some) to achieve the Conservative’s desire to reduce the drive to increase debt and taxes and the advance of socialism. Otherwise the remaining RINO and Radical LIBERAL Democrats will continue to have significant influence.
    Romney is an establshment Republican even if not a full fledged RINO. .Continuing the advance of “big government” and the “entitlements” and “buracracy” that goes with it will perhaps slow a little but it can’t be reversed if there is not a strong conservative leadership in Congress. Senate and House today do not have strong conservative leaders.

    Conservatives must work exremely effectively till the Election of 2012 produces a more Conservative Congress and a Republican President who will be pushed to reverse course not merely slow it down. We need a drive to private enterprise growth in our economy and a reduction in the reach of governemt and its cost. “Compromise” won’t do it!! Only dramatic victories by Conservatives will produce significant results.

  • JX12

    The establishment Republicans have shown time and again that they will sooner cave to the Democrats than stand their ground against them – and then they blame the conservatives and the Tea Party when they lose.

    On the realistic side, not all country club establishment RINOs will lose a primary fight – but sometimes the mere threat of a potential loss and the extra energy, time, and money spent in order to ward off that loss can send a message – vote conservative or be prepared to defend your seat against someone who will.

    Recent rounds in the primary wars have been going to conservative challengers over RINO incumbents; so let them be afraid…be very afraid.

  • mrfixit10

    Being an old goat that believes in retribution , I am looking for a Patriot (not a politician) that will stand up for America.
    Socialism by any other name is still a path to the destruction of the country that my Father and I fought for.
    You can verbalize anything you want to and I will defend your right to be a Patriot or Stupid.
    This medium is the only way to get the truth out. The MEDIA has become a joke. I guess Jon Stewart is now the Go To for political TRUTH.
    Comprimise is a good thing only if it serves the mandates of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
    The problem with my last statement is Lawyers have figured out how to define what definition of “is” “is”.

  • checkmate2012

    Besides the debt ceiling. nowhere has Boehner been more wobbly than moving ahead with holding DOJ in contempt. Issa has been a leader on this and Boehner has let him flail in the wind as we saw today. Despicable lack of leadership & has undercut Issa all the way.