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After Big Punt, Here’s How GOP Can Score

By: Ned Ryun (Diary)  |  January 24th, 2013 at 01:23 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

As a conservative, I hate when Republicans constantly punt on spending. It’s annoying, and it keeps happening. We have no reason to think it won’t keep happening.

American Majority Action opposed the House GOP leadership’s plan to suspend the debt ceiling for four months without spending cuts. We believe that the day to stop stealing from our children is today–not tomorrow, not four months from now.

However, the House passed it anyway, with 33 conservatives dissenting. Now that it’s passed, and the Senate will likely pass it, the real question becomes: Now what?

It’s important to note that outgoing Republican Study Committee Chairman Jim Jordan voted for this debt ceiling suspension. Jordan, by all intents and purposes, is the primary leader of conservatives in the House. So, why did he vote for more debt?

Because conservatives, if we keep persevering, are going to receive something HUGE in return from House GOP leadership. I suspect Jordan may have negotiated with Boehner. Jordan is no slouch, and would never, ever compromise his principles without a major victory in return.

Here’s what I believe Jordan and conservatives should expect from leadership, some of which is already public:

  • The House will pass budget which balances in ten years. (Public)
  • The House will use the Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government to get real, undelayed spending cuts (more than just the sequester).
  • The House will allow the sequester to take effect, maybe with a small amendment for defense spending.
  • The House will use the May debt ceiling to force the Senate to pass a budget which balances in the next 10 years.

Speaker Boehner wants to put the pressure on Senate Democrats, which is wise. Under the just-passed deal, the Senate will be forced to pass a budget by April 15. With 12 Democrats running in races polled within 10 points–two in red-leaning states, six in dark red states–the Senate may pass a bill to the right of what President Obama wants. Senators Landrieu, Hagan, Pryor, Johnson, Begich, Shaheen, and Baucus will have a tough time selling higher spending and taxes in their states. Really tough.

But, after we get the Senate to pass a budget, it’s time to make them pass a budget we want.

During the next debt ceiling fight, it’ll be time for House Republicans to grow some courage and not be afraid to hit the debt ceiling.

Remember, what exactly happens when we hit the debt ceiling? In reality, it’s a balanced budget, stupid. When we can’t take out any new net debt, the government is forced into spending only what it takes in.

The rumors that we’d all be dead on December 21, 2012 were more valid than President Obama’s claim that the United States will default on its bonds upon hitting the debt ceiling. In the next year, the US government will take in around $2.6 trillion in revenue, according to the CBO. Servicing the debt–which prevents any defaults–costs between $220 to $250 billion dollars a year: A mere 8.5 percent of total revenues.

In fact, if we were to hit the debt ceiling and stop taking out debt altogether, we could still afford all of our “mandatory spending,” including Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, defense, and interest payments (servicing the debt). The CBO projects these mandatory programs will cost $2.3 trillion in 2013; they project our revenue will be $2.6 trillion–leaving nearly $300 billion left for discretionary spending.

Point being, Republicans punted on the debt ceiling this time, but, to continue the football metaphor, punts don’t always result in the other side scoring. We’re going to get the ball back, but when we do, Republicans can’t fall on their backsides like we have been. Republicans need to be ready to score.

And, by score, I mean being ready to stop stealing from our children’s future and balance the budget.

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COMMENTS

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  • libertynugget

    I have to admire the optimism of some conservatives.

    I have seen ZERO evidence to say that current GOP republicans will do anything other than fold in four months. The Senate will probably just refuse to pass any sort of meaningful budget in four months, and Big Balls Beohner will quickly fold and head to the tanning bed after extending the CR. The media hasn’t pressured Obama or the Senate to pass a budget yet, so there is no reason to think they’re going to start in 4 months.

    Our best hope will be in 2014. Electing real conservatives and throwing out the trash. I appreciate the angling and the optimism, but I don’t see the group accomplishing much of anything meaningful. I’ve already heard enough of ‘we’re only one branch of the government’ coming out of their mouths. Did George Washington say “We don’t have any food, clothing, or adequate shelter, we cant mount this revolution…” while at Vally Forge? Or did he/they persevere and give birth Liberty.
    These jackholes cave at the first sign of bad publicity and Liberty slowly dies.

    • Kyle-MI

      I don’t think it is optimism. I think it is just trying to get whatever we can. What else can we do? We need to primary as many as we can, but in a smart way with good reputable candidates. Unfortunately, that is not going to happen until next year. For now, we have to work with what we have.

      • davesinsanantonio

        That is one of the problems with some of the people who comment here, and by extension the electorate–they are so tied up in the supposed “purity” of their thinking that they refuse to understand reality. We are still living in a world where reality exists–regardless of the fantasies of either the Right or the Left. The fantasies differ, of course, but they can cause some voters to act against their own best interests. As sitting home last election proved. Or, as pushing for a third party will prove if such a move ever really gets under way. Or, as thinking that letting Obummer destroy the country at will will somehow magically make all the “low information voters” intelligent enough to accept our arguments and become informed conservatives.

        So, yes, you are correct in that “we have to work with what we have”, but some people will continue to rant and rave that we have to follow their fantasies instead.

        • libertynugget

          I don’t think its a matter of purity of conservatism. We’re running $1,000,000,000,000+ annual deficits. 2010 the GOP landslide was supposed to bring some fiscal sanity to our country. They’ve done NOTHING but flinch and cave since. I remember the grand compromise of the first debt ceiling debate landed us a whopping $200,000,000 cut. Really? That’s the best we could do with control of the House???

          The sequestration BOTH parties voted for at least there was going to be some form of spending cuts, but now everyone is running away from it.

          My larger point is that GOP leadership is inept. Cutting spending isn’t going to be popular nor is it going to make for great ‘sound bytes’ in the media, but it HAS to be done. Real leadership means doing what is right and standing strong to your principals.

        • whitetop

          The reality is we have a lack of leadership that believes in the Constitution. Big smokerings were put up before Jan. 3 to replace Boehner as speaker; look how far that went. My respresentative (may be yours as well depending on where you live in SA) is one of the more conservatives in WDC but he has been there so long he is part of the Washington establishment. He voted for the Cliff and justified it using the establishment line about no new taxes for the majority of taxpayers, the rich would be paying higher taxes, etc. That is the reality.

  • scash

    The Problem is the Current Score by this congress is Dems: ~3 Trillion to Gop: ZERO …
    (3T about what has been added since GOP took back house)

  • bobhoward

    Until Republicans are able to restore Senate leadership in 2014, your four points are the way to proceed. However between now and 2014 the debt ceiling must be used to gain incremental visible concessions and more importantly explain to low information voters who and want the problem is. There is no evidence that “government shutdown” will solve the problem and it will likely make it less certain that we can restore Senate leadership in 2014. While you are correct that we have revenues to pay the debt and prioritize spending what you are overlooking is who will be doing the prioritization and issuing the press releases about meat inspectors not being able to inspect meat.

    • davesinsanantonio

      We can trust the Left to always be on the left. But, the House has just as much to say about where the money is spent as the White House and its lickspittle press. So, we must pressure the House to write the budget and other spending bills to fund the things that are necessary politically. Take away the Left’s “large propaganda ammunition magazines” and they will just be sputtering in the wind. I admit that we have an uphill battle with the media, but a wise offensive is better than a desperate defense every time. So, we have to start that offensive early and not just react to the press’s lies. The problem with the current Republican leadership is that some of them lean left, and some of them are weasels, and some of them are spineless cowards, and some of them are multiples of these. So, the conservatives have to make their own noises and ignore the leadership’s attempts to shush them up.

  • trem

    We just lost an election we should have won, we lost seats in the senate when we should have taken it, we lost seats in the house and managed to keep it only because we gerrymandered to our favor after our success in 2010. Not only that but the republicans we do have in congress are fools and cowards. And somehow you think we are going to get “the budget we want” passed? how in the world?

    • davesinsanantonio

      Well, first of all you are wrong in saying “the republicans we do have in congress are fools and cowards.” That is true of SOME of them but not all of them. And, making such sweeping generalizations is the kind of friction that generates more heat than light. Hyperbole has its place, but believing all of it is not being realistic. Again, we have to work with what we have. So the answer to your “how in the world?” is we communicate with our representatives and senators and tell them our wishes. They should listen if they get enough messages. And, if they don’t, we primary them in a year or so. That means we must be active now in finding true conservatives to primary them with. We cannot just wait for the actual primary season to start looking, that will be way too late. We have to have such a person up and ready, with sufficient funding by then the kick off his/her campaign with a bang, not a whimper!!

      “Work will win when wishy-washy wishing won’t”!!!!! –Benjamin Franklin
      It was true in his day and it is still true today. So, get to work, instead of just whining!

  • major

    They will cremate the Republicans, unless the second amendment issue cremates them…either way, we cannot fold in our own minds, nor allow them to.
    So, being as realistic as I can possibly be, I choose to trust God.

  • albertmaslar

    You can’t teach an old dog new tricks as Boehner and company are the real enemy. Everyone knows who the liberals are but a wolf in sheep’s clothing is perhaps more dangerous as the enemy within is the worst.

  • mhorner

    I keep hoping against hope that Boehner will deliver a WWF quality “Smackdown” to that egomaniac who calls himself President, but Obama just lifts his chin up and takes another lavish vacation after vanquishing the GOP again. What we need is a true Conservative and leader as Speaker. Michele Backmann has proven to be a very strong Conservative and she is definitely a leader, but I’m sure there are other principled and “tough as nails Conservatives such as Trey Gowdy.” The House should hold a “closed” vote for a new Speaker so that Boehner cannot punish whoever does not vote for him.

    • BA Cyclone

      I think it might be less about how conservative a person is, but more about how much they are willing to lead on that topic in Washington. We have so many in “leadership” that seem to be ruled more by fear and managing to the certain successful compromise than they are at winning the whole campaign.

      The vision of what we want 4 or 5 moves down the path is completely muddy. We lose because we get out-flanked every single time, then they say “we got the best we could get.” Well yes, but it still sucks when we negotiate from weakness.

  • barrowmrb

    The GOP can win if they FIGHT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    I watch and listen to Conservative radio, web and TV every day,,and
    never hear ANY GOP PERSONS talking about their works or ideas.
    Oh sure, once in a great while some Republican will make a quick appearace
    on Hannity or somebody like that,,,,BUT IT IS ONLY A QUICK APPEARANCE AND
    ONLY TALKING POINTS.
    The Republicans didn’t win the election because the WILL NOT TALK OR SPEAK UP OR FIGHT. They hide in their D.C. homes and only vote for Democratic ideals.
    ITS TIME FOR A NEW THIRD PARTY !!!!!!!!!

    • Ari

      It continues.
      Lack of grass roots political reality.
      I understand frustration.
      Things are radically out of reason, irrational.
      But Please! Don’t let frustration lead you to NAÏVE and unworkable protests that are self destructive.
      All the “Obama types” need to fully take over the world…
      Premature “Third Party” is a cop-out that is also a self-destruct.
      We haven’t even been successful within the Republican. There is a reason.
      We fail at communication as well as standing stead fast with all our will and might. Conservativism and Morality are powerful and down to earth reality.
      First we must capture the minds of those most likely to listen withing the Republican party. Then work to make it stronger, reasonable, and attractive on a simple practical level.
      Third Party is no solution, rather it is disolution of any defense against the very evils that cause our frustration.

      Bad as even a RINO is, he agrees more with us than do most voting Democrats.

  • mogul264

    For MUCH too long, the GOP leadership has been fidgeting and quailing on what the Democrats wanted to do, or didn’t or haven’t done, and failing to boldly proceed on their own. program!

    Every time the Dems cone with some lame-brained idea, the GOP harrumps, and grumbles, and lets it pass, anyway. Now the President has put forth the warmed-over idea of gun-control, despite countless gun-control laws ALREADY existing, and which have proven inadequate to ACTUALLY control guns. And, the reason is simple……..laws are followed by the lawful. Law-breakers, as the name implies, DO NOT!

    Those craven cowards who perform these heinous acts against schoolchildren are seriously insane, Perhaps not ‘clinically’ insane, or insane enough to be confined, but, essentially, INSANE.! I classify asocial, anti-social, or religious-duped, and similar types in this category. Notice, I did NOT say STUPID! These certainly aren’t so stupid they would go into a controlled access government building, or police station and open fire as they have done in the schools! They wouldn’t get more than a few until they are stopped!

    Actually, I had forgotten Maj. NIdal Hassan WAS on a controlled-access military base (Ft. Hood, TX), but here, as on most of the U.S. bases, the great majority of the soldiers were NOT routinely armed, as they are in Afghanistan, Iraq, etc. Again, that was then. I don’t know the present security arrangements, but I’m sure tensions are heightened. Hassan is what I would classify as insane by virtue of religious-duping, even if not necessarily a coward!

    Rather than the President and/.or Congress monkeying with ever more ineffectual gun-’control’; laws, trying to confiscate arms and attempting to contravene the 2nd Amendment, they should be working to rectify why some are in such a mental state as to WANT to massacre children. Stop the ACLU from forcing institutions to release patients who have decided, on their own, they are now “cured’”, and ensure other patients are taking their prescribed medicines, even if the medicine effects make them ‘feel funny’ or ‘feel dull’! ,Help stop THESE, and we will be MUCH better off!