Moderate Republicans Key to Stopping Lame-Duck Threat
The lame duck threat is real, notwithstanding political posturing from Democratic Congressional Campaign chief Chris Van Hollen and others. In fact, Harry Reid has already set the schedule for the lame-duck session: it starts November 15, breaks for a week for Thanksgiving, and reconvenes in December. Perhaps running right up to Christmas Eve, in a frightening replay of last year’s health care disaster.
We know how extreme the agenda will be, because Senate Democrats have been telling us: Sen. John Kerry told Bloomberg News that after the election, members of the Senate — especially, of course, the losers — will feel “free and liberated” to pass cap and trade. Sen. Tom Harkin has similarly promised to revive card check, and Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad expects “one of the most significant lame-duck sessions in the history of the United States.”
Last week the House of Representatives confirmed they fully intend to go along with Harry Reid’s plan to force a slate of far-left legislation on the country in a lame-duck session, when Rep. Tom Price forced a vote on the issue. Only six Democrats voted against allowing major policy changes in a lame-duck session.
Fortunately, there are three key strategies that can stop the lame-duck threat: convincing moderate Republicans to vote no on any major policy changes in a lame-duck session; educating voters in the key special election states whose new senators will be seated for the lame-duck session; and pressuring key Democratic senators, mostly those up for re-election in 2012, who will still be susceptible to public pressure in the lame-duck session.
The first strategy could be the most important: convincing moderate Republicans to filibuster any major policy change in a lame-duck session. Quite simply, even if Harry Reid can convince every single Democrat to get on board a sweeping lame-duck agenda, he can’t get to 60 votes without Republicans.
Moderate Republicans, however, pride themselves on respecting the process and being deliberate and thoughtful. The idea of jamming massive policy changes through in a matter of weeks, over the holiday season, relying on the votes of senators who have already lost election, and without hearing or proper committee consideration should be easy for them to oppose.
“Fortunately, there are three key strategies that can stop the lame-duck threat: convincing moderate Republicans to vote no on any major policy changes in a lame-duck session; educating voters in the key special election states whose new senators will be seated for the lame-duck session; and pressuring key Democratic senators, mostly those up for re-election in 2012, who will still be susceptible to public pressure in the lame-duck session.”
UNfortunately, none of these ‘key strategies” have any chance of working. (1) “moderate’ republicans are the fifth column–consistently voting for Obama agenda. (2) VOTERS screaming murder are totally irrelevant to the lawmakers, will be MORE so after the elections. (3) Convince dems — it’s like convincing a pack of hyenas not to eat a carcass. Heck, these strategies haven’t worked even BEFORE the election, where a whole lot of dems had a huge existential stake, by what flight of fancy are we hoping they have anything but zero chance of working? Hope is a many splendored bird—but only when it is chirping perched on a tree rooted in reality. I often wonder who these people are, that write for pajamasmedia.com . How can we be so blind as to not see the writing on the wall? What will it take for these commentators on the Right to see what we are up against? Would obama summarily dissolving the Congress a la hitler/reichstag drama convince these people?
“no good reason for moderate republicans to help them”. I seem to have heard this before on amnesty for illegal aliens, on mc cain fiengold, on climate change, cap and trade, and on and on. Where you put a bunch of politicians in the same room, anything can happen. Snowe and Collins are pathetic losers who would sell the USA down the river for another socialist boondoggle program that is good for their leftists voters in Maine. And yes look at Maine and the rest of the Northeast.
Expect a real disaster. It could easily happen.
tommy gunn
Counting on the Maine sisters to do the right thing is usually wishful thinking.
Yes, but maybe they will have to consider the longer-term consequences of voting against an otherwise solid Republican bloc. When the new congress is seated, will they get any juicey committee chairmanships? Will funding for their pet projects be approved? Perhaps they will have the brains to vote with their party in the lame-duck session for better benefits later.
With enough of the bums thrown out in November, Harry might, I say tepidly, might, be fearful enough to not try it, knowing all eyes are on him. You know if it was the other way around, and Republicans tried to pass lame duck legislation prior to the congress changing over leadership, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi would scream bloody murder about mandates and the will of the people.
What is Harry is one of the bums about to be thrown out?
The voters of NV should elect Angle, but even if he loses he’s still top Senate Dem for the lame-duck months. Uggh.
Who are you kidding? — “Moderate Repubs…..deliberate and thoughtful” — they’re metro tyros from the country.
The true Republicans are Nelson Rockefeller Country Clubbers, not rich fat cats as the Demogoguic Party wants us to believe. They’re social climbers out on limbs, Junior Leaguers.
Your so-called “moderate” Repubs, are metro wannabes in the sticks. Maine rednecks that put on the ritz by joining the NRCClubber for a $5 donation when they got out of their CT/NY/MA liberal colleges and came home to Maine to start their social climb in what they now thought was the boonies. Altruism becomes them. Now middle aged, they actually believe themselves. Terrorist Bill Ayers has more integrity than your “moderate” Republicans.
That’s Maine. The other “moderate” Repubs have the same story, but set in their own rued un-metro part of the Union — the Country Club part being OK, just don’t tar them with the “conservative” or “American” brush. We’re altruists, you know.
You think this bunch will save the lame duck problem? BOY! Are you naive!
Or perhaps you also yearn to be a real club member.
Remember, though, that the winners of special elections this fall, as well as the regular election for the seat previously held by President Obama, will assume office immediately upon verification. Hence, we are not talking about a lame-duck Senate with 41 Republicans, but 43-45.
“We lost our majority in the House in 2010 because we passed unpopular legislation, so the way to regain our majority in the House and to protect our majority in the Senate is to pass more unpopular legislation.” This theory assumes quite a lot of irrationality on the part of Democrats.
ObamaCare was (and is) extremely unpopular and they still jammed that through, so I find no fault with assuming irrationality on the part of the Democrats. The usual political calculus has been thrown out the window with this bunch of left wing ideologues.
No, they just bought into the notion that 1) the economy would be in a lot better shape by now and 2) that, in turn, would help to dissipate Americans anger over the bill. They made a bet, plain and simple: they just made the wrong bet. Now, reality is starting to set in and they are in a full-blown meltdown. And excepting the unions and the welfare brigades, they literally have nothing they can tout to the electorate. NOTHING. At the same time, they can’t run away from the “D” following their names either.
They are completely, utterly, EPICALLY screwed
Like I said, reality is back. And when the smoke clears on Nov. 3rd, you wanna know what kind of political reality is going to be on the minds of Dem Senators who’ll have to defend their seats in 2012? This kind.
None of it’s going to pass.
i’m glad you see the world in terms of political direction and color, you sick shmuck. It might’ve started with Clinton, but Bush and Cheney, YOUR right wing, did nothing for the economy during those 8 years in office, except preach stupid trickle down theories. You think you see the news and believe you can tell the future or tell what this country needs, but I can see you’re as blind as the rest of the elephant.
We’ll soon see if they are spineless scumbags, or principled statesmen.
Excuse me but wouldn’t this anti-democratic?
This is a Republic. What’s your point?
Relax people. None of this legislation is going anywhere. Why? Simple: politics is calcution. Voting for any of these measures is a HUGE loser as opposed to voting against them unless you’re a true, ideological Leftist representing districts in New York, L.A., San Francisco or DC.
Two things:
1) The Dems are about to have the equivalent of an electoral nuclear bomb dropped on them in November.
2) The fallout from that detonation is going to be the final, utter collapse of any vestiges of the “Hope & Change” delusion amongst Dems.
Snowe, Collins, and all the other RINO’s are stupid, but they’re not suicidal. After this election, they’ll know – without a shadow of a doubt – that the electorate has taken a HUGE swing towards the right, especially the so-called “moderates”. RINO’s feel safe thumbing their noses at the electorate when the moderates break 50-50 or skew left, but now, I believe moderates have done a complete flip-flop to the right, probably to the tune of 2-to-1. Nov. 2nd will be all the proof they need that the MAJORITY of voters in this country are no longer in any mood for any further govt expansion or intervention.
As for the Dems, Nov. 2nd is going to be the day that the scales are peeled from their eyes and they see with utmost clarity that Emperor Barry and his Court Jesters Harry and Nancy have no clothes. If Harry Reid loses to Sharon Angle – which I really think he will because her turnout is going to bury his – then you can put a fork in all of this: no Dem Senators from anywhere other than NY or California will be willing to touch these electoral lightning bolts. And even if Reid hangs on, any Democrat Senator who’ll be up for re-election in 2012 is suddenly going to embrace his/her inner Reagan and break batsh!t fast for the center. Voting “no” does them no harm with liberals – cuz who else are liberals gonna vote for…Republicans? – while it earns them points with right-leaning moderates and conservatives – i.e., about 65-70% of the electorate.
Nov. 2nd is going to drive a stake through the already faltering heart of what happened in Nov. 08. And you mark my words: control of the Democrat Party is going to shift away from Barry and shift back to Bubba. Don’t be surprised if – before the New Year – you see at least one magazine cover with Bill and Hillary on the cover, sporting the header: “They’re Baaaack!”
Yes but democratic discipline has been amazing. The dems have massively expanded government and these unelected dems have cushy government jobs waiting for them. The dems have been totally tone def to the American people as they put the final touches on Socialism. I see this continuing.
We are not facing the old democratic party of Jackson and FDR. It’s the Party of Alinsky, Cloward and Piven. The will of the people means nothing to them. Nov is just a start for us, it is end game for the dems.
After Nov Obama becomes the great defender of the Federal bureaucracy. His veto power will not be weakened by a Clinton challenge. It will be the republicans who will splinter. Republican leadership will love being back in power so they can feed again, they will not shut the government down or carry the water for the TEA party.
With Obama care the bureaucracy is all powerful like the EU. The results of elections now will be ignored like the EU.
We are not facing the old democratic party of Jackson and FDR. It’s the Party of Alinsky, Cloward and Piven. The will of the people means nothing to them. Nov is just a start for us, it is end game for the dems.
There’s a great scene in the movie “The Dark Knight” where Alfred is warning Bruce Wayne not to make the same mistakes in judgement that the mafia made in turning to the Joker for help:
I think that this is a perfect summation of the Democrats and Obama. After the 2000 election, the Dems were left absolutely reeling at Gore’s loss…and again in 2004. And I think that in their desperation, they allowed themselves to be co-opted by the rhetoric and vitriol of the Hard Left wing of their party…and to turn to a man they didn’t fully understand. When they won in 2008, I think that in their euphoria, the centrist Dems gulped down the Kool-Aid by the gallon and bought into the notion that Obama was some sort of Magic Man who could do no wrong.
Well, over the last 19 months, they’ve slowly come to realize that the Kool-Aid was spiked and they know that a hangover of epic proportions is on the way come Nov. 2nd. So while I understand your fears, it’s simply a bit overwrought in my opinion. The Democrats are not “the Party of Alinsky, Cloward and Piven”. They are the party of Tweed and Clinton – opportunists whose primary concern is their own egos and fortunes. And when they get pummeled in November, you watch…the “Hope & Change” is going to be dropped on the floor like a wet towel.
After Nov Obama becomes the great defender of the Federal bureaucracy. His veto power will not be weakened by a Clinton challenge. It will be the republicans who will splinter. Republican leadership will love being back in power so they can feed again, they will not shut the government down or carry the water for the TEA party.
This isn’t 1994. Too many Americans are awake now to hold their feet to the fire. Besides, even if the Republicans win back both houses, they don’t really need to do anything other than what they’re doing today because the Dems have backed themselves into a corner that they can’t get out of.
For example: the economy. Without a commitment to slash taxes and to curtail govt spending and bailouts, the economy simply isn’t going to improve in any dramatic fashion – in fact, I’d bet that we still have 7-8% unemployment going into the 2012 elections. Dems have two choices: 1) fight the Republicans by continuing to push for their statist agenda, which is only going to lead to more economic misery or 2) capitulate to the Republicans on extending the Bush tax cuts, stopping the outrageous spending and bailouts, and making cuts in fed spending, which will lead to significant economic recovery by 2012. But no matter which path the Dems choose, they lose. If they continue with the obstruction, they get all the blame for the continuing economic misery. If they give in, they are implicitly stating that all of their rhetoric about the “failed policies” of the Republicans were nothing but propaganda…and that rather than admit they wrong years ago, they chose to hurt the country rather than give the Republicans a win.
Also, there’s one other piece to this that no one is contemplating. If the Republicans pull of a massive rout in November, Dems are going to terrified that the same thing could happen in 2012. And they will know that if a Republican wins the Presidency, the Dems could find themselves in the same position that Republican’s found themselves in 2008 – i.e., facing veto-proof Republican majorities when 65-70% of the electorate are ready to dramatically reduce the size and scope of the Federal govt. That thought alone will have them waking up in the middle of the nite screaming in terror.
They will swing right.
With Obama care the bureaucracy is all powerful like the EU. The results of elections now will be ignored like the EU.
ObamaCare is bureaucratic nightmare. Only 6 months after it’s passage, Dems are already being told not to tout it as an accomplishment in their campaigns. It will either be overturned by the Supreme Court for unconstitutionaly requiring Americans to purchase health insurance (which I think is what will happen) or it will be repealed after the Dems take another drubbing in 2012.
I live in the bay area of California. That partly explains my pessimism. My Congress women was the Congressional aid that took a bullet in Jonestown Guyana. Congressmen Ryan park is 2 miles from work. These are the people who invented almond (cyanide) flavored kool-aide.
Conservatives can’t play defensive anymore. There is nothing to defend we need to attack. We can’t cry uncle when catchup is listed as a vegetable.
But here’s the rub: you can’t veto inaction, and budgets must be pro-actively appropriated every year. Obama can veto an order to layoff personnel, but he can’t veto Congress refusing to pay the personnel on staff. At least, he can’t do so without cutting the expenditures of the department in question elsewhere.
The fact is the democrats have a better ground game and they have more money. I wouldn’t, as Tom delay recently said, underestimate them. It’s true the GOP has, at least right now (3 months is a long time in politics) a seemingly energized base. In the end, however, an energized vote counts as much as one that is not so energized. Chest thumping may make you feel good but it won’t win an election. Getting your people to the polls wins elections. I think the GOP is in for a surprise come this November.
The very term “moderate” Republicans is offensive, because it implies that others are immoderate; conceited, for the same reason; and irrational, for believing oneself to be moderate in an immoderate body means you have volunteered the wrong body.
A thing is right or it is wrong, or both, but it cannot be moderate. The combination of wine and sewage is sewage.
The Republicans have been better Democrats than the Democrats for the better part of a hundred years. Why do you think they will change now? They caved in 1996 and will do so again.
As always, the spineless twittering “moderate” Republicans will genuflect in front of the left’s bombastic takeover on the hope the Democrats will love them. Their depth of principle is way short of the depth of sweat on a glass of ice tea on a hot dry day.
The conservative Republicans depend upon prayer to God to save them. Their principles are taken from multiply transliterated cherry picked reports attributed to psychotic bronze age priests and shepherds. The principles didn’t work then and won’t work now.
I will vote for the candidate who is not in office no matter his party. At least that candidate has not yet been corrupted.
As always: the more things change, the more they will stay the same.
“…because Harry Reid has been unable to reach the 60 votes needed for CLOTURE on any significant legislation…”. [Emphasis added]
Would it be too much to ask the author to do a simple spell-check on his otherwise excellent article? I”m guessing that he meant to write “closure”. Then again, perhaps he is using an obscure word with an entirely different meaning that I don’t happen to know.
“Cloture” is the proper term.
Google…don’t comment without it
Can’t wait to see how my two Senators (Dumb=Webb & Dumber=Warner) behave in the lame-duck session. Webb has got to be plenty worried since he’ll have to start campaigning in 2011.
Moderators: Doesn’t Michael Martin’s post violate ANY of the rules of this forum? At the very least, he seems to be violating rule #2 by not staying on topic and a reasonable person could argue that he’s at least violating the spirit of rule #4 by (apparently) advocating child porn and child molestation.
I attended a luncheon hosted by The Heritage Foundation in Atlanta, Ga. yesterday. There is another route that could stop the assault on our country. Without specifying, it was thrown out that there are three special elections for the Senate that would seat the winners in Nov. The races are in Va., Illinois and Colorado. Aothough Ken Buck in Colorado looks like he is the only one that could win if the election was held today, with enough publicity and financial support, the other two Republican candidates could prevail also. Look it up, pass it on. This assault on our country has to stop.
It’s too bad that both chambers don’t borrow something from Westminster: no session until the new Senators and Representatives are sworn in.
It’s not as if what gets delayed is life & death.