Thank you, Eric Cantor!

Townhall.com ^ | June 27, 2011 | Star Parker

[Kaslin]

Thank you, Eric Cantor.  Thank you for walking out on useless talks, presided over by Vice President Biden, addressing raising the limit on our nation’s debt.

According to press accounts, Republican House Majority Leader Cantor called it quits on talks between Democratic and Republican leaders because Democrats refuse to give in on raising taxes.

This, I am sure, is true.  But we also must understand the deeper and broader issue.

We are in nothing less than hand to hand combat, fighting for what America is about and what it takes to get this country back on track of growth and prosperity.  Whether we are, most fundamentally, a welfare state in which government runs the show, or whether this is a free country, in which free, private citizens run the show.

President Obama assumed the presidency in January 2009, and, until this year, Democrats have controlled both houses of congress. 

Under their leadership, we’ve had massive government expansion and intervention into our economy in the name of saving it.  The federal budget has grown by a trillion dollars, an expansion by one third.  Federal spending, historically 18 percent of our economy, is now 25 percent.

Now, 30 months later, the lowest unemployment rate that America has known since Barack Obama has been president was the 7.8 percent where it stood in the first month when he assumed office.

What should trouble every American is that there is not a hint from the White House or from Democrat leaders in congress that they have erred and have taken our nation down the wrong path.  There is not a hint that they have even considered that their ideas and approach are wrong.

What we are getting are jokes from our president, regarding the failure of the almost $900 billion “stimulus” package, that“shovel ready was not as shovel ready as we expected.”

We are facing many dangers.  And one of them is that Americans get used to the way things are. 

Unemployment currently stands at 9.1 percent.  It has hovered between 9 and 10 percent for almost the entire Obama presidency. 

From this perspective, we almost long for the 7.8 percent where it stood in January 2009.  As this drags on, memories will fade that when the American economy is moving full tilt, unemployment is around 5%.

Let’s also recall that back in January 2009 there were dissenting voices.

In that same month, the Cato Institute ran full page newspaper ads challenging the statement of our new president that “There is no disagreement that we need action by our government, a recovery plan that will help jumpstart the economy.”

The ad says “With all due respect Mr. President, that is not true.”  The ad is signed by hundreds of economists, including several Nobel Prize winners. 

The ad reviews the historic failures of similar attempts at economic revival through government expansion and concludes: “To improve the economy, policy makers should focus on reforms that remove impediments to work, saving, and investment and production.  Lower tax rates and a reduction in the burden of government are the best ways to use fiscal policy to boost growth.”

I wrote a column in February 2009 in response to which I’m still getting letters.  I wrote then: “I thought we were on the road to moving socialism out of poor black communities and replacing it with wealth producing American capitalism.  But, incredibly, we are going in the opposite direction.  Instead of poor American on socialism becoming more like rich America on capitalism, rich America on capitalism is becoming more like poor American on socialism.”

Any tax increases today simply accommodates the recent massive, misguided and destructive expansion of government.  Spending cuts and rollback of government are our only hope.

Keep it up Mr. Cantor.

[ml/nj]

We are in nothing less than hand to hand combat, fighting for what America is about

Those who were unfortunate enough to have been on Fifth Avenue in NYC yesterday and witnessed masses of people celebrating deviancy and depravity will surely know that we've already lost.

ML/NJ

[org.whodat]

Had to, he would have missed his eleven day break, golfing and etc if he had worked. Probably could not slip in more money for his wife anyway, like he did in TARP.

[pgyanke]

President Obama assumed the presidency in January 2009, and, until this year, Democrats have controlled both houses of congress.

People need to be reminded that the Dems took control of both houses of Congress in 2006... and things headed south in 2008 after just one Congressional session...

[Kakaze]

People need to be reminded that the Dems took control of both houses of Congress in 2006

Also remember, that from 2006 through the 2008 election, democrats talked this economy into the toilet.

We would have had a recession but public trust and consumer confidence would not have tanked like it has. They did it to retake power,the democrats are the selfish schemers.

They used the art of self fulfilling prophesy to screw us all.

[tbpiper]

Those...will surely know that we've already lost

It is unseemly to quit in the middle of a fight.

[Kaslin]

Actually is was in January 2007 when they took control. The election was in November 2006. You are correct though that the economy went down after they got control. As Matter of fact the recession started in December of 2007.

Also unemployment was practically nonexistent when the Republicans had the majority

[cc2k]

I do think that, in this case, Cantor did the right thing. He doesn't always do that, and for many years, he was part of the problem that he is now trying to solve. He (and all the “Republican Leadership”) are hoping that we have short memories and have forgotten what Republicans have done to this country. If they had practiced some fiscal restraint and acted like Conservatives when they had both houses and the Presidency, they might not have lost in 2006 and 2008.

Having said that, the Republicans should not be quite so rigid. I for one would welcome "Clinton tax rates" across the board if it came with spending cuts back to the FY 1996 budget numbers (which Clinton signed on to). I don't think that would be a bad deal. It would roll back both the Obama spending binge (massive, over only 2 years) and the Bush spending binge (nearly as massive, but over 8 years). It could be a good in the direction of fiscal responsibility. I'd rather have the spending cuts without the tax changes, but if we could get that much in cuts, IMO it would be a good thing and worth the trade off.

[Enterprise]

It appears that Star left out a word so I will make this little minor correction.

Thank you for walking out on useless talks, presided over by useless Vice President Biden

[pgyanke]

Actually is was in January 2007 when they took control. The election was in November 2006.

I noted that the economy went south in 2008 after one session of the Dem Congress... did you perceive my post as incorrect?

[sickoflibs]

Re :”Thank you, Eric Cantor. Thank you for walking out on useless talks, presided over by Vice President Biden, addressing raising the limit on our nation’s debt. According to press accounts, Republican House Majority Leader Cantor called it quits on talks between Democratic and Republican leaders because Democrats refuse to give in on raising taxes.”

The Morning Joe was speculating what a DC showdown could look like assuming Boehner doesn't make a deal first.

Obama/Geitner treasury would send out letters to the troops families and those on SS informing them that their pay/checks are being delayed due to congress refusing to ‘meet our obligations’. Meanwhile Obama goes on TV (with much MSNBC progressives prodding) and pleads with House Republicans to be responsible and extend the limit.

GOPs response ???
1) Obama could not even get his own party in congress to vote to extend the debt Limit.
2) Where is Obama’s plan?

[celtic gal]

The stupid spineless republicans need to be reminded once again to reiterate that the democRATS had both houses the last 2 years of the Bush presidency too....

[Siena Dreaming]

We would have had a recession but public trust and consumer confidence would not have tanked like it has

Exactly...the reason it tanked so much is because investors saw Obama gaining traction with his "Blame Bush" mantra and knew that his socialist policies were going to become law.

[Marine_Uncle]

"Obama/Geitner treasury would send out letters to the troops families and those on SS informing them that their pay/checks are being delayed due to congress refusing to ‘meet our obligations’"
They are hoping this will come to past. Then they with their liberal press can point the fingers at those terrible Republicans.

[mwl8787]

The House can pass a bill directing Treasury to fund the debt obligations, the military, and then social security, in that order, and send it over the Harry Reid and dare him to kill it.

If the GOP is frightened by a letter from Geitner, then we are in more trouble than I thought.

The other action item: we prepare the American people for this stunt from Obama. All of us should be telling everyone we know about it, and get people to spread the word. If seniors find out that Obama is playing games, it won’t work. Seniors have grandchildren and don’t want all of this debt dumped on them.

[sickoflibs]

RE :"The House can pass a bill directing Treasury to fund the debt obligations, the military, and then social security, in that order, and send it over the Harry Reid and dare him to kill it."

Thanks, that was mentioned too but I forgot about it. A good idea, the Senate wont act on it but it allows the Republicans to force Obama/Geitner to defend their cuts.

[mwl8787]

Reid can’t bury that type of bill - he has 47 GOP members breathing down his neck and many nervous Dems up for re-election next year.

The dam will break.

[SunkenCiv]

thanks sickoflibs.

[snip] GOPs response ???
1) Obama could not even get his own party in congress to vote to extend the debt Limit.
2) Where is Obama’s plan? [/snip]

[FreeKeys]

Thanks for the ping.

Obama/Geithner treasury would send out letters to the troops families and those on SS informing them that their pay/checks are being delayed due to congress refusing to ‘meet our obligations’. Meanwhile Obama goes on TV (with much MSNBC progressives prodding) and pleads with House Republicans to be responsible and extend the limit.

Don't you think that's what they plan???? THAT's exactly why everyone needs to write his congressman and senators and demand -- if there's no debt limit agreement (or even if there is) -- that they pass a resolution saying that social security, medicare, the troops, and ESPECIALLY, interest on the debt be paid FIRST (NO DEFAULT!!!) -- and leave the departments that start with an E be at the BOTTOM of the priority list (EPA, Education and Energy) along with Commerce and Agriculture, etc.

[CPT Clay]

Obama/Geitner treasury would send out letters to the troops families and those on SS informing them that their pay/checks are being delayed due to congress refusing to ‘meet our obligations’. Meanwhile Obama goes on TV (with much MSNBC progressives prodding) and pleads with House Republicans to be responsible and extend the limit...

They have got to get out in front of this!!!

Nip it in the Bud.