Posted on 11/06/2011 3:20:06 PM PST by Hojczyk
The debate over spending among Republicans in Congress has become so intense that one Senate Republican leader has started wearing a flak jacket to meetings.
The arguments have gotten so pointed that Senate Republican Conference Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) wore a flak jacket to a Republican lunch meeting a few weeks ago.
He said he would don the protective gear after Rep. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), an outspoken conservative, blasted him in a meeting for arguing that Congress had already made substantial reductions in discretionary spending.
Coburn objected heatedly. He argued that slowing the rate of discretionary spending growth is not the same as cutting spending, according to sources. Senate aides say that conservatives including Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) agree with Coburn’s point of view.
“If we’re serious about it, we have to change the way we talk about things in D.C.,” said a Senate Republican aide who supports Coburn’s argument. “We can’t talk about cuts but they’re not cuts, they’re slowing of growth. It’s slowing the amount of gas we’re pouring on the fire.”
The group of conservatives backing Coburn, which includes members of the Senate Tea Party Caucus, wants deeper cuts to discretionary spending in addition to entitlement reforms.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
This is why it is idiotic for Conservatives to be looking to the professional political class to “fix” DC. They do not even understand DC IS the problem
Lamar might as well get a jackass lapel pin.
Is it red plaid flak jacket?
FYI - Coburn is a Senator, not a Representative
Throw the Bums Out.
He loves his symbolism doesn’t he? Reminds me of Jimmy Carter.
Nothin’ good comes from marryin’ yer cousin!
How long has Lamar Alexander been in office?
Isn’t he PART OF THE THE GROUP WHO CREATED THIS PROBLEM?
I cannot believe the people of Tennessee have kept this clown in the Senate so long.
Well, things are so damn good that that jacka$$ can add a bit of levity to the atmosphere and wear a flat jacket for a joke.
It's good for moral and no doubt will bring up the favorable numbers for government.
I can't understand how we could have possibly be led to having such a out of control deficit with such serious governing personnel in place to take care of the situation.
Don’t blame me, I voted against his sorry RINO ass in 2008.
Ed Bryant would have been a whole lot better.
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STOP SPENDING, you fools. Stop spending.
And a hammer and sickle one, too. Lamar is a huge RINO who cannot be counted on to vote conservative.
Been trying to get rid of him,He just wiggles back in
Lamar is one of the young uns.’ He’s only been in the Senate 8 years.
Tennessee doesn’t do very well. Corker is not a keeper either, but then Kentucky has been re-electing Mc Connell for 26 YEARs!, and Hatch and Lugar ( the RINO Bobsey Twins) have been there for 37 years each. It’s a disgrace, but it’s not their fault, it’s that of the voters. You get what you vote for.
Lamar is a BIG RINO Problem.....I guess 2014 is when he is up for re-election! The RINO’s need to GO in 2012 and 2014.......If nothing else for some of the confirmation votes these RINO’s have made...I am Going to do EVERYTHING I can to make sure SC RINO Graham is finished!!
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