Posted on 02/11/2012 10:50:08 PM PST by JediJones
The Washington establishment believes that the government shutdown of 1995 was a disastrous mistake that accomplished little and cost House Republicans politically.
The facts are exactly the opposite.
While the shutdown produced some short-term pain, it set the stage for a budget deal in 1996 that led to the largest drop in federal discretionary spending since 1969. The discipline imposed by this budget — overall spending grew at an average of 2.9 percent a year while I was speaker of the House, the slowest rate in decades — allowed us to reach a balanced-budget deal in 1997.
...the balanced budget was an outcome driven by House Republicans with limited support from skeptical Senate Republicans [Me: RINOs.].
House Republicans passed a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget. Seventy-two Democrats joined us, giving us the required two-thirdsmajority to amend the Constitution. Unfortunately, the Senate failed to reach this threshold by one vote.
Our constitutional amendment would have set a seven-year deadline to balance the budget. We adopted the same timetable and created a plan that would end deficit spending by 2002.
It was President Bill Clinton’s veto of our budget in December 1995 that closed the government. The White House knew that it could use the power of the presidency and the support of liberal media to blame us.
We could cave in and be accepted by the Washington establishment, or we could stand firm for a balanced budget for the American people.
We decided to stick to our principles through a very contentious and difficult period.
Nonetheless, the ultimate result was the first four consecutive balanced budgets since the 1920s...
Becoming one more promise-breaking, Washington-dominated, sellout group is a much worse fate — politically and ethically — than having the government close for a few days.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Look closer, this was written by Newt Gingrich.
Newt would have kept the gov’t shut down! It was quisling Dole that genuflected— I can still vividly see him standing at his desk in the Senate, cutting the rug form under the House conservative insurgents and Newt.
Regrettably, that capitulation by Dole- was what began the down slide in Newt’s revolution— one now he will hopefully revive in 2013.
“This would all have been impossible had Republicans not stood firm in 1995 and shown the American people (and the White House) that we were serious about reducing spending.”
That works for me. Thanks for sharing.
If that’s the point you were trying to make, then I have to give you the award for the dumbest post I’ve seen on FR in the last week. The idea that the content of this article, which contains nothing liberal, is deemed by you as being liberal simply because it was published in the Washington Post is beyond stupid. Not to mention, they publish Charles Krauthammer’s columns, many of which I can assure you express conservative opinions.
Gingrich conveniently leaves the fact that back in the mid-90s he was trying to get his caucus to back down on their conservative principles. And Gingrich, IN HIS OWN WORDS, said "he melted around Clinton."
The Washington Post would not be giving aid and comfort to a presidential nominee at this time. They want one of their guys - Romney or Gingrich- to be the nominee. They will own support one of the megaRINOs.
Your post says a lot about you, loser. Seems you are more attracted to liars than patriots.
Check the date on the article, this is from last year. I noticed it had never been posted on FR so I posted it since the history on the government shutdown is worth talking about. It shows Newt has always been willing to fight the establishment.
Sorry, but a random out-of-context quote here and there cannot rewrite the history that Newt presided over the most conservative House any of us have seen in modern times. Sorry if every GOP member wasn’t happy with it, but as Ron Paul shows us, it’s very easy to be a Congressman in a safe district to push for right-wing perfection, but harder to negotiate such a deal with a liberal President. The Republicans in the 2000s had a Republican president, and still didn’t accomplish as many conservative achievements as Newt did under Clinton.
Who is a liar? You actually believe adultery is patriotism?
And that was driven by the moderate mentality that it was bad for Dole’s presidential election.
>> Look even closer, it’s in the Washington Post. I think this says a lot about Gingrich.
LOL... shoot the messenger...
>> You actually believe adultery is patriotism?
C’mon, have you ever seen his ex?
I am old enough to remember 1998 and 1999. I was on Free Republic back then. It was critical we get Bill Clinton out of office. Newt Gingrich saved his presidency. The second he was caught having his affair Clinton was saved. And Gingrich knew that. He is a traitor.
I just realized that no one can do a FUBO like acronym with Charles Krautmammer's name without getting the language police down on you.
Nope, Chester Lott and Santorum saved his presidency and I don’t recall you being here in ‘99. You’re very fortunate Jim has given you a pass when it comes to slandering Newt Gingrich because you’re one of the worst vile offenders.
So we can all agree with Santorum on this, that MORE immigrants, (’open the spigot’- in his words) is what is needed to fix our problems, including our low birthrates correct? This is what he said. And that they ‘learn English’- (his words again) and just a guess I but I think I know where these ‘new’ immigrants will be comming from don't you?. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=sUSUGIfggTI
Thanks very much for this posterity posting!
GO NEWT!!
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