Posted on 12/12/2012 10:16:39 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Are higher taxes inevitable? If they are, Senator Rand Paul wants no Republican fingerprints on them. Last night, he told Greta van Susteren on Fox News that House Republicans should pass a bill with their specific plan to cut spending and fix the tax code to address the fiscal-cliff issues, and dare the Senate to take it up. If Democrats refuse, then Paul wants the House to hold a vote on the Democratic plan, with Republicans voting "present" to allow Democrats to pass the bill. That way, the economic damage from tax hikes will be totally owned by Democrats, and Republicans will have kept their hands clean:
This reminds me of a scene from the otherwise entirely-forgettable film Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins. Wilford Brimley goes over the doomsday scenario of exposure with Fred Ward, which is the suicides of all involved, but then says, “We’re not there yet, boys.” I’m of the same mind; we can see the edge of the cliff from here, but no one’s going to get serious until Friday at the earliest. The legislative language for any deal will need to get written before the House and Senate can take a vote, which means that we’ll have to have a deal in writing by Monday or Tuesday to get the vote in before Christmas, or by Christmas to get it in before New Years Day if Congress stays in session.
If Obama insists on 4:1 tax hikes to cuts and won’t budge, though, this is probably not a bad scenario to follow. I’d amend it to make clear that the debt ceiling isn’t part of the bill, and I would also pass the AMT fix separately in the House with Republican votes. No sense in refusing credit for solving that of the fiscal cliff.
How long has Rand Paul been in the Senate? If this passes the House, the media will pin any blame on the GOP and damn the vote.
The Tea Party put the GOP back in charge in the House to stop this nonsense, not play games with it.
I actually agree.
No way make it Boner bi-partisan.
Let them take the hits all by themselves. If it is inevitable, do not contribute a single vote.
bobo
They should, but Bonehead wont allow it.
Bonehead loves Grand Bargains, no matter how bad.
Rand Paul is a traitor. Rolling over is NOT leadership. If other Americans had been Paulie Pussies:
“Don’t retreat until you see the whites of their eyes” - General William Prescott, at the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775.
“I only regret that I have but one life, so please don’t hang me. I like the British” - Nathan Hale
“Now I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by harshly worded condemnations.” - Gen. George S. Patton
Rand is Right !
There are lots of different idea’s about what republicans should do, lots of idea’s from those in congress, pundits, and average American’s.
The truth is nobody knows the right thing to do, why?
Because there is no leadership, a leader would have; by this time, already know what to do, and would already have been broadcasting to everyone in every available venue, what will be done.
Obama is no leader, but he is dictating, what a dictator, would do...he says this is what I want, and this is what I will do, whether anyone likes it or not, and the opposition sits and twiddles and talks, talks, talks.
Only problem with the plan is that democrats know that the liberal media will never place the blame on them for anything and if the most recent election has taught us anything it’s that a majority of voters have lost any concept of critical thinking and will swallow what the media spoon feeds them without question.
Wrong answer Rand. Don’t try to get cute. Just vote “No” when the question is raising taxes.
I’m not sure Rand Paul is entirely serious about this, but it does suggest a strategy that should be front and center for the GOP. Make Obama own it. With the media as a part of his administration, it will take effort and consistent messaging to do it. Make him own it. Giving him his way and voting present is over the top, but the idea of consistently pinning it on him is vital. I’m not expecting that kind of high level strategy from the leadership of The Stupid Party, but I can dream.
The Senate already passed a bill extending part of the tax cuts (rates), even though technically the constitution requires all tax bills to originate in the House.
Why should House Republicans put up a bill they are clearly against and then vote present?
I still think the cleanest idea is to pass two bills, one below $250K and one above $250K, the Senate will drop the second one and then Republicans blame the Dems for raising those taxes.
Say Dems respond with “ We didnt raise the taxes on the rich, those were automatic (to go up.)"
Who would accept this? Dems ran front and square on raising those taxes in fact O is back campaigning on it again after winning re-election on it.
Why would that one trick work better with House Republicans own party base than my idea?
The media will blaim the GOP if a pin drops in a room a thousand miles away from the nearest republican. That is what the modern news media is a GOP blame machine.
The state of the world much less the true of the situation is about as far from their broadcasts as the Sun is from pluto. The point is we cant not avoid the lies of the compulsive Obama campaign liers. Choosing not to act will no more make them tell the truth than choosing to act in anyway.
We do nothing they will blame us for Obama’s economic calamity, we do something they call the economic calamity a result of our actions, even if it was their plan & choice of action. The point is there is nothing we can do or not do that will avoid their lying propaganda. So we might as well act according to our believes to protect yourself.
We are not apart of their “community” anymore, to them we are the hated outsider labeled as their devil where as Obama is their God.
I think senator Pauls plan is as good as any, it will only sway the minority not blinded by their hate, but at least it will help to make that minority suffer for their own actions. Once again our focus should be upon protecting Conservatives from their actions, not protecting leftist voters from leftist politicians.
We cannot protect them from themselves, and we would expend too much of our limited time & resources trying. Protect our own, and leave the fools to evil they choose.
What a perfectly Republican notion. Sell out your country by inaction.
You cannot permit or let evil happen to bring about a greater good. That is God’s domain. We must fight against the lefts’ insistence on the breaking of the 7th and 10th commandments.
The Rs are darned if they do and darned if they don’t. zero wants to destroy the party - and pin this on them. If they go along with raising taxes then the Ds will say - see your policies caused this mess and the next R who runs for office won’t have the platform to promise to cut taxes. See, how devious this is? The Rs should either vote no or present is also a good solution.
Some open their mouths before they think things through on this forum. Use common sense.
Rand Paul is done.
This is inexcusable in my mind. It’s one thing to give a lost cause but it’s another thing to make a stupid assumption like the GOP won’t get blamed anyway.
Sure let Obama have more money to buy more votes - that will work great Rand... you ding dong.
If this is the thinking up on the hill by conservatives we are done.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.