Republican Lamar Alexander calls out the Tea Party

Washington Post ^ | Aug 20, 2013 | By Chris Cillizza

[Jim Robinson]

Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander struck the latest blow in the ongoing Republican intraparty squabble between ideologues and pragmatists – or, in Chris Christie-speak, “winners” and “college professors” — in an op-ed published in the Tennessean newspaper Tuesday.

The entire piece, which was written in response to calls from tea party groups for Alexander to step aside due to his willingness to work across the aisle, is worth reading but one paragraph stood out to us. Here it is:

“I learned to count in Maryville City Schools. So I know that if you only have 45 votes and you need 60 senators to get something important done like balancing the budget and fixing the debt, then you have to work with other people — that is, IF you really care about solving the problem, IF you really want to get a result, instead of just making a speech.”

That’s as good an explanation of the philosophy that animates the pragmatist wing of the Republican party as we have read. It’s based on a belief that prizes the accomplishment even if that accomplishment is short of your preferred goal. It’s based on the belief that the goal of governing is to address — via legislation — the problems facing the country.

[cva66snipe]

Correction: I just have this bad gut feeling that since 1989 both parties have cut a deal to conquer "We The People". It's just a feeling that they've been sitting dividing the spoils of what was once our ruled governed by consent nation, our rights, and our freedoms. It's like kids dividing up candy. One for you and one for me. We are not sitting at that table BTW.

[Vendome]

You’re hot!

/s

[duffee]

That’s exactly what he’s talking about. He could just say NO amnesty or immigration bill, just close the border and enforce existing law but they “feel” a need to compromise, they need to start thinking and decide which side their on.

[PGalt]

In 1972 he co-founded a Nashville law firm.

Socialism Is LEGAL Plunder - Bastiat

Why don't you retire and hold hands with Honey?

Perhaps the rest of the lawyers in Congress could do the same.

FULA

17,000,000,000,000

Cough it up...SCUMBAG

[RedMonqey]

While I like Alexander and will vote for him over any democrat in the general, Lamar simply doesn't understand “compromise” means with Democrats.

Whether it's taxes, immigration etc, whatever deal is struck, the Republicans will keep their side, raising taxes in exchange for spending cuts for example, but budget cuts never happen.
Same with the wall on the southern border, immigration reform, health care reform, etc etc.

No more Senator...
No more ..

[wardaddy]

He is an embrassment Mr Thompson

We’re working on it I swear

[USS Johnston]

While I like Alexander and will vote for him over any democrat in the general, Lamar simply doesn't understand “compromise” means with Democrats.

Oh, Lamar certainly DOES "understand" his role as a Trojan Horse globalist Vichy GOPe Swine all too well.

He's always been a conniving tool of the New World Order.

[USS Johnston]

If you wish a fight the tea party, be my guest. I'm sure you will get one.

Alexander is only too happy to enlist fellow Trojan Horse collaborators like McStain, Graham, McConnell...as well as their "good friends on the other side of the aisle" to smash any "uppity" conservative Tea Party types.

For some odd reason they'd MUCH rather keep us enslaved by a Fascist-Commie stranglehold long enough to usher in the UN-One World Government.

[USS Johnston]

Republicans want all the perks of Washington, with none of the responsibility.

That's just it; They are either content at the trough, indifferent....OR as I suspect, many complicit with the destruction of the USCON and unification for a UN-led New World Order.

[SoFloFreeper]

Right on Jim.

Pragmatism doesn’t mean surrendering in the primary season.

I am sorry we lost in Indiana, but I am happy to see Dick Lugar gone.

I am sorry we lost in Delaware, but I am happy to see Mike Castle gone.

Our philosophy is the correct one, and it is better to make sure our candidates reflect the truth and not a polluted view of politics.

[RedMonqey]

He's always been a conniving tool of the New World Order

Lamar and , for that matter Bob Corker are defiantly a part of the Howard Baker wing of the Tennessee GOP.

Always suspicous of their motives...

[RedMonqey]

Lamar and Corker are on the inside track for themselves and their pals for the purchase (for relative peanuts) of the TVA

Maybe I haven't been paying attention but the last thing I read was Lamar was against breaking up TVA.

While I hate the idea of government running businesses, the damage that the government has done to the farmers and families that owned the land in the first place is done.

It would be pouring salt on open wounds for THEIR LAND, which is considered prime waterfront properties, to be sold to wealthy investors instead of being returned to the original families forced off their land at robber baron prices.

While my father's people weren't affected by TVA they were forced off their land to build Camp Campbell, now Fort Campbell, we know the pain and misery caused by the "beneficial Hand" of "Big Brother"

[USS Johnston]

Lamar and , for that matter Bob Corker are defiantly a part of the Howard Baker wing of the Tennessee GOP. Always suspicious of their motives...

Suspicious for good reason: They sway with a mere breeze.

[tnlibertarian]

"I learned to count in Maryville City Schools. So I know that if you only have 45 votes and you need 60 senators to get something important done like balancing the budget and fixing the debt, then you have to work with other people" that is, IF you really care about solving the problem, IF you really want to get a result, instead of just making a speech."

Well, Lamar!, I learned to count in Knox County Schools and I know that it takes 41 to keep things like amnesty from passing. And I know that 41 is less than 45. But if traitorous bastards like you and Corker keep voting FOR amnesty instead of being part of the needed 41, then we might need to examine the results you are trying to get.

[RedMonqey]

Suspicious for good reason: They sway with a mere breeze.

Tennessee IS a conservative state but it is dominated by the wishy washy Howard baker GOP wing.

Watch for the next election. There will be TWO real conservative candidates that will split the conservative vote and Lamar/Corker will glide back in..

That's the way it's been in my living memory...

[USS Johnston]

Tennessee IS a conservative state but it is dominated by the wishy washy Howard baker GOP wing.

I've never understood "conservative states" electing Dems and RINOs.

Watch for the next election. There will be TWO real conservative candidates that will split the conservative vote and Lamar/Corker will glide back in..

Hope so. The dirty little secret: RNC-GOPe does not nor has EVER represented "conservatives" OR American sovereignty.

The Lamars and Corkers and McCains and Grahams and Bushes are all NWO Trojan Horses.

[John S Mosby]

You are so right. But had heard this more than once, and obamaumao is for selling it off. What a plum ripoff of the original family land owners. The family that owns Grandfather Mountain withstood for many years the completion of the BlueRidge parkway (another FDR monstrosity that ripped off land... for “shovel ready” employment, granted).

FRiend, John Loudermilk’s “Ma Baker’s Little Acre” a tribute to the victory of private property:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYqXmTHno1E

[RedMonqey]

What a plum ripoff of the original family land owners.

Land Between the Lakes(LBL)crossing the Tennessee-Kentucky border was an project of the Kennedy Administration. This dam(ned)project confiscated and finished off the population of settlers in the region from the Revoluntary War period. Many were removed earlier by FDRs TVA project for watershed protection and navigation of the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers.

It can be said it was for the "general public good"

But LBL was to be an wildlife and recreation area.

It wound up more recreation than "preservation"

The original owners driven off were promised it would be "commercial free area"

Well, that promise was broken quicker than it took the ink to dry as private "rental" resort and docking areas were developed and in the nineties there was a drive to start selling these areas to private developers.

We used to go camping and swimming and fishing in these areas...

Even accidentally wandered onto "restricted areas" where some old homesteads building still stood(apparently forgotten)

I'm now ashamed that we were part of taking advantage of these poor people. Oh by the way, both were done by Democratic presidents to a population largely Democratic and is still to this day

[RedMonqey]

I've never understood "conservative states" electing Dems and RINOs.

Can't speak for other states but in Tennesse the GOP is firmly in East Tennessee(Real Hillbillies) that have a love affair with the pork giveaways.

Thus you get your "moderate" Lamars, Bakers, Corkers etc.

They gotta keep the goodies for TVA, Oak Ridge and UT coming....

[RedMonqey]

"There are still people in my party who believe in consensus politics. I regard them as Quislings, as traitors... I mean it."

-- Margaret Thatcher

Ole Maggie was an orginal!!

Gad!! How we need an American Version now!!!