Its not going to last too long.
Perhaps there’s some hope for McConnell, but not in a leadership position. Bush’s book notes that McConnell advised a losing withdrawal from Iraq. McConnell isn’t fit to spit shine Harry Reid’s shoes. Repubs need a new minority leader in the Senate.
Is he up for reelection in 2012? If so that would explain his decision. Rand Paul prooves the tea party is very strong in Kentucky.
...Any way the wind blows...
is it pandering or is it simply representing the will of his constituency? So long as they do what we want, I don’t care what you call it. This will be a fine first step towards reighning in the out of control spending. I would like to see the balanced budget amendment to the US constitution come back too. Let’s see if they want to get really serious.
Perhaps McConnell thinks he can quiet down those perky Tea Partiers with this sop. Earmarks weren’t much of the budget, in the great scheme of things. It help keep everything nice and quiet while the Committee Assignments and other important procedural decisions get made.
BS.
He will find a way to torpedo them and still claim he voted for reform.
It might go something like “If you will vote in opposition to this I could do this for you”.
He will even go to the Congress and razzle dazzle them.
Any leader that needs to be LED/PRODDED to do what’s right, should be forced out in primaries for someone who KNOWS right from wrong.
Even this McConnell character.
If those who have a thing about earmarks wanted to make sensible changes in the way appropriations are handled, this is the time to do it. But grandstanding as an earmarks foe will not balance the budget, as all earmarks combined comprise less than 2% of total government spending. I suspect Sen. McConnell is well aware of this fact.
Sen. Jim Inhofe defends earmarks. He'd rather Congress decide where taxpayers' funds be spent than a faceless bureaucrat.
...for those interested, :D
he (Mitch) blinked, As always "trust but, verify.".....Ronald Reagan
Yeah, so he looks like Harvey Milquetoast, but at least give the guy some credit.
If he stood firm for earmarks, most of the posts on this thread wouldn't be much different. What a bunch of ingrates.
Translation: McConnell is up for re-election in 2 years......
His future depends on it... so we wait and see. We are an army... they work for us.
LLS