On this Strictly Right, Ari takes a look at the role of government, the Repeal of Obamacare, a Mike Pence presidential run, the hoax of global warming and more.
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Strictly Right is back for a new year of cutting edge conservative analysis. On this episode, Ari takes a look at the incoming House GOP, the move to repeal Obamacare, the failures of big government, and some acts from the theater of the absurd. All that and more on the first Strictly Right of 2011.
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The media is atwitter over the fact that incoming GOP Congressmen have selected Carrie Underwood’s hit “Undo It” as their anthem.
Liberals in Congress and the media are worried that the GOP actually plans on fighting the Democrat socialist agenda.
Jennifer Steinhauer and Robert Pear lamented in the New York Times:
The health care law, entitlement programs, new limits on emissions of greenhouse gases from oil refineries and power plants, and other legislation that Republicans say cannot be justified by a strict interpretation of the Constitution — a document the new leaders plan to read on the House floor on Thursday — are all in the cross hairs.
While President Obama and Republicans were able to work together during last month’s lame-duck session — to the vocal consternation of the most partisan ends of each party’s base — to pass a tax package and a variety of last-minute legislation, including the repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and the ratification of the anti-nuclear proliferation treaty with Russia, such bipartisan consensus seems unlikely at the outset of the new House session.
Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, who is in line to succeed Ms. Pelosi, has said that this time around he would lead efforts to revive the private sector by reducing the size of government — cutting federal regulation, taxes and spending, including the budget of Congress itself.
Mr. Boehner also said Republicans would alter House rules to make it easier to curb government spending and to require more public disclosure about the work of the House.
House Republicans plan on passing a full repeal of Obamacare as a symbolic act, acknowledging that it will be stopped in the Senate, or vetoed by the President. However, after setting the tone, the GOP plans on defunding and dismantling Obamacare piece by piece. Additionally, with Paul Ryan’s Road Map the GOP is finally starting to talk about realistic entitlement reforms.
Fueled by a reverence for the Constitution and an acknowledgment of reality, Republicans won in 2010 by representing the alternative to Obamunism. If the Grand Old Party wishes to remain in power surrender is not an option.
Mitch McConnell stated that his foremost political priority is ensuring that Barack Obama is a one-term president. Republicans are openly stating that they plan on using Obamacare as an albatross to hang around Democrats in 2012. The only way to fix the economy, and the country, is to get government out of the way. The only way to get government out of the way is to defeat Democrats. The GOP, at long last, is ready to play hardball.
On the other side of the aisle, Democrats believe that a renewed debate over Obamacare will actually help them. The Left believes that the only problem with Obama’s government takeover of healthcare is the branding. If only the American people really understood how great Obamacare is, they’d support the monstrosity.The fights over Obamacare, and liberty, are fights the GOP should welcome, and decisively win.
The legislative plan for the GOP is quite simple; Barry Goldwater spelled it out in 1960:
I have little interest in streamlining government or in making it more efficient, for I mean to reduce its size. I do not undertake to promote welfare, for I propose to extend freedom. My aim is not to pass laws, but to repeal them. It is not to inaugurate new programs, but to cancel old ones that do violence to the Constitution or that have failed their purpose, or that impose on the people an unwarranted financial burden. I will not attempt to discover whether legislation is `needed’ before I have first determined whether it is constitutionally permissible. And if I should later be attacked for neglecting my constituents “interests,” I shall reply that I was informed that their main interest is liberty and that in that cause I am doing the very best I can.
For a modern interpretation “Undo It” works:
Former Massachusetts Governor and obvious 2012 candidate Mitt Romney sat down with Jay Leno earlier this week to talk about a variety of issues. When offered the bait, Romney refused to take a swing at Sarah Palin. Complimenting Palin instead was admirable, and Romney deserves credit for not throwing out an unfair attack at Palin, a new favorite activity of many in the GOP establishment.
That being said, many conservatives have felt tentative at best about a Romney presidency. In the following clip, Governor Romney explains why he “loved” serving as governor (skip to 0:33):
“Being governor is probably the best job you can think of because you have a real impact on the lives of people you care about… you approve schools, you get healthcare for folks…”
It is important to take note of unguarded statements made by politicians. When they go off script, even for a few brief sentences, it lets you know what they really think. Governor Romney’s professed “love” of serving in government so he can do things for people is troubling. It is reminiscent ‘the great engineer’ – Herbert Hoover.
The progressive wing of the Republican party is always looking for ways the government can be used to implement ‘conservative’ policies. The most recent terminology used was a call for an ‘energetic’ government. Of course, the notion that a gargantuan government can be used to implement conservatism is noxious and contradictory. Conservatives believe that the government that governs least, governs best.
Governors and presidents are not supposed to be “getting people healthcare.” The best thing the government can do is get out of the way and let people purchase whatever medical insurance they want. The GOP experiment with “kinder, gentler” and “compassionate” conservatism has been disastrous. Republicans should not be New Deal lite. The GOP has to offer a choice, not an echo. The Democrats are the party of big government. The GOP is the liberty party. Republicans should be about giving people the right to chose how to run their own lives, without interference from faceless and nameless bureaucrats. Romney’s “love” of government is worrisome. His desire to use the government to “do things for people” is a red flag.
President Bush 41 sat down with Larry king last week and some of his (and his wife’s) answers were revelatory of what the elites in the GOP think.
As pointed out yesterday, George H. W. Bush was the establishment’s strongest candidate against Ronald Reagan in the 1980 primary. Bush criticized Reagan on tax cuts, his pro-life stance, and the defense buildup. Bush famously called Reaganomics “voodoo economics” during the primary campaign. Bush also repeatedly took cheap shots at his opponent’s age.
In 1988, George H.W. Bush ran as a “kinder, gentler” conservative. President Bush’s record proved you can take the Republican out of the establishment, but you can’t take the establishment out of the Republican.
It should come as no surprise that George H. W. Bush still does not understand the conservative movement. Perhaps he’s just waiting for the next candidate who runs on “big Mo.”
In the aforementioned Larry King interview, King asked Bush what he made of the Tea party:
President Bush has no idea what the Tea party is all about. Unfortunately, the Bush family has had a propensity for belittling the conservative movement. The above answer is why people still do not trust the GOP. Many conservatives worry that if they place their trust in the Gran Old Party they will once again be spurned.
The establishment neither understands or likes movement conservatives. Elites see the Tea Party, social conservatives, and other regular people as below them. Ronald Reagan’s brilliant 1977 CPAC speech, which was sighted in yesterday’s article on the establishment vs. Sarah Palin, was premised upon reorganizing the Republican Party. Reagan did not want the GOP to be the party of the establishment, of the country-club bluebloods. Instead, Reagan reformed the party around the organizing principle of freedom. The American people warmly embraced that message.
This organizing principle of freedom is important to remember. Once the GOP dropped that principle they were thrust into the wilderness. No one wants to vote for the party of big government lite. President Bush’s disregard of the Tea Party is illustrative of how the party elites view the Tea Party, and the organizing principle of freedom. They do not understand it, and have no interest in embracing the message.
This Congress, and the 2012 primaries will be a battle for the heart and soul of the GOP. Republicans will have to chose between the conservative, pro-freedom message of Ronald Reagan, and the anti-liberal, non-philosophical Republicanism of the establishment. One approach can change the country, the other will just slow the onslaught of liberalism.
Bobby Jindal has been an effective and conservative governor in Louisiana. In this interview with David Gregory, Jindal explains the absurdity of the system the TSA uses to create the illusion of security in airports. Additionally, Jindal reveals a keen understanding of the War on Terror:
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Yes, he made one bad speech. That should not rule him out as a potential 2012 candidate. Governor Jindal is an articulate conservative governor, who has done a great job clearing out the deadwood in what was one of the most corrupt states in the Union. His demonstrated understanding of the issues, compounded with strong record and experience, should make him a force within the GOP – hopefully in 2012.
Governor Palin recently sat down with Judge Andrew Napolitano to discuss the policies of the Federal Reserve, fiscal policy in general, and what she expects from elected officialis who are identified with the Tea Party:
Part 1:
Part 2:
Sarah Palin is the only serious presidential candidate taking the Federal reserve to task. Restoring integrity to the dollar and combating inflation was a key tenet of President Reagan’s. Reagan called inflation “as violent as a mugger, as frightening as an armed robber, and as deadly as a hit man.” Inflation is a backdoor tax on Americans.
In their quixotic quest to jump-start the economy through monetary policy, the Federal Reserve has been printing trillions of new dollars, the latest manifestation being the QE2 (quantitative easing) policy. The problem is, due to the uncertain environment created by Obama’s vacillation on tax rates, in conjunction with the Democrats’ anti-business rhetoric and policies, and excessive government spending, businesses and investors do not know what to expect.
In an uncertain environment it is not possible to plan for the future. Not being able to plan for the future prevents businesses from expanding and creating new jobs. In uncertain times people or institutions with money hold onto their capital, waiting for the storm to pass. The measurement for the rate at which money is circulated is known as the velocity of money/circulation. The current velocity is lower than it has been in half a century. Simply put, that means money is not moving – goods and services are not being exchanged. With this low velocity the Fed can print all this money and no one notice it in their day-to-day transactions. The new money is not put into circulation due to the uncertain environment. However, once more predictable times come, there will be trillions of new dollars introduced into the stabilized economy. The rapid increase in the velocity of money will create too many dollars chasing to few goods – inflation. The net result will be substantial devaluation of cash savings that people have accumulated.
It is imperative that the next President restore integrity to the dollar and fight off inflation. Once again, remember, the devaluation of the greenback is a covert way for the government to essentially raise taxes. When inflation strikes the value of saving decline while the prices of goods increase. Inflationary policies have the same effect on you that a tax increase would – you have less spending power (of course, inflation causes many other problems).
On another note, Palin’s admonition that the government does not have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem is Reaganesque The argument that tax cuts cost the government money displays a total lack of respect for property rights. Besides the fact that tax cuts raise government revenues, income is the property of the earner, not the government. Taxes represent the amount of personal property that the government seizes. ‘Lost revenue’ to the government assumes that capital belongs to the government and they decide how much you are allowed to keep. this notion is the basis of the elitist mentality that plagues both parties. Governor Plain’s statement, almost a throwaway line, demonstrates a different understanding of the role of government. Plain’s instinctual reflex is that earners, not the government, are the rightful owners of the fruits of their labor. This is sadly a rarity in government.
All in all, this was a very encouraging interview from the woman that will lead the GOP to the White House in 2012.
ABC News is reporting that in the last days of the Democrat fiefdom, the Pelosi, Reid, Obama troika are planning on ramming amnesty through the Congress.
The move to rush through the DREAM ACT illustrates that the Democrats understand that it was their agenda that was rejected by the voters this year. The Democrats are aware of the fact that most Americans reject their socialist vision. Instead of trying to convince the American people that socialism works, the Democrats want to legalize millions of new Democrat voters.
The Democratic Party is at war with the American way of life. They reject and want to disown the legacy and style of government drawn up by the Founders. In place of the Constitution, the Left wants to move in the direction of Western European socialism. In fact, that it exactly what Howard Dean said in his post-election analysis.
While the Democrats have done their best to “fundamentally transform” the United States, they have reached the limit. This November, voters put up a wall. The voting public saw the direction the Democrats were marching in and said a resounding ‘NO!’ to socialism. Democrats are many things, but politically incapable they are not. They see the writing on the wall. They were routed in the midterms, President Obama’s approval rating is stuck in the 40s, 26% of voters think the President will be reelected, and only 38% think Obama should be reelected. Not too much to be optimistic about for Democrats in 2012.
What if the Democrats could add a few million voters to the rolls in time for the election? That is what amnesty is about. It is a pure political calculation by the Democrats. The Democrats believe that the newly legalized voters will be another exploitable constituency. That is why the Democrats are champing at the bit to rush through amnesty, an immensely unpopular policy, in a Congress that has already lost the confidence of the American people.
Everyone and their uncle knows that Govenor Chris Christie (R-NJ) has become one of the most loved conservatives of the modern day. If you listen to Strictly Right Radio you’ve probably heard me criticize the trend of assuming that every time a Republican says something smart we hail them as our candidate for [insert next election year]. I still believe that, but I also know that I’ve had quite a bit of trouble coming up with a credible candidate for 2012. After seeing this clip on Fox News’ Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld last night, I was once again reminded how awesome Chris Christie is. Seriously, we need him as President.
A month ago I wrote that Chris Matthews understood the electoral path to victory Sarah Palin could take in the primaries. In sum, she could win in Iowa, where she should have the support of Evangelical Christians, the most important voting bloc in the state’s primary, have a strong showing in New Hampshire, win South Carolina, where she was an early supporter of the woman who will be the next governor there, then win in Michigan, where she made inroads in 2008 when she did not want to concede the state, and with her immensely popular book tour last year. From there she would have an enormous delegate lead and all the momentum. It’s not a fait accompli, as Matthews makes it sound, but is entirely plausible.
Will Sarah run in 2012? I tend to think that Matthews is correct. Since she resigned her governorship, Palin has been available to write more books, post opinions on facebook and twitter (that define political debates – see: death panels), do more television and deliver more speeches. In addition, Palin has been touring the country, endorsing political candidates. She has been shrewd in her endorsements, picking candidates that have a good chance of wining, and thus owing her a favor in 2012. This strategy is similar to what Richard Nixon did after losing the 1960 presidential election. Eventually, Nixon had accumulated so many chips that it seemed as though the entire GOP was in his pocket. Having loyal supporters in key states is always important in organizing a primary campaign, and Palin is acknowledging that by supporting candidates that can win.
The establishment and the left write Sarah Palin off at their own peril. They ridiculed Ronald Reagan, calling him a ‘B-list actor’ and a country bumpkin, with extreme views. However, he was able to relate to the American people. In 1989, Ronald Reagan said, “I won a nickname, “The Great Communicator.” But I never thought it was my style or the words I used that made a difference: It was the content. I wasn’t a great communicator, but I communicated great things, and they didn’t spring full bloom from my brow, they came from the heart of a great nation – from our experience, our wisdom, and our belief in the principles that have guided us for two centuries. They called it the Reagan revolution. Well, I’ll accept that, but for me it always seemed more like the great rediscovery, a rediscover of our values and our common sense.” Reagan believed in the United States of America, and that his country was the greatest force for good in human history. Those ideas resonate with people. Sarah Palin expresses those same principles. She is what Obama would call a “bitter clinger” – in other words an American. No one knows if Sarah Palin will run or not, but if she does her homespun wisdom and unflinching belief in American Exceptionalism will make her a force to reckoned with.