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HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN?
Let's take a moment to review where we stand. During the summer of 2009, an increasing number of average Americans - people like you and me - realized that our liberty, our way of life, was being stolen before our eyes. We blamed the Obama, Pelosi, Reid Express and made derailing that train our first goal. Tea Party groups formed and began to educate, share books, talk about our history, and go to rallies. It quickly became apparent that while the immediate crisis was the OPR Express, the real problems were systemic. The deeper we looked, the more we realized that the Republican Party had let us down. Conservative voices among our representatives in Washington were few and far between.
The swift rise of so many angry, mostly old folks caught Republicans, as well as the Dems and the media by surprise. Recall that this time a year ago, Republicans were begging our forgiveness. They "pledged" not to let us down again if we gave them another chance. Boehner even put it in writing to a big flourish of cameras. Read it again. It is forty-eight pages, but mostly pictures and big type so it won't take long. Among other things, they promised $100 billion in cuts this year which became $1 billion, and then $330 million when the smoke and mirrors cleared.
Through the efforts of many around the country, Tea Party Americans gathered under the Republican banner. The result was the landslide of 2010. Phase One, derailing the OPR Express was hailed as a success. Republicans took control of our House, the one specifically given the power of the purse by the Founders. How are they doing with that so far?
Many foresaw even before the election that while we could win Phase One, making systemic changes would be much harder, and require greater sacrifice. Before Phase Two could even begin, we would need to seize control of the Republican Party from within. During a speech at the Heritage Foundation, the day after Bernanke announced QE 2, Mitch McConnell (no relation) was asked whether he agreed with Bernanke. There was an audible gasp as he replied "no comment." This from a guy who when he completes this term will have thirty years in the Senate. Sitting at that speech, I saw the writing on the wall (read Daniel, Chapter 5). Groups formed promising to watch the Republicans we elected in 2010 like hawks when they started voting in 2011. Realizing that Boehner was a big part of the problem, conservatives called for him to step aside last fall. No such luck. The same team that had gotten us in this mess would "lead us out." Or so they said.
The giant sucking sound you hear is socialism flushing Europe down the toilet. Rather than address the systemic changes that must be made so we avoid the same fate, Boehner spends his time threatening to revoke committee assignments from Republicans who don't vote with him. Committee assignments after all represent more money, more staff, more POWER. What better threat? And it works.
Boehner and Mitch McConnell are in control because a majority of Republicans do not have the courage of their convictions over Party threats. Until we replace the Boehner Bunch with conservatives, Republicans will never address what needs to be done right now, much less send either a term limits or a balanced budget amendment to the People for ratification.
If you are happy with the Boehner/McConnell team stay the course. Just remember, their best plan almost doubles our national debt in ten years, and like Europe, we will be in the toilet. Last week, I told you why I think my representative, Scott Tipton is part of the problem. Just a few days later, forty-eight Republicans stood up to Boehner's threats by voting "no" on the most recent CR. Tipton was not one of them; Colorado's Doug Lamborn was.
If you are not willing to sit back and watch as the Republic collapses, knuckle down. The stakes are just as high as they were in 2009, and failure is still not an option.
Keep the faith,
Bob McConnell
www.beawatchman.com
beawatchman@aol.com
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