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Subscribe to RSSHouse Speaker John Boehner dismissed Grover Norquist as a "random" person on Thursday despite a week's worth of frequent references to the antitax activist on Capitol Hill.
The name of Norquist, the Americans for Tax Reform president, has been on the lips of just about every political figure who's expressed frustration at his influence over Republicans, and their unflinching resistance to tax hikes in any form.
The reason is Norquist's "Taxpayer Protection Pledge," the manifesto Norquist first drafted in 1986 which opposes increases in taxes. Boehner and another 235 House members have signed the pledge, as have 41 senators. The vast majority of signatories are Republicans, and only six Republicans in each chamber haven't signed the pledge. (All of the GOP's presidential candidates but Jon Huntsman have also signed.)
But today, when asked by NBC News about Norquist's sway over the GOP conference, Boehner downplayed the relationship.
“We are doing everything we are doing to get our economy back to work. It's not often I'm asked about some random person in America," the Speaker said of Norquist.
NBC News: Random person?
"Our focus is about creating jobs, not talking about somebody's personality."
NBC News: What he stands for, is that a positive influence in your conference?
"What he stands for???"
NBC News: Yes, his no tax hikes under any circumstances pledge, is that positive for your conference?
"Listen, our conference is opposed to tax hikes because we believe tax hikes will hurt our economy and put Americans out of work."
Boehner’s reference to Norquist as a “random person” struck many on Capitol Hill as odd; privately, GOP aides will often discuss Norquist’s influence on GOP politics and admit its significance.
The test of Norquist's sway, though, will come in the next few weeks, when the bipartisan, bicameral supercommittee is set to make its recommendations as to how to achieve as much as $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction. Republican members of the panel are under pressure to agree to new revenues through tax reform, a prospect which Norquist has already decried.
Democrats and even some Republicans feel he has undue influence on deficit discussions because Republicans worry if they support any type of tax increase, Norquist’s group will attack them come election season.
Already, proponents of those kinds of reforms have begun to test the fealty of the GOP to Norquist.
Alan Simpson, the former Republican Senator from Wyoming and former co-chairman of the president’s fiscal commission said, “If Grover Norquist is now the most powerful man in America, he should run for president. There's no question about his power. And let me tell you, he has people enthralled. That's a terrible phrase. Lincoln used it. It means your mind has been captured. You're in bondage with a soul.”
Yesterday on the floor of the U.S. Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said of Norquist’s influence on Republicans: “They are in a thrall -- they're in submission to a man whose singular focus keeping taxes low for wealthy, they fear his political retribution.”
That was the second shot Reid had taken at Norquist. Earlier in the week, he said: "My Republican friends, these poor folks, are being led like puppets by Grover Norquist ... They’re giving speeches that we should compromise on our deficit, but never do they compromise on Grover Norquist. He is their leader.”
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Please provide the names of the six in each house that did not sign the pledge. The people will then be able to easily vote out the ones that signed a pledge to a man instead of pledging to the people of this country they are supposed to serve. And, since they are serving one man, that said man, should be paying their salaries and not the people.
Sounds about like a cheating husband denying he's been calling his mistress when confronted with his cell phone bill.
I tink Norquist sucks. And Republcian are stupid to abdicate their power to work for the best of this country and not some super shadow.
Unfortunately Obama's intelligence does not lead to solutions of our problem. His solution lacks the :Heart of the Problem". A good example of this is Health Care reform that took him over a year. Health care reform; focus needed to be COST. But that just never appeared except some far away in future. If some one can predict that they should check what was prediction on economy in year 2000.
Between Republican lacking strong leader and Obama's brainunsuitable for problem solving, we are screwed. Some one says leaders reflects people. How did we came here is question?
You may have the answer.
raj@chicagoman.com
Every representative and senator who signed this pledge should be dismissed to the unemployment line next November for placing this 'random person's agenda above their oath to the Constitution.
every Democrat who continues to support socialist expansion of govt should be tarred and feathered and sent out of Washington on a rail.
Tell us where in the Constitution Congress is supposed to bankrupt the country while stealing from others to engage in marxist redistribution of wealth programs that you leftists support?
Larry you need to find Merle you would make a great couple.
Ask the Bush administration that gave our tax money away THREE times to the super rich who have closed 50,000 factories in America, while YOU belittle your neighbors without jobs.
In order to balance the budget, you will have to raise taxes but not to the extent that tparty and mr. norquest think. These people are nuts. If they cared for our country, common sense would tell them cut spending and raise taxes and get it all balanced. but some people are short sighted and cannot see the entire picture.
By the way Regan did not make jobs, he cut jobs, he was the worst President we have ever had. I was so glad when he was out of office, I am sure Mr. Norquest, was behind the desk in the oval office with Mr. Reagan.
O I forgot do not speak ill of the dead.
Lady Jag- what marxist revisionist history do you read?
Reagan was one of our greatest presidents. I suffered through the liberals Johnson, Nixon, Ford and Carter who did some of the greatest damage to our country next to FDR. Reagan restored our fiscal prosperity while nearly doubling tax revenues and creating 20 million jobs.
Reagan's administration saw the greatest increase in middle class African Americans of ANY president.
from the end of 1982 to 1989, black unemployment dropped 9 percentage points (from 20.4 percent to 11.4 percent), while white unemployment dropped by only 4 percentage points. Black household income went up 84 percent from 1980 to 1990, versus a white household income increase of 68 percent. The number of black-owned businesses increased from 308,000 in 1982 to 424,000 in 1987, a 38 percent rise versus a 14 percent increase in the total number of firms in the United States. Receipts by black-owned firms more than doubled, from $9.6 billion to $19.8 billion.
20 million new jobs were created during the Reagan presidency
(U.S. Statistical Abstract)
-Of these 20 million new jobs:
-The average hourly wage was $10/hr.
-46.1% were over $28,048/yr, and another 46.2% were from
$7,012-$28,048/yr, while only 6% were under $7,012/yr.
-In 1981, the beginning of Reagan’s presidency, the top 5% of
wage earners paid 35% of federal income taxes, while the bottom
50% paid 8%. By 1988, the end of Reagan’s presidency, the top
5% paid 46% of the federal taxes, while the bottom 50% paid 6%
(Joint Economic Committee, 1990)
-Inflation went down during Reagan’s time in office. In 1980 the
CPI (Consumer Price Index) was 13.5, and in 1984 it dropped to
4.3, and eventually to 4.1 by 1988. (Economic Report of the
President, January, 1993)
-Middle class families earning between $20,000-$50,000/year had
a 28% growth in net worth during Reagan’s time in office
(National Review, April 18, 1994)
http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Midfield/3110/reagan.html
Larry you missed the part were he raised taxes 11 times.
larry
is stuck on stupid
moe & curly dis-owned him
reagan the messiah increased the National Debt and created homeless people in U.S.
put mentally ill on the streets so he could spend more on military
ollie north shipped more cocaine to Washington D. C. to buy the weapons in the first instance
then sold them to Iran to support the contras
money laundering supreme
following the inept foreign policies of Carter such as Iran and Panama and the economic inflationnary crisis( 20% interest on bank deposits)
anyone would have looked supreme at the time
Posted this earlier in this thread but it seems like this is a good place to repeat it.
The debt under the Reagan administration went from about 700 billion to roughly 3 Trillion due to his conservative tax policies. Nobody seems to remember that when the use Reagan as an example.
THats a pure lie. Ronald Reagan was a great man.
I see more lying revisionist libs are out to recreate history.
1. Tax rates were lower when Reagan left office then when he took office
2. The House of Representatives is responsible for ALL bills of Revenue. The leftist Democrats controlled the House.
3. Reagan VETOED 72 bills
From Reagan's 1987 Debt Ceiling Speech
The mentally ill release took place while he was Governor of CA because the ACLU sued for the right of the mentally ill to be on the street.
By the late 1960s, the idea that the mentally ill were not so different from the rest of us, or perhaps were even a little bit more sane, became trendy. Reformers dreamed of taking the mentally ill out of the large institutions and housing them in smaller, community-based residences where they could live more productive and fulfilling lives. Simultaneously, the ACLU was pushing a mental health patients right agenda that resulted in O’Connor v. Donaldson (see below) In 1967, Gov. Ronald Reagan signed the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act (LPS), which went into effect in 1969 and quickly became a national model. Among other things, it prohibited forced medication or extended hospital stays without a judicial hearing. The Governor signed a bill inspired by those who clamored for the "civil rights" of the mentally ill to be on the street and who claimed they'd be better off with community counseling.
So no, Reagan, didn't close mental hospitals or put anyone on the street. Progressive views on mental health, a misguided ACLU, and politicians who "know better" did it. Then finally (the last year Reagan was governor), O’Connor v. Donaldson, 422 U.S. 563 (1975), the Supreme Court found a constitutional right to liberty for mental health patients: "There is...no constitutional basis for confining such persons involuntarily if they are dangerous to no one." With this constitutional recognition, the practice of mental health law became a process of limiting and defining the power of the state to detain and treat. The result was a codification of mental health rights that have done away with non-voluntary commitment except in extreme cases.
He didn't coddle the perverts either. He left them to themselves and let AIDS take it's natural course. We need to END subsidizing "AIDS research". The best cure for AIDS is to leave them all alone. They will stop their perverted ways soon enough.
Merle, once again you show what a true devout Christian you are. What about babies born to HIV infected mothers, the healthcare workers accidently exposed when they are busy saving lives, or those that got it from infected blood, no fault of their own, or the republicans that got it while cheating on thier wives.
mikey reagan is one ole merli pearli
of course he was adopted
Go Re"pubic"ans - WABOBS! I suggest the absence of a quorum! The time is now to make Goldilocks & the Three Bears - papa Boehner, mama McConnell, baby Cantor and Rubio (Goldilocks - watch out for this one) "Last-Termers".......
Grover Norquist wasn't elected to anything by anybody. He is just a run-of-the-mill lobbyist with a nerdy name turned tax crusader for the 1%.
Grover is best ignored. Fiscal policy should not be dictated by simpletons or their wealthy masters.
Skip the inquiries about Norquist and the GOP from the media and take it directly to hearings on the issue. This could be treason.
Mission Impossible......
"As always, Mr. Norquist, should you, or any member of the Republican Party be caught or questioned about the no tax pledges, the House Speaker will disavow any knowledge of your actions."
The GOP is right, here in Colorado we voted down EVERY tax increase proposal .too bad Obama was not on the ballot too!
Thats right, Edwardo. We have got to rid this nation of the faggots and socialists. They are trying to destroy this great nation.
edwardo...that's right, we voted down the tax for public education, just a few pennies each, to make sure that our children do not receive the correct education and once we are dumbed down enough any other educated country can take us over with easy pickings.
Dumb, Dumb, Dumb.
Y'all are just lazy, scared, trembling, libtards, homos and dykes. You KNOW that the Republicans are about to take the Senate and the White House (just so long as we don't elect Romney) back from you Marxist idiots. I don't blame you for being mad. You did, after all, lose the house BIG last year. Still, its time to get used to the new reality. Norquist is a patriot and he LOVES this nation. Thats something none of you can say.
Merle, you mentioned before that you are a Christian. What about love thy brother as thyself? What about charity? What about judge not that ye be judged? You seem to have written your own bible, filled with words that are un-christian. We are all expressing our opinion under the rights given to us under the first amendment. It is our privilege and our right to speak and disagree. I hope you can become the christian you call yourself and try to see another perspective. From the one comment about Romney, you have some fear too. I know you are a homo-phobe, I don't know why unless you believe it is contagious. Every person here loves this country otherwise we would not take the time to express our emotions over the changes we have seen. The glory of this medium is we can all say what we feel we need to, even you. There is some rage in you from what, I do not know but to keep such a diatribe going is unhealthy and far from productive.
You're a libtard. I do not care what you think. You don't know God. We are supposed to tell truths when faced with sin.
Merle - you are no Christian, you do not know God and you give real, good Christians a bad name. You are a shameful, pathetic, sad, little man with so much anger toward yourself that the only way you can feel better is by criticizing others. Real Christians do not spew hatred. You should be totally ashamed of yourself! The devil will be waiting for you with open arms.
Thou shall have no other God before me, except Gover Norquist.
The devil an quote scripture.
siestasis- as opposed to the liberal god -Karl Marx?
Gee Larry, maybe you should lay off the kool-aid just a little. Your bigotry is showing.
merli
the devil
satan
wrote the new testament
Tax the Rich now- even your blog name shows you are a marxist
Here is something everyone should know about Merle-986131.......
This incident (if true) has scarred Merle-986131's perception of his own manhood significantly. His thoughts, words, and actions are now driven by a sort of PTSD reaction developed to compensate for his realization that he is attractive (possibly vulnerable) to homosexuals.
He is best ignored. We can only hope he seeks professional counseling.
There is A God and he is conservative.
Of course he is. He hates the queers and other democrats. Republicans are the party that represents the best interests of TRUE Christians. Its time for America to hear some hard truths and take off the "rose colored" glasses. We need to rid the Republican party of the trashy "moderates" and roll back the clock on many liberal programs. Its time, boys. Get ready to go BACK into your filthy closets for good.
Merle, don't think you noticed this but the gay gopers are more active in politics than gay Liberals and Progressives.
Dick Cheney and the other hate-and-fear mongers can tell you about that.
The faggot Republicans are NOT part of the REAL Republican party. We will hand those perverts BACK to you Democrats after the next election. Who wants their filth in our party? None of the GOP presidential candidates (except for Romney).
A little homophobic aren't you, come on out of the closet, most homophobics are just closed gays afraid to face reality.
Merle:
Inflammatory. Flagged.
It is NOT inflammatory. That is what they are. I hate all this Politically Correct crap. People should be able to tell truths without some liberal whining about it all the time. If you don't like my opinion - don't read my posts. I have plenty of allies on here.
It's inflammatory. I say so.
Deal with it.
Edwardo...Sorry, Jesus was a bleeding heart liberal. Yeah for our side.
jc was a communist
give all your money and property to me
I will provide for u
became very wealthy and enabled him to bribe pontius pilate to do the sham crucifixion
These spineless GOP reps can't use the washroom without getting permission from their Master.
I thought that was the sycophants of the demonrat party: Reid, Pelosi, and Debbie wasserman shultz: the urine in the snow is Obama's and the handwriting is Nancy's.
You tell em, Edwardo. Time to shut down the faggot making Democrats and save our children.
What a pair of sociopaths you two are.
If the right-wing has any adults not masquerading as vaudeville clowns please send them out. The rest of the world is waiting to talk to one.
What? No such creature? That not...
Go back to post 88.1
Edwardo and Merle, again, Jesus was a bleeding heart liberal. Hurray for our side.
and
Poverty is a weapon of mass destruction.
Boner (Public Enemy # 1A) is STILL completely out of touch with reality.
So is his eviler twin brother, Mitch McConnell (Public Enemy # 1B), over in the Senate.
Buffoons, we can't fix the mess you and the other right-wing idiots have made out of this economy and this society over the last 42 years until you either get out of the way or help.
Why do so many right-wingers work so hard at making this country fail? History is replete with failed conservative societies. Most die off with nothing more than an impoverished whimper. Others - like Libya - melt into a bloodbath. So, which do you want, buffoonery?
Uncle Tom Cain
announced today
there is nothing
in his closet
he spends a lot of time there
so maybe he knows
where did he get those thin lips and small hands
like merli
his wife stays in shadows
Norquist is second only to Limbaugh in the power to get Republicans to bend over and grab their ankles for daddy!
Republicans are like cancer. The biggest difference being that cancer can actually go into remission.
Democrats are like AIDS - and most of em have it too.
Aw shucks merle, whatever.
You know its true.
Occupy Grover Norquist
Unlike you, Norquist is a great American.
The media just won't press Boehner or any of the Republicans on why they are blocking every single bill designed to create jobs and stimulate the economy.
It is this blatant conservative media bias that allows Republicans to get away with destroying the economy, then preventing anything that will help rejuvenate the economy.
This is pure BS !!!!!!!
Bohner is a 'Teabagger' via surrender to the 'Congressional 'Teagagger' Cacus' - He has no guts whatsoever!
THIS IS JUST PATHETIC!
You boys are just mad that the Tea Party hold the power in Washington and across this nation. I suggest you get used to it. We WILL take the Senate and the WH next year (as long as we don't nominate Romney).
Spoken like a true teabagger, 1% wannabee!
Its a fact, Johnnie boy. The tea party is here to stay and we will be influencing elections for decades to come. All you socialists, communists, queers and lesbians better get used to the new reality of living in a true CONSERVATIVE nation. That is what we have always been and always will be.
Conservativism is like a festering wound. Conservative church elders had Jesus put to death for his blasphemous liberal. socialist ways. How come conservatives hate conservation anyway? Hipocritical slimeballs!
You will get used to living in a true Conservative nation. We are going to turn this ship around.
Merle-986131 ........ On what planet is 'Teabagger Nation' being founded?
Last I checked, most of the poles and media front page, in the US, reflects something completely different different.
Merle-986131 - Me thinks your on a sinking ship!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Democrats should refuse to negotiate with Republicans unless their true leader, Grover Norquist, is present. They won't twitch unless Grover tells 'em it's OK.
Who is this person - Norquist; that he can strike fear in the very people responsible for conducting business for 330 million people? How did he become so powerful that people fear him? Is he so powerful that he can demand God to kill you or let you live? Where did he get all the power he has? Why doesn't the Republican party grow some balls and stand up to this little mouse of a man?
Norquist - pay close attention to Rupert Murdoch- he too was powerful and yet he is about to lose his media empire at the hands of his own family.
An individual like Norquist who can get elected politicians to sign potentially treasonous pledges on his behalf is a corrupt, anti-American maggot of a person.
To hell with taxing the rich. Throw their butts in jail for tanking the econmy of our country ... and the world!
Communist.
You said all the liberals have aids-- IF WE DOT IT FROM THE CONSERVATIVES THAT SCREWED US! There ya' go Merle, now you know where aids came from--YOU PEOPLE ! !
Merle:
Name calling. Insult. Personal Attack.
Inflammatory.
No value.
Flagged.
The Boner believes in Santa Claus too.