Tale of Two Speakers
Autocratic Speaker Commits Outrages - will anyone notice?
Here in Texas, the weakened Republican House majority (a bare one vote advantage) enabled a rebellion among some Republicans to topple Speaker Craddick. The "ABC" (anyone but Craddick) Republicans, who numbered 11 and included infamous RINOs (like Tommy Merritt) were able to find a candidate that they could rally around and the Democrats would accept, Rep Joe Straus. He's a relatively new Representative, which I suppose is why he seems to have fewer enemies than others. This left Craddick with no cards left to play. It also give us the irony that despite the nominal Republican majority, the speaker is now the choice of more Democrats than Republicans.
The Statesman did an editorial jab this week, kicking Craddick when he's down, accusing him of autocratic ways as the reason for his downfall. Funny, but I pretty much would expect that to go with the job description of "Speaker", as you have to bruise egos to get things done in politics. But when it comes to double-standards, liberals are the tops; the autocratic ways of LBJ, Texas House Speaker Pete Laney, or John Connally are probably revered by the same folks who bashed Craddick for whatever similar toe-stubbing of House members he engaged in.
That's not to say this won't be an improvement in the House, since intraparty fighting was not helping win elections or govern well, but it really leaves questions like: So who's in charge? Upcoming Speaker Rep Straus, while a 'stalwart' Republican with okay fiscal conservative ratings (71% from TFR, "A" from AFP Texas), has had Planned Parenthood support, business interests tied to gambling, and a weak voting record on social conservative issues. Rep Naishtat called him a "moderate Republican". Will he be a 'bipartisan' sellout that flips the House in a liberal direction on many issues? We will find out as the session unfolds, but the Democrats are thrilled with the change and the ones with the most trepidation are those in conservative circles.
Which gets me back to the other Speaker, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi. The Democrats have gotten an undeserved strengthening of their majority in Congress, and have now cemented their power with multiple outrages and abuses that - as usual - the media is ignoring. The House Democratic leadership have decided to Reverse the Gingrich-era 'fairness rules':
An autocratic House Speaker is committing outrages! Will we get a rebellion, or is the entire Democrat party in cahoots to bastardize democracy? Will the Statesman dare to tell the truth about Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic leadership burning down reforms on Capitol Hill? Dare I ask? The insult added to injury here is the deafening silence on the part of the media to daily outrages of corruption, malfeasance and incompetence by the Democrat majority in Washington. Senators selected by soon-to-be-indicted Governors and a House that is ramrodding repeals of ethics reforms - welcome to Obama's America.
Here in Texas, the weakened Republican House majority (a bare one vote advantage) enabled a rebellion among some Republicans to topple Speaker Craddick. The "ABC" (anyone but Craddick) Republicans, who numbered 11 and included infamous RINOs (like Tommy Merritt) were able to find a candidate that they could rally around and the Democrats would accept, Rep Joe Straus. He's a relatively new Representative, which I suppose is why he seems to have fewer enemies than others. This left Craddick with no cards left to play. It also give us the irony that despite the nominal Republican majority, the speaker is now the choice of more Democrats than Republicans.
The Statesman did an editorial jab this week, kicking Craddick when he's down, accusing him of autocratic ways as the reason for his downfall. Funny, but I pretty much would expect that to go with the job description of "Speaker", as you have to bruise egos to get things done in politics. But when it comes to double-standards, liberals are the tops; the autocratic ways of LBJ, Texas House Speaker Pete Laney, or John Connally are probably revered by the same folks who bashed Craddick for whatever similar toe-stubbing of House members he engaged in.
That's not to say this won't be an improvement in the House, since intraparty fighting was not helping win elections or govern well, but it really leaves questions like: So who's in charge? Upcoming Speaker Rep Straus, while a 'stalwart' Republican with okay fiscal conservative ratings (71% from TFR, "A" from AFP Texas), has had Planned Parenthood support, business interests tied to gambling, and a weak voting record on social conservative issues. Rep Naishtat called him a "moderate Republican". Will he be a 'bipartisan' sellout that flips the House in a liberal direction on many issues? We will find out as the session unfolds, but the Democrats are thrilled with the change and the ones with the most trepidation are those in conservative circles.
Which gets me back to the other Speaker, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi. The Democrats have gotten an undeserved strengthening of their majority in Congress, and have now cemented their power with multiple outrages and abuses that - as usual - the media is ignoring. The House Democratic leadership have decided to Reverse the Gingrich-era 'fairness rules':
Pelosi’s rule changes -- which may be voted on today -- will reverse the fairness rules that were written around Newt Gingrich’s “Contract with America.”
In reaction, the House Republican leadership is sending a letter today to Pelosi to object to changes to House Rules this week that would bar Republicans from offering alternative bills, amendments to Democrat bills or even the guarantee of open debate accessible by motions to recommit for any piece of legislation during the entire 111th Congress. These procedural abuses, as outlined in the below letter obtained by HUMAN EVENTS, would also include the repeal of six-year limit for committee chairmen and other House Rules reform measures enacted in 1995 as part of the Contract with America."
... Pelosi’s proposed repeal of decades-long House accountability reforms exposes a tyrannical Democrat leadership poised to assemble legislation in secret, then goose-step it through Congress by the elimination of debate and amendment procedures as part of America’s governing legislative process.
An autocratic House Speaker is committing outrages! Will we get a rebellion, or is the entire Democrat party in cahoots to bastardize democracy? Will the Statesman dare to tell the truth about Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic leadership burning down reforms on Capitol Hill? Dare I ask? The insult added to injury here is the deafening silence on the part of the media to daily outrages of corruption, malfeasance and incompetence by the Democrat majority in Washington. Senators selected by soon-to-be-indicted Governors and a House that is ramrodding repeals of ethics reforms - welcome to Obama's America.
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