Norquist: GOP is going to run against the stimulus for another five years.
By on Feb 13th, 2009 at 9:50 am
Norquist: GOP is going to run against the stimulus for another five years.
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R), who broke with his party to publicly endorse President Obama’s recovery package this week, is under attack from conservatives. Conservative icon Grover Norquist admonished Crist for supporting the stimulus, saying that Crist shouldn’t oppose a bill that the GOP will be using as a political tool for years to come:
Grover Norquist, the influential conservative leader of Americans for Tax Reform, said Crist should have been wary about embracing an 800-page bill he probably had not read and stands to be loaded with unpopular spending provisions that will surface over coming weeks and months.
“This is the bill that the Republican Party will be running against in 2010 and 2012 and 2014,” Norquist predicted.
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Alternative headline: “Norquist concedes Republicans will lose next three election cycles.”
February 13th, 2009 at 9:51 amObama really tried to reach out to the Republicans. It appears, that they don’t put their country first, they put their power first. I keep telling you that Republicans don’t care about America, they care about themselves.
February 13th, 2009 at 9:53 amIs Norquist an elected official, like Crist? No.
So, who does he represent? Himself.
OK, that explains it.
February 13th, 2009 at 9:55 am“This is the bill that the Republican Party will be running against in 2010 and 2012 and 2014,” Norquist predicted.
And yet I’ll bet that this Flat Tax lovin’ shithead also hasn’t read the 800 page bill that they plan on running against. This clown’s sole obsession is more corporate tax breaks. We’ve seen how this theory has ruined our economy but they don’t give a shit. Their position is to fight Obama and Democratic legislation tooth and nail no matter what the issue or it’s relevancy to helping out the American populace. The fall of our Nation is what the modern Republican Party is relying on. The very same group of thugs that called anyone who spoke up against Bush’s crimes and failed policies as traitors. And they actualy think that this is a sound strategy???? Good luck with that Grover.
February 13th, 2009 at 9:57 amlarkohio, I think we Ohioans got this covered – and we should know. We’ve got our history with Taft, Blackwell, Noe, Ney, Boehner which has informed us.
February 13th, 2009 at 9:58 amI keep telling you that Republicans don’t care about America, they care about themselves.
See John Cornyn for reference.
February 13th, 2009 at 9:58 amHow guys like this become an “influential conservative leader” is beyond me. Is it because they can string together a few sentences coherently? Doesn’t it matter that the guy is pretty much a whackjob with a single mantra “taxes are bad, taxes are bad, taxes are bad….”
February 13th, 2009 at 9:59 amWhere’s backup to tell us that Republicans are just operating out of principled opposition?
February 13th, 2009 at 10:03 amHow about running on the Repugnicant record? This from the BBC
The US military has failed to keep track of thousands of weapons shipped to Afghanistan, leaving them vulnerable to being lost or stolen, a report says.
The report says:
US military officials failed to keep proper records on about 87,000 rifles, pistols, mortars and other weapons sent to Afghanistan between December 2004 and June 2008 – about a third of all the weapons sent.
There was a similar lack of management of a further 135,000 light weapons donated to Afghan forces via the US military by 21 countries.
The military failed even to record the serial numbers of some 46,000 weapons, making it impossible to confirm receipt of weapons or identify any which had fallen into the hands of militants.
The serial numbers of 41,000 weapons were recorded, but US military officials still had no idea where they were.
Run on that Grover!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7885533.stm
February 13th, 2009 at 10:04 amWell, it is clear that the Republicans are betting that we can’t make things better. Let’s get busy and show the country that we can. That, more than anything, would be the death knell for the Republican party.
February 13th, 2009 at 10:04 ampaleolib Says:
February 13th, 2009 at 10:04 amAlternative headline: “Norquist concedes Republicans will lose next three election cycles.”
There is much more truthinness than poetry in this
Power and glory
February 13th, 2009 at 10:04 amSelf centered without conscience:
Democracy dies
Gummitch: I think their Dear Leader Limpnuts hasn’t yet downloaded today’s reich wing talking points into backup’s 3KB microchip yet, so he’s got nothin’ right now…
February 13th, 2009 at 10:05 am“This is the bill that the Republican Party will be running against in 2010 and 2012 and 2014,” Norquist predicted.
And if the bill works, you’ll be running against success? That’s nothing new… SOP for the GOP.
February 13th, 2009 at 10:06 amNorquisling and his ilk have been advocating using the US Treasury like a stolen credit card all these years, despite whining about “fiscal responsibility” as they did it.
What they truly don’t understand is governing at any level, particularly at state and local levels. The governors and mayors know they have to come through for their constituents, or they and their party will pay for it. Crist has to get help for Florida, and the Negacons can’t help him get it. So he supports those who CAN help.
Let ‘em run on the Stimulus Bill. We can run on the reason for it for the next two generations.
February 13th, 2009 at 10:06 amGrooper has not been right about a single issue in the last, uhm, well, forever. Why would he be right about this?
These wingnuts think it is still 1982.
February 13th, 2009 at 10:07 amSince Norquist predicted a big win for McCain and that the repukes would hold onto the Senate, I’m putting his predictions into the same sinking boat as those of KKKarl Rove…
I only HOPE that the repukes run against the stimulus for the next three election cycles — that should finish them off once and for all…
February 13th, 2009 at 10:07 am“An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an invasion of ideas.” -Victor Hugo
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” -Leo Tolstoy
“Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity.” -Horace Mann
February 13th, 2009 at 10:08 amPssst, Grover, Obama has just drilled some holes in your bathtub. Heh, heh.
February 13th, 2009 at 10:08 amPatrioticLiberalChristian, I so agree with you about Ohio, but please add my congressperson to your list, Mike Turner, and throw in Steve Austria (FDR caused the Depression), too! I wrote to Turner, Voinovich, and Brown to urge them to pass the Stimulus bill. I recieved one reply, from Sherrod Brown. I know you are not surprised.
February 13th, 2009 at 10:11 amWhat? The GOP won’t be running against gay marriage, immigration, ‘Darwinism’ or on ‘The War on Christmas’?
How are they going to ‘fire-up their base?
Say, who’s in charge here anyway; Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin or Grover Norquist?
February 13th, 2009 at 10:12 amBurningFeet Says: These wingnuts think it is still 1982.
Maybe 1782 when they were still burning “witches” for fun.
February 13th, 2009 at 10:12 am“This is the bill that the Republican Party will be running against in 2010 and 2012 and 2014,” Norquist predicted.
____________________________________________________________
But what if the stimulus works? What if it continues to be supported by the American people? What will the GOP do then?
Oh, silly me. The Republicans will just spin a yarn about how the stimulus really ISN’T working, and blame every ill they can think of on it — up to and including Fidel Castro’s takeover of Cuba in 1959, the Sputnik launch, and the Jonestown massacre.
They’re not going to allow a little thing like reality stop them.
February 13th, 2009 at 10:13 amOf course the GOP Confederacy will be running against something. They don’t have a single idea that’s worth running for…
http://jackrabbitcafe.blogspot.com/2009/02/from-john-nichols-in-nation.html
February 13th, 2009 at 10:15 amDo you know what is funny??? I always seem to think of the Republicans when I’m taking a shite. Is that coincidence or what????? Hmmmm.
February 13th, 2009 at 10:16 amsaying that Crist shouldn’t oppose a bill that the GOP will be using as a political tool for years to come:
um… doesn’t norquist think crist SHOULD oppose the bill?
February 13th, 2009 at 10:17 amI repeat a prediction I made yesterday (maybe not here, though): in two years, it will be hard to find a Republican who admitted to voting against this bill. But this is a welcome announcement from Norquist. He’s been so right and successful for the past two elections. I fervently hope Republicans follow his prescription to the letter.
February 13th, 2009 at 10:18 amThe Republicans really are the new Bolsheviks. For them the Party is America, period.
February 13th, 2009 at 10:22 amAnother non-elected official who rules the GOP.
I can’t wait for this battle: the GOP will run against a bill that will (by 2010) have built new bridges, roads, buildings, schools … Good luck, Grover … Your days of winning the battle against ZERO gov’t are OVER!
February 13th, 2009 at 10:24 amSorry, I should have said battle FOR zero gov’t are over!
February 13th, 2009 at 10:25 amGood. The GOP ran against the New Deal, and sat in the minority until the Civil Rights Acts which flipped the South.
Two lessons therefore – The Obama stimulus should be big and proud. And to Norquist’s threats – Bring. It. On.
February 13th, 2009 at 10:26 amNorquist has been wrong on so many issues, and he will be wrong on this one as well.
February 13th, 2009 at 10:29 amTypical!
February 13th, 2009 at 10:42 amThis mess was created by the GOP and all its minions They are the ones who destroyed this country’s ecomony!!
So NOW, they are setting arbitary and unreasonable “deadlines” for recovery from their mess.
I don’t think so !!!! This Stim Bill was needed to clean up the GOP crap. The consequences of GOP rule will linger for decades.
Let the Democrats run on that for decades!!!
That darned Charlie Crist! Supporting a package that will actually help the residents of Florida! What was he thinking??!!
The absolute hypocricy and repulsiveness of the republican party is astounding.
February 13th, 2009 at 10:43 amI think we’re going to see an increasing trickle of “heretics” in the GOP, especially at the state level. They all lined up like good little soldiers to demonstrate how tough they are, but every one of them has to face re-election at some point, and conditions at home are not in their favor, especially if they are visibly blocking attempts to get help for their constituents.
Grover, of course, doesn’t have to seek re-election, just a paycheck from some “think tank” and will continue to spot dumb and self-destructive crap like this forever.
February 13th, 2009 at 10:56 amAmericans have figured out the Repubs. Lock step, no creativity unless it is how to get more money to the super rich and financially drive America and Americans into the ground and then claim it’s how the founders planned to have American look. What crap!
February 13th, 2009 at 11:02 amThe Republicans are going to do everything they possibly can to ensure that the Recovery Plan fails. They fight dirty. Just look at what they did with the DOJ. They’re taking a collect s**t at the thought of the consensus bureau moving to the White House. Tom Delay’s dirty little redistricting, Dan Siegalman jailed, (Rove) are just two examples. And what is up with Judd Gregg!? What, He didn’t know the Recovery Plan existed?????? And now he’s planning to retire. I’m telling you, these guys are up to no good. They will stop at nothing to regain power……They will use the MSM to their advantage, more so than ever….and they’re good little lap dogs.
February 13th, 2009 at 11:09 amI didn’t vote for Crist. However, he knows that Florida needs this money and he would have no chance at a second term if he voted against it.
I don’t keep up on state politics as well as I should, but it doesn’t appear that Crist has been bad for Florida with the exception of his thinking that Floridians would allow off shore drilling in their back yards. (To many water front millionaires down here.)
February 13th, 2009 at 11:19 amYou know what’s really weird here?
A pretty big chunk of the dollar value of the stimulus bill is made up of tax cuts.
The sort of thing the GOOPers are always pushing for more of, no matter what.
Didn’t McCain run on that… making Botch’s tax cuts permanent?
So, let me get this straight… if the GOOPers were in power, like they were from 2000 to 2008, we’d have been looking at even bigger tax cuts, which would result in even bigger deficits… BUT… this stimulus bill is EVIL, EVIL, EVIL… even though the tax cuts therein are something the GOOP was cumming in its collective pants to get to, and even more so…
Just… amazing…
Why is Grover Norquist NOT IN PRISON??
February 13th, 2009 at 11:28 amTROS, I don’t think the GOP likes the tax cuts in this bill because it doesn’t go to the people on the “right” side of town.
February 13th, 2009 at 11:34 amThose in the GOP, whose hell-bent stance on being the Party of “NO”, will find its return karma in 2010 and 2012 when the American public will also vote No!
February 13th, 2009 at 11:47 amThe National Endowment for the Arts IS Stimulative!
I just heard Representative David Dreier, Republican of California and Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee, say that the $50 Million in the Stimulus Bill allotted to the National Endowment for the Arts was “not stimulative.”
I have to take issue here, and, as an example, I will point to my little village of Shepherdstown, West Virginia (at the last census with a population of 800). We’re about an hour and a half from Washington DC or an hour from Baltimore, and our local Shepherd University is the home of a wonderful arts event, The Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF) which will enter its nineteenth season this year.
In 2006, the National Endowment for the Arts awarded CATF with a $17,000 grant “to support the creation, development, and production of Jazzland, by Keith Glover. The play tells the story of a gifted musician involved in an accident who strives to regain his skills and memory. The development phase will include staged readings, workshops, and panel discussions with local scholars, journalists, and artists.”
So what did this mean for our local economy?
First, the grant had to be matched, so the Director, Board and staff of the CATF had to go out and bring back at least another $17,000 to be spent with the NEA grant. Most of that came from outside our town. That means the original NEA donation was now doubled to $34,000.
Then there was the way the money was used. It paid for a portion of the costs of the 2006 Festival… that means salaries for actors, technicians, designers, administrators, box office personnel. It meant paid advertising in local papers and on local radio (which was spent again in the community by those institutions.) It meant hotel rooms rented during rehearsals and production for playwright, actors who had come in from New York, Baltimore, DC and other cities.
The production attracts program advertising for the local, tourist oriented stores and restaurants on our 2-block downtown area: German Street. Because of those ads, cast, crews, administrators, audiences, visiting press and others spend even more money here in Shepherdstown… money that would not be spent here if CATF were not funded.
Because of CATF, students are drawn to Shepherd University, which houses the Festival and whose staff provides faculty support in the academic season. This brings even more money in the form of tuitions, book expenditures and related items into the town… money that woud not be there if the CATF were not funded.
So you see, the NEA makes a very stimulative difference here.
It has been shown by wiser economists than me that the average return of funds put into a program by the NEA is approximately 8 to 1. Which means that original $17,000 grant in 2006 really equaled $136,000.00. WOW! I get stimulated just thinking about it.
So when Representative Dreier says that $50 Million for the NEA, whose function is to give out grants for operations of arts organizations and artists all over the country, is “not stimulative,” then I’m probably listening to a guy who never looked at the hard reality of the benefit of the arts.
I am glad, then, that there are enough Democrats in the House to approve the compromise bill. And I hope Representative Dreier can realize his error in the near future.
Under The LobsterScope
February 13th, 2009 at 11:53 amThe current economic situation is a wet dream for Grover Norquisling. Finally, the beast can be starved with enough republicans willing to wage war with Obama for the next 4 years. The depression destroys what’s left of the middle class, providing lots of compliant laborers to work for the have-mores – Grover’s best buddies.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:16 pm“This is the bill that the Republican Party will be running against in 2010 and 2012 and 2014,” Norquist predicted.
We get it, repubs. Get out the rich vote. Reignite another round against the middle class. We get the point. It makes ours easier to understand: repubs know they lack consistency (refusal to account for Wall Street bailout) but don’t care.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:26 pmI was once a proud Republican. However, Republicanism under George W. Bush and the current House and Senate Republicans have convinced me to change sides. I just registered a Democrat and plan to be one for the rest of my life. I cannot believe that every single Republican is in lock step because they believe they are right on the Stimulus. I believe that they are merely marching in lock step with their leadership. I call that cowardly. The fact that some Republicans in the House and Senate have already said that they plan to accept the money for their States, even though they refuse to vote for the bill is the height of hypocrisy. Shame on you Republicans.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:26 pmThe same pack who mercilessly went after Clinton and staunchly defends Bush to no end still won’t come to terms that they are dealing with a president with vast political capital, youth, political savvy, and a record of being in touch with everyday Americans.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:32 pmPatrioticLiberalChristian Says:
TROS, I don’t think the GOP likes the tax cuts in this bill because it doesn’t go to the people on the “right” side of town.
__________
You might be right about that. I’m just amazed at the endless disconnect the GOOP has turned into these days.
Like watching weasels in heat…
February 13th, 2009 at 12:38 pmdzinn1264
Kudos for switching over! I feel bad for the sane republicans in everyday America frustrated with the deep-fried-south leadership of McConnell-Boehner and want them to step aside, but won’t. There are people who hold dear conservative principles but hate the presentation and tactics of the modern GOP.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:39 pmCan anyone tell me why Norquist isn’t in jail for the stuff he collaborated on with Jack Abramoff and Ralph Reed? The Choctaw tribe in Alabama funneled up to $300,000 through Norquist’s oganization, Americans for Tax Reform, to Ralph Reed even though this lobbying money that Abramoff and Reed were shaking the tribe down for had nothing to do with Norquist’s anti-tax organization. Norquist paid himself a $25,000 “management fee”.
Even though this is common knowledge and even though Abramoff reportedly cooperated fully with prosecutors and continues to work with them and provide information that should lead to more prosecutions, prosecutions have ground to a halt including what seems to be an easy case against Norquist. Does anyone know what happened here?
February 13th, 2009 at 12:47 pm…that is possibly my favorite thing ever written, by anyone, ever. Sorry Oscar Wilde.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:19 pmMeaning that the American public will be running against the GOP for the next 5 years. Sounds good to me.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:20 pmIn other words they’re going to do the best they can to screw the country for at least six more years?
February 13th, 2009 at 1:22 pm“This is the bill that the Republican Party will be running against in 2010 and 2012 and 2014,” Norquist predicted.
1. When was the last time the Rethugs ran FOR anything that benefited the general populace?
February 13th, 2009 at 2:06 pm2. They don’t have to wait for 2010; they’re ALREADY doing everything in their pompous power to “run against” aid to anyone except rethug fat cats and/or NON-athletic supporters.
3. It IS refreshing to hear a rushrovian regurgitating cheneywipe ADMIT that the next rethug campaign will be an attack rather than an actual campaign founded on actual principles. [n.b. "actual priniciples" refers to an ethos that benefits more taxpayers than the top 1% and that offers Constitutionally-based ideas and platforms.]
The Republic of Stupidity Says:
Why is Grover Norquist NOT IN PRISON??
Imagine Norquisling, Dickless, Squush, Raving, Conthemosta, Gonzo, and 20 or 30 henchpersons in Gitmo. . . or at the Hague. . . a daisy chain. . . a circle jerk. . . a ship of fools. . . the lowest ring of Dante’s Hell. . . “wouldn’t it be loverly?”
February 13th, 2009 at 2:12 pmUnfortunately for us, this probably means Crist is safe for another term. But for a Republican governor, he’s really not so bad — he could be Mark Sanford.
February 13th, 2009 at 3:13 pmGive him a break. You’d be F’ed up too if you had to grow up with a name like that his
February 13th, 2009 at 3:16 pmthat or his but not both
February 13th, 2009 at 3:18 pmGrover needs to lose some weight so he’ll fit in a bathtub where he can drown.
February 13th, 2009 at 4:04 pmWhy is this criminal not ni jail??
February 13th, 2009 at 4:18 pmFuture Nov., 2010 headline: “Realizing how wrong he was, Grover Norquist drowns himself in his bathtub.”
February 13th, 2009 at 4:47 pmDidn’t he shake down Abramof for a cut of the bribe money? Why isn’t he in jail yet?
February 13th, 2009 at 5:06 pmWrong Grover: This bill is the undoing of all the crap that Reaganomics and deregulation have done to the economy over the past thirty years. You are a small part of the problem, you assclown.
February 13th, 2009 at 5:25 pmWill Grover No-brains’ ego ever shrink to the point that it can be drowned in a bathtub?
February 13th, 2009 at 6:15 pm#18 – Thanks DNFP. Nice qoutes.
February 13th, 2009 at 10:27 pmWhy does Grover Norquist keep chanting “Death to America” over and over again?
February 14th, 2009 at 3:03 amThe only reason Grover Norquist is treated as important is because Grover Norquist says he’s important. His “always cut taxes” mantra is one of the reasons we’re in this economic mess. At a time like this, he is the last person anyone should be listening to.
I wonder what his salary is at that anti-tax group he runs? I wonder how much he pays in taxes each year?
February 14th, 2009 at 7:46 am