Author Topic: What should a GOP-controlled Congress do, starting from swear-in?  (Read 48675 times)

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Offline GOP Congress

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As many of you know, I am positive that the Republican Party will take over both houses of Congress, and if my calculations are correct, by a significant margin in each. I'm going to go on the assumption that not only will the Congress have republicans in the majority, but that the direction in each house will be directed by the more conservative than moderate branch.

So I'm not going to argue differences with regard to internal GOP issues in both houses. While such differences will indeed be present, I have belief that the significant conservative shift in both houses will dictate the agenda, despite all the politicking that the dems will try to woo on the most liberal of the GOP office holders.

So while the soccer weenies on the left try to get the media to promote those GOP yahoos, the real elements of the GOP will have to start governing. And that is the purpose of this thread: What actions should a Congress with a definite conservative tilt enact?

Obviously, much of our anger will carry over from the election to that of vindictive action, such as setting up investigatory committees to determine the extent of criminal activity in both the legislative and executive branches of government. These committees are valid, to a point. We need to ensure that the committees are used PRIMARILY for exposing the actual problems, and coming up with solutions to actually implement their fixes, or at least establish a course of governance that actually addresses the fixes in a rational, production-based manner. The SECONDARY issue, actual sanctions (including impeachment charges), should remain secondary to the more pertinent immediacy of fixing the problem in the first place.

So, where do we start? Imagine Jim DeMint as Majority leader, and John Boehner as the Speaker, FOR NOW. This may change, and actually infers a bias on my part based upon both reasonable outcome results and personal preference, but the purpose of this thread is more of a business plan to incorporate the return of the second branch of government to it's Constitutional mission.

These are the main things I'd like to see Congress move on, not in any particular order as they are all vitally important:

1. Real economic change, starting with lowering tax rates, but coming up with a valid plan that Obama cannot veto.
2. Real corruption reform, starting with following the money on the "stimulus" packages
3. Traditional energy industry affirmation and support, in particular the oil and coal industries. "DRILL BABY DRILL" should continue to be our mantra, as most conservatives p
4. A commitment to defining the exit strategy in Afghanistan and Iraq that can only be triggered by winning
5. A commitment to ensuring that the Internet remains open to capitalist investment, to ensure the free dissemination of media and, in fact, offer "TRUE 'Net Neutrality'", and NOT the socialist version pushed by both the current Administration and large search engine companies (Google) and infrastructure giants

Of course, the entire mission depends on being able to avoid being distracted by Democrats who will now be politicking for their very lives. In 1995 Clinton and the Democratic minority, aided and abetted by the then-Internet-less mainstream media, was able to derail the conservative elements of the congressional agenda. That can NOT HAPPEN this time around, and I am of the opinion it will not.

OK, start hammering away. I will work on some of the specifics on specific action items, but I'd like to look forward.


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Offline rich_t

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Re: What should a GOP-controlled Congress do, starting from swear-in?
« Reply #1 on: June 22, 2010, 03:32:53 PM »
1.  Cut federal spending across the board with the possible exception of the military.

2.  Lower taxes across the board.  Completely eliminate the death tax.

3.  Secure our geograpical borders.

4.  Enforce the existing laws concerning illegals found in this country and those that are hiring illegals.

5.  Rescind as much of the new healthcare reform as possible.

6.  Drastically reduce foriegn aide.



"The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of 'liberalism,' they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened." --Norman Thomas, 1944

Offline Happy Fun Ball

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Re: What should a GOP-controlled Congress do, starting from swear-in?
« Reply #2 on: June 22, 2010, 03:50:52 PM »
7. Open up as much for oil exploration as possible, and allow refineries and reactors to be built.

8. Drastically reduce the amount of regulations imposed on businesses.

9. Drastically reduce corporate taxes.

10. STOP SPENDING SO MUCH OF OUR MONEY!

Offline njpines

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Re: What should a GOP-controlled Congress do, starting from swear-in?
« Reply #3 on: June 22, 2010, 04:35:18 PM »
BANtheDNC!  :-)
Piney Power!!

Grow your own dope -- plant a Democrat!

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Offline bkg

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Re: What should a GOP-controlled Congress do, starting from swear-in?
« Reply #4 on: June 22, 2010, 04:40:59 PM »
I thought it was nothing more than a PR move when McCain said "freeze spending."

And even now, a freeze would still destroy the nation. Hard decisions need to be made, and the hardest one will be laying off 60% of the gov't employees while simultaniously cutting entitlments down to 1/4 of what they are today... I don't know that there is any way around these two items if we want the economy to survive.

Offline rich_t

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Re: What should a GOP-controlled Congress do, starting from swear-in?
« Reply #5 on: June 22, 2010, 05:03:15 PM »
I thought it was nothing more than a PR move when McCain said "freeze spending."

And even now, a freeze would still destroy the nation. Hard decisions need to be made, and the hardest one will be laying off 60% of the gov't employees while simultaniously cutting entitlments down to 1/4 of what they are today... I don't know that there is any way around these two items if we want the economy to survive.

I suspect he meant freeze additions to spending, not existing spending.

Yes, we need to get rid of at least 50% of the current federal civilian work force.  It will be painful, but it needs to be done.  We aren't going to get out of our current mess without a lot of pain.  Pain that most folks are unwilling to endure.  So...  Nothing much will change until the country goes bankrupt and then the REAL pain will be felt by all.
"The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of 'liberalism,' they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened." --Norman Thomas, 1944

Offline DumbAss Tanker

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Re: What should a GOP-controlled Congress do, starting from swear-in?
« Reply #6 on: June 22, 2010, 05:03:44 PM »
#1 - Keep their own hubris in check.  If they win big, it WON'T be because America wants a different bunch of special interests taken care of, it'll be because we've have e-f*cking-nuff of Big Government.

#2 - Rein in the runaway entitlement spending, and give States the tools to deal with their own unions and other issues without the DOJ and DOL shooting them in the back.

#3 - Cut the damned pork, including the GOP pork.

#4 - Get the frickin' border under positive control, THEN we can talk about fair and just ways to handle people and families already here.

Most of my other top ten would require a GOP President with actual balls, or a veto-proof majority in both Houses.
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Offline NHSparky

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Re: What should a GOP-controlled Congress do, starting from swear-in?
« Reply #7 on: June 22, 2010, 05:17:29 PM »
I thought it was nothing more than a PR move when McCain said "freeze spending."

And even now, a freeze would still destroy the nation. Hard decisions need to be made, and the hardest one will be laying off 60% of the gov't employees while simultaniously cutting entitlments down to 1/4 of what they are today... I don't know that there is any way around these two items if we want the economy to survive.

Edit: emphasis mine.

And you wonder why I don't take you seriously.

BTW--the ignore feature works both ways.  You don't like what I have to say?  Hey, free country, man.
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Offline JohnnyReb

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Re: What should a GOP-controlled Congress do, starting from swear-in?
« Reply #8 on: June 22, 2010, 05:36:47 PM »
Shoot everybody that ain't brand new to the house and senate.... :-)

Hey, it only takes one rotten apple to ruin the whole barrel....and they're a lot of rotten apples in Washington. :-)
“The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of ‘liberalism’, they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened.” - Norman Thomas, U.S. Socialist Party presidential candidate 1940, 1944 and 1948

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Offline rich_t

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Re: What should a GOP-controlled Congress do, starting from swear-in?
« Reply #9 on: June 22, 2010, 05:43:51 PM »
Edit: emphasis mine.

And you wonder why I don't take you seriously.

BTW--the ignore feature works both ways.  You don't like what I have to say?  Hey, free country, man.

I notice you didn't mention why you disagree with his opinion.  What are your prospective solutions?

Or are you merely content to merely attack those that you don't like?  I thought you were better than that.

Are you now going to attack me for agreeing with a lot of BKGs points?  Or accuse me of being a drama queen?  We all see things from a different POV Sparky.  I strongly suspect that BKG made a lot of enemies here over his "Why should I vote for the GOP" thread. I suspect that a lot of folks took it as a personal insult to themselves instead of the noticing that he was talking about the GOP leadership.

But that is my own personal perspective and I know that others will have their own.
"The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of 'liberalism,' they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened." --Norman Thomas, 1944

Offline Hawkgirl

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Re: What should a GOP-controlled Congress do, starting from swear-in?
« Reply #10 on: June 22, 2010, 06:11:38 PM »
1.   Defund the healthcare bill
2.   Reverse the higher capital gains tax
3.   Extend Bush's tax cuts
4.   Enforce the federal law on immigration
5.   Build the damn fence.
6.   Push through the Fair Tax
7.   Eliminate pork spending
8.   Push back unemployment benefits to 6 months.
9.   Lower corporate tax (so they don't send jobs oversees)
10. Find a way to fire all the czars


Offline NHSparky

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Re: What should a GOP-controlled Congress do, starting from swear-in?
« Reply #11 on: June 22, 2010, 06:21:54 PM »
I notice you didn't mention why you disagree with his opinion.  What are your prospective solutions?

Or are you merely content to merely attack those that you don't like?  I thought you were better than that.

Are you now going to attack me for agreeing with a lot of BKGs points?  Or accuse me of being a drama queen?  We all see things from a different POV Sparky.  I strongly suspect that BKG made a lot of enemies here over his "Why should I vote for the GOP" thread. I suspect that a lot of folks took it as a personal insult to themselves instead of the noticing that he was talking about the GOP leadership.

But that is my own personal perspective and I know that others will have their own.

Yeah, let's cut all those SSI, military retiree, et al, benefits to 1/4 what they are today, what the ****, right?

Are you SERIOUSLY agreeing with that statement?
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Offline NHSparky

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Re: What should a GOP-controlled Congress do, starting from swear-in?
« Reply #12 on: June 22, 2010, 06:23:17 PM »
#1 - Keep their own hubris in check.  If they win big, it WON'T be because America wants a different bunch of special interests taken care of, it'll be because we've have e-f*cking-nuff of Big Government.

#2 - Rein in the runaway entitlement spending, and give States the tools to deal with their own unions and other issues without the DOJ and DOL shooting them in the back.

#3 - Cut the damned pork, including the GOP pork.

#4 - Get the frickin' border under positive control, THEN we can talk about fair and just ways to handle people and families already here.

Most of my other top ten would require a GOP President with actual balls, or a veto-proof majority in both Houses.

See, boys and girls?  THAT is what is called, "being realistic."

Oh, but I would have added start finding ways to reverse Obamacare.
“Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian.”  -Henry Ford

Offline formerlurker

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Re: What should a GOP-controlled Congress do, starting from swear-in?
« Reply #13 on: June 22, 2010, 06:33:37 PM »
#1 - Keep their own hubris in check.  If they win big, it WON'T be because America wants a different bunch of special interests taken care of, it'll be because we've have e-f*cking-nuff of Big Government.

#2 - Rein in the runaway entitlement spending, and give States the tools to deal with their own unions and other issues without the DOJ and DOL shooting them in the back.

#3 - Cut the damned pork, including the GOP pork.

#4 - Get the frickin' border under positive control, THEN we can talk about fair and just ways to handle people and families already here.

Most of my other top ten would require a GOP President with actual balls, or a veto-proof majority in both Houses.

This is a great list -- especially the highlighted section. 

Offline rich_t

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Re: What should a GOP-controlled Congress do, starting from swear-in?
« Reply #14 on: June 22, 2010, 06:47:19 PM »
Yeah, let's cut all those SSI, military retiree, et al, benefits to 1/4 what they are today, what the ****, right?

Are you SERIOUSLY agreeing with that statement?

I didn't view his post that way as he didn't actually post that.

But you did.

See my point about differing perspectives?

BTW...  If it were up to me, SSI would be phased out over the next 20 years.

"The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of 'liberalism,' they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened." --Norman Thomas, 1944

Offline rich_t

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Re: What should a GOP-controlled Congress do, starting from swear-in?
« Reply #15 on: June 22, 2010, 06:50:31 PM »
Yeah, let's cut all those SSI, military retiree, et al, benefits to 1/4 what they are today, what the ****, right?

Are you SERIOUSLY agreeing with that statement?

BTW...

You never did mention your own ideas.  You obviously don't like some of the ideas mentioend here.

Why is that?

Man the **** up and put your own ideas out there.  Are you afraid that folks won't like them?
"The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of 'liberalism,' they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened." --Norman Thomas, 1944

Offline formerlurker

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Re: What should a GOP-controlled Congress do, starting from swear-in?
« Reply #16 on: June 22, 2010, 06:51:06 PM »
BTW...  If it were up to me, SSI would be phased out over the next 20 years.

SSI covers severely disabled (physically and cognitively) adults.   I have no issue with providing for the most vulnerable of our population.  

Offline Hawkgirl

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Re: What should a GOP-controlled Congress do, starting from swear-in?
« Reply #17 on: June 22, 2010, 06:51:37 PM »
Medicaid should also be phased out.  Only the truly disabled should receive them.

Offline formerlurker

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Re: What should a GOP-controlled Congress do, starting from swear-in?
« Reply #18 on: June 22, 2010, 06:52:38 PM »
Medicaid should also be phased out.  Only the truly disabled should receive them.

I agree with you there.  Medicaid has become a lifestyle for generations of people. 

Offline Hawkgirl

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Re: What should a GOP-controlled Congress do, starting from swear-in?
« Reply #19 on: June 22, 2010, 06:55:46 PM »
I agree with you there.  Medicaid has become a lifestyle for generations of people. 

Indeed it has.

Isn't Medicare also on the verge of bankruptcy?  Government run programs just do not work.  They are grossly mismanaged, and the taxpayers are picking up the tab.   

Offline NHSparky

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Re: What should a GOP-controlled Congress do, starting from swear-in?
« Reply #20 on: June 22, 2010, 06:56:45 PM »
I didn't view his post that way as he didn't actually post that.

But you did.

See my point about differing perspectives?

BTW...  If it were up to me, SSI would be phased out over the next 20 years.



Oh, really?  Here, let me post it again for you, just so there's no confusion...

I thought it was nothing more than a PR move when McCain said "freeze spending."

And even now, a freeze would still destroy the nation. Hard decisions need to be made, and the hardest one will be laying off 60% of the gov't employees while simultaniously cutting entitlments down to 1/4 of what they are today... I don't know that there is any way around these two items if we want the economy to survive.

So not only are you being obtuse, obviously you can't read, either.

Great--get rid of SSI.  How, pray tell?  How do you propose giving back to those folks who have paid in 20, 30, 40 years or more?

See, this is where I get upset with the Ronulans, the 100-percenters, and those who don't think past the initial, "Screw 'em all!" mentality.  You want anarchy and chaos?  Go right ahead.  I'll agree we can't sustain the spending and entitlements as they are now, but neither can you just cut everyone off cold turkey.
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Offline NHSparky

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Re: What should a GOP-controlled Congress do, starting from swear-in?
« Reply #21 on: June 22, 2010, 06:58:05 PM »
BTW...

You never did mention your own ideas.  You obviously don't like some of the ideas mentioend here.

Why is that?

Man the **** up and put your own ideas out there.  Are you afraid that folks won't like them?

Because most of the ideas have already been mentioned.  Man the **** up and support your own ideas with facts and logic, and tell me where your ideas won't result in upheval on a massive scale for a generation or more.
“Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian.”  -Henry Ford

Offline BlueStateSaint

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Re: What should a GOP-controlled Congress do, starting from swear-in?
« Reply #22 on: June 22, 2010, 07:04:05 PM »
I tend to think that the Dems will try to pass "cap'n'trade" in the "lame duck" session after the election, as a way to "punish" the voters for kicking their asses to the curb.  So, on every piece of legislation that is passed by Congress, not only should a repeal of the health care deform be attached, but a repeal of cap'n'tax.

For some reason, I think that they'll try to negate whatever the SCOTUS did re: campaign finance by corporations, and the McDonald v. City of Chicago decision due out Monday.  How?  The same lame duck session.
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Offline rich_t

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Re: What should a GOP-controlled Congress do, starting from swear-in?
« Reply #23 on: June 22, 2010, 07:06:04 PM »
Because most of the ideas have already been mentioned.  Man the **** up and support your own ideas with facts and logic, and tell me where your ideas won't result in upheval on a massive scale for a generation or more.

I know that the changes needed will cause a lot of pain.  I'm willing to not only impose that pain, but to endure it personally.


Are you under the mistaken assumption that fixing the damage incurred by the asshole politicians will be pain free?

Freedom isn't free and it is painful to implement and defend.
"The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of 'liberalism,' they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened." --Norman Thomas, 1944

Offline rich_t

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Re: What should a GOP-controlled Congress do, starting from swear-in?
« Reply #24 on: June 22, 2010, 07:09:46 PM »
Oh, really?  Here, let me post it again for you, just so there's no confusion...

So not only are you being obtuse, obviously you can't read, either.

Great--get rid of SSI.  How, pray tell?  How do you propose giving back to those folks who have paid in 20, 30, 40 years or more?

See, this is where I get upset with the Ronulans, the 100-percenters, and those who don't think past the initial, "Screw 'em all!" mentality.  You want anarchy and chaos?  Go right ahead.  I'll agree we can't sustain the spending and entitlements as they are now, but neither can you just cut everyone off cold turkey.

Oh good Lord...

The dumbing down of America is complete.  A so called conservative is defending SSI.

The Republic is ****ed.
"The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of 'liberalism,' they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened." --Norman Thomas, 1944