why the right better wake up

[luckyleftyme2]

If you see any of those right wing minority ranters posting about no new tax rates ;hold the line ;stand in the way etc you know the kind I'm talking about! have them read this!
Yet another prominent Republican has added his name to the list of those for whom the allure of the Grover Norquist “Taxpayer Protection Pledge” has lost its luster.

Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) has announced that he will no longer honor his commitment to the Norquist pledge wherein he promised not to raise taxes under any circumstances whatsoever. Appearing on a local Georgia television program, Chambliss said, “I care more about my country than I do about a 20-year-old pledge. If we do it his way then we’ll continue in debt, and I just have a disagreement with him about that.”

While Chambliss expects Norquist to push back on his defection by supporting a primary challenge to Senator Chambliss when he stands for re-election in 2014, Chambliss has decided to take his chances, noting, “But I don’t worry about that because I care too much about my country. I care a lot more about it than I do Grover Norquist.”

While Saxby Chambliss’ sentiment is admirable, is it possible that he has done the math and concluded that the Norquist modus operandi of going after any Republican that dare defy him just doesn’t pack the punch it once possessed?

Judging from the 2012 election results, there is reason to believe that Grover Norquist’s days of bullying candidates into doing his bidding may be a thing of the past.

Going into the elections, 279 Congressional incumbents—along with 286 challengers—had signed the anti-tax pledge. However, at a time when the polls point to an overwhelming number of Americans favoring a rise in the tax rates for the nation’s very wealthiest, some 57 Republican House incumbents or challengers who signed the pledge went down to defeat while 24 GOP sitting Senators or those seeking a seat lost in their race.

Included among the high profile, pledge-signing losers were Senator Scott Brown (R-MA), former Wisconsin Governor and cabinet member Tommy Thompson (R-WI) and two-time loser Linda McMahon (R-CT). Over in the House, long time Congressmen Dan Lungren got beat after a constituent publically challenged him for signing the pledge while two GOP incumbents who had received direct funding from Norquist’s organization, Americans For Tax Reform, in an effort to save their seats, were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, GOP Senate leaders such as Bob Corker (R-TN), John McCain (R-AZ) and Tom Coburn (R-OK), have become more vocal in their opposition to Grover Norquist and his tactics as has leading conservative voice, Bill Kristol.

Adding what might be the final nail in the coffin for Mr. Norquist’s brand of political blackmail is the fact that the likely GOP frontrunner for the party’s presidential nomination in 2016, Gov. Jeb Bush—while highly supportive of keeping taxes low—has steadfastly refused to sign the tax pledge saying, “I don’t believe you outsource your convictions and principles to people.” The younger Bush follows in the footsteps of his father, President George H.W. Bush, who earlier this year made his own feelings completely clear when he remarked, “The rigidity of those pledges is something I don’t like. The circumstances change and you can’t be wedded to some formula by Grover Norquist. It’s – who the hell is Grover Norquist, anyway?”

Good question—who the hell is Grover Norquist, anyway?

While he has managed to become more famous than most, at the end of the day, Grover Norquist is a lobbyist.

In fact, according to Jack Abramoff—the disgraced lobbyist who went to jail after entering a guilty plea to three criminal felonies involving defrauding American Indian tribes and corrupting public officials—Mr. Norquist’s organization served as a conduit for funds that flowed from Abramoff’s clients to surreptitiously finance grass-roots lobbying campaigns.

The Washington Post reports,

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Tom Wittmann I wonder if the corrupt system which allows lobbyists factually buy congressmembers votes has reached such extreme that these parlamentarians, which only l [...]Drew Williams I never have understood the power this unshaven slob wields over elected members of Congress — short of the fact that, when it was quite stylish to be agai [...]Tom Wittmann The GOP leadership, as far not taken over by the Tea Part, which obviously is complice wih Norquist, is powerless.Rick Ungar, ContributorThey haven’t broken any laws so I don’t think legal action is the appropriate remedy. All that is necessary is that people require their elected officials [...]Rick Ungar, ContributorHe freaks them out by threatening to finance primary challenges to these elected officials-and no elected official wants that.Richard Sloat The Norquist “Pledge” has hurt our Nation, by freezing debate, our do nothing Congress. It is time for it to go. The debt problem will never be solved from [...]dallasdunlap While one can make some reasonable arguments against raising taxes at this particular time, a general permanent ban on tax increases would eventually plung [...]Robbie Williams Mr. Ungar I didn’t know that Mr. Norquist was a lobbyist a paid foot soldier for the rich so they could squeeze their intended victim into getting their ag [...]32 comments, 17 called-out + Comment now + Comment now 427
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Tom Wittmann 2 days ago
I wonder if the corrupt system which allows lobbyists factually buy congressmembers votes has reached such extreme that these parlamentarians, which only loyalty by law is towards their constituents, now formally sell their vote to a private person o group, payable with assumption of campaign cost.

Have the congressmembers which signed the pledge to Norquist not forfeited their membership, enforzable by court order if they do not recant??

Can Mr. Norquist not be charged with bribe of Congress members??

In any other democratic country, above would happen immediately!!

But of course, these other countries have not a 200+ years old, then great constitution, manipulated by jurists at their convenience, now protecting delinquents and used by its hypocritical admirers to advance their agendas.
And it is not tolerable that a constitution does not offer remedies if one of its powers fails to perform its duties or is paralyzed by despicable methods as filibustering, excessive power of some of its members. And many other less than democratic procedures, as allow break down of government, open politization of the judiciary and so on.

Even so, above stated actions again the delinquent Congress members and Norquist could and should be implemented

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Charlie468 2 days ago
Hopefully he drove over the cliff and we have heard the last of him. It is bizarre to think of elected officials being more loyal to a lobbyist than to the people who elected them.

Permalink Flag Reply Drew Williams 2 days ago
I never have understood the power this unshaven slob wields over elected members of Congress — short of the fact that, when it was quite stylish to be against taxation under any circumstances, they signed. Then came the real-politic of having to lead, of having to fix things that were broken, of having to find the money to actually reduce the deficit born of unfunded wars and tax breaks. And Grover sits on the sidelines with his bullhorn, responsible to no one. It’s about time Republican leadership started calling this phony out for what he is.

Called-out comment Permalink Flag Reply Tom Wittmann 2 days ago
The GOP leadership, as far not taken over by the Tea Part, which obviously is complice wih Norquist, is powerless.

To get rid of him, some legal action should be filed against him and the signants of the pledge. . Obviously, this would not be a short process but would scare them and accelerate the Chambliss effect!

How and who should file lawsuits I do not know, I am no lawyer! Advise would be appreciated!!

Called-out comment Permalink Flag Reply Author Rick Ungar, Contributor 2 days ago
They haven’t broken any laws so I don’t think legal action is the appropriate remedy. All that is necessary is that people require their elected officials to think for themselves and stop signing pledges to anyone by their constituents and the country.

Called-out comment Permalink Flag Reply Author Rick Ungar, Contributor 2 days ago
He freaks them out by threatening to finance primary challenges to these elected officials-and no elected official wants that.

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Phillip Avon St. Cyr 1 day ago
Yeah, what IS it with all that facial hair? He’s sure not a very impressive-looking person for all the hullaballub he creates.

In fact, to me, he looks downright scruffy.

Permalink Flag Reply Rob Barris 1 day ago
Apparently the pledge isn’t an armor-plated shelter against voter choices.. even if you sign it you can get voted out.

Permalink Flag Reply Richard Sloat 2 days ago
The Norquist “Pledge” has hurt our Nation, by freezing debate, our do nothing Congress. It is time for it to go. The debt problem will never be solved from one side of the issue. We need cuts and we need revenue increase. Our government has not shrunk with this pledge it has just become ineffectual in dealing with its finances. My “Taking the Tea Party Republican Tax Pledge” is on YouTube link;

Called-out comment Permalink Flag Reply dallasdunlap 2 days ago
While one can make some reasonable arguments against raising taxes at this particular time, a general permanent ban on tax increases would eventually plunge the country into ruin.
It’s hard to believe that a major political party got itself jammed into that kind of corner. The only way the GOP can be taken seriously as a potential governng party is if they show themselves capable of serious thinking on fiscal issues.

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Robbie Williams 2 days ago
Mr. Ungar I didn’t know that Mr. Norquist was a lobbyist a paid foot soldier for the rich so they could squeeze their intended victim into getting their agenda across and not be traced back to them just the gangster’s of old just more subtle that is one of the campaign promises of the president in 2008 to get rid of the lobbyist in Washington D.C. but was thwarted even by his own party that’s why there still is a presence of them in the capitol and that is why they call the ACA Obama care even though it’s similar to what Mr. Romney had in massachusetts but differ’s because it was brokered by an insurance lobbyist and thing’s that should’ve been included were not alllowed by the lobbyist and for it to pass congress they were left out and there were some GOP member’s that did vote for it and approved it or else it would not have seen daylight it would’ve died in committee now if the GOP really has changed and want to show it start by getting rid of the special interest group’s on capitol hill no more lobbyist then they can get down to doing the work of their constituent’s who can reach them by phone,letter,or Email to inform them what is needed in their state or city or town as it was in the beginning a government of the people and a government for the people not for the priviledged oh! I know I jumped from one subject to another I apologize for that and as for Obama care dying in committee when it was passed there weren’t enough democrat’s to pass it with a two third’s vote and some of them voted against it and this fact was never brought forth anyway water under the bridge thankyou

Permalink Flag Reply Robbie Williams 2 days ago
Mr. Ungar I didn’t know that Mr. Norquist was a lobbyist a paid foot soldier for the rich so they could squeeze their intended victim into getting their agenda across and not be traced back to them just like the gangster’s of old just more subtle that is one of the campaign promises of the president in 2008 to get rid of the lobbyist in Washington D.C. but was thwarted even by his own party that’s why there still is a presence of them in the capitol and that is why they call the ACA Obama care even though it’s similar to what Mr. Romney had in massachusetts but differ’s because it was brokered by an insurance lobbyist and thing’s that should’ve been included were not alllowed by the lobbyist and for it to pass congress they were left out and there were some GOP member’s that did vote for it and approved it or else it would not have seen daylight it would’ve died in committee now if the GOP really has changed and want to show it start by getting rid of the special interest group’s on capitol hill no more lobbyist then they can get down to doing the work of their constituent’s who can reach them by phone,letter,or Email to inform them what is needed in their state or city or town as it was in the beginning a government of the people and a government for the people not for the priviledged oh! I know I jumped from one subject to another I apologize for that and as for Obama care dying in committee when it was passed there weren’t enough democrat’s to pass it with a two third’s vote and some of them voted against it and this fact was never brought forth anyway water under the bridge thankyou

Called-out comment Permalink Flag Reply rt_trask 2 days ago
Hello again Mr. Ungar,
You state, “at a time when the polls point to an overwhelming number of Americans favoring a rise in the tax rates for the nation’s very wealthiest”.

That should be setting off alarms somewhere: making someone else pay for our spending.
I’d really like to see the Democrats lead on this: We have to live within our means.
We can try to soak the “very wealthiest” but it won’t matter if we can’t be responsible with our spending habits.

Called-out comment Permalink Flag Reply Author Rick Ungar, Contributor 2 days ago
WHy should that be setting off alarms? While I would agree that we need to get our spending under control, that does not mean that we need to make some adjustments in the tax rates. They are not mutually exclusive.

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Follow Following Unfollow (1,154) + show more As the title of the page suggests, I am Forbes' official 'token lefty'. However, writing from the 'left of center' should not be confused with writing for the left as I often annoy progressives just as much as I upset conservative thinkers. In addition to the pages of Forbes.com, you can find me every Saturday morning on your TV arguing with my more conservative colleagues on "Forbes on Fox" on the Fox News Network and at various other times during the week serving as a liberal talking head on other Fox News and Fox Business Network shows.
The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer.

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You see they don't know it yet but their driving the finish nails in the coffin of the repuke agenda!
And you know what their hurting jobs,our kids future because they have given big business an opportunity to buy our legislators!