Norquist says he'll go after pledge-breakers - Basketball Forum : Professional and College Basketball Forums

**Prince** · 11-26-2012, 01:00 PM

Quote:

(CNN) - Anti-tax activist Grover Norquist said Monday that his group, Americans for Tax Reform, would work to unseat Republicans who break their pledge to never vote for higher taxes.

His vow came after prominent GOP lawmakers said over the weekend they would consider breaking the Taxpayer Protection Pledge in order to reach a deal with Democrats and President Barack Obama to avoid tumbling over the fiscal cliff – the combination of sweeping spending cuts and tax increases that would go into effect at the end of the year if negotiators can't reach a deal on reducing the federal debt.

Norquist said his group would "certainly highlight who has kept their commitment and who hasn't" when it comes time for lawmakers like Sen. Lindsey Graham and Rep. Peter King to run for re-election, though Norquist claimed voters generally decide on their own to oust elected officials who vote to raise taxes.

"Historically the people who lose do so because the people in their state have figured that out," Norquist said on CNN's "Starting Point with Soledad O'Brien."

On Sunday, Graham and King joined other Republican lawmakers, including Georgia Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss, in publicly breaking from Norquist, whose pledge stipulates signers will "oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/or businesses" and will "oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates."

Both Graham and Chambliss will be up for re-election in 2014.

Graham said on ABC he'd be willing to break the pledge if Democrats are willing to help pass spending reforms on government programs like Social Security and Medicare. That combination of revenue and spending cuts is in line with what a majority (52%) of Republicans prefer, according to a CNN/ORC poll out Monday.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...ers/?hpt=hp_t1

**agoo101284** · 11-26-2012, 01:37 PM

As a democrat who would prefer to see more democrats on all side of things, I approve of this action. The likely outcome is them losing a primary to a Tea Party fruitcake who hasn't a chance at all of beating a legitimate democratic candidate.

The other possible outcome is that Norquist challenges them in a primary and they win and retain their seat, which will weaken his influence considerably if he's not seen as a threat anymore. I would also take that as an acceptable result.

kbdullah · 11-26-2012, 01:41 PM

Going to be hard to convince people to enter into your pact if you are axing the people who leave it. It'd be safer to never enter it.

Plus he's going to accidentally get some Democrat elected while he's campaigning against Republicans so I don't see how this is a good strategy for him.

**E.H. Munro** · 11-26-2012, 01:46 PM

Really it doesn't matter whether the guy had a D or R next to their name. Spending will increase, corporate welfare will increase, the rich will get richer and weepy politicians will tell us that we need to fork over few trillion in welfare to Warren Buffet "for the kiddies!" So anything that destroys the current republican party, leading to a neocon exodus to team blue, is a positive good.

kbdullah · 11-26-2012, 02:10 PM

Maybe it's just me, but I actually do think the fiscal cliff will result in spending cuts and revenue increases. And if they actually do come out of the fiscal cliff talks with some positive compromise and a multi-trillion dollar debt reduction deal, the good-will will outweight whatever wrath Grover claims he'll bring.

**E.H. Munro** · 11-26-2012, 03:20 PM

The only way there will ever be spending reductions is if they go over the fiscal cliff. The only real budget reductions in the last 70 odd years were the post-WWII and post Korean War budgets. In the last quarter century we've had four years of flat spending growth. So if there's a deal the "spending reductions" will be of the "Well, we wanted a 10% increase but were able to make do with 8%!" fiction.

e-monk · 11-26-2012, 03:24 PM

balanced budgets are possible and have happened - there was a budget surplus as recently as 2000 recall

Nimreitz · 11-26-2012, 04:10 PM

You don't need budget reductions to balance the budget. The focus should be on spending ourselves into boomtimes. A little investment in the right places can pay off much much more in future expected taxes. The safety nets are about where we need them, but that kind of shit will go down naturally if we get more people employed and taking care of their medical issues before they turn 65.

**E.H. Munro** · 11-26-2012, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e-monk

balanced budgets are possible and have happened - there was a budget surplus as recently as 2000 recall

Sure, thanks to the tech eruption of '91 which led to a GDP explosion which led to the treasury being flooded with revenues, a torrent so large that by the end of the decade the politicians couldn't find anything else to spend it on (because expenditures also exploded over the same time frame). Had the powers that be any fiscal discipline they could have retired a huge chunk of the national debt and we wouldn't be broke.

**Ron** · 11-26-2012, 06:18 PM

Who the **** is Grover Norquist?

Nimreitz · 11-26-2012, 06:35 PM

Some piece of shit who makes every Republican elected to national office sign a pledge to never raise any tax for any reason.

**Diable** · 11-26-2012, 06:48 PM

Basically he's the head of the National Union of Greedy Assholes. They have an enormous influence in the Republican party because they aggressively try to cull out of the party anyone who puts the interests of the United States before the interests of greedy assholes, by funding primary challenges by more stridently greedy assholes.

Nimreitz · 11-26-2012, 06:49 PM

I'm not sure what he actually does for money. Just another right wing blowhard on wingnut welfare.

**E.H. Munro** · 11-27-2012, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diable

Basically he's the head of the National Union of Greedy Assholes. They have an enormous influence in the Republican party because they aggressively try to cull out of the party anyone who puts the interests of the United States before the interests of greedy assholes

I have this bridge I can sell you, real cheap.

e-monk · 11-27-2012, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E.H. Munro

Sure, thanks to the tech eruption of '91 which led to a GDP explosion which led to the treasury being flooded with revenues, a torrent so large that by the end of the decade the politicians couldn't find anything else to spend it on (because expenditures also exploded over the same time frame). Had the powers that be any fiscal discipline they could have retired a huge chunk of the national debt and we wouldn't be broke.

instead we chose to fight two wars while simultaneously handing out tax breaks - fiscal conservancy rules the day - fortunately Grover's constituency came to their senses and the last two republican presidential candidates totally didnt run on platforms promising more tax cuts, and increases in defense spending - oh wait...

11-26-2012, 01:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
agoo101284 -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bronx, NY Age: 28 Posts: 7,757 Rep Power: 1595652	Re: Norquist says he'll go after pledge-breakers As a democrat who would prefer to see more democrats on all side of things, I approve of this action. The likely outcome is them losing a primary to a Tea Party fruitcake who hasn't a chance at all of beating a legitimate democratic candidate. The other possible outcome is that Norquist challenges them in a primary and they win and retain their seat, which will weaken his influence considerably if he's not seen as a threat anymore. I would also take that as an acceptable result.

11-26-2012, 01:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
kbdullah Star Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 3,397 Rep Power: 1266257	Re: Norquist says he'll go after pledge-breakers Going to be hard to convince people to enter into your pact if you are axing the people who leave it. It'd be safer to never enter it. Plus he's going to accidentally get some Democrat elected while he's campaigning against Republicans so I don't see how this is a good strategy for him.

11-26-2012, 01:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
E.H. Munro Baddest Honky Mofo Alive Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 24,246 Rep Power: 21474869	Re: Norquist says he'll go after pledge-breakers Really it doesn't matter whether the guy had a D or R next to their name. Spending will increase, corporate welfare will increase, the rich will get richer and weepy politicians will tell us that we need to fork over few trillion in welfare to Warren Buffet "for the kiddies!" So anything that destroys the current republican party, leading to a neocon exodus to team blue, is a positive good. __________________ If everyone loves you you're doing it wrong. "Opium is the religion of the masses." Fred Reed The Power of 99 Press "He thinks it's going to be fun being governor. It's only fun being governor of New York if you have money to spend, and I spent it all." Nelson Rockefeller on his successor, Hugh Carey.

11-26-2012, 02:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
kbdullah Star Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 3,397 Rep Power: 1266257	Re: Norquist says he'll go after pledge-breakers Maybe it's just me, but I actually do think the fiscal cliff will result in spending cuts and revenue increases. And if they actually do come out of the fiscal cliff talks with some positive compromise and a multi-trillion dollar debt reduction deal, the good-will will outweight whatever wrath Grover claims he'll bring.

11-26-2012, 03:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
E.H. Munro Baddest Honky Mofo Alive Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 24,246 Rep Power: 21474869	Re: Norquist says he'll go after pledge-breakers The only way there will ever be spending reductions is if they go over the fiscal cliff. The only real budget reductions in the last 70 odd years were the post-WWII and post Korean War budgets. In the last quarter century we've had four years of flat spending growth. So if there's a deal the "spending reductions" will be of the "Well, we wanted a 10% increase but were able to make do with 8%!" fiction. __________________ If everyone loves you you're doing it wrong. "Opium is the religion of the masses." Fred Reed The Power of 99 Press "He thinks it's going to be fun being governor. It's only fun being governor of New York if you have money to spend, and I spent it all." Nelson Rockefeller on his successor, Hugh Carey.

11-26-2012, 03:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
e-monk All-Star Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,660 Rep Power: 3201099	Re: Norquist says he'll go after pledge-breakers balanced budgets are possible and have happened - there was a budget surplus as recently as 2000 recall

11-26-2012, 04:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
Nimreitz Legend Join Date: May 2003 Location: Milwaukee, WI Age: 29 Posts: 16,247 Rep Power: 14813408	Re: Norquist says he'll go after pledge-breakers You don't need budget reductions to balance the budget. The focus should be on spending ourselves into boomtimes. A little investment in the right places can pay off much much more in future expected taxes. The safety nets are about where we need them, but that kind of shit will go down naturally if we get more people employed and taking care of their medical issues before they turn 65.

11-26-2012, 06:18 PM	#10 (permalink)
Ron Site Founder Join Date: May 2002 Location: Brea, California Posts: 14,542 Rep Power: 2734398	Re: Norquist says he'll go after pledge-breakers Who the **** is Grover Norquist? __________________

11-26-2012, 06:35 PM	#11 (permalink)
Nimreitz Legend Join Date: May 2003 Location: Milwaukee, WI Age: 29 Posts: 16,247 Rep Power: 14813408	Re: Norquist says he'll go after pledge-breakers Some piece of shit who makes every Republican elected to national office sign a pledge to never raise any tax for any reason.

11-26-2012, 06:48 PM	#12 (permalink)
Diable Limehouse Blues Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 22,123 Rep Power: 14577544	Re: Norquist says he'll go after pledge-breakers Basically he's the head of the National Union of Greedy Assholes. They have an enormous influence in the Republican party because they aggressively try to cull out of the party anyone who puts the interests of the United States before the interests of greedy assholes, by funding primary challenges by more stridently greedy assholes. __________________

11-26-2012, 06:49 PM	#13 (permalink)
Nimreitz Legend Join Date: May 2003 Location: Milwaukee, WI Age: 29 Posts: 16,247 Rep Power: 14813408	Re: Norquist says he'll go after pledge-breakers I'm not sure what he actually does for money. Just another right wing blowhard on wingnut welfare.

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