Memo to John Cornyn re: Primary Picks – It’s out of your hands

Roll Call: Sen. John Cornyn said during a closed-door meeting Tuesday that he expects colleagues to bring their concerns to him about candidates he recruits as National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman — and not to help mount challenges against them, Republicans familiar with the meeting said Thursday.

Although not mentioned by name, the Republicans said the Texas lawmaker’s speech was clearly intended for the ears of Sen. Jim DeMint. [MORE] 

Cornyn can save his breath. Challenges to Cornyn’s RINO picks are pretty much out of Jim DeMints hands. This is because the conservative base has become activists and is not going to settle for any old candidate with an R slapped on the end of their name.  If Cornyn doesn’t want to see NRSC picks go down in flames during primary fights, then he is going to have to do a better job getting in touch with what conservatives are actually looking for.

This is not to say that only 100% conservative candidate will do. Of course the base realizes that in some state allowances must be made (Scott Brown in Massachusetts is an example).  However, these softer conservative candidates must demonstrate some basic belief in conservative principles.  Candidates who have already demonstrated that they would support big government nonsense like TARP, the Stimulus or ObamaCare will be rejected everytime.

Cornyn had better hurry up and learn this lesson quickly, otherwise the NRSC will be flushing more money down the toilet in 2012.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Roll Call

Rand Paul may not support Mitch McConnell for Minority Floor Leader

Ever wonder what an outsider’s voice might bring to the GOP in Washington?  Here is an example: 

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Front-runner Rand Paul said in a U.S. Senate debate Monday night that he may not support Kentucky's other senator, Mitch McConnell, for minority floor leader if he's elected.

"I'd have to know who the opponent is and make a decision at that time," Paul said in a sometimes testy televised debate, the final face off in what has become an increasing acrimonious race to replace Sen. Jim Bunning.

His chief Republican opponent, Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson, said he "proudly" would vote for McConnell. McConnell endorsed Grayson in the May 18 primary. South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint, who endorsed Paul, has been mentioned as a potential McConnell opponent for minority leader, though DeMint has said he has no such intention.

Paul is considered an outsider to the Republican political establishment, which has supported Grayson. Paul, a Bowling Green eye surgeon, is leading in the polls. 

I agree with Rand Paul on this one. We should not automatically vote for McConnell without seeing who else might want the job. Quite frankly, I find McConnell to be a wee bit wishy washy and a good example of yesterday’s Republican.

I don’t see McConnell as fully understanding the gravity of America’s current situation. I think he still believes he is dealing with the Democrats of yesterday. I would like to see someone with a lot more bite and firmer principles, someone like Jim DeMint.

DeMint: "I feel a sense of urgency that some of my colleagues don't," he said in an interview. "The Republican Party, at least a segment of it within Washington, has increasingly joined the big-government, big-spending, earmarking ranks." 

See what I mean? Even on the House side, I would like to see someone else other than John Boenher. While more aggressive than McConnell, Boenher too seems a bit dated.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Associated Press

Via: The Washington Post

Harry Reid slips in language so that parts of health care bill cannot be repealed

This has to be the most astounding abuse of power to date.  Senator Jim DeMint has caught Dingy Harry red handed making some very shocking changes to senate rules and binding future congress from repealing parts of the health care reform bill. Guess which part of the bill Dingy Harry is protecting?  Give up?  Lets just say Sarah Palin was right again, there are Death Panels now and forever! 

From The Weekly Standard: 

Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) pointed out some rather astounding language in the Senate health care bill during floor remarks tonight. First, he noted that there are a number of changes to Senate rules in the bill--and it's supposed to take a 2/3 vote to change the rules. And then he pointed out that the Reid bill declares on page 1020 that the Independent Medicare Advisory Board cannot be repealed by future Congresses:

there's one provision that i found particularly troubling and it's under section c, titled "limitations on changes to this subsection."

and i quote -- "it shall not be in order in the senate or the house of representatives to consider any bill, resolution, amendment, or conference report that would repeal or otherwise change this subsection."

this is not legislation. it's not law. this is a rule change. it's a pretty big deal. we will be passing a new law and at the same time creating a senate rule that makes it out of order to amend or even repeal the law.

i'm not even sure that it's constitutional, but if it is, it most certainly is a senate rule. i don't see why the majority party wouldn't put this in every bill. if you like your law, you most certainly would want it to have force for future senates.

i mean, we want to bind future congresses. this goes to the fundamental purpose of senate rules: to prevent a tyrannical majority from trampling the rights of the minority or of future co congresses.

According to page 1001 of the Reid bill, the purpose of the Independent Medical Advisory Board is to "reduce the per capita rate of growth in Medicare spending." For any fearmongers out there tempted to call an unelected body that recommends Medicare cuts a "Death Panel," let me be clear. According to page 1004, IMAB proposals "shall not include any recommendation to ration health care"--you know, just like the bill says there's no funding for abortion.

Paging Sarah Palin: the death panel is unkillable. 

Watch Jim DeMint in action as he questions that know nothing acting as Senate President (who is this bozo?) to reveal the evil hidden in Reid’s bill.

Protecting the Death Panel is crucial because with out the Death Panel, the cost of government run health care immediately explodes. Killing this provision of the bill would cause ObamaCare to collapse under it’s own financial weight.

Furthermore, this panel will forever have control over life and death decision. This panel is un-elected by the people, yet will be able to exert the ultimate control of the people.  This is truly evil.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: The Weekly Standard