There’s a perception among certain elected officials that pro-free market, pro-liberty candidates (and their supporters) are crazy. Or “whack-a-doodles,” according to the popular derogatory term.
This stereotype is part of a broader ad hominem effort on the part of establishment media to impugn the sensible fiscal policies being advanced by these candidates (you know … crazy ideas like cutting taxes, eliminating unnecessary government and balancing the federal budget).
Anyway, one of the few free market champions in Washington, D.C. is U.S. Rep. Justin Amash (R-Michigan). Amash previously made our radar with his impassioned defense of individual liberty during the height of the ongoing domestic spying scandal. Since then he’s continued to impress.
For example, Amash was one of only 62 Republicans to vote against a federal spending bill that does away with the minuscule government cuts agreed to as part of the 2011 debt deal.
“Tonight, I voted against a budget deal that increases federal spending by tens of billions of dollars and raises taxes on millions of Americans,” Amash wrote on his Facebook page. “The bill unwinds a bipartisan agreement from 2011 that capped spending at lower levels. Unfortunately, Republicans and Democrats in Washington can’t seem to control themselves, and our children and grandchildren are paying the price. I’ll never forget why I was sent to Congress: to follow the Constitution, defend liberty, and represent *you*—not political class insiders.”
Sound crazy to you?
Because it makes perfect sense to us …
Who’s crazy? The 169 “Republicans” (and 163 Democrats) in the U.S. House who voted to eliminate these cuts.
By signing the 2011 debt deal (and blowing through $2.4 trillion in deficit spending over a fifteen month period), U.S. President Barack Obama and the U.S. Congress agreed to make modest reductions to the federal budget over the course of the next decade.
With the passage of this budget plan, they have gone back on that agreement … further proof that promises from leaders of both parties to “cut spending” in Washington, D.C. simply cannot be trusted.
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SC District 2 US Rep Joe Wilson voted to cut military retirees under the age of 62 one percentage point of their annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA)
Rep Joe Wilson voted to gut the Budget Act of 2011
Rep Joe Wilson voted to raise taxes
Rep Joe Wilson voted YES to pass the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013
March 2014 is the deadline to file for a primary challenge against Rep Joe Wilson
http://scvotes.org/files/2012%20Filing%20Fees.pdf
Who can’t be trusted are the loons who want to shut down the government and teeter over the edge of default to, not discuss rampant spending, not talk about fixing the deficit, but to try and force a capitulation on health care reform.
The particular health care reform they wanted capitulation on adds to the debt crisis in this country, so it would seem a natural, indeed a logical point, to insist upon.* That liberals demagogue and call names over this very reasonable position says more about the liberals than it does the conservatives.
* I don’t think it was good politics, but that is a completely different point. As a law professor once said when asked why states had not repealed antiquated sodomy laws: “Why don’t you run for office on the sodomy platform and see how it turns out?”
“Why don’t you run for office on the sodomy platform and see how it turns out?”
Heh!
If we can just talk 9″ into running against Miss Lindsey in the general election…we can prove your law prof wrong!!
BTW, in such a scenario, 9″ has TBG’s vote.
I’m afraid I disagree with Mr. Amash. I like his fiscal conservatism, but he is a Libertarian masquerading as a Republican. Strong defense and law and order are a key conservative ideal.
Can you explain to me why Romney, a governor who was the first to implement socialized medicine in his state, issue a sweeping gun ban, and support abortion, gets to be called a Republican and not Amash?
I enjoy all you Republicans fighting over who is and is not a Republican.
Keep up the good work!
Can you explain to me why Romney, a governor who was the first to implement socialized medicine in his state, issue a sweeping gun ban, and support abortion, gets to be called a Republican and not Amash?
TBG’s bet is the answer is, “No”. (If TBG has stepped on your toes, Marci, he humbly apologizes…)
TBG will take a stab at it though.
1) War on Terror.
2) Executive Hair.
3) War on Terror.
These 4 things alone qualify Mr Romney and disqualify Mr Amash.
*smiles*
Strong defense and law and order are a key conservative ideal.
Unless you are using Naziesque interpretations of language (Yes, Mr Godwin, TBG knows…), Libertarians also stand for “strong defense and law and order”. Maybe you have us confused with anarchists?
“I wouldn’t go to war again as I have done to protect some lousy investment of the bankers. There are only two things we should fight for. One is the defense of our homes and the other is the Bill of Rights. Not a single drop of American blood should ever again be spilled on foreign soil. Let’s build up a national defense so tight that even a rat couldn’t crawl through! War for any other reason is simply a racket.”
–Major General Smedley Butler, USMC
A strong defense doesn’t mean bombing women and children and attacking nations with out congressional approval. Following the law means the law is in accordance to the constitution, not against it. A conservative is a libertarian, the problem is we don’t have conservatives.
People like you, Romney and the rest of the bunch are Neo-Conservatives. Warmongers and big government phonies who push for bigger government when it fits their ideology.
It all gets down to who makes your choices. You or someone who knows better. Both the Republicans and Democrats in power seem to think they know what is best for each of us. How about just leave us alone. The “good of society” is merely a means to impose their point of view on me or to grab power.
‘…pro-free market and pro-liberty candidates (and their supporters)…’
More people are picking up that pro-free market means ever increasing government subsidies via tax cut/tax expenditure and pro-liberty means just for people who think like them.
And, most people know Amash is destined to be a one-termer for pissing off his constituents with his extreme craziness.
Kind of like Ron Paul?
Oh wait…..
Amash is in his second term.
He can come to my house and “nail it” anytime. Yummy.