Jeffrey A. Setaro» Tea Party

Thoughts on the Debt Limit Debate — Updated

Jeff — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:35:23 +0000

What we’ve seeing playing out in Washington during the debt limit debate is in many ways akin to an addict facing an intervention. Washington’s policy makers, both Democrats and Republicans, are hopelessly addicted to spending and they don’t want to admit it or to change their behavior.

As a result they’re lashing out ordinary Americans who have the temerity to demand Washington change its ways and cut spending – drastically. Politicians and pundits alike have dismissed these people as “extremists” or “racists” and referred to them derisively as “Tea baggers” or more recently “Hobbits” and “Terrorists“. These so-called extremists, aren’t really all that extreme most of them have never been politically active, much less protested anything before in their lives. Most of them are well-informed, well-intentioned people who believe in traditional American values… and yes, there are a few cranks and crackpots who give the rest a bad name.

Regardless they’ve all come together for common reason, they’re deeply concerned that this country is headed in the wrong direction and want to see to it put back on the right track. In the words of Ronald Reagan “The federal government has taken too much tax money from the people, too much authority from the states, and too much liberty with the Constitution.”

Let’s be clear about something Washington doesn’t have a revenue problem, it has spending problem… Robin Hood is not going to save from out debt problems. If you look at the numbers, over the last 50 years revenue to the federal government has remained remarkably consistent averaging roughly 18% of GDP. What’s changed is that spending has risen sharply over the last two decades to roughly 21% of GDP under President George W. Bush and now to roughly 25% of GDP under Pres. Obama.

The simple truth is we can’t raise taxes enough to close the current budget deficit much less begin to pay down our $14.2 trillion national debt. We have to cut spending — drastically, that means both sides are going to have to give up some of their sacred cows. Republican are going to have to accept some cuts in defense spending and Democrats are going to have to accept some entitlement reforms. We don’t have a choice in this anymore, our current spending levels are simply unsustainable.

The dirty little secret in this whole debate is that Congress never actually cuts spending, all they ever do is reduce the rate of growth that’s already built into to the government’s baseline budget… and that’s exactly what they’ve done here. There aren’t any real spending cuts in the deal they’ve just agreed to… spending is still going to go up, it’s just going to go up less than would have otherwise. This deal will add roughly $7 trillion to the debt over the next 10 years.

The truth is if a publicly traded company managed its finances the way the federal government does it would a) go bankrupt and b) the management would be indicted for fraud.

Edit: I should also point out that the latest Gallup Poll of political ideology shows roughly twice as many Americans self-identify themselves as conservative than liberal.

Related

Analysis: Debt mess shows Washington’s awful side – Associated Press
Sputter to stall: U.S. economy dips into danger zone for recession - James Pethokoukis, Reuters
The Obama Recovery – The Wall Street Journal
The Tea Party, Right About Everything- Randall Hoven, American Thinker
Obama’s power grows as debt deadline approaches – Byron York, the Washington Examiner
Open Letter: Why I Oppose the Debt Ceiling Compromise – Senator Rand Paul
Debt Deal is a Blank Check – Peter Schiff, CNBC
Debt deal doesn’t dispel downgrade fear – Reuters

This & That: It’s the Spending, Stupid; Why It’s Time for the Tea Party; Bush Tax Cuts Benefited Taxpayers at Every Level; and More…

Jeff — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 16:54:32 +0000

I’ve been pretty remiss about writing lately, I’ve just had too much on my plate and I haven’t felt like I’ve had much to contribute… Anyway, here’s a few must reads from the week that was…

The Wall Street Journal last week published two columns that are absolute must reads, first is Daniel Henninger’s Op-ed titled “It’s the Spending, Stupid“:

At a backyard town-hall meeting in Fairfax, Va., Monday, President Obama explained why Christine O’Donnell was going to beat Mike Castle in the GOP’s Delaware Senate primary:

“They saw the Recovery Act,” he said. “They saw TARP. They saw the auto bailout. And they look at these and think, ‘God, all these huge numbers adding up.’ So they’re right to be concerned about that.”

Of course Mr. Obama was speaking generally about the public mood. Let’s call it his “generic” explanation for the current voter impulse to wipe out GOP incumbents now and Democrats in November.

Here’s your bumper sticker for the 2010 elections: It’s the Spending, Stupid.

And the president didn’t mention the two $3 trillion-plus budgets passed on his watch or the trillion-dollar health-care entitlement. They, the voters, are not “concerned” about Uncle Sam’s spending floating toward the moon. They are enraged, furious, crazed and desperate.

Pennsylvania’s shrewd Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell, scripting the new conventional wisdom, says the tea party movement supporting Christine O’Donnell, Sharron Angle in Nevada and Joe Miller in Alaska proves the GOP is in the grip of crazies. With luck, none of his audience will wake up from this delusion before November.

Back in April, the New York Times/CBS did a poll of tea party supporters. When asked, “What should be the goal of the Tea Party movement,” 45% said, “Reduce federal government.” That is, cut spending. Everything else was in single digits.

While I agree with Mr. Henninger that out of control government spending is significant issue in this election cycle I don’t think it’s quite as simple as cutting spending. At its core this still a center-right country — that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily a conservative country. In fact I’d argue it’s probably more libertarian than conservative, there has always been a certain tension between the American people and their government. In many respects the Tea Party movement is the embodiment of that tension… The people want as little governmental involvement in their daily as possible, the government on the other hand wants what all governments want… Power — or more specifically the power to control and influence the people.

Reducing the federal government isn’t simply about cutting spending, it’s about reducing the power and influence of the the federal government in our daily lives… It’s about the thousands upon thousands of pages of government regulation that by some estimates represent roughly $1 trillion in stealth taxes on the private sector.

To quote Ronald Reagan “The federal government has taken too much tax money from the people, too much authority from the states, and too much liberty with the Constitution.” that’s the bottom line and it leads us into Peggy Noonan’s “Why It’s Time for the Tea Party” column.

I’ve had more than a few disagreements with Ms. Noonan over the last couple of years, in fact pretty much stopped reading her column after she endorsed Barack Obama during the 2008 elections.

Anyway Ms. Noonan seems to have regained some of her senses and her current column perfectly encapsulates the tension between the Republican Party establishment and the Tea Party movement:

Everyone has an explanation for the tea party that is actually not an explanation but a description. They’re “angry.” They’re “antiestablishment,” “populist,” “anti-elite.” All to varying degrees true. But as a network television executive said this week, “They should be fed up. Our institutions have failed.”

I see two central reasons for the tea party’s rise. The first is the yardstick, and the second is the clock. First, the yardstick. Imagine that over at the 36-inch end you’ve got pure liberal thinking—more and larger government programs, a bigger government that costs more in the many ways that cost can be calculated. Over at the other end you’ve got conservative thinking—a government that is growing smaller and less demanding and is less expensive. You assume that when the two major parties are negotiating bills in Washington, they sort of lay down the yardstick and begin negotiations at the 18-inch line. Each party pulls in the direction it wants, and the dominant party moves the government a few inches in their direction.

But if you look at the past half century or so you have to think: How come even when Republicans are in charge, even when they’re dominant, government has always gotten larger and more expensive? It’s always grown! It’s as if something inexorable in our political reality—with those who think in liberal terms dominating the establishment, the media, the academy—has always tilted the starting point in negotiations away from 18 inches, and always toward liberalism, toward the 36-inch point.

Democrats on the Hill or in the White House try to pull it up to 30, Republicans try to pull it back to 25. A deal is struck at 28. Washington Republicans call it victory: “Hey, it coulda been 29!” But regular conservative-minded or Republican voters see yet another loss. They could live with 18. They’d like eight. Instead it’s 28.

I’m not sure what I can add, Ms. Noonan has explained the conflict perfectly… Thank you Peggy, your column just crystallized the what I’ve been thinking for months, but haven’t been able to articulate.

~ ~ ~

Alright shifting gears… For most of the last decade the Democrats and the pop-culture obsessed soundbite media have been harping the “The Bush tax cuts only benefited the rich” line. With those tax cuts about to expire, the Associated Press at least, is finally admitting the fallacy of that line:

Expiring tax cuts hit taxpayers at every level

Hmm, let’s dig a little deeper in to Stephen Ohlemacher’s report:

A typical family of four with a household income of $50,000 a year would have to pay $2,900 more in taxes in 2011, according to a new analysis by Deloitte Tax LLP, a tax consulting firm. The same family making $100,000 a year would see its taxes rise by $4,500.

Wealthier families face even bigger tax hikes. A family of four making $500,000 a year would pay $10,800 more in taxes. The same family making $1 million a year would get a tax increase of $53,200.

The estimates are based on total household income, including wages, capital gains and qualified dividends. The estimated tax bills take into account typical deductions at each income level.

Hmm, wouldn’t that mean that the Bush tax cuts weren’t just for the rich as virtually every pop-culture obsessed soundbite media outlet in America has been claiming since they were first proposed?

~ ~ ~

And last but not least… New York Times reporter Kate Zernike’s daft advice to Republican candidates: ‘Enlist (Tea Partiers), but Avoid Speeches on the Constitution’. Right… avoiding the Constitution is how we into this mess.

I’m tempted to post a couple paragraphs from her column, but you’d be far better off reading the New York Sun’s take down of her column:

“Republicans: Enlist, but Avoid Speeches on the Constitution.” That’s the way the headline writer for the New York Times encapsulated the advice of one of its reporters, Kate Zernike, in a dispatch over the weekend. “The trick,” she writes, “is to take advantage of the Tea Party passion and stay away from its extremes. Celebrate the genius of the Constitution, but don’t get into the particulars.”

Ms. Zernike goes on to quote the political sage Stuart Rothenberg as saying he reckons it’s “very clear” that “what’s best for the election” is to focus on President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, health care, and the deficit. “You see these rallies and the signs are all about the Constitution,” Ms. Zernike quotes him as saying. “They want it to be about these big ideological ideas, when I don’t think most voters think that way.”

Hmmmm. Our own view is that Ms. Zernike and Mr. Rothenberg are selling the voters short. We don’t belittle their own credentials. Ms. Zernike is the author of a new book on the Tea Party, “Boiling Mad,” which is well up on the Amazon.com list. Mr. Rothenberg is the publisher of a non-partisan political report. But everywhere we’ve gone lately where the conversation or the speeches turn to the Constitution, the place lights right up.

The Sun is quite right, the idea that constitutional principles are beyond the understanding of the American people strikes is as not only condescending but inaccurate… We the People have good deal respect for the Constitution and our Founding Fathers than most of our elected leaders these days. We are deeply concerned about the erosion of liberty and the growth of government.

I should also note the Sun is far more forgiving of Ms. Zernike than I would be… She’s hardly sympathetic to the conservative ideas or the Tea Party movement, something Clay Waters notes in his review of her book “Boiling Mad — Inside Tea Party America,” over at Newsbusters:

Like her reporting for the Times, “Boiling Mad” covers the movement from a mostly hostile perspective that only intermittently becomes something like empathy when she’s talking to one of the invariably pleasant Tea Party citizens themselves.

Behind the (of course) red-as-a-Red State-cover lies a mere 194 pages of text, not including a 33-page reprint of an old, biased Times poll on the Tea Party. While not wholly a notebook dump, there’s little new, and Zernike evinces little sympathy or feel for conservative concerns. Her expertise is instead finding racism everywhere she looks in Tea Party land.

Peace, out.

News of the Rebellion: Tax Day Tea Parties in Connecticut

Jeff — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 21:00:10 +0000

“Hold on, my friends, to the Constitution and the Republic for which it stands. Hold on to the Constitution, for if the American Constitution should fail, there will be anarchy throughout the world.” – Daniel Webster

Mark your calendars for Thursday, April 15 and make your voice heard at one of the Tax Day Tea Parties being held around Connecticut and around the country.

Greenwich Tea Party
When: Thrusday, April 15th, 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Where: Greenwich Town Hall, Field Point Road, Greenwich, CT
Website: gstpp.org

Hartford Tea Party
When: Thursday, April 15th, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where: State Capitol (North Steps), Hartford, CT
Website: thehartfordteapartypatriots.com

New Haven Tea Party
When: Thursday, April 15th, 12:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Where: Long Wharf Drive (Exit 46 off I-95)
Website: newhaventeaparty.com

New Milford Tea Party
When: Thursday, April 15th, 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Where: The New Milford Green at the band stand
Website: ???

Norwich Tea Party
When: Thursday, April 15th, 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Where: Howard T Brown Memorial Park (aka the marina park), Chelsea Harbor Road, Norwich, CT
Website: ct2nddistrictteapartypatriots.com

My schedule’s a mess, but I’m going to try and make it to the New Haven Tea Party… Hope to see you there.

Video: Sarah Palin’s Keynote Speech at National Tea Party Convention

Jeff — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:29:59 +0000

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin delivers the closing keynote address at the first-ever National Tea Party Convention, held in Nashville, TN. February 6, 2010:

Related

Third party is the wrong party for Tea Partiers – Mark Tapscott, Washington Examiner
Nashville Shows Tea Party Is America’s Third Great Awakening – Glenn Reynolds, Washington Examiner
Breitbart, Farah argue Birtherism at Tea Party convention – Ed Morrissey, Hot Air

Arrogance: Hoyer, Pelosi Call Protests Against ObamaCare “un-American”

Jeff — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:38:41 +0000

I’ve seen politicians say more than a few amazingly stupid things in my time but this really takes the cake… For House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer to take to the pages of a major American newspaper and call those who disagree with them un-American is beyond the pale:

However, it is now evident that an ugly campaign is underway not merely to misrepresent the health insurance reform legislation, but to disrupt public meetings and prevent members of Congress and constituents from conducting a civil dialogue. These tactics have included hanging in effigy one Democratic member of Congress in Maryland and protesters holding a sign displaying a tombstone with the name of another congressman in Texas, where protesters also shouted “Just say no!” drowning out those who wanted to hold a substantive discussion.

These disruptions are occurring because opponents are afraid not just of differing views — but of the facts themselves. Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American. Drowning out the facts is how we failed at this task for decades.

Health care is complex. It touches every American life. It drives our economy. People must be allowed to learn the facts.

That type of rhetoric is as inappropriate and misplaced now as it was when some on the right used it against those who opposed the war in Iraq. It has no place in mainstream political discourse and for the Speaker of the House and House Majority Leader to resort to it raises serious questions about their qualifications for the positions they hold.

Hillary Clinton was right when she passionately declared :

“I am sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and you disagree with this administration somehow you’re not patriotic. We should stand up and say we are Americans and we have a right to debate and disagree with any administration.”

Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer would do well to re-read the first amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Americans had every right to question and disagree with the Bush Administration just as we have every right to question and disagree with the Obama Administration… For national political leaders to question the patriotism and/or motives of those who passionately disagree with them makes it undeniably clear that they are not interested in debate.

H/T: Cuffy Meigs via Hot Air.

Related

Boehner Slams Pelosi’s “Un-American” Op-ed – Weekly Standard
Uh oh: Even Liberals in Massachusetts having a Hard Time at Town Halls – Wizbang

Reminder: Connecticut July 4th Tea Parties

Jeff — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:40:44 +0000

Just a quick reminder that on Independence Day, the Connecticut Tea Party Patriots will hold public rallies in Hartford, Norwich and Stratford to encourage elected officials to exercise fiscal restraint, rein in government growth and support America’s free market economy.

The Hartford Tea Party will take place from noon to 3 p.m. on the Capitol steps, 210 Capitol Ave. For more information contact the organizer, Dan Reale at head...@gmail.com

The Norwich Tea Party will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chelsea Parade, at the intersection of Broadway and Washington streets. For more information contact the organizer, Jen at j...@freenorwich.com

The Stratford Tea Party will take place from 10 a.m. to noon at Boothe Memorial Park, 5800 Main St. For more information contact the organizer, Mike Taylor at mtta...@gmail.com

The organizers ask attendees to bring American flags to celebrate Independence Day and to rally to preserve the individual freedoms that the Founders won with their blood, sweat and tears. All are invited to attend.

On Independence Day, the Connecticut Tea Party Patriots will hold public rallies in Hartford, Norwich and Stratford to encourage elected officials to exercise fiscal restraint, rein in government growth and support America’s free market economy.

The Hartford Tea Party will take place from noon to 3 p.m. on the Capitol steps, 210 Capitol Ave.

The Norwich Tea Party will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chelsea Parade, at the intersection of Broadway and Washington streets.

The Stratford Tea Party will take place from 10 a.m. to noon at Boothe Memorial Park, 5800 Main St.

Tea Party speakers will talk about the fiscal irresponsibility of our elected officials and advocate:

Repeal of the federal Stimulus Bill that was passed in February.

Repeal of all “pork” spending that has not been funded already.

Defeat of the proposed health care reform bill.

Defeat of the anti-energy “cap and trade” bill that will cripple our economy.

The Independence Day Tea Party will feature an “open mic” along with scheduled speakers. Attendees will be able to sign up for email updates, make rally signs on the spot, and sign petitions related to Connecticut lawmakers such as U.S. Sens. Chris Dodd and Joe Lieberman.

The Connecticut Tea Party Patriots is part of the National Tea Party Patriots, a grassroots organization that supports entrepreneurship, promotes individual responsibility, respects Constitutional integrity, and favors American ingenuity over expansive governmental growth and spending. The National Tea Party Patriots is not affiliated with any political party.

July 4 Tea Parties will take place all over the United States, each independently organized and operated. Connecticut Tea Party Patriots also plans to participate in a National Day of Tea Parties scheduled for July 17, during which Tea Parties will be held at noon EST in every congressional district office in the country, to protest government-run health care.

For more information, contact Tanya at newh...@gmail.com, or visit www.teapartypatriots.org and click on the “Connecticut” link.

Scenes from the Rebellion: Danbury Tea Party

Jeff — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 20:09:06 +0000

A small but enthusiastic crowd of patriots gathered on the City Center Green in Danbury this morning. I didn’t get an accurate count but I’d put the number at 150 or so.

Lea, Rosemarie and Halle (apologies if I’m spelling your names wrong) sang of one of the best renditions of the nation anthem I’ve ever heard, the band Murphys Law rocked the crowd and roughly a dozen speakers, including representatives from the Danbury High School Young Republicans and the WCSU College Republicans took the stage to speak.

Here’s a few photos from the rally:

Reminder: Danbury Tea Party This Saturday

Jeff — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:03:30 +0000

Just a quick reminder to mark your calendars for the Danbury Tea Party on Saturday, June 13th. The rally starts at 10:00 a.m. on the City Center Green, Ives St., Danbury. Parking is available nearby.

There will be speakers, DJ, and live entertainment. You will be able to speak as well if you wish.

Come down and make your voice heard.

Danbury Tea Party
When: Saturday, June 13th, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Where: City Center Green, Ives Street, Danbury, CT
Contact: elis...@gmail.com

Reminder: Clinton Tea Party

Jeff — Fri, 08 May 2009 19:56:14 +0000

“It does not take a majority to prevail…but rather an irate, tireless minority keen on setting brushfires of freedom and liberty in the minds of men.”

-Samuel Adams

Just a reminder to readers the Clinton Tea Party is tomorrow (Saturday, May 9th) morning. The rally kicks off at 10:00 a.m. at Clinton Town Hall, 54 East Main Street, Clinton, CT.

If you’re planning to attend please RSVP to clin...@gmail.com

Unfortunately, I have a prior engagement and won’t be able to make the rally.

Scenes from the Rebellion: Woodbury Tea Party

Jeff — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 20:13:18 +0000

Roughly 300 Connecticut residents attended a modern day “Boston Tea Party” in Woodbury’s Washington Park this morning. Here’s a few pictures from the rally: