Republicans are Winning the Budget Fight

Finally an article that makes perfect sense about the strategy that the Republican leadership is following to cut the FY11 budget.  We have not understood the conservatives who are up in arms when each time the budget is continued, billions of dollars are saved by cuts.  If they tried to do the cuts all at once, we would have a government shutdown and where does that get us?   The American people seem to grasp what is going on much better than some members of Congress who seemed to forget Republicans do not control the Senate or the White House.

Anyone who was dumb enough to think winning the House was going to mean automatic budget cuts doesn't understand how Congress works with the White House.  Even if the Senate passed the Republican version which was never going to happen, there are not enough Senate votes to override a veto by Obama.

We do not understand the shortsightedness of some Republicans including members of Congress as Republicans are getting billions in budget cuts everytime they pass a continuing resolution.   We do not believe a Government shutdown is wise at this point in time and frankly think some people have a misguided idea how the media will crucify Republicans.  Winning the House was great but in the scheme of things, it is still only one leg of the three legs of Government.  To get anything passed Republicans have to talk and negotiate with Democrats.  Shame people cannot see that you cannot just bully your way through -- it doesn't work that way.   People considered reasonable in the past, don't get it and it really is not that hard.  One big budget cut or more smaller cuts that equal the same makes zero difference to the end game.

Fred Barnes is sayinig what we have been saying for the last few months about the budget situation and how they are incrementally getting the budget cuts.  We thought it was a smart idea and still do even though some members of Congress are starting to criticize.   Fred Barnes makes perfect sense to us!

March 28, 2011
Republicans Are Winning the Budget Fight
The incremental approach is working and embarrassing Democrats. Why should the GOP risk a government shutdown?


By FRED BARNES
Some of the most disgruntled folks in Washington these days are conservative Republicans in Congress. They believe their party has abandoned the cause of deep spending cuts that spurred the Republican landslide in the 2010 midterm election. They say their leaders are needlessly settling for small, incremental cuts.


Moreover, this demand for bigger cuts and defunding of liberal programs—immediately—comes from prominent members of the House, not just excitable freshmen. "This is our mice or men moment," according to Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota. Allowing Democrats more time to negotiate "will only delay a confrontation that must come," said Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, chairman of the House Study Committee, added: "We've made some solid first downs. Now it's time to look to the end zone."


The end zone is far away, however, and impatience won't get Republicans there. Impatience is not a strategy. It may lead to a government shutdown with unknown results. To enact the sweeping cuts they desire, Republicans must hold the House and capture the Senate and White House in the 2012 election. Then they'll control Washington. Now they don't.


In the meantime, the incremental strategy is working. Republicans have passed two short-term measures to keep the government in operation since early March while slashing $10 billion in spending. At this rate, they would achieve the target of GOP congressional leaders of lopping off $61 billion from President Obama's proposed budget in the final seven months of the 2011 fiscal year.


Excerpt: Read More at the The Wall Street Journal