Remember over the years I always loved when Alan Simpson would give a talk either on the floor of the Senate or at an event. He has a way with words that has always made me laugh and this article is no different today. If you want to see the interview, please click here.
Simpson doesn't mince words and it is so refreshing to have a former Senator and one-time politician be so straight forward. This comment ranks right up with some of the ones I have loved over the years:
"If you want to be a purist, go somewhere on a mountaintop and praise the east or something. But if you want to be in politics, you learn to compromise. And you learn to compromise on the issue without compromising yourself. Show me a guy who won’t compromise and I’ll show you a guy with rock for brains."That is one of the biggest problems we have today is that way too many people elected to Congress think 'compromise' is a dirty word when in fact, it has been used for years to get the job done for all the American people just not a few. There is no common sense left in most of Congress. You have to work across the aisle to get things done but this group of 'my way or no way' on both sides are are forgetting that they work for the American people not some Super PAC or big donors or a group that vows to defeat them if they don't vote like they want (Chamber of Commerce comes to mind). We need more Senators like Tom Coburn, Jim Inhofe, John McCain, Joe Liberman, and others who put the Country first.
I am so sick and tired of hearing about tax cuts when the very people opening their mouths are the ones who are not for limited government and in fact are continuing to grow government. The cuts they tout are mostly smoke and mirrors until 2017 when then take place. Alan Simpson has them pegged and I am extremely happy to join him as a RINO (Republican in Name Only) because this Republican Party is one I don't recognize or I wouldn't have been a member all these years. There is no common sense only pandering to special interest groups and donors.
When is someone going to tell Norquist to take it and shove it? Tax cuts are not the end all be all especially when they favor people like Romney and other fat cats who pay less than 15% due to a special part of the Bush Tax Cuts. Why shouldn't the wealthy pay their fair share -- 15% is not their fair share. It is not like they are spending their money to hire people as small business' are doing most of the hiring. They sit there with their off shore accounts where they pay zero tax to the United States and that is okay to some people but not this one. What we are seeing out of wealthy donors and Super PACS should make every one hang their head in shame to support any candidate where the wealthy are trying to buy the Presidency with their attack ads over and over again. They bring nothing positive to the table.
Republicans had plentyof negative to say about George Soros and Obama and they were right in 2008. Only problem is that these Republican Super PACs are much worse and you barely hear a peep since it is Republican which is about as hypocritical as you can get.
When you elect a member of Congress, they are supposed to represent ALL of their Constituents not just special interest groups and donors. Both sides of guilty of not wanting to compromise and the American people suffer in the process. Not all good or bad ideas are on one side. This demonetization of the other side needs to stop by both sides. They are people with families just like the rest of us but have a different philosophical idea about what is best. That doesn't mean you cannot talk.
Social issues do not belong in the national discussion. I have said for years on abortion that I don't want my tax dollars going to fund abortion which should very simple to handle -- don't appropriate money that goes to fund abortions. There are plenty of foundations I am sure would be there to help. Let Emily's List handle funding since they are so far left.
Very wise words by Alan Simpson and hope that they are taking to heart by the people running. Answer to your constituents and a word of caution to them as well -- stop this 'my way or no way' or you are going to defeat them mentality -- be willing to listen instead of automatically telling them if you don't vote my way, you will be defeated. There are approximately 600,000 other members of your district who want them to vote their way and you cannot always please every constituent. The problem is that this group is more interested in pleasing the National Chamber, Wall Street, and K Street then they are the American people. When you talk about a candidate being bought and paid for by special interest, look no further than Mitt Romney and Barack Obama. Sad commentary on the Presidential election this time. Two candidates in the hip pockets of special interest groups and big donors.
This Memorial Day when we honor our veterans, many who gave their all for this Country, each and every politician needs to look in their heart and ask if what they are doing is best for America or for their special interest friends and big donors. Time to return common sense and putting America first to the halls of Congress and the White House. We owe that to the men and women who sacrificed it all for America in Defense of our Country!
Alan Simpson Slams Fellow Republicans For Unwillingness To Compromise
Posted: 05/27/2012 9:29 pm
Former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.) lashed out at members of his party on Sunday, slamming them for their unwillingness to compromise on proposed tax increases.
In his characteristically colorful style, Simpson told CNN's Fareed Zakaria that Republicans' rigid opposition to new tax revenues has hampered productivity and diminished the chances of reaching an agreement with Democrats on debt reduction.
"You can’t cut spending your way out of this hole," Simpson, who was appointed as co-chair of President Obama's Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform in 2010, said. "You can’t grow your way out of this hole, and you can’t tax your way out of this hole. So put that in your pipe and smoke it, we tell these people. This is madness."
Simpson continued: "If you want to be a purist, go somewhere on a mountaintop and praise the east or something. But if you want to be in politics, you learn to compromise. And you learn to compromise on the issue without compromising yourself. Show me a guy who won’t compromise and I’ll show you a guy with rock for brains."
The former senator, along with debt commission co-chair Erskine Bowles, developed a plan in 2010 for bringing down the top tax rate and lowering the deficit by repealing a number of tax cuts and credits. The initial plan, commonly known as Simpson-Bowles, was mostly ignored by lawmakers. A bipartisan budget modeled after their report was rejected by the House earlier this year.
During the interview Sunday, he expressed frustration with his party's focus on social issues, as well as the ability of outspoken figures like Americans for Tax Reform head Grover Norquist to drive the conversation.
"I guess I'm known as a RINO now, which means a Republican in name only, because, I guess, of social views, perhaps, or common sense would be another one, which seems to escape members of our party," Simpson said. "For heaven’s sake, you have Grover Norquist wandering the earth in his white robes saying that if you raise taxes one penny, he’ll defeat you. He can’t murder you. He can’t burn your house. The only thing he can do to you, as an elected official, is defeat you for reelection. And if that means more to you than your country when we need patriots to come out in a situation when we’re in extremity, you shouldn’t even be in Congress."
Source: Huffington Post
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