In which logic flips itself on its head and introduces new wrinkles.
We’ve got some people discussing impure thoughts on national television.Grover Norquist, on some Republicans’ recent comments that they’d break the Americans for Tax Reform pledge to reach a deal that avoids the fiscal cliff. (via officialssay)
…the commitment he made to the people of Georgia was not to me, it was a written commitment to the people of Georgia that he would go to Washington to reduce government spending, and reform government, not raise taxes. If he wants to change his mind and become a tax increaser, so we don’t have to reform government, he needs to have that conversation with the people of Georgia.Anti-tax activist Grover Norquist • Responding to remarks we mentioned yesterday by Georgia’s Senator Saxby Chambliss. Chambliss made it clear he won’t be constrained on tax negotiations, even though he signed Norquist’s infamous pledge, to never raise taxes, decades ago. The above was Norquist’s testy response, delivered to Joe Johns on CNN. That he’d try to chasten Chambliss by reminding him of potential political risk is no surprise, considering the stakes — the GOP begins turning its back on the pledge during upcoming “fiscal cliff” negotiations could shatter the keystone of Norquist’s influence and relevance in Washington. source
I care more about my country than I do about a 20-year-old pledge…I care a lot more about it than I do Grover Norquist.Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss, breaking ranks with the militant anti-tax wing of his party. 41 senators have signed Norquist’s pledge—which is essentially a promise to never, ever vote for any revenue or tax increase—but while the document used to be Republican orthodoxy, its influence is showing signs of crumbling. Chambliss’ colleagues Lindsey Graham, John McCain, and Tom Coburn have all recently called for Republicans to abandon the pledge, as has former governor Jeb Bush. While Norquist is a very powerful figure in DC, he isn’t an elected official. He derives power solely from Republicans’ decision to grant him power, and if their subservience to his demands goes away, so does the bulk of his political influence. source
“The president was … elected on the basis that he was not Romney and that Romney was a poopy-head.” — Grover Norquist on Obama’s reelection and the looming fiscal cliff. Watch it on CBS.
Everyone is America is an infant except for me, because not wanting to pay taxes is a noble, adult endeavor.
This is what we give our airtime to, America. Grown men using the phrase “poopy-head.”
But only $1 for every $10 cut. Let’s not get too crazy: The brother of George W. Bush isn’t afraid to break from his party on some issues, and one of those appears to be the hard stance that taxes could not raise in any circumstances whatsoever. “If you could bring to me a majority of people to say that we’re going to have $10 in spending cuts for $1 of revenue enhancement — put me in, coach,” he told the House Budget Committee Friday. In fact, Bush is one of those rare beasts who turned down Grover Norquist’s infamous pledge against all tax increases, at any time, ever. Whoa, this guy sounds like a moderate. Get him! source
Who is this Grover Norquist dude, and how did he manage to score so much influence amongst Republicans in the debt-ceiling debate? Alan Simpson — a Republican who helped head Obama’s bipartisan deficit committee earlier this year — called out Norquist for seemingly forcing the GOP into a no-compromise corner on tax increases. “If Grover Norquist is more powerful than the President of the United States and the Congress,” Simpson told Lawrence O’Donnell, “he should run for President.” Harsh words, bro.
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