One Party Power

2008 had few silver linings, and its election couldn’t have gone worse for conservatives. For the party that caused the economic meltdown is now totally in power with practically a filibuster proof majority in the US senate. It’d be funny if it weren’t so real.

The comedy continues with Al Franken, wannabe comedian, who was never actually funny. His merry band of Democrats has apparently successfully stolen another election. This time it’s the US Senate seat from Norm Coleman (R-MN) who just wasn’t far enough ahead to stop Democrats from magically “finding” enough ballots to “win.” Laughable, how many liberal precincts had more votes than voters.

Unfortunately, it’s become an all too familiar story. In the 2004 Washington’s governor race, Dino Rossi the Republican was ahead by 3492 votes. Suddenly, mysterious ballots were being “discovered” everywhere, especially in unsecured and unguarded places. Once Ms. Gregoire had a 129-vote lead, Democrats declared the vote manufacturing, i.e. counting, over.

So, Senate Democrats will need only one Republican to cross party lines to pass practically anything they want like making Obama “El presidente” for life. And the one who in all probability will be the turncoat is none other than the Republican presidential candidate, John McCain (R-AZ), maverick on all the wrong issues.

In the House, Democrats won’t even need any Republicans to pass a radical, leftist agenda. In fact, Republicans won’t even need to show up. Nancy Pelosi, Squeaker of the Universe, has changed the rules in the 111th congress that amount to the greatest power grab ever in its history.

One key change puts new restrictions on “recommit” motions, which sends a bill back to committee to add new amendments. This modification allows votes without delay, depriving the minority party of any input. When Republicans controlled congress all that was heard was how important those minority party rights were. Of course, that was only when Democrats were in the minority.

And when Democrats were filibustering Bush’s top judicial nominees, Republicans considered getting rid of the filibuster for judicial appointments. But Democrats caterwauled, and Republicans relented. However, if Democrats do abolish the filibuster, only conservative talk radio would even notice its elimination. For no rights of the minority will the DNC media then protest.

When Republicans took control of congress in 1994, they implemented a rule that a committee chairman or party leader must step down if indicted of a crime. Democrats seized upon this. Ronnie Earle, an unscrupulous Texas Democrat district attorney and curiously from that same Travis County where those phony Bush National Guard records originated, indicted GOP Majority Leader Tom Delay.

Delay was a very effective, which explains why Democrats hated him. But, when Republicans attempted to remove this indictment restriction, Democrats caterwauled, and wimpy Republicans relented. Interestingly, when Democrats took control of congress in January 2007, they removed this rule without any fanfare.

Another rule change eliminates the six-year term limit for committee chairmen. Republicans sent a letter to Pelosi stating that abolishing it “will entrench a handful of members of the House in positions of permanent power, with little regard for its impact on the American people.” Message to Republicans, I don’t think the Democrats really care.

Interestingly, Pelosi is now contradicting positions that she took before Democrats got control of congress. In 2004, Pelosi introduced a “Bill of Rights” for the party not in power. In it she quipped, “When we [Democrats] are shut out, they are shutting out the great diversity of America.” Then, Pelosi spoke of “bipartisanship” and her plans “to ensure the rights of the minority.” Now that Democrats have consolidated their power, all that is forgotten.

Asked if there are steps the GOP can take to counter this power grab, one said: “At the end of the day there’s not a lot Republicans can do.” It is truly one party rule, and no one in the DNC media seems a bit concerned that a very inexperience person is becoming president with very little checks and balances.

And concerning the big “O” GOP leaders sent another letter to Pelosi stating: “This is not the kind of openness and transparency that President-elect Obama promised.” He also pledged that no lobbyists would ever contribute to his inauguration.

Well, the Wall Street Journal commissioned Public Citizen, which reported that 207 fundraisers collected $24.8 million. While there were more than 2,000 donations, 378 comprised almost 70 percent.

The Journal observed, “The preponderance of large donors and the fact that so many come from an industry receiving government handouts comes as the president-elect has sought to keep his inauguration free of special interests.” With Obama’s “Orifice of the President-elect” already embroiled in scandals and promise breaking, no doubt congressional Republicans are going to have a severe case of writer’s cramp over the next four years.