What Is Next For The Republican Party

That is a question the party is asking itself at this very moment but so far the answer has been elusive.  
Michael Steele, the newest Chairman of the Republican National Committee has had a problem bringing the various factions of the party together and his rhetoric has been acid laced towards democrats while at the same time apologizing to Rush Limbaugh.

 

Republican leaders in congress Mitch McConnell and John Boehner are a part of the failed republican policy and ideology of the past and offer only criticism of democrats and nothing new in the way of policytomove the country or their party forward.  The same can be said for Newt Gingrich and Dick Armey.  Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Rielly their likes and the Christian right have been able to bully the leaders of the republican party using divisive issues.  I remember a motion picture when I was a youngster that had the title "Tall in the saddle."  What the republican party needs is some one who is "tall in courage" to stand up to the phonies in their party and those mentioned above.

 

The Washington Post carried a story, "Ailing GOP Vows To Start Conversation with voter."  Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, republican Mitt Romney and congressman Eric Cantor unveiled the "National Council for a New America" at a town hall meeting in Washington, D.C.  This was to be a first in a national series about "rebranding" the GOP said Cantor.  In other words, the re packaging of the GOP.

 

Congressman Cantor has been in the news a lot and has been critical of President Obama's policies and the legislation he has sent to congress.  However, like his party, has no proposals of his own.  Romney had his chance to represent change when he ran for his party's Presidential nomination last year and lost.  During the debates he not only offered nothing new he kept talking about how Ronald Reagan cut spending.  Even though Reagan had no record of cutting spending and in fact ended up being the biggest deficit spender of his time.  Former gov. Jeb Bush represents the same school of thought as his brother, George Bush.  Ideology is his platform and has no credentials that would separate him from the republican party we know today.

 

The republican party will not change as long as the same leaders are running the show no matter how much window dressing they put on their actions.  New leadership is needed that change the debate on issues such as abortion, gay marriage and other social and moral issues that the American people are able to sort through on their own.  Forget about conservatism being some kind of elite status when it comes to family values and fiscal and social responsibility and other badges of honor conservatives claims to wear.  In other words, come down off the high pedestal and try to just be an American.  Conservatives destroyed their so called elite status long ago. 

 

The republican party needs to enter the debate on the real issues facing the people and shed their do nothing attitude and their talking points of blame.  All is not lost for the GOP if they recognize how they wrecked their own train.  The status quo with the same leaders and the same ideology is a burden the republican party has to change.  A real change, not the same phony games they have been playing.

Another First For Politidose

It was pointed out here in politidose long ago how representatives from the oil and gas industry, President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney lied to the American people when they said no new oil refineries have been built in the last 30 years in the U.S. because of environmental reasons and the cost thereof. 

 

No new refineries have been built because there has been no demand because there was no shortage of stockpiles, ethanol was added to the mix and most existing refineries have been expanded.  The CEO's of Chevron and other major oil companies testified to that before congress under oath.  In fact they stated why should we build a new refinery when ethanol is being pushed to reduce the use of gasoline.  Republicans and representatives of the oil and gas industry have long made the environmental problem the whipping boy and out right lied to the people and used that every time the price of oil and gasoline spiked.

 

Now we read in an article in the New Orleans Times Picayune of 5/2/09 how Marathon Petroleum is increasing its oil refinery capacity at its Garyville, Louisiana refinery which now ranks as the 18th largest in the country and will move up to number 4 in 2010 when the expansion is complete.  The refinery now processes 256,000 barrels of oil a day and when completed, will process 436,000 barrels of oil a day, an increase of 70%.  The reader will remember it was said in politidose long ago that almost every refinery in Louisiana has increased its capacity in the last several years.  The fact is oil refineries have not stood still but you don't hear that from the liars.

 

There are more kickers in the Marathon Oil story.  Alfonse Mannato, an analyst with the American Petroleum Institute said oil companies have enlarged existing facilities during the past decade creating the equivalent of one new refinery every year.  The fact that it is an expansion and not a new refinery does not diminish its importance.  That is a powerful statement devastating to the liars.  Rich Bedell the facility manager described the expansion as a long held plan by Marathon that did not take into account the high prices of last summer or the subsequent downturn.  That is another powerful statement that is at odds with those who say the price of gasoline should be $4.00 gallon.

 

Marathon's investment in the project expansion is $3.4 billion.  Louisiana allowed the company to use $1 billion in Gulf Opportunity Zone bonds, a tax free financing device authorized by Congress to help the state recover economically after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  The plant now has 920 jobs that will go to 1200 jobs when complete.  Mr. Bedell called the refinery one of the most efficient in the nation.

 

The American people deserve to be told the facts concerning what is taking place in the oil and gas industry and the prices the people have to pay.  That has not been the case.  If any one still has any doubts about the manipulation of prices in this industry I guess the lies will continue.  An electorate who wants to really understand what is happening can make change for the better. 

 

The bottom line to the Marathon story is that existing refineries have enlarged and up graded their refinery capacity to keep up with demand and that there has be no major shortage of refinery capacity to cause the run up in prices the country has seen in the last 5 years.  Liars will always be liars.

U.S. Senator Arlen Specter

Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania announced he was leaving the republican party to become a democrat.  He was candid in his reasons why he was leaving the republic party.  He said he was not prepared to have his 29 year record with the U.S. Senate decided by the jury of the Pennsylvania republican primary electorate.  Specter also said the republican party had moved far to the right.  Specter's republican colleges were not happy with the move and were not so kind about his decision to change.

 

There was immediate talk by people in the news media that Specter would give the democratic party the 60 votes in the Senate needed to shut down debate.  That seems to be premature since no one knows how Specter will vote as a democrat.  However, between now and his reelection bid he will have an opportunity to develop a record as a democrat and the people will be able to judge just who is Specter the man.  Is he the man who cares only about his reelection or will his voting record reflect progress for the country and its people.

 

The present time should  be a defining time for the American people because of all the serious problems the country and its people are facing.  There are a lot of votes coming up in congress on many of those issues and the people will be able to see how our elected officials vote.  We the voters have to take note and see if elected officials vote for progress or vote to retain the status quo.  That is the bottom line regardless of party affiliation.  Time will tell.

U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu

Democratic U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu announced on 4/27/09 she was supporting the retention of Jim Letten as U.S. attorney for Louisiana's Eastern District.  Jim Letten, a republican was appointed by President George W. Bush.

 

Senator Landrieu's decision was a good one and showed her courage and class.  It was in sharp contrast to the firing of 7 U.S. Attorneys by former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, which was done for partisan reasons that have come out in hearings before congress.  Louisiana's junior U.S. Senator, David Vitter had pledged to fight the nomination of anyone but Letten.  This is the same David Vitter who finished second on a list of the least by partisan republicans according to a survey by the Capitol Hill Newspaper, "The Hill" reported in the Times Picayune of 4/26/09.

 

Senator Landrieu noted in her recommendation of Mr. Letten that President Obama said that he wanted to reach across the aisle and build bridges and middle ground.  This recommendation does that.  The people of Louisiana can be proud of Senator Landrieu's actions.  It is just one more example that separates the democratic party from the republican party.

A Fiscal Responsible Government

I have written many times in past commentaries concerning the federal budget deficits and debt that has been the republican trade mart of the last 3 republican Presidents and how their ideology of trickle down economics has failed.  Those commentaries were made long before the economy crashed, the wall street financial collapse and the massive job losses that have occurred over the past 15 months.

 

It was pointed out in those commentaries how the republican ideology and a lack of a true fiscal and economic policy failed to create a sustained economy and a sustained job creation for the American people.  The country and its people are now living through the carnage and the government has embarked on a massive stimulus plan to turn things around.  I also spoke about the greed of corporate America and how innovation has been lost in America, especially in the automotive industry.  It should be noted no other form of news media were talking about those issues at that very early time. 

 

Now, the news media is paying a considerable amount of attention to all of those issues.  President Obama"s commitment to put the U.S. on track again to balance the federal budget and have a sound fiscal policy has gotten little attention in the news media however, which is very unfortunate. 

 

The President has already started the ball rolling to put the country back on a sound fiscal policy.  He has already ordered his cabinet to identify programs that are outdated or not working and in his radio address to the nation on 4/26/09 called on congress to pass "pay as you go" legislation to deal with the budget problem.  He also said, government must act the same way any responsible family does in setting its budget.  The President's initiative to stabilize the economy will result in larger federal budgets for awhile.  That has been compounded by record deficit spending by the Bush administration for eight straight years.

 

The Presidents desire to return the government to fiscal discipline should be given that chance and the American people should make it be known they too want their government to be fiscally sound and balance the federal budget.  No one really knows how much money the federal government waste each year but if our leaders really want to do the right thing, I believe the government could afford those things that really matter to our country and its ;people without creating more debt.  The Presidents leadership in this will make a difference.

The Torture Flip Flops

The United States is party to more than one international treaty that forbids torture and other cruel and inhumane treatment.  Those treaties forbid torture regardless of what rationale is given by those who think torture is a legitimate tool.

 

The Bush administration has repeated the line the U.S. does not torture however, we know now because of the release of intelligence documents and testimony before congress and the debate that is going on now the U.S. did indeed use torture on several prisoners.  More and more people who served in the Bush administration are now talking openly about the situation.

 

President Obama said it would be up to the Justice department to see if they have a case to prosecute those in the Bush administration who authorized torture.  Some seem to be getting scared, especially former V.P. Dick Cheney.  He has been on Fox cable news proclaiming that torture works and got results and prevented some terror attacks in the past.  After denying the U.S. tortured anyone he now wants to justify that action because he said they prevented more terror attacks.

 

Cheney wants it both ways especially now since he may be in legal jeopardy with more and more information coming out.  It is also reported that a few CIA agents said torture was used to establish a link between Saddam Hussein, Bin Laden and the 9-11 attacks.  Bush and Cheney have been trying to find that link before the Iraqi war and after when no WMD were found.  Their justification for going to war in Iraq was a lie so they were looking for another excuse and even though it did not exist, they still tried to plant that seed in the mind of the people.

 

The U.S. government should find out the truth and if indeed torture was authorized, those responsible should have to answer to the law.  Treaties are a two way street for all who are a party to them.  Laws are what people have to live by and the U.S. is the one nation that can make a difference in upholding the law.

 

U.S. Representative Steve Scalise, The New Newt Gingrich

Newt Gingrich, the Republican who when Speaker of the House introduced his contract for America (which America never asked for), opposed President Clinton's deficit reduction and economic policy, shut down the federal government and then later resigned in disgrace is now being imitated by U.S. representative Scalise.

 

Mr. Scalise is opposing almost all of the Presidents proposals and says they are job killers.  Yet it is Mr. Scalise and his party who have no record of job creation.  The economy lost over 4 million jobs in the last 13 months of the Bush administration.  All one has to do is look at the republican record for the last 8 years. 

 

The republican party has yet to find a new face that represents change and progress for the American people.  Its new faces represent the same failed ideology and policies that has brought the economy to its knees.  Scalise is all over the ball park on the "cap and trade" proposal congress will be debating and as usual offers no proof for his statements that the legislation, if adopted would result in huge job loses.  It is almost laughable when republicans talk about job losses. 

 

The democratic party over the years have proven they are open on various issues.  On the other hand, the republican party is still the party who think they and only they know what is good for America and its people.  Well the people rejected that sad ideology in November.  Republicans in congress have nothing to offer the people so far so what is their new strategy?  They are trying to brand the democratic party as the socialism party.  When you have nothing to contribute, attack and attack.

 

Thomas Jefferson would not look at the republican party of today as a viable option for the American people.  Mr. Scalise and his party need to grow up.

Republicans, Conservatives and The Tax Tea Party

The republican party and conservatism does not define each other and has been that way since the election of Ronald Reagan as President.  The last 3 republican Presidents and members of their party in congress have by their actions proven there is no such thing as a conservative politician.  The same holds true for many republican leaders who are no longer in congress but still play a major role in the republican party decisions such as Newt Gingrich, Dick Armey, Tom DeLay and others.

 

Then you have those in the news media like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Riley, Niel Cavuto and others who I will refer to as the "group" who preach conservatism but in fact are right wing radicals who care nothing about the principal foundations our country was built on. 

 

The "group" and those mentioned above have banded together and high jacked true conservatism and replaced it with right wing ideology, then created a base to promote and practice that ideology.  The result has been to divide America, deficit spending and debt for 20 years, a transfer of wealth from the middle class, failure to regulate corporate America and the economic situation the country finds itself in today.

 

The American people in the last 3 elections, two congressional and one Presidential, made a decision to reverse the ideology policies of the republican party and put the democrats in control.  As a result the republican party has no real leader today that has any credibility.  The "group" will not support any republican who puts country first that is why they are promoting and leading the current tax and tea party.  They can not compete with new ideas so they try to create an issue for the new President.  At the same time they are silent on the subject of the cause of what is taking place in America today, republican ideology. 

 

What the republican party needs is a new leader who is willing to stand up to the present leaders of their party and the "group" and put the country first.  The days of beating on ones chest and proclaiming, "I am a conservative" and that makes me better than any one else are gone.  The republican party has failed to offer the American people any constructive direction. 

Who's Side Are They On?

Louisiana representatives Charles Boustany and Steve Scalise's letter to the eidtor of the Times Picayune dated 4/17/09 is just another scare tactic to maintain the status quo of corporate welfare to the Oil and Gas Industry.  Congress has already given that industry over a year ago $7 or $8 billion of corporate welfare at a time when oil was over $100 barrel and gasoline $3.00 gallon.

 

They now say the government should be giving them more to increase production.  What is stopping that industry now from increasing production?  Oil is over $50 barrel and gasoline around $2.00 gallon.  The rig count both nationally and in Louisiana has been going down.  That reflects supply has overtaken demand because the people have cut back on their driving habits and are using less fuel.  That is good sense by the consumer and good for the economy, they can spend their money on more productive things like consumer goods, health insurance and education.

 

Mr. Boustany and Scalise need to leave the pockets of corporate America, especially the oil and gas industry and their lobbyist.  They preach conservatism and then cater to the special interest groups, then use the Cap and Trade legislature passed by the U.S. House to scare the people.  The oil and gas industry has made record profits for the last several years, they can afford to do what ever need to be done on their own.  Using tax payers dollars to give the oil and gas industry to increase production is wasted money. 

 

The public needs to also remember it is members of congress who stack the tax code with loop holes and goodies that allow corporate America to pay less than their fair share of taxes and shields a good portion of their revenue from tax with offshore accounts.  If any one believes corporate welfare will allow business to reduce their products costs to consumers, they need to study economics and learn that it is greed that fuels corporate America. 

 

The status quo seems to be Mr. Boustany and Scalise's agenda.  The American people voted the opposite way in the November elections.

Louisiana Politics: Still Cloudy

Former Louisiana Governor Blanco decided not to run for reelection because she thought the aftermath of Katrina would dominate the campaign instead of the many other issues important to Louisiana and its people.  That was a courageous decision.  Most elected officials put self before any thing or anyone else. 

 

The people elected Bobby Jindal as governor.  A republican has not occupied the governor's office seat very often and the word was spread that a new era in Louisiana politics would began for the better.  Politics concerning the proposed budget that is in deficit reflects the same old political solutions.  Higher education, health care and funding for the arts are taking a heavy hit.  Nothing new there and so far no original thought.  The increase in property taxes is once again with us and home owners are mad.  Nothing new there either.  One member of the legislature is proposing a tax rebate to help out and also will introduce legislature to raise the homestead exemption to $150,000 to replace the present $75,000.  Nothing new there because the problem is still with us after many years of debate and elected officials seem to be all over the ball park.

 

More and more people are writing to the Times Picayune letters to the editors expressing their disapproval of governor Jindal's many trips out of state to raise campaign contributions.  Nothing new there either.  A lot of our past governors have been AWOL.  Jindal tells the people often how lucky the people of Louisiana are that the economic down turn has not been as severe for its people as other parts of the country.  Yet the Times Picayune reported 3/30/09 that Louisiana's rate of personal income growth in 2007 was 10.2% and dropped to 4.2% in 2008, a decrease of 6%.  That number would be pretty severe to a lot of folks.

 

The people are told finding new revenue sources is not easy.  Is that supposed to mean our elected officials can't make the hard decisions when necessary?  Former republican governor David Treen resurrected just recently a way for the state to raise new revenue.  Its called CWEL, "Coastal Wetlands Environmental Levy."  The levy would produce substantial revenue with the impact on Louisiana hardly noticeable says Treen.  The problem is that elected officials are afraid to do their job when anything that looks like a tax is mentioned.  Instead, they find a way to get into the consumers pockets a hundred different ways.

 

Our politicians tell us they know a lot about oil and gas in this state.  Yet they got carried away with their budget projections on revenue from oil and gas which was part of the budget problem.  They thought the price of oil was going to stay sky high.  They acted like they were from Nebraska.  Is there any one in Louisiana who knows the price of oil will come down.  Nothing new there either.

 

At this point I don't believe any one can say with a straight face a new era has begun in Louisiana.  The people who run government still lack any original thought.