Tag: MIke Rogers

To the above folks, we ask "Why bother to go to Washington?" or "Why be a Republican at all? To win races?"  Benishek especially, given the support he NEEDS to even think about winning.  A very real possibility: 48-40 loss in next years general (if you make it that far) to Jerry Cannon.  Sorry buddy.  I'll let you guess at where the odd votes go.  As for Upton, Camp, and Rogers?  Not really surprised.  Safe districts, but might still face primary challenges.

Those MiGOP Congressional types who did us right.
Miller - Nay
Bentivolio - Nay
Walberg - Nay
Amash - Nay
Huizenga - Nay

The role of the US House is supposed to be fund as needed, and not as a great big package.  The President as Cruz explained, called out the dangers of veterans services and parks being put at risk by the GOP led house holding off the big package.  The US House responded appropriately and offered funding only to have it rejected by Harry Reid.

Huh go figure.  Michigan GOP Reps pay attention.  KNOW that you are winning FOR the country.

In fact, I should have eight other press releases similar to this one.  Tim Walberg (CD7)yesterday, voted in favor of legislation that would provide funding for the National Park Service and the Veterans Affairs Department. However,both pieces of legislation failed by not gathering enough Democrats to reach the two-thirds required for final passage.  We have discussed this (quite appropriate)strategy on these pages recently.  Walberg says:

"President Obama and Congressional Democrats are already on record as supporting a piecemeal approach to keeping the government funded. It's disappointing some of my colleagues in the House do not feel as strongly about veteran services and disability claims, national parks and other areas of importance.

I remain committed to finding a compromised way to move this country forward. We deserve better."

Reality, is that Obama and Reid have said they will not negotiate.  The GOP led US House is completely in the correct mode holding out specific funding legislation for what might be perceived as an immediate need, while other negotiations (and hopefully complete dissolution of Obamacare) are being made.

Congress has already set an example of continuing resolutions, and money spending sans a budget, balanced or otherwise. Frankly, the role of congress has become that of enabler and cash valet to the spenders elsewhere in government, and little more.  Competing special interests over the years have created some form of acceptance that ALL issues are important enough to fund fully, and no congress critter majority has been able to (as a whole) suppress the need to please.

Its now a different world.  The stakes are higher, there is a tyranny begging to be funded, and the people are screaming at the top of their lungs that ENOUGH is ENOUGH!

And something happened in the meantime that should give us hope.  Letting a little steam off the pressure cooker that is Washington DC, the president is at the time of this writing, expected to sign a bill guaranteeing pay for military services and members in the event of a 'shut down'.

"The measure would also ensure continued pay for civilian employees of the Defense Department and Pentagon contractors whom Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel determines "are providing support to members of the Armed Forces." "

Think about it as one less thing the president can hold over the Republicans in congress. And the fact is, he really MUST sign it.  Otherwise the tables are turned hard on him.

And it is pure gold that should not be squandered.

He write in an email blast last evening:

"You can expect major legislation to be voted on this week.

First, the continuing spending resolution, or "CR."

I have flatly stated that I will oppose this resolution if it will fund ObamaCare. And I will take the greatest care to identify any provision that might indirectly do so. "yup

Apparently, there is a procedural move which has been used before to fool the noobs in the political arena, and provide cover for the enablers otherwise; Fund, Defund, and pretend. From Brieitbart:"The source added that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor is "shopping an idea of passing defund through the House with the CR, but with a mechanism that would allow it to be decoupled in the Senate, defeated, and then the base CR be passed without coming back to the House."

Michigan Congressmen need to pay attention.  Its all over for Republicans if Obamacare is allowed to continue.  Understand this. The two senators in these videos are worthy of emulation.

The 'nuclear option' is at hand.  Surrender is not an option, and any funding for Obamacare is an endorsement of it. Any federal overreach such as this MUST be pushed back by our representatives in whatever way available.  If the last resort is a shutdown of an extra-constitutional government so-be-it.  No Republican principles are served in the absence of courage. Kentucky voters are rightfully advised to talk to their US Senator who will be up for his seat next year.

And THESE Guys need to hear from you as well.

Dan Benishek 1st District Bill Huizenga 2nd District Justin Amash 3rd District Dave Camp 4th District Fred Upton 6th District Tim Walberg 7th District Mike Rogers 8th District Candice Miller 10th District Kerry Bentivolio 11th District  

A dozen years ago Representative Mike Rogers, I would have agreed with you.  However, even then I asked the question of the 'carnivore' program: "would I trust these tools in anyone else' hands but the good guys? (At the time I considered that to be GWB) So when you ask YOUR question:

"Have 12 years gone by and our memories faded so badly that we forgot what happened on Sept. 11?" Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., chairman of the Intelligence committee, said in pleading with his colleagues to back the program during House debate.

But we also are not blind.

The Amash amendment was a good start to reign in this administration's abuse.  We are no safer with this president's minions using such tools to its own ends, than we are by pretending the NSA trade off is worth it.  Take a look at how we deal with REAL terrorism on our shores, and can you tell me if it matters what THEY find?