The unconstitutional expansion of federal power began as far back as moments after the ratification of the United States Constitution. Under John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States, during his thirty-six year run, the courts created legal precedents that stood in direct opposition to the Jeffersonian Republicans, who called for principles more in line with the Constitution that authorizes stronger State governments. The Jeffersonians were concerned about excessive federal power, and the expansion of a centralized system of governance.
As history has unfolded, inside the political machine, the parties have come to battle on one single issue, despite their claims regarding other issues. That one issue is simply, "Who gets to control the expanding federal power?" Republicans, like the Democrats, want the power that goes with controlling a strong centralized government, but claim that they plan to run it in a more "conservative" manner - an oxymoron to those that support the philosophies of limited government. The truly frightening part, however, is that anyone who dares to stand in their way is punished, not just by the liberal left Democrats seeking power, but by the establishment leadership of the GOP that roosts side by side with the liberal Democrats in Washington.
With a sign of rejection against Democrat Party policies, conservative Republicans won overwhelmingly in the mid-term elections of 2010, and 2014. With a new majority, the Republicans are poised to potentially challenge, and overturn, a number of big government policies the voters believe were put into place by the Democrats. The election was a message to the Republicans to stand against the Democrats, and to move the American form of government closer to the limiting principles of the United States Constitution. The Republicans, or at least the top brass, reject that idea, and believe they were given their new found power to take control of big government policies, and to replace the Democrat Party's big government policies with Republican Party big government policies. In other words, to replace, rather than reject, the policies that Americans are up in arms about.
As with the 2012 election, if the Republican Party refuses to take a more conservative stance on the issues, and instead continue to provide "moderate" candidates that refuse to reject the leftist agenda, the White House will again elude the Republican Party in 2016.
A historic Republican Majority just took control of the House of Representatives, and the GOP also gained a slim majority in the Senate. We are being told that the Republicans will take on Obamacare, Obama's expansion of executive powers, and take action to correct the economy and establish an environment that will enable the creation of jobs. However, the establishment is not interested in repealing the Affordable Care Act, but want to create a Republican version of the socialist program. They want to limit Obama's expansion of executive powers only because he's a democrat, but welcome the precedents Obama has established if ever the Republicans are able to regain the White House. Many of the economic policies being promoted by Republicans do not include tax cuts large enough to make a difference, nor any significant cuts in federal spending.
Many of the Freshman class of newly elected Republicans are supposed to be the cream of the crop when it comes to conservatism, but voters wonder how many of them will survive the meat grinder in the cesspool of Washington. Threats are already being made, battle lines are being drawn, and in the case of John Boehner's position as Speaker of the House, though a conservative uprising took place, Boehner still won his seat back. . . not because he's popular, but because many of those Republicans that wanted to stand against him, were too afraid to because they feared the repercussions.
As expected, after Boehner won his position as Speaker of the House back, punishments were handed out, not only to address the dissent that was dared to be promoted against the establishment, but to send a message to those enthusiastic and idealistic freshmen. The message was, "Stand against the party, and you will be slapped down, lose campaign money and funding for your district, lose any chance to be on committees, and you will never win a reelection."
And then, Boehner will place his hand on the handle of the meat grinder and began the process of whipping the newbies into shape.
The charge against Boehner was led by Represenatives Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, and Ted Yoho, R-Florida. They cited Boehner's lack of vision and leadership as being among the reasons they stood against Boehner. Political pundits like yours truly applauded their willingness to stand against the leadership of the GOP, but also recognized that the power structure would never allow Gohmert or Yoho a victory, and that Boehner would retain his seat. The odds of unseating Boehner were slim to none, and the conservative rebellion was seen as being doomed from the start by establishment talking heads, as well as by those that recognize the reality of the power structure.
The disagreements against Boehner by the more conservative members of the Republican Party in Congress stems from the position that Boehner caved to Democrat Party pressure when he tossed aside the GOP's leverage, and agreed last month to a $1.1 trillion federal spending bill. The Republican establishment is desperate to avoid any semblance of a government shutdown, while continuing to keep the gravy train of big government in position so that they can control it when the day comes that it is their turn at the helm.
The establishment, under the guiding hand of Boehner, also failed to stand against President Obama's unconstitutional immigration actions through executive fiat, which means that Boehner, and the establishment Republicans, refused to heed the message delivered by the voters when they gave the GOP control of the Senate, and demanded change in Washington.
The reality is that the United States cannot afford Obamacare, and the expansion of the federal government is not only unconstitutional, but dangerous to the security of liberty and freedom. While voters commend the few Republicans that have joined the game in Washington, we wonder how many will be left standing after it is all over.
There will be some good that comes out of the battle in Washington, for some of the issues will survive because the establishment knows that they must make at least a little headway against Obama's policies if they want to politically survive long enough to continue their reign in the machine.
The Keystone pipeline will likely be an issue the GOP Congress will address, as well as some tax reform, and "changes" to Obamacare. Repeal of the liberal left policies toward socialized medicine, however, is an idea I believe the Republicans are in the process of abandoning. . . not because they believe it can't happen, but because they have decided they want a certain level of government control over health care to remain in place.
The Republicans may stand against a few recent environmental regulations, as well, but again, their attack against the liberal left agenda will be limited, just enough to show the voters they are standing against leftist policies, while not necessarily eliminating those policies so that later they can grab a hold of the reins of big government for themselves.
"This election was not an endorsement of either party, it was a condemnation of, yes, the president's policies, but also of government dysfunction," said GOP Rep.-elect Carlos Curbelo, who defeated a Democratic incumbent in Florida.
Unfortunately, the Republicans believe to achieve eliminating government dysfunction, that means they must bend over backwards to compromise with a Democrat Party that has a long history of refusing to do its own compromising, and an even longer history of reneging on promises.
For standing against Speaker John Boehner, the punishment that came was swift, decisive, and no surprise. Representatives Daniel Webster and Rich Nugent, both from Florida, were among the 25 Republicans that dared to stand against Boehner, and for their participation in the insurgency, they were immediately removed from the influential Rules Committee. Other moves, in the coming months, against those that dared to stand against Boehner, will probably include the loss of subcommittee chairmanships, and other perks.
Though there has been some verbal uprising against Boehner's punitive action, threats of further retaliation has kept the dissent at a minimum.
House Republican leadership is surely taking stock of who not only voted against Boehner in the battle for Speaker of the House, but also of those who opposed a procedural motion in December on the CR-Omnibus bill.
Despite the backlash from Republican leadership, none of the the conservatives that stood against Boehner have suggested they were sorry about their decision to stand against the Boehner, and the party leadership. They are also aware that a price may have to be paid.
The number of anti-Boehner votes doubled when compared to the number of anti-Boehner votes from 2013. Unfortunately, points out Representative Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.), “only three of the freshmen class” voted against Boehner.
Huelskamp said he was denied a chance to get his seat back on the Agriculture Committee because of his opposition to Boehner. The Kansas Republican was removed from the panel in 2012.
“I am already hearing from my colleagues, and myself, about retaliation against those who voted their conscience, their constituents, their principles, to change the status quo,” Huelskamp said. “My colleagues fully expect that. That’s what they expect out of this leadership team.”
Rep. Steve King, the Iowa Republican who voted against Boehner, said, “If you cannot vote your conscience … then it’s clearly a dysfunctional system here.”
Despite the rumblings of rebellion, Boehner and his team are convinced that they have a firmer grip on power than ever before.
“We don’t need these fringe guys as much as we did anymore,” said a GOP leadership aide, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “We can let them walk on certain bills, and it just won’t matter. That gives us breathing room.”
Conservatives are seen as "the fringe," and the enemy, not just because they dare to challenge the power structure the leadership has established, but because they dare to desire a dismantling of the the centralized system, and move the federal government in the direction of the limiting principles demanded by the United States Constitution. Downsizing, and decentralizing, government is something the Republican Party establishment just won't allow.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
More conservative Republicans say they won't back Boehner for Speaker - Fox News
Outspoken, diverse freshman class joins Congress - - sets sights on economy, jobs - Fox News
Rand Paul's answer to what should replace Obamacare: 'We could try freedom' - The Blaze
Gruber in 2009: Obamacare will NOT be affordable - Daily Caller
Boehner takes revenge - Politico
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