- MENU
- HOME
- SEARCH
- WORLD
- MAIN
- AFRICA
- ASIA
- BALKANS
- EUROPE
- LATIN AMERICA
- MIDDLE EAST
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Benelux
- Brazil
- Canada
- China
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- India
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Korea
- Mexico
- New Zealand
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Poland
- Russia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Taiwan
- Turkey
- USA
- BUSINESS
- WEALTH
- STOCKS
- TECH
- HEALTH
- LIFESTYLE
- ENTERTAINMENT
- SPORTS
- RSS
- iHaveNet.com: Politics
by Bill Press
Upon assuming control of the 112th
Too bad they didn't listen to Mary Poppins. She would have told them what to avoid at all costs: "No pie crust promises. Easily made. Easily broken." Instead, Republicans littered the floor of the Capitol with pie crust promises, easily made and broken -- on the very first day of the new legislative session.
Jobs.
Campaigning in the midterm elections, Republicans pledged to make creation of jobs their number one priority. Promise broken. Instead, they immediately moved to repeal President Obama's health care reform legislation. In his inaugural remarks, Speaker John Boehner did not mention job creation. Not even once.
Cut Spending.
The centerpiece of the "Pledge to America" unveiled by House Republicans in September was a promise to cut
Work for People.
Again in his acceptance speech, John Boehner renewed his oft-stated pledge to "listen to the American people for a change." Promise already broken. Last week, new Government Oversight Chair Darrell Issa sent a letter to 150 big corporations and lobbying firms, asking them to identify which federal regulations should be cancelled by
Right to Vote.
Republicans didn't wait long to deny one more opportunity for voices of the people to be heard. The very first vote of the 112th
But nowhere were so many promises broken as in the way Republicans leaped into their doomed-to-fail efforts to roll back the clock on health care reform.
Repeal and replace.
Campaigning in the midterms, Republican House and
Transparency.
No more log-rolling of important legislation, Boehner promised. Under his leadership, Republicans would insist on total transparency and open debate on all issues prior to any vote on the House floor. Another promise broken. The vote to repeal health care is scheduled for January 12, just one week after its introduction -- with no public hearings, no debate, and no opportunity to offer amendments.
Pay-Go.
For years, Republicans wrapped themselves in the cloak of fiscal responsibility, insisting that
At the same time, under new rules adopted by Republicans on January 5, from now on pay-go will only apply to new spending, not to new tax cuts. But not all tax cuts are exempt, however -- only those identified as worthwhile by
Changing the Culture.
Republican tea party candidates, especially, campaigned on a pledge to introduce a more austere tone to Washington. It didn't take long to break that promise, either.
If you can't trust Republicans to keep their promises longer than one day, what can you trust them with?
Read the latest political news.
Available at Amazon.com:
God of Liberty: A Religious History of the American Revolution
Jimmy Carter: The American Presidents Series: The 39th President, 1977-81
The Disappearing Center: Engaged Citizens, Polarization, and American Democracy
The Virtues of Mendacity: On Lying in Politics
Bush on the Home Front: Domestic Policy Triumphs and Setbacks
The Political Fix: Changing the Game of American Democracy, from the Grassroots to the White House
Revival: The Struggle for Survival Inside the Obama White House
Renegade: The Making of a President
Year of Meteors: Stephen Douglas, Abraham Lincoln, and the Election that Brought on the Civil War
AMERICAN POLITICS
WORLD | AFRICA | ASIA | EUROPE | LATIN AMERICA | MIDDLE EAST | UNITED STATES | ECONOMICS | EDUCATION | ENVIRONMENT | FOREIGN POLICY | POLITICS
Republicans Break Their Promises On Day One | Politics
© Tribune Media Services