2014 - Page 44 of 98

McConnell: If GOP Wins the Senate We Will Shut Down Government

August 27, 2014 Buck Banks

So in the House and Senate, we own the budget. So what does that mean? That means that we can pass the spending bill. And I assure you that in the spending bill, we will be pushing back against this bureaucracy by doing what’s called placing riders in the bill. No money can be spent to do this or to do that. We’re going to go after them on healthcare, on financial services, on the Environmental Protection Agency, across the board (inaudible). All across the federal government, we’re going to go after it …

— Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), telling a room of conservative activists how Republicans will shut down parts of the government if they gain control of the U.S. Senate on an audio tape acquired by The Nation.

— Mitt Romney, in an interview with Hugh Hewitt.

— Scott Maxwell, columnist for the Orlando Sentinel, advising Floridians on how to survive the next two months, in which the contest for governor between incumbent Rick Scott and former Charlie Crist will feel like choosing, “between rug burn or road rash.”

So What, We Have a Celebrity President

August 26, 2014 Buck Banks

Since 2009, the president has played more than 185 rounds of golf. Expensive vacation homes, fine dining, spontaneous trips, private concerts by the world’s top music artists; Obama’s life seems more like that of a celebrity than a president.

— Alabama GOP Chairman Bill Armistead, quoted by the Birmingham News.

Not Many True Libertarians Out There

August 26, 2014 Buck Banks

11%

Of Americans describe themselves as libertarian and actually know what the term means, according to a new Pew Research survey.

President Obama has returned from vacation,
Recharged and ready to lead this great nation.
Though with a do-nothing Congress,
He doesn’t have much choice,
But to instigate some serious executive action.

Rand Paul Labels Hillary Clinton a ‘War Hawk’

August 25, 2014 Buck Banks

I think that’s what scares the Democrats the most, is that in a general election, were I to run, there’s going to be a lot of independents and even some Democrats who say, ‘You know what? We are tired of war. We’re worried that Hillary Clinton will get us involved in another Middle Eastern war, because she’s so gung-ho.

— Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), quoted by the Associated Press, labeling Hillary Clinton a “war hawk.”

Haley: It’s Hard to Switch from Campaign to Governing Mode

August 25, 2014 Buck Banks

If you go back to how brutal my campaigns were, it was difficult to turn off the campaign switch and to remember to turn to governing.

— South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R), in an interview with The State, on how anger from her 2010 race shaped her governing style.

Ernst Doesn’t Mind Being Compared with Palin

August 25, 2014 Buck Banks

Well, I am flattered because she is a strong leader. I am a strong independent leader. I am a strong female independent leader. And I do believe they use that as a distraction. Rather than focus on me, they’re focusing on someone else. She is the kind of politician I admire because she speaks what’s on her mind.

— Iowa U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst (R), quoted by the New York Times, on being compared to Sarah Palin.

How Obama Came to Trust Sharpton

August 22, 2014 Buck Banks

— Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), telling a room of conservative activists how Republicans will shut down parts of the government if they gain control of the U.S. Senate on an audio tape acquired by The Nation.

I had the chance of running. I didn’t win. Someone else has a better chance than I do. And that’s what we believe, and that’s why I’m not running. And you know, circumstances can change, but I’m just not going to let my head go there.

— Mitt Romney, in an interview with Hugh Hewitt.

This is part of Florida’s long, proud of history of only embarrassing itself when we’re sure everyone else is watching.

— Scott Maxwell, columnist for the Orlando Sentinel, advising Floridians on how to survive the next two months, in which the contest for governor between incumbent Rick Scott and former Charlie Crist will feel like choosing, “between rug burn or road rash.”

Since 2009, the president has played more than 185 rounds of golf. Expensive vacation homes, fine dining, spontaneous trips, private concerts by the world’s top music artists; Obama’s life seems more like that of a celebrity than a president.

— Alabama GOP Chairman Bill Armistead, quoted by the Birmingham News.

11%

Of Americans describe themselves as libertarian and actually know what the term means, according to a new Pew Research survey.

— Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), quoted by the Associated Press, labeling Hillary Clinton a “war hawk.”

If you go back to how brutal my campaigns were, it was difficult to turn off the campaign switch and to remember to turn to governing.

— South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R), in an interview with The State, on how anger from her 2010 race shaped her governing style.

— Iowa U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst (R), quoted by the New York Times, on being compared to Sarah Palin.

He realized I wasn’t as irrational or as crazy as people thought.

— Rev. Al Sharpton, in an interview with Politico, on how he became President Obama’s confidant on race.

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“The man is afraid of the voice of the people and that the people understand and know what he’s doing. He’s trying to stifle the ability of journalists to let the people of America know what’s really going on with their government.”

— “Kamala Harris called President Donald Trump’s ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House ‘absolutely abhorrent,’” The Wrap reports.

“Not one of them is trained in technical skills. Not one research PhD, as opposed to China, where half the cabinet is science and technology PhDs. We’re led by grifters and fools.”

— Columbia professor Jeffrey Sachs, on X, on President Trump’s 35-person cabinet.

“Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far… The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today.”

— Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), breaking with President Trump in a direct-to-camera video.

Numerati

1,000

10%

“The unprecedented spate of mid-decade redistricting for the U.S. House has changed the congressional districts for one-tenth of Americans and significantly altered the makeup of at least one-fifth of districts, according to a new study,” the Associated Press reports.

71%

$9.5 billion

“The Trump administration last year spent $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave for federal workers as part of its plan to shrink the government and save taxpayers money, according to a new estimate by a congressional watchdog,” CNN reports.

470

Reuters has documented at least 470 targets of retribution under Trump’s leadership – from federal employees and prosecutors to universities and media outlets. The list illuminates the sweeping effort by the president and his administration to punish dissent and reshape the government.