From the VOMITORIUM

There has been a “Contract with America” and a “Road Map for America” and now we have their “Pledge To America”…..This is just a re-tool of the 1994 document…..apparently, they hope that NO one can remember back 16 years ago…well…they failed on my part….I recall the games that have been played and believe me this is a game and the only loser will be YOU!

For a breakdown of the document, check out “Pledge to America: The New Republican Agenda,” by CBS News Senior Political Producer Jill Jackson. Below are some highlights, and the full document is at the bottom.

Jobs:

– Stop job-killing tax hikes

– Allow small businesses to take a tax deduction equal to 20 percent of their income  (This is a good one…since they are NOT talking about real small businesses of 25 employees or less, but rather the multi-million dollar corporations that can claim the title thanx to the massive tax code.)

– Require congressional approval for any new federal regulation that would add to the deficit

– Repeal small business mandates in the new health care law.

Cutting Spending:

– Repeal and Replace health care

– Roll back non-discretionary spending to 2008 levels before TARP and stimulus (will save $100 billion in first year alone)

– Establish strict budget caps to limit federal spending going forward

– Cancel all future TARP payments and reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

Reforming Congress:

– Will require that every bill have a citation of constitutional authority

– Give members at least 3 days to read bills before a vote

(None of these will reform Congress…it is more of a delaying game than a fix…besides sounds good in the bites they release to the media….a game)

Defense:

– Provide resources to troops

– Fund missile defense

– Enforce sanctions in Iran

(Now here is the telling part of this “Pledge”……3 little mentions to the industry that depends on the GOP for its massive profit from lucrative contracts…this one was purposefully avoided)

Buried somewhere in the 21 pages was the traditional GOP stands….

The GOP pledge reiterates the party’s opposition to abortion rights and gay marriage, and promises to keep trials of suspected terrorists off U.S. soil and in military, rather than civilian, courts. Republican leaders are also vowing to boost funding for a missile defense shield and allow state and local law enforcement officials to enforce federal immigration laws.

There you are…the “new” ideas from the GOP….the only problem is that it is a re-hash of the 1994 “Contract With America” and another re-hash of the same “Contract” was last year’s GOP “Roadmap For America’s Future” and now we have their “Pledge”…

This should worry the Repub faithful….why?  There is NOTHING new in their ideas…it is the same lame, vague promises they always make and somehow never get to the point where they implement them…..

Personally, I want to see new ideas…..anyone and I mean ANYONE can re-hash from the past…..IMO, it shows a serious lack of imagination or will to actually make things better in Washington…..