Republicans pledge fealty to Grover Norquist, not to U.S.

[Hand_With_Eyes]

Beware of making too many promises — that is my advice to you today.

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/jul/13/republicans-pledge-fealty-grover-norquist-not-us/?print=1

That advice comes a little late for the promise-promiscuous Republicans in Congress, who are currently negotiating with Democrats on extending the debt ceiling so that American exceptionalism does not turn out to mean exceptionally broke bums whose word of honor means nothing.

The Democrats are not guiltless in the continuing farce, of course, because their first love is spending. But at least they have not plighted their troth to their money-mad mistress. They can, if they choose, be flexible.

The same cannot be said of the Republicans, who come to the table promised to another. They have taken someone called Grover Norquist for their awfully wedded wife — strictly for political purposes, of course — promising to love, honor and obey his pledge of no new taxes.

Nearly all the Republicans in Congress have signed this pledge, making compromise on this issue unlikely if not impossible.

...

With a debt default deadline of Aug. 2, disaster beckons, thanks to the fealty promised to Mr. Norquist, the founder and president of Americans for Tax Reform, who once famously said: “I don’t want to abolish government. I simply want to reduce it to the size where I can drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub.”

...

In the thrall of their obsession, Republicans believe that the economy will be ruined if any tax anywhere is raised. Rather than allowing such a horror, they will ruin the economy rather than have taxes ruin the economy. This circular logic was last heard of during the Vietnam War, when it was said the village had to be destroyed in order save it.

[sharp_stick]

1. Most Republicans in Congress

will sign a pledge with anyone that promises to knock on doors or deliver them voters. Now they're starting to see that this kind of shit can cost them.

Not only that, it'll cost the rest of us if they don't have the balls to actually vote against the wishes of the bearded little asshole who's pledge they signed.

[Kahuna]

2. Yep. Between their no tax pledge to norquist and their no tax pledge

to the TP, they are hemmed in and looking for an escape hatch. That's why the president can keep insisting that he will put entitlements on the table in exchange for tax revenue. He knows that there is no way the gopers can go for it.

[Hand_With_Eyes]

3. They are unpatriotic

Patriotism is selflessness, not selfishness. Party before country. Self before country.