I read with interest that Congress has created an "independent, bi-partisan panel" to probe the federal government’s (read: former President George W. Bush’s) handling of the financial crisis last year. Before you get hopeful that such a review would actually result in a positive outcome for taxpayers, FR readers should not that one of the appointees (by Republicans) to this panel is none other than former California Congressman Bill Thomas of Bakersfield. This appointment, frankly, makes a mockery of the entire panel. When Bill Thomas was in Congress (for decades), he was known as one of the best friends that big government had in the Republican Congress.
As the long time Chairman of the House Administration and then House Ways and Means Committee, Thomas was known in the former role for consolidated power away from conservatives in the conference, and in the latter role for empowering the growth of the federal government. The most specific and egregious example of Thomas’ quixotic quest to fatten government spending was the pivotal role he played in a massive expansion of medicare benefits in the area of prescription drugs ("Part D"). American taxpayers will be trying to figure out how to pay that off for many years to come. Apparently the other Californian on this panel is Democrat Phil Angelides. What does it mean when I feel more comfortable with Angelides serving on this panel, than with Thomas.
In short, liberal Republicans like Bill Thomas played an absolutely critical role in seeing Republicans become the minority party in Washington because they thwarted our rhetoric of freedom and liberty by using their power to increase the size and scope of the federal government. Republican leaders on Capitol Hill should axe Thomas’ appointment, and appoint a GOPer who would actually be concerned about things that matter to Republicans.
July 16th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Expose every RINO in California…that is the goal…let Flash Report Junkies and Political Want-a-Bees feel the rath of patriotic Americans sick and tired of being run over by slave master globalists, big government cradle builders, serial flip floppers, and those milk toast rich guys who think it would be “NICE” to serve(line their buddies’ pockets) the people…..yuk!
July 16th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Hey Jon, first you let his protegee Kevin McCarthy do a feature article yesterday. I’m sure Kevin had a role in having Thomas placed on the commision. McCarthy abuses the earmark process and was even called out by the Democrat Congressional Committee for voting against the Stimulus on one hand and then taking it’s funds to help build a federal courthouse in Bakersfield.
As for Thomas, he played a major role in the highway bill that had the “Bridge to Nowhere”. Plus, his pawns on the Bakersfield City Council (Led by Zach Scrivner who is Vice-Mayor of Bakersfield and Chairman of the Kern County Republican Central Committee)are raising taxes on family homes, charities selling fireworks, and increasing our PG and E taxes just to provide matching funds for our federal roads money.
Voters in Kern County rejected tax increases but they persist in acting like tax and spend Democrats. So you are right on with Thomas. You just go too easy on McCarthy who has never oppposed these things.
July 18th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Nice Oppo, Jon. But I agree with Paul – you need to swing the same stick at Thomas’ minions that currently infest GOP leadership.
Especially since McCarthy is bringing his jello-evangelism to the types of Republicans he is trying to recruit to regain the hose. If McCarthy’s recruits help us re-gain the house, we’ll lose it right back – because they will vote against tax cuts and government cuts – like the previous batch of Mods did.
July 18th, 2009 at 12:00 am
There you go again, Jon, off the rails to the far far far right. Earth to Jon… Earth to Jon… if you keep tossing people out of the Republican Party that you disagree with you and your few – very few – friends will start holding your party meetings in a telephone booth; and have room left over for a banquet table and an elephant. BRW: what ever happened to the 11th commandment championed by President Ronald Reagan? Didn’t President Reagan warn that if Republicans keep badmouthing other Republicans we would soon be a minority party without any power except to block the budget? Oh, yes, that is the current state of the Republican Party, isn’t it. Keep on keeping on, Jon.
July 18th, 2009 at 12:00 am
oops… that should be BTW…