Pledge To America

GOP Young Guns: Balance Budget With Cuts To Amtrak Sleeper Cars, Child Nutrition (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | October 7, 2010, 2:00PM

On the one hand, the GOP wants to extend the Bush tax cuts indefinitely, at a cost of $4 trillion over the next 10 years. On the other hand they hint at -- but ultimately shy away from -- Medicare or Social Security cuts, the biggest chunk of domestic federal spending. Then on the third hand, they say they want to balance the budget.

As we've pointed out, the broad non-specific cuts they do propose would necessitate slashing federal spending on schools, cops, and medical research. But on PBS last night, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), a Young Gun leader, and rising star in the GOP, laid out some budget items.

"Anybody who rides a first class ticket on Amtrak...when you buy that sleeper car, the tax payer spends $364 subsidizing your ticket, so you can have your bed drawn down," McCarthy said, proposing to save much less than one percent of the federal budget by skimping on high-end train service.

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Pledge To America

Poll: GOP Pledge To America A Bust Among Tiny Minority Who've Heard Of It

Brian Beutler | October 5, 2010, 3:05PM

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) with members of the GOP leadership

According to a new Washington Post/ABC News poll, the Pledge to America was a net negative for the GOP -- though most people asked about it have no idea what it is.

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Stephen Colbert

Colbert On 'Pledge To America': Everything's Going To Be Different -- Except Anything (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | September 29, 2010, 10:11AM

Stephen Colbert was rather confused last night about the GOP's "Pledge To America," since John Boehner announced that it means "we are not going to be any different than we've been." Colbert said: "Yes, everything's going to be different -- except anything."

But, he continued, at least the Republicans are perkier than the Democrats: "Democrats are feeling disaffected. Which is different than most elections when they are stoked with cautious skepticism."

Colbert added: "In fact, Democratic self-loathing has gotten so bad that they've changed their symbol from the silhouette of a donkey to Eeyore eating a whole chocolate cheesecake."

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2010 elections

Pledge To America Trashed By Unlikely GOPers: Top 5 Critiques Of New Republican Agenda

Christina Bellantoni | September 24, 2010, 11:03AM

Minority Leader John Boehner and House Republicans unveil "A Pledge to America"

The House Republicans aiming to force a 1994 repeat and win control of Congress cast aside their ties yesterday to "pledge to America" what they'd do if they win. It's no surprise the Democrats trashed the plan, but some conservatives don't like it one bit either.

The 21-page Republican agenda, summarized blandly by the Associated Press, is "filled with familiar proposals to slash taxes and spending and cut down on government regulation, as well as repeal President Barack Obama's health care law and end his stimulus program." But it "steers clear of specifics" on budget issues, offering only "a vague promise" about entitlement spending. That's the neutral wire service take, but many conservatives seem to agree.

TPM rounded up the top five most surprising reactions to the Republican agenda.

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Jon Stewart

Jon Stewart's Takedown Of GOP's 'Pledge To America': 'Same Sh*t We Heard Before' (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | September 24, 2010, 9:18AM

Jon Stewart took a look at the House Republicans' "Pledge To America" last night, which the GOP said would be full of bold new governing ideas. "Who are these fresh-faced young guns and their bold new ideas?" Stewart asked after hearing some of the agenda. "Wait a minute, that's the same shit we heard before."

He continued:

Just to get this straight: Two years ago America broke up with you because you had badly mistreated her. And so you disappear, do some soul searching, get your head together. And you come back rapping on our door, hat in hand, and you say: 'Baby, I know you left me, but if we get back together, I pledge to you, I promise you, I will still try to fuck your sister. Every chance I get. It's who I am.'

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Pledge To America

Bill Clinton: Dems Should Present National Platform For Midterm (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | September 23, 2010, 12:47PM

Former President Bill Clinton

Former President Bill Clinton is giving his advice to Democrats for the midterm elections: Come out with a coherent national agenda to counter the Republicans.

During an interview on Morning Joe, Clinton discussed the House Republicans' "Pledge to America" that was released today, modeled after Newt Gingrich's 1994 "Contract With America" that helped steamroll the Democrats during Clinton's first midterm election in 1994.

Clinton said that Gingrich had provided the country with a "political science gift": "Newt Gingrich proved with that Contract for America that you could nationalize the midterm elections. So, I think that the president and the Democrats -- even at this late date should do this as an opportunity and an obligation to say, alright, they've organized their national plan. Here's what ours is. If you hire us for two more years, here's what we're going to do."

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Pledge To America

TPM Brings You The GOP 'Pledge To America' Governing Agenda (In Draft Form)

Brian Beutler | September 22, 2010, 7:00PM

Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) and Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) with members of the Republican House leadership

TPM has obtained a draft version of the GOP "Pledge to America" -- the House Republicans' official platform going into November.

Republicans have been very public about certain aspects of their agenda, which we've reported here. They are contained in the Pledge, along with other proposals.

Despite indications earlier this summer that Republicans might use the Pledge to call for Social Security privatization, the language used in the document is much softer. It says, instead, "We will make the decisions that are necessary to protect our entitlement programs for today's seniors and future generations. That means requiring a full accounting of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, setting benchmarks for these programs and reviewing them regularly, and preventing the expansion of unfunded liabilities."

You can access the entire document below, but here are some other highlights:

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