Prioritization precedes austere planning

by YankeeJim | January 3, 2011 at 04:24 am

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The world has lost its appetite for warring and nation-building. The American people have too. There is no doubt a war that is ongoing with terrorists who are largely radical Islamic, though the strategy and mechanism for dealing with this menace must be revolutionary in achieving efficiency and effectiveness. A part of the strategy must begin with building blocks, that is to reward communities that want to work with the free-world for peace, while isolating and punishing those that don’t.

For Americans, securing the borders and regulating immigration as applying science of economic re-engineering are essential.

Austerity is a simple-minded theme that is made practical and sensible by identifying the trade-offs with one side of the ledger being “Provide for the common defense,” and the other being “Ensuring economic and social security” for all Americans.

“Austerity is first order for Boehner's installation as House speaker
Gallery
The political winners and losers of 2010
This year produced a number of winners and losers -- from the tea party and Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski to President Obama and the House ethics committee.

By Philip Rucker
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, January 3, 2011; 12:16 AM

Nancy Pelosi brought camera crews and dignitaries into her childhood Baltimore neighborhood where a street was being renamed in her honor, while John Boehner is bringing his 11 siblings from working-class Ohio to Washington for a private reunion. Pelosi was feted at the Italian Embassy as Tony Bennett sang "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." Her Republican successor was invited to the posh W Hotel for a LeAnn Rimes concert, but is planning to skip it.
This Story

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      Austerity is first order for Boehner's installation as House speaker
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      House Republicans to bring up repeal of health-care law 'early' in new Congress

Austerity is the theme of Boehner's ascendancy to House speaker this week, placing the start of this new Congress in stark contrast to the more lavish festivities that accompanied Democrat Pelosi's swearing-in four years ago.

On Wednesday, following a bipartisan prayer service at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Boehner will recite the oath and take the gavel from Pelosi with the attendant pomp and no more - except, perhaps, a few tears.

Then the 61-year-old Ohioan will deliver his maiden speech to the new House, which includes a huge cadre of freshmen lawmakers. Many are rambunctious Republicans who sailed into Washington with the tea party winds and are determined to use their majority to undo President Obama's legislative record.

In his speech, Boehner intends to survey the difficult choices facing the country and pledge to "listen to the American people" and to reform the way the House has operated in the past under control of both parties, according to a GOP leadership aide.

"The American people want a smaller, more accountable government. And starting Wednesday, the House of Representatives will be the American people's outpost in Washington, D.C.," Boehner said. "We are going to fight for their priorities: cutting spending, repealing the job-killing health care law and helping get our economy moving again."

Although Boehner has been steering clear of overtly partisan rhetoric, his lieutenants were strident in a string of television appearances on Sunday.

Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), the incoming chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said Republicans would hold a vote on repealing the health-care law before Obama delivers his State of the Union address later this month. Upton said disenchantment with the law is so pervasive in the new House that they could reach the two-thirds threshold to overturn a likely presidential veto.
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Yet for all of the GOP's ambitions, Democrats still control the Senate and Obama can veto any bill that passes Congress. Democrats have said they are eager to reach common ground with House Republicans, but they also plan to fiercely defend Obama's achievements of the past two years, chief among them the health-care overhaul.”