Posted by Tina
The American people are clamoring for transparency in Government and it looks like Rand Paul has every intention to deliver:
“Ron Paul Is About to Totally Revolutionize the House Monetary Policy Panel,” by John Carney – CNBC
Ron Paul, the Republican Congressman from Texas, is the ranking member of the monetary policy subcommittee, and when the next Congress takes over he’ll likely be the chairman of the subcommittee.
And Congressman Paul has some big plans.
“I will approach that committee like no one has ever approached it because we’re living in times like no one has ever seen,” Paul said in an interview with NetNet Thursday.
Paul said his first priority will be to open up the books of the Federal Reserve to the American people.“We need to create transparency there. To see what it is they are buying and lending, and who it is they are dealing with,” Paul said.
Rand Paul is another fool. He will make noises to no purpose for some years (there are some really, very bright boys at the Fed) … and then fade away.
Hi Libby:
I believe this story is about Dr. Ron Paul from Texas, not his son Dr. Rand Paul from Kentucky. He just might have the arcane economics knowledge to understand how the Federal Reserve works and what it does, which would put him ahead of everyone reading this blog and nearly everyone in Congress as well. As for knowing the details of how and why the Fed makes its specific decisions, that is a closely guarded secret that absolutely no one knows.
Thank you Soaps; you are exactly right! It is about Dr. Ron Paul US House of Representatives!
Here’s more fro another source:
http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/usnews/congress/5104-ben-bernankes-worst-nightmare-chairman-ron-paul
There are some very bright people looking into the fed!
I think this is fantastic and it’s long overdue. I wonder why Wally Herger didn’t propose this a long time ago. He sits on the banking committee right? Why did we have to wait for Ron Paul, Wally has over 20 years to come up with some helpful legislation.
http://www.ronpaul.com/legislation/audit-the-federal-reserve-hr-1207/
Scroll down (way down) to find the list of co-sponsors to the Ron Paul bill; Herger is on the list.
The site also gives the history of the last attempt to get this bill passedHerger voted with Paul as did all Republicans.
Yes Tina, I know. Wally always votes (with) the republican agenda. That’s a given, to do otherwise would be an act of defiance and individualism and that would never do. Wally’s problem is that he’s a real nice guy but he’s not a leader. He’s made a living out of schmoozing and shaking hands, but that’s it. There’s no fight in him, he has no inspired leadership ability. He never seems to have an original idea, just a go along to get along kind of guy. He doesn’t initiate legislation, but he’s always willing to take credit as a co-sponsor. He doesn’t create bills, he signs bills…thats all. And to my knowledge he has never taken on anyone except the U.S. forrest service…but, as I have said and I give him credit, he always does vote with the consensus in the GOP… and I suppose that is enough for most voters.
After 30 years of employment as a U.S. Congressman I would have hoped for more from ol Wally. I truly like the guy, he’s Mormon in good standing, he’s an honest family man of good character…but he doesn’t champion anything and lead. He won’t write any legislation. He has never came up with one bill for border control, tax reform, boosting the economy, you name it, he’s just not done anyhing of any scale… except his one short bout with the U.S. Forest Service (a safe opponent) and his support for the Quincy Library League.
Would I want to see a democrat take his seat? NO WAY. I just want to see somebody use this seat that has some fire in the belly and is not afraid to do battle with big forces.
I think his unremarkable history is why Wally lost the election in his home county, because folks here want to see more action from him. If all we want is someone to vote the GOP agenda and shake hands and we’ll pay them $174,000 a year not including benefits, maybe we should move the wealth around and have a new person go in every 2 years to serve. I would like you to go in there for a few years – I bet you would let them know you have arrived! Why should Wally hog it all for 30 years straight? I’m sure we could find lots of people willing to vote with the GOP, shake hands and sign on to other republican’s bills that the majority of the GOP supports.
I think it’s time for Wally to retire before he compltely loses all his support. He’s made his personal fortune by being a Congressman for 30 years so I say, good for him. But, there’s no compelling reason for him to stay on any longer unless he is addicted to the power? Better for him to retire now before he slides any further in the polls and lets appoint a new person so that when the next election rolls around we have an incumbent to assure us of another easy GOP victory. Wally’s been riding that train long enough.
I hear you Jack. I’m not aware of another candidate stepping forward that would have been better so far but I admit I haven’t been as involved as you have.
Some people would say NOT writing new laws is a positive, LOL!
Thanks for the vote of confidence but I operate better in support positions. I love being in the position to empower leadership…you could give it a shot though!
I think Herger has been more involved in Ways and Means…wanted to see ol’ barney unseated! We’ll see what happens now.
The one thing that has endeared Wally to us is his warm, sincere personality. He’s a nice guy and he gives us the impression he tries to do his best to be a good representative for us. . . as he understands it.
I believe he has always known his limits (weaknesses) and it’s been a heavy burden for him to carry as a politician. But, when most of us are challenged to raise our limits, we rise to the occassion. Unfortunately, Wally has stalled.
Instead of fixing this part Wally has made a major effort at hiding his deficiencies from the voters, IMHO.
Despite all his extroverted behavior working the crowds at election gatherings Wally appears to have a real fear of confronting people in Congress, those sharp witted (and sometimes obnoxious) collegues in Congress who would likely tear him apart in a debate. So he just doesn’t go there.
Wally doesn’t place himself in a position of being attacked for his ideas because he doesn’t push his ideas, rather he chooses to support the ideas of other people, especially when they are backed by the majority opinion within the GOP membership.
This is a variation of herd mentality for safety. So, he always tries to avoid controversay and be that same nice guy back in D.C. that he is here and have everyone like him and get along with him.
He tries very hard to be non-controversial, always staying well under the radar screen and working the majority within the GOP. This is a plan that has worked well for him.
He’s never been controversial until lately and thats oddly because he has stayed so out of play and non-controversial. Now more and more people are taking a closer look at their represenative because we are more aware of the issues. We are seeing what other representatives are doing and wondering why Wally doesn’t step into the ring and raise some big issues too? To his credit Dan Logue gained instant fame for Prop 23 and now we know he is a fighter for what he believes.
But, at this late stage of the game I can’t see this happen with Wally and its losing him a lot of support.
Can you believe Wally actually lost in Butte County? That’s his home district!!!
After 30 years in office a politician doesn’t have much to fear when it comes to speaking his mind. He’s financially secure for life now. He should be able to pull out all the stops and be courageous!
Wally should be able to have his staff write all those bills he’s always wanted to do and come out of hiding and fight like crazy! But, he seems paralyzed because he knows his limits and he apparently believes in those limits more than he believes in himself, even more than we believe in him.
We’ve had a number of outstanding people that would have liked to be our Congressman in the 2nd district, but the unwritten rules of the GOP say you don’t try to unseat an incumbent republican. So, it’s rarely done. Even more rare its done by a really good condidate.
I think the closest we’ve come to seeing a truly good challenger was Col. Pete Stiglich and of course this gerrymandered district and Wally’s dedicated group of followers kicked in and Pete didn’t get very far. The reason, we almost always support the incumbent, even a lack luster incumbent like Wally is because we fear the unknown (or starting over with a new guy) and we are so paranoid about losing the seat to the opposition so we almost always support the guy we got because we know him/her.
Look at all the incumbents we supported in this last election and I am talking about both reps and dems. In CA only one lousy seat turned over against an incumbent. Can you believe that?! Out of all those seats up for change and a 9% voter approval we could only bring ourselves to change one lousy seat?
Tina I am telling you and everyone reading this the system is rigged to retain incumbents, and of course this includes our man Wally. He’s made being reelected to Congress a career just like so many other have and why not? It’s a good gig if you are lucking enough to get in. You’re set for life as long as you play the game. Wally has 30 years in there now and he’s got full retirement with all the benefits, he could tell us to take this job and shove it now. Maybe he will, I think he should…because it’s time to either kick some butt or get out of the way for someone who will.
Funny how Libby immediately attacks Rand Paul without really reading the article.
In Wally’s defense, there is something to be said for team players. Too often our party is filled with too many quarterbacks or prima donas who want to soak all of the limelight. Yes they are leaders, but too often it is all about them. Wally fights quietly for our cause and shares credit with others. It’s a little known fact that Wally paid for a busload of volunteers and took them down to Dan Lungren’s district for precinct walks to help save a Republican seat this season. As someone who spent 5 days walking in the Pugno/Lungren district, I greatly appreciate leaders who help out on the ground.
There will always be stars in our party who can better advocate big issues. If Wally Herger had brought up the same ideas as Paul would the media have listened to conservative congressman from a small Northern California district?
With that all said, I do agree that people are wanting more from the leaders. Assemblyman Logue (who I work for) has absolutely raised the bar by running a statewide proposition. Conservatives will start asking their legislators when are THEY going to run a proposition to help save our state? This is a good thing, and the bar has needed raising for quite some time. But remember that not everyone has the tenacity or mental skillset to run an issue like that. We have to support team players while still seeking out leaders with Logue’s ability. Our nation’s future demands no less.
Steve you are right Dan has raised the bar and this is what we need. As for Wally paying for a busload of people did he pay for it or did he take money from his campaign warchest and use that? If he personally paid for it, I would call that virtuous. You also made good points about Wally being a team player…he is that.
Had God made all of us leaders there would be none to fill the necessary “power source” positions that fuel leadership.
Wally hasn’t been the most dynamic servant of the people but he has been faithful to the conservative position. That being said, should a bright, energetic person with great leadership ability run for the seat I would seriously consider casting my vote for that person. Until then…well…rather than be critical of the faithful I will wait to praise, and possibly promote, the contender.
Hmmm…okay, I think my horse just died and I can stop beating him.
Re: Tina I am telling you and everyone reading this the system is rigged to retain incumbents”
After that lengthy post I almost thought you would provide some evidence. Yes, incumbents do have an advantage, no argument there. How is the system “rigged”? Please be specific.
Pie, you’re coming to this sermon a little late because I have preached here many, many times how it’s rigged, but I suppose it never hurts to repeat it. Here goes:
1. The lions share of special interest money goes to incumbents, doesn’t matter which side, this is just the way it works. This is one way the lobbyists and special interests folks have for legally buying influence and protecting their investment. Lobbyist prefer to deal with legislators they have helped out in the past – it starts out all so subtle and gets worse, until they own the legislator. Just look at the wacky legislation – what else explains it?
2. Money equals opportunity to get YOUR message out and virtually drown out your opponents. As a result 92.4% of elections are won by those with the most money.
3. People tend to support the devil they know as opposed to the devil they don’t know. When you put these people in gerrymandered districts you get a real predicatable vote.
4. By building a dynasty of many people tied to your election success you can move up the political ladder much easier than going it alone. You vacate your seat, run for higher office later. But, you make sure your special friend gets elected to fill your old seat. Then you have more leverage by having this office in your camp. By working in such clicks of lets say “quid pro quo” folks you can usually get all the support and endorsements you need to give you real good odds of being elected. The voters meanwhile really don’t know about this and assume you are getting endorsements because you are a real good candidate.
5. You establish a large warchest once elected which intimidates all challengers because for them to raise what you have is too daunting and they know without a lot of cash their chances to defeat you are very poor.
This is why we can have a 9% approval rating of our legislature and yet reelected 99.9% of them. The election is THAT rigged in favor of the incumbent – and the poor voters don’t understand the game and they keep falling for the same old swindle.
Please, people. Wally is, was, and always will be, a drone. He does what the powers (John Boehner, now, Lord help us all) tell him to. The powers will permit Rand to make noises, to no purpose, and Wally will continue to vote as the powers tell him to.
How you could have ever thought it would ever be any other way baffles me.
Because in Libby’s world agreement with basic philosophy (or being realistic in a given situation about what is actually achievable) never figures in her assessment. This is because she only understands absolute iron rule…”you’ll do it and like it!”
It just might be that she is a Pelosi clone.