Grover Norquist: The man who is holding the US to ransom

[marmar]

from the Independent UK:




Rupert Cornwell: Grover Norquist: The man who is holding the US to ransom
Out of America: Crucial talks to find $4trn of savings could fail because of the influence of one anti-tax zealot

Sunday, 10 July 2011


Who or what is the biggest obstacle in the way of a grand bargain between the parties to slash the US budget deficit, raise the federal government's debt ceiling and, oh yes, prevent the world economy plunging into chaos come 2 August?

Republicans might blame that crypto-socialist named Barack Obama. Democrats will accuse Republicans of not recognising a good deal when one is offered on a plate. Both would also point to the never-ending campaign season here, right now focused on the 2012 presidential and congressional elections, that rules out rational bipartisan agreement on anything.

But the answer could be none of the above. Some here in Washington would point to a pudgy, slightly dishevelled man with a reddish beard, in his mid-50s, and of whom practically no one who doesn't make a living from politics has ever heard. His name is Grover Norquist. He heads an innocuously named interest group called Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) – and arguably he has done more than anyone to create the anti-tax dogma in the Republican party that is the single largest impediment to a deficit deal.

This afternoon House and Senate leaders will reconvene at the White House for a crucial session at which Mr Obama says Republicans and Democrats must stop playing chicken and set out in earnest on the path to compromise. The goal is to find $4 trillion of savings over the next decade, mostly by spending cuts championed by Republicans, but also via what is politely known as "increased revenue". ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/rupert-cornwell/rupert-cornwell-grover-norquist-the-man-who-is-holding-the-us-to-ransom-2309777.html

[MineralMan]

1. More unsupported musings.

This time from the UK. Feh!

[WhiteTara]

2. here's an interesting tidbit from Wikipedia

Norquist grew up wealthy in Weston, Massachusetts, attending Weston High School. His father served as vice president of Polaroid.<9> He became involved with politics at an early age and in his early teenage years Norquist volunteered for the 1968 Nixon campaign, assisting with get out the vote efforts.<10> He enrolled at Harvard University in 1974, where he would obtain both a BA and MBA. While in school, Norquist was an editor at the Harvard Crimson and helped to publish the libertarian-leaning Harvard Chronicle.<11> Norquist has said: "When I became 21, I decided that nobody learned anything about politics after the age of 21." <10> He attended the Leadership Institute in Arlington, Virginia,<12> an organization that teaches conservative Americians how to influence public policy through activism and leadership.<13>

Norquist is the co-founder of the Islamic Free Market Institute.<27>

A noted issue about the IFMI (now Islamic Institute) is that it was founded with funding from Abdul Rahman al-Amoudi and Dr. Sami Amin Al-Arian. These two later became convicted on terrorism charges.

In 2010, Norquist, whose wife was born Muslim, emerged as the most outspoken Republican foe of politicizing the mosque-in-Manhattan issue, saying:
"This is a distraction from a winning game plan… It is very stupid, when Republicans are poised to win an overwhelming victory in November over Democratic spending, to focus attention on this issue.".<28>

He has also "announced his plan to assemble a center-right coalition to discuss pulling out of Afghanistan to save hundreds of billions of dollars."<29>

In a CPAC 2011 speech, David Horowitz accused Norquist of having connections with the Muslim Brotherhood.<30>



Here's the contact info to let the bastard know that he's not escaping notice
Americans for Tax Reform
722 12th Street, NW
Fourth Floor
Washington, DC 20005
Office: 202-785-0266
Fax: [phone]

Call early, call often and tell your friends to call as well.

[The Wizard]

3. The source of Norquist's sway

over Republican members of Congress is that some of them have had gay sex with Grover, and he threatens to out them

[Long Shadow]

4. If only the solution were as SIMPLE as eliminating one man...

Tony would take care of it.

[Fuddnik]

5. Norquist and Ralph Reed should have been thrown in jail with Abramoff.

They were all partners in the scams.