By Rand Paul
Obama acts as though we no longer have a Constitution

Internet taxes? Not so fast. A bill that would allow states to collect Internet sales taxes from online retailers and their customers may have sailed through the Senate, but it is expected to face much more resistance from tax-wary Republicans in the House.
Internet taxes? Not so fast. A bill that would let states collect Internet sales taxes from online retailers and their customers may have sailed through the Senate, but it is expected to face much more resistance from tax-wary Republicans in the House.

Move over Grover Norquist, whose Americans for Tax Reform sends out a "no new taxes" petition to new members of Congress. Democrats in Congress are riffing on his idea and circulating a pledge for congressional members — only with a left-wing slant.

Republican Govs. Chris Christie and Bob McDonnell have seen their stars dim since they rallied a dejected base with their victories in the 2009 election, a turn of events that underscores the volatile nature of politics and has opened the door for other chief executives to try to assert their influence over a party without a clear national leader.

Fresh off his filibuster that captured the hearts of libertarian conservatives, Sen. Rand Paul told attendees Thursday at the Conservative Political Action Conference that the Republican Party has become "stale" and must return to basic constitutional principles if it wants to ignite a political revolution.

America's biggest right-wing teach-in/gabfest/fireworks show kicks off Thursday when the annual Conservative Political Action Conference convenes, 40 years after the U.S. withdrew from Vietnam, the Supreme Court issued Roe v. Wade and CPAC was born.

Eight Democratic governors have refused to recognize the Gipper's birthday after a record 40 states joined the chorus to declare the Feb. 6 "Ronald Reagan Day."

Since September of 2011, the Obama administration has invited the public to petition the government at a “We the People” area of the official White House website, promising that when a petition receives enough support — currently 25,000 electronic signatures within a 30-day window — Mr. Obama’s staff will review the request and issue an official response. Many of the resulting petitions have been predictable. Others, however, are more eclectic.

Urging Republicans to gear up for a season of pitched fiscal battles, anti-tax guru Grover Norquist is diminishing the potential fallout of waging another drawn-out fight over raising the debt-ceiling.
Guest lineups for the Sunday TV news shows:

President Obama and House Speaker John A. Boehner are squabbling over the "fiscal cliff," but an even bigger fight is going on within conservative circles over Mr. Boehner’s latest offer to extend tax cuts for all but millionaires, who would see their taxes increase.

In times past, political leaders would lay out their domestic and foreign policies in clear, coherent terms. President Obama talks about getting our fiscal house in order but fails to propose any meaningful spending cuts.

There once was a time when American politicians could agree on policies with a handshake and move on to the other business of the day. Today, our elected officials' decisions are driven by political survival in the 24-hour news cycle.

President Obama continued to gallivant around the country on Monday, pushing to raise taxes on those deemed wealthy. The surprise will come in less than three weeks when the rest of us see our taxes go up as well.

Grover Norquist says Republicans will emerge victorious from the "fiscal cliff" fight if they put television cameras in the negotiating room and smoke out Democrats over their reluctance to cut entitlement programs — the biggest drivers of federal spending and the national debt.
"In the Senate, they went around the committee," said Grover Norquist, an anti-tax advocate who heads Americans for Tax Reform. "They rushed it through. You won't find that in the House."
He has said he's open to considering the bill, but wants to see changes before it goes to the floor for a vote.