The Speaker is setting the tone for the 2012 campaign. If the menaces have received both congress’ and the administration’s rapt attention during the past 3+ years and counting, the ‘012 fall campaigning Republicans in Kentucky would rather many somewhat disaffected, desultory readers of the press thereabouts not consider those accomplishments. For the House of Representatives’ current Speaker, it needs to be a new day in the pictures he and his friends on the political reactionary spectrum conjure for those only somewhat interested members of the electorate. If it is sensationalism, so be it, goes the reactionary Republican strategy; votes are what count. And, as Speaker, he has a substantial responsibility to demonstrate a brand of leadership attractive to the new caucus members from several states who sent economic reactionaries to congress in the 2010 by-elections; somehow the receding public mood of concern over what happened post 911 needs to be re-cast as an re-election strategy for those fiscal reactionaries, kind of a bonus to them for having joined the party of reactionarism; if those new reactionary Republicans are prepared to accept the mantle of restored fear mongering McConnell style; strategist Rove is still guiding these folks too. Wurl up the winditzer of multihued reactionarism early; check the audio volume of those campaign advertisements on the airwaves, as well. And hope few notice the dearth of substance in the recension McConnell and his allies hope to advance.

It’s probably true that both Republicans and Democrats sponsored appropriations gone astray in the ante-911 past, however: such as the spare parts scandal which one member of the lower chamber of congress had a field-day divulging to the media, CA’s representative B. Boxer. One would like to trust that the overpricing scandal she revealed in 1984 was resolved by reformed processes at the pentagon, at the behest of congress at that time: from the article linked, “In 1984, we showed them the $7,000 coffee pot and asked for reform,” she said. “The Pentagon said that was an isolated incident. So, we showed them the $400 hammer, the $600 toilet seat, the $300 no-smoking sign, the $9,000 wrench. All isolated incidents, they said.” Perusing that article from the era of Reagan’s first term, and going into his second term, as president; I wondered precisely how much a no smoking sign costs at the various parts of the $400 million facility on that caribbean island these days. And the quoted list of prices, foregoing, is in 1984 dollars not adjusted for inflation in 2011, or 2012. So I wonder whose interests are at stake in the elevated cost of the gtmo site. Perhaps it is a side issue in the approaching renewal of 2002-2008 Republican hyperbole and sensational presentation of what are real security concerns. Winding down the Iraq war is going to engender quantifiable improvement of Americans’ dispositions in the national election year, and might even improve many sorts of economic reports and strengthening of the US’ leadership in commerce of all kinds, even globally. A difficult mix of what is otherwise good news for the US, as viewed from the perspective Republican reactionaries; and McConnell has to show the reactionaries a rhetorical way thru the likelihood of those many impending improvements. People get tired of wars; and congress helps refine strategies to control security risks, as well as addressing appropriations oversight.

Although there are also European conservative fiscal influences that have been tides for virtually a millenium-plus, the neo-reactionary Republicans in the lower chamber of the US congress already have demonstrated their disdain for impacts in Europe which are fallout from US decisions like the cliff-hanging over US debt obligations recently. That was another tightrope for Republicans to grip with all ten toes, as the European banking system is globally linked to that of the US. The art of reactionary Republicans’ strategy of threatening default at that time was to beguile the casual Republican voter with the specifics and real linkages; just cast blame upon the entire Democratic administration. But Republicans need banking industry support. I am sure the Speaker has a new way of casting a lugubrious light upon that sphere of congress’ action under his Leadership, too.

@Mary:
That’s kind of creepy. Why does Mitch get to read Paul’s mail?

@Mary:
I’ve sent e-mails to my congresspeople, but I haven’t gotten replies from people I haven’t sent them to. That’s what creeps me out.

@emptywheel: Thank you! That is what I was thinking.

I also have some serious thoughts on the CIA and FBI being swept up and completely removed by the MIC! If you think about the militarization of both agencies in past decade, plus the tremendous growth in military intell ops you can’t help but think it!

@Emptywheel -I’ll have to see about that let. My home paper is small, but maybe I can hit up the Louisville or Lex papers.

I guess there is some kind of sharing going on, I’m not sure to what extent. It may not be full content. I thought maybe they keep a constituent check sheet on issues that they might share with the contact info of the yeas and nays? But it might also be the full content. It was weird to get the McConnell letter ( if I get one in response to my most recent email to Paul thanking him for his stand on the war and on the detainee provisions I’ll return the favor and share it. They seems to be a standard preprint that his office sends out)

@rugger9: Appears that there are many, many more that will not forgive. I am glad that there are many!