Thad Cochran on Earmarks

In an interview with National Public Radio, six term US Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) audaciously asserted that earmarks had been given a bad name.

In fact, "Gentleman Thad" bragged about how his thirty six years of seniority and membership on the Senate Agriculture and Appropriations Committee could be applied to direct how tax dollars are spent. 

Cochran's concern about who controls the spending of tax dollars seems less constitutionally connected and more ego driven.  According to Breitbart's Big Government, Cochran has more buildings named after him in Mississippi than any current lawmaker has in his state or district.

  

And to think that Cochran has not been able to earmark any vanity plates since Speaker John Boehner (R-OH 8th) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) banished budgeting earmarks after the 2010 elections. Wonder where Cochran stands against Robert Byrd's naming legacy in the Mountaineer State? 

The 76 year old Senior Senator from Mississippi is engage in a contested Republican primary against Tea Party favorite State Senator Chris McDaniel (R-42nd-Ellisville). Despite some hopeful polling at the beginning of April, Cochran still seems to have a solid lead.  But Mississippi voters will finally decide during the June 2nd primary.  

Thad Cochran Is Still Out of Touch on the Tea Party

Last month, Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) was asked by a reporter what he thought about the Tea Party and the senior Senator said: "That is something that I don't know a lot about."  The six term Senator is being challenged by State Senator Chris McDaniel (R-MS 42nd, Ellisville)  a Tea Party inspired Republican primary challenger.  A month later, Senator Cochran did not seem much more clued in.

It is curious that news of the Tea Party phenomenon had difficulty reaching Senator Cochran's Cocktail Party in the District of Calamity.  After all, the Tea Party recently celebrate its fifth anniversary and gave the GOP the impetus to net 60 seats and regain control of the House of Representatives in 2011.

While it is possible that the 76 year old Senator Cochran was feigning ignorance about the Tea Party so as not to give his Tea Party challenger more credence.  If that is so, it might not have been wise for Senator Cochran to partially echo Will Rogers charming deprecation “Well, what shall I talk about? I ain't got anything funny to say. All I know is what I read in the papers" as he launched into his vaudeville schtick.   As delightful as Will Roger's homespun wisdom sounds, he died in 1935 which is two years before Thad Cochran was born, which further contributes to the out of touch impression.

Some might claim that this is a prima facia example of why there ought to be term limits for elected federal officials.   Personally, I am chary about term limits on Congress as the will of the people should not be impinged as there are regular elections and the power of an individual legislator is limited.

That being said, the electorate needs to think about their franchise.  Typically, Congress fails in favorability polls on the whole but these same people think that their elected officials are fine.  Cochran served three terms in the House before being elected to Senate in 1978.  Mississippi voters need to discern if seniority is more important that being in touch with the electorate.

University of Virginia political pundit Professor Larry Sabato has observed that the Mississippi primary is the most likely race of 2014 in which a challenger can win.  Magnolia State voters will decide when their primary is held on June 2nd.

h/t: Breitbart 

McConnell Vows to Crush Tea Party in GOP Primaries

Days after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) gave a seven minute speech at  CPAC 2014 and promised a Senate in the 114th Congress that would make retiring conservative Senator Tom Coburn proud, the New York Times exposed McConnell's true colors.  The New York Times magazine quoted McConnell: "I think we are going to crush them everywhere.  I don't think they are going to have a single nominee anywhere in the country."

Granted, the five term Senator is facing a primary challenge in Kentucky by Tea Party sympathizer Matt Bevin, so he may feel feisty about Tea Party challenges.  While McConnell may be up 40 points over his opponent, it does not hold that the same trend holds elsewhere.

Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS)

Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) successfully repelled primary challenges from a crowded GOP field.  But  Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) may face problems in Kansas especially since it has been shown that Roberts live in Kansas and that he only established residency renting a room in Dodge City only after Milton Wolfe filed his primary challenge.

[L] Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS)

Seven term incumbent Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) is being challenged by Mississippi State Senator Christopher McDaniel (R-MS 42nd, Ellisburg)  who is backed by the conservative Club for Growth.  In December, a Human Events poll showed the 76 year old incumbent tied with McDaniel.

There are open races in Georgia, North Carolina and Alaska, so Cocktail Party simpaticos may not be shoe-ins for McConnell.

What is curious is the cocky contrast that the uncamouflaged McConnell has addressing elites on elections compared to the contrite rhetoric uttered at CPAC about bringing the fight for the little guy next year.  If McConnell meant to protect the little guy's interest, why would he wait until next year?  

Last September, Senator Ted Cruz brought the fight on Obamacare with his flying flip quasi filibuster, but was abandoned by the GOP Senate leadership, even though many of Cruz's suggestions have been imposed by unconstitutional Executive fiat. Pro arguendo, if McConnell's claims of crushing the Tea Party are true, what impetus will the go along to get along Cocktail Party have to legislate like conscientious conservatives, especially with President Obama still in the White House? 

Some talk show types have railed against the supposed standing ovation which McConnell received at CPAC. Being in the ballroom for McConnell's time on center stage, I can testify that there is more applause for a double bogie on an PGA putting green than what Senate Majority Leader McConnell got at CPAC.  What was unexpected was candidate McConnell's contrite campaigning to quickly being shown to be as phony as triumphantly branding a firearm onstage at CPAC.

h/t: John Darkow