Let’s Overthrow the Government!

Grover Norquist recently threatened impeachment proceedings against Barack Obama if he wins a second term and allows the Bush-era tax cuts to lapse.

Most Americans know nothing of Grover Norquist. The name sounds prestigious yet elusive. That’s the way he likes it. Norquist’s name has never appeared on a ballot but any political junkie knows the man’s tactics and beliefs. Those who don’t, should.

Norquist served under Ronald Reagan in the 80′s and says that the Great Communicator asked him to begin Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) in 1985. In this role he shaped the GOP into his own vision with Steve Kroft saying “Norquist has been responsible, more than anyone else, for rewriting the dogma of the Republican Party.”

This rewriting of GOP dogma led all but 10 of the current 289 elected Republicans to signing his so-called Taxpayer Protection Pledge that states: oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rate for individuals and business; and to oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.

Any deviation from this pledge and the elected official is assured of hell reigning down on them in the next election. This stance blocks real progress from happening in D.C. But that is part of his ultimate goal.

“I’m not in favor of abolishing the government. I just want to shrink it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub.”

Quite the patriotic talk from the behind the scenes leader of the GOP. One does not need to believe in an expansive government to be patriotic but the thought of destroying it… well that’s borderline treason.

Before I divert off tangent and get into Norquist’s involvement in Iran-Contra and Jack Abramoff, I should get to the point. The background of Norquist is important because of his recent statements.

We face a sequel of Republican attacks if President Obama wins a second term and allows the Bush era tax cuts to expire.

Obama can sit there and let all the tax [cuts] lapse, and then the Republicans will have enough votes in the Senate in 2014 to impeach. The last year, he’s gone into this huddle where he does everything by executive order. He’s made no effort to work with Congress.”

The last sentence is akin to throwing your voice across a room to make it sound like it came from someone else. Or as Zerlina Maxwell notes, “a claim you could only believe if you had amnesia.”

Impeachment proceedings fall in the category of serious shit! This is last resort type of stuff if the sitting President is corrupt. The Constitution provides for it in the cases of “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”

Failing to extend a tax cut does not fall under any of these unless you worship tax cuts like Norquist. It seems like he believes raising taxes amounts to treason. He has GOP candidates sign a pledge to his worship of tax cuts and puts it above the Constitution. How convenient for him to look to the document now for a remedy.

As Thom Hartmann notes this is not democracy but a coup d’etat against the country.

Enjoy the history lesson Hartmann provides. Think about Norquist’s end game. It is not good.