GOP Pandering Becoming a Big Headline on Day Three of New Republican House

I am so sick of pandering by politicians on both sides. We will soon watch the friction between the Tea Party and the Republicans who pandered to the Tea Parties with promises they are now backing down on. I expect this to begin to heat up about the time the debate and vote takes place for increasing the debt ceiling. Soon we will see the true colors of the GOP. Are they true conservatives who came to cut the size of government and its costs, or are they just more of the same who the the people kicked out in 2006 (GOP) and 2010 (Dems).

It appears Republicans are backing away from three key promises they made during 2010. The first and most important is the $100 billion cut in spending. I was afraid this would happen as the GOP became little Democrats from 2002 to 2006. It appears they didn't learn much from the days in which voter anger was directed at them for becoming friends of big government.

The excuse the GOP is using to back out of the $100 billion in cuts is pathetic to say the least.

The Republicans ran for office in 2010 on a platform they titled "The Pledge to America," which states they would reduce government spending to 2008 "pre-stimulus, pre-bailout levels" and cut "at least $100 billion in the first year alone."

House GOP aides are now backing off that $100 billion figure. They insist they will still cut spending back to 2008 levels, but it won't add up to $100 billion. They insist the reason is because they made the $100 billion calculation based on the budget that President Obama offered, and that budget was never enacted. Therefore, the government is currently running on lower, 2009 spending levels and that will make the dollar figure of the GOP cuts smaller.

Of course is this is now off the table, that means the GOP will probably lead the charge to increase the debt ceiling despite their efforts to fight against it just two years ago.

The other two promises aren't as important but may show the GOP really had nothing new to offer in 2010 and are really a continuation of the 2006 edition. The other two promises are requiring attendance to be taken at committee meetings. Apparently attendance isn't important to many in the GOP as Congressmen like Billy Long decided to skip the reading of the Constitution on the House floor yesterday. The promise of bipartisanship may be in jeopardy, which I don't have a problem with, as the promise to allow Democrats to offer amendments to bills may be pulled off the table too.