After just watching 60 Minutes everyone should be scared silly about this guy

Sunday, August 26, 2012


CONVENTIONS 2012

Updated: August 26, 2012 | 12:41 p.m.
August 25, 2012 | 11:05 a.m.


AP Photo/Cliff Owen





Grover Norquist is the ultimate Republican party guy. The iconic lobbyist’s Americans for Tax Reform has been credited with driving the GOP’s hardline fiscal policy. His Taxpayer Protection Pledge has been blamed for causing the congressional budget standoff. He co-wrote the 1994 Contract With America and serves on the boards of some of the country’s most conservative organizations.

And the Republican National Convention – a quadrennial celebration of capitalism and conservatism – is his home turf.

Norquist has been to every Republican convention since 1984, and he makes the most of the experience, packing each day full of policy events, press appearances, and lots and lots of parties. He shared his Tampa schedule with National Journal, which will spend one day trying to keep up with him.

“It’s a convention, it’s like Vegas,” he said. “You have to work all day, but you can party all night.”

Norquist had planned to host his own party in Tampa: “Break out your bomber jacket and neon leg warmers—the Americans for Tax Reform Foundation is blasting back to the Reagan 80s!” read the invitation, which featured the 40th president as Michael J. Fox in “Back to the Future.”

But a desire to avoid looking lavish while the economy is hurting led Norquist to shift gears. Instead, he will hold a special convention edition of his “Wednesday meeting,” the Republican institution he launched in 1993. It will host 30 speakers, including Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, Maine Gov. Paul LePage, and Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.

Also on Norquist’s agenda: television and print interviews, plenty of breakfast and lunch events, and then, of course, the parties.

Topping his party list is a bash that will be held at the Tampa Aquarium by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. “They have things like bourbon with vanilla flavoring,” he said. “It’s interesting stuff. But it’s more expensive than gold.”

He also wants to get to a pork producers’ Schmooze and Booze. “That sounds promising,” he said.

On Tuesday night, Norquist is a headline guest at GOProud Homocon – a party held by gay conservatives at a venue called The Honey Pot, billed on the invitation as “not your ordinary song and dance.” “HomoCon is great,” Norquist said. “These guys are about, we’re here, we’re marvelous, we’re having a great time.”

But what about that Republican platform stance against gay marriage?

“I do taxes, not social policy,” Norquist said.

After Homocon, it’s off to a celebrity stand-up comedy event, where Norquist will compete for the title of funniest Republican. He was still honing his act just before leaving for Tampa – he described it as a mix of political and family humor. He won’t be making fun of Democrats, though – “That’s too much of a cheap, easy shot for this audience. It’ll be more self-deprecating – it’s about making fun of yourself and your own team.”

There’s plenty more on the menu, but the real question is just how to pack it all in.

“Can I get to four parties in two hours? Yeah – if they’re close to each other and the traffic’s OK. For now, that’s the plan.”

CORRECTION: Due to an editing error, a previous version of this article had the incorrect year for the Contract of America. It came out in 1994.

 

This guy has so much power it's insane. Everyone should go to 60 MInutes and watch the interview. No only is he scary, he legitimately creepy.
He runs an organization that is secret about where he gets his funds. If that doesn't concern you then you are totally brain washed by the right.

 

Its pretty scary that an unelected person has this much influence in congress. Grover Norquist is part of the problem.

 

I agree - he's scary as Hell and I can't figure out what he has on the Republicans/Conservatives that when he yells "Jump!" the entire Republican Congress just asks "How high?" This man has never been elected by the voters of this country to any national office that I'm aware of. Why are they all so afraid of him that they'll sign pledges to him rather than the people they represent?

 

If that is even his real name.

 

The "pledge" is an insult to the people congressman are suppose to be representing. Get this guy out of politics he has zero right to issue pledges and influence policy.

 

It is amazing how many unelected people have power in our government. If you track the Housing Bubble and mortgage backed securities it goes back to the Clinton Administration but it wasn't Clinton's doing so much as others.

 

He is for no tax increases. What is scary about that?

 

He is for no tax increases. What is scary about that?

 

Really? According to our Constitution, all government power should be held with unelected people. The people should rule this country. Your advocating elitists in Congress that do not have to answer to the people?

Anyone can attain the sway he holds if they are motivated. Look at AARP, by all accounts the strongest lobby in Washington yet it was started by one single lady who didn't like how her grandmother was being treated by the government.

I would suggest that instead of whining about how some guy is exercising his Constitutional rights, that maybe you should get off your ass and form your own power group to oppose him.

 

Typical fascist, shut anybody up that we don't agree with.

 

Why so the democrats can raise taxes and get us deeper in debt? He is correct we need to cut spending not raise taxes

 

He's an idiot who will eventually be kicked to the curb.

 

Pull your head out of your arse and look up what I was talking about, jeez.

 

What qualifies as issues for concern is truly comical. So you elect someone who runs up a $16 trillion dollar debt and who also conceeds that the current path is not sustainable yet does not flinch but are only concerned with a "creepy dude" interviewed by 60 minutes? At least Obama's puppet master Soros has a creepy accent to go along with his overall equally creepy appearance.

Face it, we are ruled by creepy rich guys.

BTW: 60 Miunutes are and have always been in the back pocket of the DNC. I remember back during the Bush years they would run show after show bashing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, when Barry took the reigns all was well with the world, even when Barry invaded Libya. They are what you would call a "tool".

 

The fact that he somehow got the entire Republican Congress to sign a pledge to do as he tells them regarding taxes - and who knows what else? - and they're to a man terrified to break that pledge because if they do, they'll lose all party support for reelection. What "private citizen exercising his Constitutional rights" has that kind of power over the Congress of the U.S. and how did he come by it?

Your Republican representatives in Congress that you voted to elect immediately signed a pledge to Grover Norquist rather than to you and the other people who elected them under threat of being thrown out of the party if they didn't. If mine had done the same, I'd find it scary.

 

No, He is doing a service to the voters. He just gives voters information and the voters decide

 

Did you watch 60 minutes? As Norquist said the pledge is to the voters he just keeps the voters informed

 

No - that ISN'T what he does. He has to have some serious backing to be able to force all the Republican members of Congress to sign a pledge to him that he can use to influence policy against their better judgment for their own constituents.

 

A pledge from Congress? Last I checked they pledged to the Tea Party that they would not raise the debt ceiling and did anyway.

So if the GOP does not do as the old fart wants what is he going to do about it? Is he going to support the DNC? LOL.

Maybe this is what needs to happen. Have all the rich old farts get bent out of shape with the GOP and throw all their money to the Libertarians.

 

Um, a pledge does not mean someone tells you what to do, it means that you agree with the pledge.

 

BS to that, he's keeping some pretty big secrets about who's funding him...any one that's gone against him has been thrown out, you may call it voted out, but that's really not the truth. Any one with half a brain knows that you guys can't go on with out tax increases for the 1%...if they can back this moron with millions, they can fork over their fair share. It shouldn't be up to the middle class which is shrinking alarmingly! What does it take for you righties to get your heads out of your asses?

 

You obviously haven't watched the segment on 60 Minutes....

 

You can't bring in more illegals and welfare cases without more taxes...

 

What's wrong with you? Why are you not skeered?