The GOP: old elephant graveyard or arise from the ashes?

MoonHowler

Washingtonpost.com:

From Kathleen Parker

… Republicans hope to hold the House and gain the Senate — and Democrats intend to hold the Senate and recover the House.

Each respective goal is equally possible depending on the same single significant determinant: whether Ted Cruz stops talking.

While that thought settles in, we pause to note that, right now, the idea that Republicans could convince anyone that they should be allowed to deliver milk, much less hold the nation’s purse strings, seems remote. But things do change quickly around here. With the debt crisis postponed and the government up and running again — faith in the efficiency of which underscores the direness of our political straits — most Americans will settle into the season’s serial holiday distractions and move right along.

What lies ahead is the GOP’s internal struggle to determine which wing of the party prevails. And which wing prevails likely will determine the balance of power come 2014. Suffice to say, if Cruz’s voice drowns out the so-called establishment voices, Republicans may as well start investing in camels. The desert awaits.

Ted Cruz is just one little big-mouth.   How can a freshman senator from Texas with little experience anywhere be as influential as he has been?  How could David Koresh  have been influential?  How could  Jim Jones convince hundreds of people to drink poisoned Kool Aid?  It makes no sense to me.  Are there people who simply have a Pied Piper type of personality?

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Congressman Bill Young passes away at age 82

MoonHowler

bill young

Congressman Bill Young, 82, the nation’s longest-serving Republican congressman, died at
6:50 p.m. at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda,
Md., surrounded by his wife, three sons, two siblings, 10 grandchildren,
and close staff and friends.

My heart is broken over the death of Congressman Bill Young, R-FL.  He died Friday night at Walter Reed Hospital from complications of a injury from decades ago.  He was 82.

Congressman Young lived in Woodbridge.  His children, now adults,  attended Prince William County Schools.  Congressman and Mrs. Young supported the schools and provided fabulous field trips for the kids in their kids’ classes.  They took many a special guest to various state affairs like the State of the Union Address.

Congressman and Mrs. Young were strong supporters of the troops.  They made weekly pilgrimages to check in on our wounded warriors at Walter Reed Hospital and Bethesda Navy Hospital.  They brought the wounded troops  gifts and sat with them, even when communication wasn’t possible.  They put their money and time where their mouth is.

Congressman Young will be sorely  missed locally, in Congress, and in his home district in the Tampa area.   RIP Congressman Young.

Read More:

CNN : tribute  from those in Congress

Tampa Bay Times:  What people are saying

The Youngs visit the wounded warriors

Yahoo:  Family Picture