Standing athwart history, yelling, “I’m not wearing any pants!”

Everytime I mention Eric Cantor, I have a hard time deciding between Jazz Singer jokes (since our Whip is a Jewish cantor) or Allman Brothers jokes aboot being tied to the whipping post…tied to the whipping post…tied to the whipping post. Suggestions?

Anyway, Eric “Yes I” Cantor will be hosting his all-Republican hearing on Thursday to discuss some alternatives to P.E. BAM’s (say it with me now) $1 TRILLION stimulus plan. Here’s his statement:

“Republicans are committed to policies that help middle class families and small businesses. The Republican Study Committee is bringing to the table the type of common sense conservative tax cuts and honest fiscal policies that will create jobs and get our economy back on track.

“Republicans will work with President-elect Barack Obama and answer his challenge to get our ideas to him as he crafts a stimulus package. [Thursday], Republican Leaders, including several Members of the RSC, will host a hearing to outline and discuss innovative ideas designed to jumpstart the American economy. We look forward to presenting our solutions to President-elect Obama and working with him to ensure that any economic recovery plan is focused on helping American families and protecting, preserving, and creating jobs.”

And now, we have a guest list…

JOHN BOEHNER, REPUBLICAN LEADER (R-OH)
ERIC CANTOR, REPUBLICAN WHIP (R-VA)
MIKE PENCE, REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE CHAIR (R-IN)
HOUSE ECONOMIC STIMULUS WORKING GROUP MEMBERS
GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY
MEG WHITMAN, FORMER CEO, EBAY
ALEX BRILL, AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE
BILL BREACH, THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION
GROVER NORQUIST, AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM

It’s an impressive list with a once and future Presidential candidate (who knows a thing aboot making that paper), a future Gubernatorial candidate (and fellow Long Islander), two cats from the two top conservative think tanks, and an activist that has made tax reform his life’s work.

The question now is what ideas come from it. A lot of what I’ve been reading are the usually suspects – tax cuts, interest rates, etc. Nothing bold like the “Fight Irish Tax Cut” where we cut corporate taxes to 12 % like they did in Ireland…and stimulate tax revenue five fold like what happened in Ireland when they cut the tax to 12%. But nothing really that excites me or that I’d call “outside of the box.”

Of course, there’s always my new favourite pundit Hugh Hewitt, who had a great post aboot a new alternative energy plan…

The new president and the Democratic leadership are talking about “green power” and classroom do-overs, the repair of bridges and tax credits for car and home buying. Each of these are fine things, but together they add up to nothing that will be remembered two years from now, and more importantly, to a lost opportunity to have done a great thing.

The Senate GOP should use what leverage that it has to at least force votes on provisions of the stimulus bill that would revitalize the nuclear power industry and quickly build a new generation of nuclear power plants. If President Obama embraces the plan, he’ll reap the political benefit, but the country’s energy security will be greatly enhanced. Hope that he does.

The hearings star at 10:00. Expect updates as they start to pop up on Twitter.

UPDATE: Here’s the video…

UPDATE DEUX: “Oh My God….“

UPDATE TRES: Remember the first $700 Billion?

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