Painting the Map Red: The Fight to Create a Permanent Republican Majority (by Hugh Hewitt)

Book info at Amazon ^ | April 25, 2006 | Hugh Hewitt

[91B]

We are thinking of North Carolina. Anyone know a good town?

I am in Morganton. Close to the mountains and looks like Vermont (I have only visited once when I went to see an Army buddy near Burlington). The state is fairly diverse in terms of terrain/climate. Everything from the beaches to the mountains.

[91B]

Check out this blog for ammo against the Bush Bashers http://www.brothersjudd.com/blog/archives/2006/03/a_thousand_poin.html

He makes the point that when Ronald Reagan left office in 1988 he was dunning us 18.1% of GDP to pay for a federal government that spent 21.2% of GDP. In 2004, the last year for which I could find numbers, George W. Bush had lowered our tax burden to 16.3% of GDP-- a level last reached in 1959--to pay for a government that spent 19.8 of GDP.

I believe that Reagan was greater than GW, but most of those carrying on about his spending here probably don't appreciate what he is trying to do.

[BamaGirl]

I don't want a permanent Republican majority. If a party stays in power for too long, it loses ideological focus and becomes stagnant. The GOP was at its best when it first came out of the political wilderness in 1994. After 12 years in the majority, I think we can all agree that the party needs to re-focus.

What I would prefer, rather than a permanent GOP majority, would be to have a Democrat party that actually fulfil's it's role as the "loyal opposition." These days, the Dems present no viable alternatives in terms of ideas, ideology, programs etc. They're just the anti-GOP party. The GOP, therefore, doesn't have to work too hard to hone its ideas. It doesn't take much to win an argument with a simpleton.

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Brilliant post. Exactly what I would say, but you say it much better.

As insane and seditious they have been, the Democrats' biggest sin in my eyes is not providing any competition in the arena of ideas. All they do is call Bush stupid and then run away. Not very productive for anyone.

[California Patriot]

I think you are too pure for politics, sir.

[ChessExpert]

I have a good idea of what it means in practice to be a liberal (modern liberal). Ditto conservative. But what about the Republican In Name Only (RINO)? Clearly, the Rino is not a donkey (jackass), nor an elephant. The Rino is in between, but how close to a donkey, or to an elephant? The American Conservative Union rates politicians by their votes. It is conservative. The Americans for Democratic Action is liberal and has its own ratings. To the ACU, a high rating is conservative. To the ADA a high rating is liberal. I looked up the ACU, ADA ratings for six senators. I also summed the ACU and ADA ratings. In a perfect world the sum would be be 100.

ACU rating ADA rating Sum
Liberal
Kerry 5 92 97
Kennedy 3 90 93
RINO
Snowe 51 40 91
Chafee 41 55 96
Conservative
Sessions 98 0 98
Inhofe 97 3 100

http://www.acuratings.org/
http://www.adaction.org/votingrecords.htm

It seems the Rinos are in the middle. Some “moderates” out there may think this is peachy. But I’m not so sure. Maybe if the Senate were composed of Conservatives and Rinos, 50/50, that would be O.K.

[ChessExpert]

Clarification:
I deal composition of the U.S. Senate:
50 Rino, 50 Conservatives, 0 Liberals

[ChessExpert]

"The GOP has shown that one party controlling all three branches of Gov't is not a good thing.

Gridlock and stalemate is good! "

I've favored gridlock in the past, over liberal/leftist change.

I don't think GOP conservatives control the Senate. I'm not even sure that conservatives control the Judiciary.

I'm ready for more rightward change in all three branches!

[staytrue]

They're just the anti-GOP party.

They are not just the anti GOP party. They think if America Fails under the GOP, they get to return to power. In fact, they have become the Anit American party.

[Little Ray]

Folks who are pro-gun, pro-private property, socially conservative, and anti-tax are fine by me, regardless of what they have after their name.
Unfortunately, neither party seems particularly interested in that agenda...

[ChessExpert]

"Folks who are pro-gun, pro-private property, socially conservative, and anti-tax are fine by me, regardless of what they have after their name."

Please check post 65. Jeff Sessions (Alabama) and Inhofe (Oklahoma) are probably right for you. Anyone with a high ACU rating, or a low ADA rating, should suit you.

[BamaGirl]

In fact, they have become the Anit American party.

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Isn't that the truth!

[the invisib1e hand]

I'd settle for a dignified, reasonable and civil marketplace of ideas.

[California Patriot]

"So you really believe that RINOS are promoting gay marriage ... etc. You are a nut if you believe that."

Well put.

[seamusnh]

I'd like to change the map so that NH is red. We have 2 Republican Senators and 2 Republican congressmen. We voted for Bush in 2000 and without our 4 electoral votes, Al Gore would have won...

[Pragmatic Warrior]

A majority doesn't mean veto proof.........

[mancogasuki]

If you read up on health savings accounts, they are effective and the wave of the future. Giving away the medicare benefits was the price the democrats extracted for not filibustering the health savings accounts.

I must say I do like health savings accounts. As for the earmarks...I think we agree that those must go. They are the pork stuffing in the porkiest of pork pies.

[RightWhale]

In France a republican is a socialist. This might lead to some confusion if anything a Euro says is not translated properly into American.

[Kenny Bunk]

....just because someone puts an R after their name, ... they are worthy of support

They are worthy of support if they have come up through the primary system and are endorsed by the Republican Party. Political parties are of vital importance because the guy at the head of the ticket is nowhere near as important to you and me, personally, and locally, as the people who get appointed to run your life, like judges.

Yeah, Arlen Specter, or that Chaffee nitwit, can make any normal man ill, but think of the Democrat alternative. Besides if you hate RINOs, (who around here doesn't) kick'em out in the primary. That's what it's for.

GW has behaved like a RINO, but look at the Supreme Court he is giving us. Look at taxes. Look at growth. Campaign Slogan: "Vote RINO. Better the Devil You Know."

[Sam the Sham]

but an American who might think taxpayer funded libraries are OK, is someone I can agree to disagree with.

Anyone who can read can teach himself anything. The tax payer funded library is the best opportunity giver imaginable. It was for me.