The GOP's Fear Factor

Townhall.com ^ | May 22, 2018 | Cal Thomas

[Kaslin]

When President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself," he could not have foreseen today's Republican Party.

A bill authored by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) that would require the federal government to balance the budget each year was soundly defeated last week in the Senate. Even Paul admitted he thought the bill had no chance, but he told the Washington Post his purpose was to point out Republican hypocrisy. Paul accused his Republican colleagues of engaging in an "unholy alliance" with Democrats to keep increasing spending, thereby adding to the deficit and national debt, which now exceeds $21 trillion with no end in sight.

In the House, Republicans pushed back against President Trump's proposal to cut a measly $15 billion from several programs. For Congress, $15 billion is pocket change, but even this small amount is too much for the GOP, which fears Democrat campaign commercials accusing Republicans of not caring about children and wanting to evict grandma from her home.

Rep. Ryan Costello (R-Pa.) exposed Republican fears in a comment quoted by the Post: "I worry about the messaging the Democrats will be able to do off it. Those ads write themselves."

This scenario happens with regularity. Are Republicans so stupid that they can't see it coming? Are they so inept that they can't devise a strategy to overcome the left's predictable tactics and put them on the defensive for their failed, expensive and unnecessary programs, along with their refusal to reform entitlements, the real driver of debt?

If the only motivation for Republicans is the next election, and the one after that, ad infinitum, why have any Republicans in Congress at all? Why have a Republican Party, which once was supposedly the party of small government, low taxes and individual responsibility? Now it seems the GOP has joined the other side and has become part of the problem rather than the solution.

It's not that Republicans -- and Democrats for that matter -- don't know how to balance the budget. The bipartisan Balanced Budget Act of 1997 would have balanced the budget by 2002. Unfortunately, the law had a short lifespan. By 1999 and 2000, new legislation was introduced and passed that effectively obliterated the previous attempt at fiscal discipline.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump rightly criticized President Obama for "...almost doubl(ing) our national debt to more than $19 trillion, and growing. And yet, what do we have to show for it? Our roads and bridges are falling apart, our airports are in Third World condition, and forty-three million Americans are on food stamps."

Even some Democrats get it right sometimes, though when spending push comes to election shove they usually vote with the big spenders. Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA.) has said, "Obviously, there has to be a profound change in direction. Otherwise, interest on the national debt will start eating up virtually every penny that we have."

Well, maybe not obviously to many Republicans.

Republicans need to stop fearing the fear factor and start winning arguments. They can start by asking Americans if they want their money to continue to be spent on failed and unnecessary programs. They should then propose alternative programs that do work and promote the power of the individual, which once was paramount before government became our "keeper."

Fear is not a policy for Republicans. It is surrender. As John F. Kennedy said in another context, "We can do better."

[DiogenesLamp]

A bill authored by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) that would require the federal government to balance the budget each year was soundly defeated last week in the Senate. Even Paul admitted he thought the bill had no chance, but he told the Washington Post his purpose was to point out Republican hypocrisy. Paul accused his Republican colleagues of engaging in an "unholy alliance" with Democrats to keep increasing spending, thereby adding to the deficit and national debt, which now exceeds $21 trillion with no end in sight.

An "alliance" to keep increasing spending? It's almost as if there is a big spending cartel that owns both parties, controls the news to support liberal spending, and is somehow making money from this excessive government spending.

I wonder how long this "alliance" has been operating to keep the Federal government spending excessive amounts of money? I wonder who is profiting from this?

Yes, another ping to the "cartel" of Washington DC that begin in the Civil War.

[sima_yi]

Are Republicans so stupid that they can't see it coming?

The GOP is not called the stupid party for nothing.

[publius911]

I wonder who is profiting from this?

You're kidding, right?

Just follow the bread crumbs and find out where the interest on the national debt goes. One thing I never figured out...
In the Greek myth, what does Midas do when he has all the gold? And nothing else?

[DiogenesLamp]

You're kidding, right?

Just a little. I have a bigger point here.

Just follow the bread crumbs and find out where the interest on the national debt goes. One thing I never figured out... In the Greek myth, what does Midas do when he has all the gold? And nothing else?

If you were going to suggest a specific place in the nation where "the interest on the national debt goes", where would it be? I'm asking for you to identify the place in the country which most benefits from government debt.

[Don Corleone]

If the only motivation for Republicans is the next election, and the one after that, ad infinitum, why have any Republicans in Congress at all? Why have a Republican Party, which once was supposedly the party of small government, low taxes and individual responsibility? Now it seems the GOP has joined the other side and has become part of the problem rather than the solution.

It shows just how effective "K" street has become. Best government money can buy. You betcha!!

[pgkdan]

If the only motivation for Republicans is the next election, and the one after that, ad infinitum, why have any Republicans in Congress at all? Why have a Republican Party, which once was supposedly the party of small government, low taxes and individual responsibility? Now it seems the GOP has joined the other side and has become part of the problem rather than the solution.

It's ALWAYS been this way. we're just now starting to notice. Well...Cal is just starting to notice. As Patrick Buchanan said 30 years ago...'there's not a dime's worth of difference between the two parties.'

[DIRTYSECRET]

Term limits.

[Lurkinanloomin]

Bush League Republicans must become extinct politically.
They are Democrats in R jerseys hell bent on turning the USA into North Mexico.

[cgbg]

The Congress critters are not stupid—they are busy cashing in for family and friends.

The stupid people are those who believe anything they say...

[agondonter]

We were at the Republican Women’s meeting yesterday and my huaband had a discussion with Kevin Brady’s representative. He suggested that Brady tell Trump that ending the tax seniors pay on Social Security would be a big boost for seniors and for Trump (this was created by Bill Clinton.) The Rep said that tax idea was impossible to do because it had been written into law, preventing it being changed. Well, if they can obliterate the law regarding the balanced budget they can obliterate the law regarding taxing seniors Social Security. All this tells me is the don’t want to obliterate this law. It’s just another law that does not affect them because they don’t participate in Social Security.

[i_robot73]

Seniors? How ‘bout OBLITERATE S.S. in its illegal, Ponzi, entirety?

Small and Constitutional govt doesn’t happen by trimming at the edges.

[Vigilanteman]

Nobody in the government (with the possible exception of the military) should have defined pensions. They should all depend on 401(K)s and Social Security like the rest of us. That alone would go a long way toward their special feeling that public service means the public should serve them.