Posted on 08/05/2005 4:48:44 AM PDT by robowombat
For decades conservative Republicans dreamed of controlling the White House and Congress. The rallying cry was “If only we had the power, we could revolutionize this country and end the era of big government.” Well, in January 2001, it finally happened and the GOP took control of Congress and the White House. Since that time, it has held total control, except for a 17-month period in 2001-02. Yet, not only has Washington D.C. not been revolutionized, but spending has skyrocketed, deficits have ballooned and government has never been bigger.
What happened? It seems that Republicans in Congress only act like Republicans when Democrats are in charge. When the GOP has control, they change from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde and become the monsters they battled against.
Since 2001, Republicans have passed the pork barrel laden farm bill, an all too expensive education bill, approved a massive new government bureaucracy, the Department of Homeland Security and added an unnecessary Medicare prescription benefit, which according to economist Stephen Moore is “the most financially irresponsible legislation of the last 30 years. “ The party of fiscal discipline is gone and Republicans have become addicted to the big government disease. In treating drug addicts, counselors always look for an important first step, the admission of a problem. Unfortunately, Republicans don’t see big government as a problem anymore, but just a way to buy votes from constituents also addicted to big government. Yet, this addiction is a true problem because as cogently observed by commentator Cal Thomas, “Government programs are the only sign of eternal life on earth! ”
In the last week, two more monstrosities were passed by the Republican controlled Congress, the energy bill and the transportation bill. Both bills are loaded with pork, include too many unnecessary projects and provide obscene perks for influential special interest groups. For example, in the $286.4 billion transportation bill, there is $230 million allocated for a bridge in Alaska to connect an island of 50 people to the mainland. It has been aptly called the “Bridge to Nowhere.” The energy bill authorizes spending of $66 billion and includes $14.5 billion in tax breaks. It doubles the domestic mandate for ethanol production to 7.5 billion gallons by 2012, giving corporate welfare to farmers and little benefit to consumers.
Our federal budget deficit is $333 billion, down from $412 billion last year, but truly “misleading” according to Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC), who believes that “Congress is raiding Social Security to mask the true size of the deficit.” What true deficit reduction has occurred had been due solely to increased tax revenues and not fiscal restraint.
Not only is there no fiscal discipline, there is no conservative agenda. Despite the President’s talk, there is no social security reform on the horizon and no real tax reform being seriously debated. Despite having control of Congress and the White House, Republicans are not pursuing a real conservative agenda, only more big government. For example, a true conservative agenda on the pressing issues of immigration reform, the real threats to the English language, or the multi-faceted culture war does not have the support of the GOP leadership in Congress or the White House and is in no danger of being passed. Republicans seem more interested in providing voters the security of big government than in effective border security.
But, isn’t the country doing so well due to visionary GOP policies? Maybe according to Republican lapdogs on talk radio and Fox News, but real America outside of the beltway knows better. Real wages declined in 2004 and the first quarter of 2005. Today, there are 22,000 fewer private sector jobs today than in March of 2001, when the recession started. Our stock market is stagnant, while gasoline prices keep rising and consumer debt and bankruptcies are skyrocketing. Our trade deficit just keeps going higher, and coupled with large budget deficits and purposely weak U.S. treasury policies, the dollar will continue to get pummeled in currency exchanges.
Today, the politically correct crowd rules the day and the Republicans do not have the will or in the inclination to do anything about it. A party that used to be defined by the mantra of smaller government and more individual freedom is basically indistinguishable from the Democrats on fiscal matters. With philosophical differences between the parties on domestic issues gone, is it any surprise that a new Gallup poll shows Americans becoming “more favorable to the Democratic Party.” Voters will realize that if both parties stand for big government, they might as well support the real thing as opposed to the sick and confused imitation.
In Washington D. C. today, bringing home the bacon is the main goal, not advancing individual freedom or a conservative agenda. This is not what I signed up for as a Reagan Republican. If politics today is all about power, not ideology or principled differences, count me out. So, if the Republicans are not going to govern any differently than the Democrats, what’s the use?
What has happened is that this administration, which I admire very, very much, has forgotten the importance of explaining things more fully to the American people in the way that Reagan fully understood.
Yeah, like why they're NOT cutting the NEA or Dept of Education or Dept. of Energy or publicizing this pork, or...
It's not the messenger, it's the message. Which seems to be "same old, same old."
You mean the Reagan that raised taxes in 82, the Reagan that turned tail after the islamofascists attacked in Lebabnon in 83, the Reagan that gave true amnesty to illegal immigrants in 86, the Reagan who never signed a partial birth abortion ban?
Those facts stated, I consider Reagan the greatest President of the 20 th century. But he like GW Bush was not a superman, and I get a bit miffed when people bring out Reagan's name to criticize our current President for cheap knee jerk political points.
I believe that Ronald Reagan would agree with me.
Name one conservative democrat.
Then you must also believe a 6 ft rabbit carrying a basket of candy comes hoppin' along every April.
Baloney. I adored Reagan. But it is undeniable that he explained things when he did them. Even raising taxes.
It has been noted by all sorts of good conservative analysts that this current administration would be better served if it explained things more to the American people, directly, without the filter of the press.
So be miffed at me all you want for "knee jerk political points", but the fact remains that this administration is not perfect and the one area that I criticize it is for not explaining things more fully to people.
For instance, support for the war and our soldiers would increase tenfold if the administration took the time to counter the false statement made by the left constantly that Al Qaeda was not in Iraq prior to the war.
Even Clinton knew that AQ was working with Iraq when the Clinton Justice Department obtained a federal indictment against Osama bin Laden which stated that OBL agreed not to work against Iraq in exchange for weapons development.
The MSM wrote dozens of articles about the world's alarm at the growing relationship between OBL and Saddam.
It is a pet peeve of mine that this issue is not addressed and it does a great disservice to our service men and women who are feeling increasingly unsupported in the war in Iraq.
Ons shouldn't do LSD, especially so early in the morning.
Bitch, bitch, bitch. I too wish the congress would do more to cut spending, but political realities dictate there will be some pork. It would be nice to see the Dept. of Education closed.
The Dept. of Homeland Security these people whine about is what keeps us safe. Since that is the number 1 mission of the Feds, I'd say money well spent. Some people just aren't happy unless they are unhappy.
It has been noted by all sorts of good conservative analysts that this current administration would be better served if it explained things more to the American people, directly, without the filter of the press.
So be miffed at me all you want for "knee jerk political points", but the fact remains that this administration is not perfect and the one area that I criticize it is for not explaining things more fully to people.
After almost of 20 years of Reagan's accomplishments has the haze of the rancor of conservatives in the mid-80's of his faults, has worn out.
If you had access to the articles being written in the mid-80's by the far fewer conservative journals, you would see there was also an almost "knee jerk" discontent about Ronald Reagan, that is happeneing now with GW Bush.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Interesting that you didn't address a major example I gave you regarding how this administration does not explain things more fully to the American people.
And every book written about Reagan describes how he did just that and how important it was to his president and support for his policies.
For the most part it's been all downhill ever since then.
"The Party crap in politics should be abandoned and each person should have to run on their own."
I remember reading in my American Civics book in Middle school that George Washington, when he was leaving office, warned us not to split into parties. Maybe we should have heeded his warning. I read that 16 years ago and it still resounds with me today.
Zell Miller.
What part of the below passage is untrue?
You mean the Reagan that raised taxes in 82, the Reagan that turned tail after the islamofascists attacked in Lebabnon in 83, the Reagan that gave true amnesty to illegal immigrants in 86, the Reagan who never signed a partial birth abortion ban?
Who spoke at the 04 Republican convention.
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