Posted on 05/11/2006 12:31:45 AM PDT by FairOpinion
The Republicans talk about cutting spending, but they increase it--a lot. They stand for making government smaller, but they keep making it bigger. They say they're concerned about our borders, but they're not securing them. And they seem to think we're slobs for worrying. Republicans used to be sober and tough about foreign policy, but now they're sort of romantic and full of emotionalism. They talk about cutting taxes, and they have, but the cuts are provisional, temporary. Beyond that, there's something creepy about increasing spending so much and not paying the price right away but instead rolling it over and on to our kids, and their kids.
So, the normal voter might think, maybe the Democrats. But Democrats are big spenders, Democrats are big government, Democrats will roll the cost onto our kids, and on foreign affairs they're--what? Cynical? Confused? In a constant daily cringe about how their own base will portray them? All of the above.
Where does such a voter go, and what does such a voter do? It is odd to live in the age of options, when everyone's exhausted by choice, and feel your options for securing political progress are so limited. One party has beliefs it doesn't act on. The other doesn't seem to have beliefs, only impulses.
What's a voter to do? Maybe stay home, have the neighbors over for some barbecue, and then answer the phone when a pollster calls asking for a few minutes to answer some questions. When they get to the part about whether America is on the right track or the wrong track, boy, the voter knows the answer.
(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...
I assume you actually read the article and realize the paragraph that starts this thread is not her "first" paragraph in this piece. If you don't think our economy is strong, vote in Democrats. You complain about larger government and then demand more government input in events like Katrina and building the largest wall since the Great Wall of China. Maybe you should vote democrat. If you think the Democrats will be tougher in foreign policy than George Bush, vote them into office. If you think democrats will EVER give you a tax cut, vote them in. If you think budget deficits are permanent, curse Reagan. But personally, Peggy's bitch list doesn't sway me to sit on my hands.
Later, she says this, "Republicans on the ground back home got mad. Eventually they threw the old guys out and sent to Washington in 1980 a guy who meant it when he said he'd cut and contain." You do realize that Ronald Reagan did EXACTLY what she just finished bitching about in spades. Yet, he is lifted up by her as the ultimate goal. I believe he is. But then, I'm not condemning current Republicans for doing exactly what he did.
Did you vote for Reagan?
"Will the Democrats do any better? Of course not."
So then you aren't going to vote?
I did address it. I said it was boring and predictable. It does not have substance. It is one long bitch that proposes no solutions other than not voting.
See my last post. There is no substance to a bitchlist.
You prattle on and on without ever coming close to answering the question. Which tells everyone here all they need to know.
I did answer the question. Noonan whines about the current state of affairs and then puts on a pedestal a man who did the very things she is whining about. I supported Reagan when he did them. And I support current Republicans who do them. I CAN see the forest for the trees. I understand the final objective. And I'm not going to quit because I'm not getting my way.
Reagan granted illegals amnesty. He did not secure our borders. He opened them. Why did you vote for him "proudly", but now you condemn the current GOP who have done more than Reagan did in controlling the border?
I do as I will. You may think you see "the forest for the trees", but are obviously quite blind to some failings within the GOP that are as big and glaring as the sun in the sky.
One's eyes have to be open to see them, however. "None are so blind..." and all that.
An example of surrender:
The U.S Senate is currently controlled by Republicans with their 5 seat advantage over the dems. When it comes to getting good Conservative judges confirmed, that 5 seat Republican majority has been SURRENDERED to the so called "gang of 14" idiots.
But some here find it easier to rhetorically club the messenger than it is to help deliver the message before it's too late. If the Republicans lose congress, it will be because the Republican congressmen shoved the voters away and dismissed their needs.
All they need do to maintain long term control is to do the job they promised they would do in 1994 and 1980: be fiscally responsible. Be ethical. Make government less intrusive. Secure us against foreign threats. This simple formula will win every time, but only if actually done, not demagogued.
I see them. I also see failings in myself, in my kids, my wife, my dogs.... But I don't ditch them either. We all work with each other to improve each other. Not a hard concept, but it takes a lot of work. And it's worth it.
Who have been as irrelevant as their stupid name. We obviously need more conservative republicans to get the changes we want accomplished. Not voting is not going to do that.
Really? They aren't responding at all? And when is their deadline? Is it already too late?
Peggy is correct and her assessment is sobering.
The Republicans were much more effective at controlling the growth of big government as the minority party.
Who's "ditching" anything? Not me.
Memo to Peggy. I don't see any Ronald Reagan out there.
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