And we thought Clinton had no self-control

The Washington Monthly ^ | Oct, 2006 | Joe Scarborough

[Txsleuth]

"With any luck, the Democrats will launch destructive investigations..."

Yeah, Joe, that is JUST what the country needs with North Korea, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan needing our attention.

[absolootezer0]

This must all be shocking to my Republican friends who still believe our country would be a better place if our party controlled every branch of government as well as every news network, movie studio, and mid-American pulpit. But evidence suggests that divided government may be what Washington needs the most.

i think this guy is hanging out with way too many rinos.

[Small-L]

• The Department of Education has exploded by 101 percent;
• the Justice Department has shot up 131 percent;
• the Commerce Department, 82 percent;
• the Department of Health and Human Services, 81 percent;
• the State Department, 80 percent;
• the Department of Transportation, 65 percent; and
• the Department of Housing and Urban Development, 59 percent.

Incredibly, the four bureaucracies once targeted for elimination by the GOP Congress—Commerce, Energy, Education, and Housing and Urban Development—have enjoyed spending increases of an average of 85 percent.

Additionally lets not forget the $1T Medicare Drug Entitlement that our Republican Congress passed, Ted Stevens’s $250-million Bridge to Nowhere, $500K for a Teapot Museum, and the other earmarks that we're paying for.

Please explain how these increases are "Security Spending." Don't forget that some of these increases happened before 9/11.

[MNJohnnie]

This article does ONE thing. Helps Democrats. Anyone who trys to deny that is simply lying to themselves. The time for this fight is when the new leadership for the new Congress is chosen after the election. Conservatives have a golden opportunity IF they hold the Congress. For the first time since Republicans took back the Congress in 1994 we MAY have a Conservative as Senate Leader.

Frist retired, there will be a New Senate Republican leader in January. Conservatives SHOULD be keeping their eye on that ball NOT having hysterics because not everything is politically perfect for them. NOTHING in life is ever going to be perfect. Make peace with that are be content to sit on the Political Fringes the rest of your lives.

4 Weeks before the election is NOT the time for these inter party hissy fits. This article does ONE thing. Helps elect Democrats. All the rationalizing and self delusion in the world does NOT change that basic fact.

[fschmieg]

Joe Scarborough has become a prostitute for the lefties who run his network. Do not be fooled that he is in any way a conservative or a Republican any more. He is an opportunist and a sleazeball. Do you ever watch the garbage that his show has become? Most of it is salacious junk interspersed with hits against Bush and his administration. He loves to bring on Bill Mahrer and Al Franken and give them essentially open mikes. Most of his "panels" are stacked with the most strident leftists who usually intimidate the token Republican there. It truly belongs in the trash heap. Stop giving this phony buffoon a soapbox in a conservative leaning newspaper or blog.

[mkjessup]

The bottom line is that the Republicans are not without their faults, but they are the ONLY alternative to a return to the corruption and treason of the Clinton/Gore/Reno years, and you can bet the rent that will happen if 'Rats get their greasy fingers on to ANY levers of real political power.

Screw Joe Scarborough and his sniping at our President. All Joe and his ilk are doing is using the issue of spending just like you use a club on a seal in the arctic. The fact is, if there is going to be spending (and especially if there is going to be too MUCH spending), America is better served to have Republicans in control of the budget process because Democrats are utterly irresponsible in how they spend the public purse. Republicans are not perfect, but they basically know the priorities of America and try to adhere to them, unlike the 'Rats.

And instead of fixating and wringing hands over the budget-this, and the budget-that, Americans BETTER get it straight in their heads that national security is THE issue, and if we don't win this war of global jihad that has been forced upon us, the budget isn't going to mean a damn thing when you're either swearing allegiance to allah, or having your head chopped off.

[Smokin' Joe]

Keep in mind that Clinton's budget 'cuts' were achieved as a combination of gridlock and slashing the Military. Slashing the Military probably isn't in our best interests at the moment. Regardless of how I feel about the conservative credentials of the individual candidate, I will be voting Republican.

The greatest beef I have is in the up and coming POTUS election, that Republicans had best give America a clear choice in idealogies, not 'Democrap lite'.

[Small-L]

Why are none of the Freeper Donner Party worried they are actively working to elect Democrats with this continual daily hissy fit about the Conservatives political glass being only 30% full?

It's not the Freepers that we need to worry about. You, I and most of the rest of us are going to vote "R", but what about the rest of the country who voted for Bush and the Republicans because they stood for smaller government, constrained spending, local control of schools, reduced entitlement spending... They're the ones who are looking at our record and see no reason to come out to vote. If the Freepers don't work to communicate that message to the RNC and the powers in the party, we'll all suffer. I won't stay home, and I will vote "R", but I'll be holding my nose to do it because I feel like the party has betrayed my trust and my vote.

[ladyinred]

I will NEVER vote for a democrat! NEVER! WE are at WAR!!!!

[paul51]

I dislike what the Republicans are doing, but you think what the Dims wold give us would be better? No way.

If you factor in a president that knows how to veto bills, I wouldn't be so sure.

[Small-L]

Unfortunately, the "We're not as bad as the other guys" is a pretty weak platform. MNJohnnie's list is outstanding--why aren't we running on that platform? Why isn't that list on every piece of campaign literature I get in the mail?

[William Tell]

From the article: "It’s enough to make economic conservatives long for the day when Marxists were running the White House. "

It's all about the Supreme Court. Shhhh.... Don't let on.

[MNJohnnie]

TOP QAEDA LEADER: 'Allah will not be pleased until we reach the rooftop of the White House'...

Boy let not worry about the real issues lets spend all our time having hysterics over minor nonsense instead

[Small-L]

Unfortunately, I don't agree. After the election, (IF we win) the RP will return to business as usual, Government of, by, and for the will of the special interests. I've been screaming about our atrocious spending record for years and no one has been listening (save a few FReepers). Now our record has come back to haunt us. Even Rush and Hannity are having trouble justifying or even explaining our spending record. The time for fixing it is long past; now is the time for making the RP heavies understand why they are in trouble; and hope that they'll remember that lesson the next time we're in power.

[Small-L]

TOP QAEDA LEADER: 'Allah will not be pleased until we reach the rooftop of the White House'... Boy let not worry about the real issues lets spend all our time having hysterics over minor nonsense instead

So you're a one issue voter? Is that all our party has to campaign on?

I agree that it's the overriding issue, but do we let the big spending/big government/special interest legislators run away with the country while we fight a war that won't be over for 100 years?

[MNJohnnie]

Hmm curious. How come all the budget "hawks" what to gloss right over the fact that druing Katreina every single Democrat went to the mics and started screaming about how Bush's "Draconian" budget cuts had resulted in the Federal Govt being so starved for funds they could not deal with the Katerina aftermath.

Perhaps the Always Angry might try consideirng the logical consequences of their actions here. Maybe your cure, helping elect Democrats, is worse then the disease you claim to fear?

Who got the Federal Spending Data base created so average Citizens will be able to track all Federal Spending on line starting next year?

That right, THIS GOP Congress. Over the fevered objections of all most ALL the Democrats. Be careful what you wish for Donner Party "Conservatives".

[loveliberty2]

As posted earlier: "To win in November, Republicans need to refocus voters on two things:

1. Liberal judges which will be be appointed by Democrats.

2. Liberal laws on abortion and other life issues under Democrats.

All other issues pale by comparison with these two!

"The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time: the hand of force may destroy, but cannot disjoin them."

[ClaireSolt]

Only Scrooge or Hoover could think this was the most important consideration during war and recession.

[Sharkaroo]

It seems that the Rino could be in the eye of the beholder. Is Scarborough a Rino because he criticizes fiscally irresponsible Republicans, or are fiscally irresponsible Republicans the Rinos because they have betrayed the once bedrock principles of the GOP?

[Pirate21]

Impressive list. Please consider adding the following under "Character & Conduct as President":

On Tuesday, October 30, 2001, President Bush epitomized "leading by example" when he stood on pitcher's mound at Yankee Stadium and threw the opening pitch of Game 3 of the World Series. This action demonstrated what he asked all Americans to do -- continue on with our lives.