Posted on 11/05/2006 10:30:35 AM PST by Hydroshock
Somewhere along the road to a "permanent majority," the Republican Revolution of 1994 went off track. For several years, we had confidence in our convictions and trusted that the American people would reward our efforts. And they did.
But today, my Republican friends in Congress stand on the precipice of an electoral rout. Even the best-case scenarios suggest wafer-thin majorities and a legislative agenda in disarray. With eight days before the election, House speaker-in-waiting Nancy Pelosi has already begun her transition planning.
Where did the revolution go astray? How did we go from the big ideas and vision of 1994 to the cheap political point-scoring on meaningless wedge issues of today — from passing welfare reform and limited government to banning horsemeat and same-sex marriage?
The answer is simple: Republican lawmakers forgot the party's principles, became enamored with power and position, and began putting politics over policy. Now, the Democrats are reaping the rewards of our neglect — and we have no one to blame but ourselves.
In 1989, Newt Gingrich rose to the number twoNo. 2 leadership position in the House after a contentious three-way race pitting young backbench conservatives such as myself, Bob Walker, Joe Barton and others against old bulls such as Minority Leader Bob Michel and other ranking members. We thought they suffered from a minority party mindset and were too accommodating of the Democrats. Out of congressional power for nearly two generations, Republicans had become complacent. Senior members of the party were happy to accept the crumbs afforded by Democratic chairmen. Life was comfortable in the minority as long as you did not rock the boat. Members received their perks — such as travel abroad and special banking privileges — and enough pork projects for re-election.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
So that means you are staying home and not voting due to the editorial by Armey?
I guess DICK likes the attention he is getting from the adoring MSM. Price for TV appearances & MSM spotlight..
Trash Republicans. the prick. ~!@#$%^&*()_
I hate pre-mortems. If these articles are required, write them after the election.
The problem isn't in the accomplishments, it's in the marketing. GOP marketing has stunk for the last year to year and a half.
No lie there.
"Dick Armey" sounds like a gay militia.
Thanks for posting Southack's list as a defense against the army of dicks out there.
Mental image I did not need #549 for the year.
I call em like I see 'em.
From the article:
"The likely Republican losses in this week's elections will not constitute a repudiation of the conservative legacy that drove the Reagan presidency and created the Contract With America. To the contrary, it would represent a rejection of big government conservatism"
I don't believe President Reagan would have written such an article on the eve of an election...
"Nice to disenfranchise the voters so they stay home on tuesday...thanks...DICK."
I agree with you BUT he is right to some extent. I only wish he had kept his BIG mouth SHUT until AFTER the election.
There are two wings to the GOP. Such is life.
It's irritating to me to see how many Republicans from the House Freshman Class of '94 went over to the Dark Side. They sure pulled a fast one on America.
Uh, well, we've now fully engaged in a little thing we call the War on Terror. That has taken a few billion if I remember right. Maybe you too think we've gone too far. Nuff said.
The fact of the matter is, no honest person would bother with running for office, so by definition, they are all scoundrels... on both sides. There are no honest and principled options... it's simply too easy for them to lie to everyone and redistribute wealth to keep power.
They should all be ashamed... but I'm still voting republican.
The pill bill, a huge farm subside, tonnes of earmarks. There is a lot of fat that has nothing to do with the war that can be cut.
Yea Dick when I heard from your mouth that J Kerry just botched a joke, I knew what was in your mind.
Midterms throughout history show great gains for the out of power party. How about all you big mouths just letting the voters out here have the privilege of voting before results are declared? Many of us and our families fought and died for this privilege.
Hey DICK, stfu.. conservative House majority leader Delay accomplished more during his tenure than you ever did. You are all talk but little in the way of accomplishments.
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