Leading the Minority into the Majority - Time for change in the House Republican leadership.

National Review Online ^ | November 15, 2006 | John Shadegg

[neverdem]

November 15, 2006, 8:00 a.m.

Leading the Minority into the Majority
Time for change in the House Republican leadership.

By John Shadegg

For months, voices inside and outside Washington had been warning Republicans in Congress to break away from our recent past or we would lose our majority. Last January when I was running for Majority Leader, I heard from long-time supporters that we had drifted away from our principles, particularly in the areas of fiscal responsibility and our promise to change the way Washington works. The drift had gone on for too long and the American people had finally had enough.

We made great strides in our early years in the majority — welfare reform, the first balanced budget in nearly 30 years, and a commitment to smaller government. Since then, we have more to be proud of — tax relief, a strong economy, and no terrorist attack on American soil in five years. But these accomplishments are not enough. We lost the people’s trust.

Now, we as Republicans are faced with a challenge. We must regain the trust of the American people or face being a minority party for a long time. We can regain their trust, but we must return to the ideals that swept us into the majority 12 years ago. The status quo is unacceptable. We heard voters’ message loud and clear. They want change in Washington and that means new leadership and a renewed and shared vision.

When we seized the majority, Republicans promised to deliver on two things; shrink the size and scope of the federal government and remove the ethical cloud over Washington by changing the way it operates. Initially, we made progress, enacted real reforms, and instilled fiscal discipline. In the years since, we have too often forgotten those promises.

Unfortunately, over time, things changed. Federal spending and government expansion increased at an alarming rate. More importantly, we became the party of secret backroom dealing that was sadly reminiscent of the scandal-plagued Democrat Congress we once railed against.

What happened to our promises? Huge government entitlements threaten to bankrupt the federal budget, earmarks exploded and often appeared corrupt and self-serving even if they weren’t, and the budget process has not been reformed. Still, some Republicans were surprised when some of the American people gave up on us and dealt us a decisive blow that quite frankly, could have been much worse.

Yet, in defeat there is a real opportunity for Republicans. We now have an opportunity to evaluate, unite, and change course. We must learn from the mistakes of the Democrats after their loss in 1994, and not spend the next 12 years in the minority. They kept the same leaders and not until they made the necessary changes eight years later did they begin to find a road toward success. If we want to return to the majority soon, we must take corrective action now. We cannot, as they did, count on the others side to make mistakes.

To be successful, our leaders must believe in the principles they are espousing. Paying lip service to reform and principle won’t be enough. The voters saw through it last week and they’ll see though it again. We need new ideas, a shared vision for real reform, and strong, principled, policy positions.

Being a part of the Revolutionary Class of ’94 instilled a sense of optimism and hope in me that still remains. We believed then that we could return our government to the people, and I still believe it now. The American people share the Republican vision for America, but now we must earn back their trust.

We need leaders with new ideas and new energy to reignite our efforts and reclaim our rightful place as the governing party of reform and individual empowerment. These principles will be the keys to our success. We will not regain the majority without them.

— Congressman John Shadegg is a candidate for minority whip in the House of Representatives. He is a Republican from Phoenix.

[WOSG]

You are from Missouri, are you in Blunt's corner over Shadegg because of a 'home team' preference.

Here is what I heard Major Garrett say on Laura INgraham this am and IMHO it makes sense: The new GOP leadership has to remove all vestiges of the Tom Delay 'regime' to get back on an ethical track.
1. Boehner will survive because he's been in only since January. He had butted heads against delay back in 1998 and was kicked out of leadership back then because of it.
2. Blunt was a Delay protege. Blunt refused to bend on earmarks in January when it was time to seriously reform it.
Shadegg was ahead of the curve and Shadegg is all about getting back to conservative principles and issues.

[woodbutcher]

Excuse me. I am just a little bit slow and need help at times.

Kerry's wife cleans her own toilet bowls?

Hillary cleans hers?

Pelosi washes dishes and does windows?

Only repubs hire illegal labor?

Only repubs are rich, evil and avoid hard work?

Matters not.

It is the law that employees paid over a certain amount must have taxes withheld.

If you call them an independent contractor and therefore not an employee subject to withholding, you have to file a 1099 and I believe that you are supposed to get a W-9 from them.

In any case, could you be telling us that only repubs hire these people?

If there are that many repubs, we should win all of the elections!!

I demand a recount!

[bill1952]

Take a breath fellow. - You worry me.

Nobody needs to round em up and herd em out.
Simply build a wall to help prevent further transgressions and then put the torch under employers and landlords. - See how simple that is? Frightening!

Several communities are passing such measures, as are some states.

make it illegal to hire the illegal and they will not stay

They will leave and either try to return legally or they just might - gasp, shock - work to change Mexico, instead of changing America into Mexico.

[Mamzelle]

We already know that Democrats are arrogant elitists. That's why they don't have the conservative base. Yet.

Republicans worked very hard the first couple of days after the election to alienate the conservatives who do their own housework. This is a Mrs. Joe Sixpack issue and goes completely under the radar. It's not just housework--it's the landscaping and construction. The Sixpacks are middle-class and are watching their wages being driven down, their neighborhoods changing overnight, their schools being turned into ESL waystations.

And they watch the golf-club Republicans and with what condescending affection they treat their servant class.

It's a rich man's privilege and a poor man's fight.

[woodbutcher]

I thought that I was pretty much grass roots, but I guess I am not.

Your entire post is a total mystery to me, beyond my understanding other than it contains uncontrollable obsessive class envy.

I have done a lot of things in my life. I had airplanes for 40 years. You always see a bigger, faster better equipped airplane on the ramp next to yours.

I have horses.

You see people with better horses that they paid more for, hauling them in bigger trailers with all of the comforts of home in the front half; pulled by a bigger newer truck with all of the fancy electronics on it.

And of course I live on my farm. It seems like everyone has a bigger farm with brand new fencing around it.

And houses. Don't talk about houses.

And I learned something from living with a wife, thankfully delivered from many years ago, that jealousy is poison. It will eat your guts out.

Accept the fact that there are people that are much wealthier and be glad for them. Encourage them. Wish that on your friends.

You will sleep better for it. It might even change your politics

[okie01]

We are never, ever going to round up and ship out all the illegals in this country...

Don't have to. Just aggressively enforce the workplace laws. Once hiring illegals becomes bad business, illegals won't get hired and will deport themselves.

[swampmonster]

Yeah, and Our good'ol boy, country club, Rockafeller wannabe Rino's in this state kept him in power.

Lott should feel privaledged to be there in the company of the other Republicans. He out to be bowing down to them.

Did you know McCain's grandfather came from Mississippi and Lott's relatives and McCain's relatives weren't that far separated (geographic distance wise)? Hmmm.... Makes you wonder.

[BoBToMatoE]

because he doesnt listen to people. he is not a consensus builder.

[BoBToMatoE]

Yes and no.

It is true I am from SW Missouri and Congressman Blunt is my representative.

It is also true, though, that Roy is a very effective whip. He does his job very well.

If we were honestly concerned about our leadership we whould be booting Boehner for Pence and keeping Blunt.

I hope the fact that Boehner had to saber rattle another congressman to drop out of the minority leader race will backfire on him.

Boehner is not a leader. Period. The 109th congress proved it.

[Mamzelle]

Your neighbors don't have nicer things because the GOP admin makes it possible for them to break the law in the getting.

[neverdem]

BOEHNER DESPERATION: Threatens Joe Barton To Force Him Out (of House leadership race)

How John McCain Will Save The GOP Lord, please save us from McCain?

An Open Memorandum to House Republicans {From Newt Gingrich]

The Right Coalition - Which bipartisanship will Bush choose? (Newt)

From time to time, I’ll ping on noteworthy articles about politics, foreign and military affairs. FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.

[conservativecorner]

"That's why I find Mike Pence's past support for the so-called Pence immigration compromise so troubling. It's not that I demand perfect ideological orthodoxy from would-be leaders - far from it. But looking back on that strange episode I worry about something else: Pence got suckered."


BINGO BUMP!

[Alissa]

Votes is today for minority leader. Last chance to contact you congressperson to state who you support.