Democrats have settled on a formula of running as cultural conservatives in GOP districts, and as economic populists on "fiscal discipline," trade protection, corporate bashing, and "middle-class tax cuts" paid for by taxes on the rich. If Republicans can't trump that message with an agenda of low taxes, health-care affordability and portability, jobs and stable prices, they will be routed again in November.
Other good quotes and ideas can be found in the article.
I don’t consider myself Republican any more. I want a Conservative party.
Think the GOP will get a clue? I don’t. If 2006 didn’t wake them up to the fact that “liberal lite” was a failed strategy, a mere 3 losses won’t.
Screw the GOP, at least the current “leaders.” They have had plenty of chances to do the right thing. In their panic, they might now start SAYING some of the right things, but they have too little will, too little understanding, and frankly too little time to counter their ongoing perfidity.
The general election in the fall is simply a Democrat primary runoff between the two wings of the Democrat Party. Obama will represent the traditional wing of the party, and McCain will represent the Teddy Kennedy Wing of the Republican Party which is just another wing of the Democrat Party. The only major difference being the Teddy Kennedy Wing is pro-war. If you vote Republican in the fall, do not fool yourself, you are not voting Republican in a traditional sense, vote Republican in the fall and you are really voting as a pro-war Democrat.
Predictably, the WSJ makes no mention of immigration policy, implying I suppose that all Republicans are content with the non-enforcement of immigration law, and content with a presidential candidate who (after a few lies here and there) is back on his old game that only “comprehensive reform” can solve any problems.
And,I’m not convinced the public is all boiling over about earmarks. Addressing that might score some points with voters, but I think it’s greatly overrated.
A successful program would more likely include no amnesty schemes and enforcement of immigration law, a determined program to increase domestic energy production (with drilling as the first priority until some new energy source is proven feasible), and a return to fiscal responsibility and opposition to McCain’s (and Bush’s) acceptance of the Global Warming hysteria.
Fine. Now, stand up for something important, and run on it. Cut taxes. Limit spending. Rebuild the military. Sane energy policy including nuclear energy. Stop the ethanol/corn bullsh*t.
Lots of things the country needs but the GOP is closed for the duration. So why do they think they can beat something with nothing?
Honestly, if anyone thinks we’ll get their by electing someone who once considered becoming a Democrat, they have another think coming.
Did they miss the vote for their own pay raise?
You can clean up the isle (check out the postings), while I eat some popcorn!
And, as a reminder, after the 2004 elections, the Republicans were in perhaps their strongest position in anyone’s memory. Bush was re-elected, and they’d again retained control of both houses of congress, after having had one of the best midterm elections (2002) ever for the party in power.
The fall from that lofty status has been amazing. I think it started after the 2004 election when Jorge said that he had political capital and intended to spend it.
He spent it all right, and took the party from its strongest position in years to its weakest position in years. Quite a two or three years work.
How about running on securing the borders!
Not to mention blaming their own conservative base for not supporting them. And for the record, I voted but I sure wasn't enthused about it. Instead of jumping out of bed and running down to the polls, eager to cast my vote, I had to drag my @ss in there.
I never would have imagined that I would not vote in a general election and I have voted in every one since Nixon.
Living in CT. there is not even a local choice for a conservative to vote for.
I have already registered as an independent since the immigration fiasco. No longer a republican as it has come to represent liberal Ideology almost inseparable from the democrats . The republicans are done for, empty and vacant of will and purpose.
It’s no fun living in these times to watch the insanity that rules the US of A today but it is only a matter of time IMHO before the republicans completely collapse. this election may be it or maybe the midterms but soon I believe.
Good. Throw the bums out.
Yep. Sadly, I think it will take a few more defeats for the GOP to finally learn the lesson. And God only knows what damage the Dems will have done to America by then...
Greetings Zakeet:
The last straw which broke my back was Juan’s Global Warming Bravo-Sierra. Back in 2000, believing George W Bush was too liberal, I canvassed for John McCain. Since then Juan abandoned all conservative principles.
Juan has a Columbus, Ohio rally today, so we’ll see if enough Republicans show up to fill a telephone booth. I could be wrong. But if Juan wins this fall, maybe it happens if our local Republican races drag Juan along on their coat tails.
Cheers,
OLA
Meantime. . .when was the last time you saw a Repub defend a Moral Principle; demand to correct the record for a 'right' made wrong by Pelosi, Inc.? When was the last time you saw any Repub at the end of a Congressional day defending the War or defending America; or defending their President. When was the last time they spoke the truth about their opposition? (Or even, tell the truth about their own accomplishments; when they managed to have any.)
Why are they not out front and in 'our face' - Demrat style - deconstructing the Left's 'reality-bytes'?
Bottom line, WHERE are these Repubs? They had better come to the fore; and those that have any core-value commitments; they had better start fighting for them; and for their Party as well. And they had better get their message to the people - everyday - before the Demrat enemy, claims the ground. . .
For sure, an invisible Party has no definition. . .and no boundaries and cannot be recognized. So, how do you vote for an 'unknown' and why would you?
Long past time for Repubs to 'get real'. . .
Our Country will not survivie with a 'too late smart' Republican Party.
That is why, in this era of official evasion and posturing, we offer instead a detailed agenda for national renewal, a written commitment with no fine print.
This year's election offers the chance, after four decades of one-party control, to bring to the House a new majority that will transform the way Congress works. That historic change would be the end of government that is too big, too intrusive, and too easy with the public's money. It can be the beginning of a Congress that respects the values and shares the faith of the American family.
Like Lincoln, our first Republican president, we intend to act "with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right." To restore accountability to Congress. To end its cycle of scandal and disgrace. To make us all proud again of the way free people govern themselves.
On the first day of the 104th Congress, the new Republican majority will immediately pass the following major reforms, aimed at restoring the faith and trust of the American people in their government:
Thereafter, within the first 100 days of the 104th Congress, we shall bring to the House Floor the following bills, each to be given full and open debate, each to be given a clear and fair vote and each to be immediately available this day for public inspection and scrutiny.
1. THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT: A balanced budget/tax limitation amendment and a legislative line-item veto to restore fiscal responsibility to an out- of-control Congress, requiring them to live under the same budget constraints as families and businesses. (Bill Text) (Description)
2. THE TAKING BACK OUR STREETS ACT: An anti-crime package including stronger truth-in- sentencing, "good faith" exclusionary rule exemptions, effective death penalty provisions, and cuts in social spending from this summer's "crime" bill to fund prison construction and additional law enforcement to keep people secure in their neighborhoods and kids safe in their schools. (Bill Text) (Description)
3. THE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT: Discourage illegitimacy and teen pregnancy by prohibiting welfare to minor mothers and denying increased AFDC for additional children while on welfare, cut spending for welfare programs, and enact a tough two-years-and-out provision with work requirements to promote individual responsibility. (Bill Text) (Description)
4. THE FAMILY REINFORCEMENT ACT: Child support enforcement, tax incentives for adoption, strengthening rights of parents in their children's education, stronger child pornography laws, and an elderly dependent care tax credit to reinforce the central role of families in American society. (Bill Text) (Description)
5. THE AMERICAN DREAM RESTORATION ACT: A S500 per child tax credit, begin repeal of the marriage tax penalty, and creation of American Dream Savings Accounts to provide middle class tax relief. (Bill Text) (Description)
6. THE NATIONAL SECURITY RESTORATION ACT: No U.S. troops under U.N. command and restoration of the essential parts of our national security funding to strengthen our national defense and maintain our credibility around the world. (Bill Text) (Description)
7. THE SENIOR CITIZENS FAIRNESS ACT: Raise the Social Security earnings limit which currently forces seniors out of the work force, repeal the 1993 tax hikes on Social Security benefits and provide tax incentives for private long-term care insurance to let Older Americans keep more of what they have earned over the years. (Bill Text) (Description)
8. THE JOB CREATION AND WAGE ENHANCEMENT ACT: Small business incentives, capital gains cut and indexation, neutral cost recovery, risk assessment/cost-benefit analysis, strengthening the Regulatory Flexibility Act and unfunded mandate reform to create jobs and raise worker wages. (Bill Text) (Description)
9. THE COMMON SENSE LEGAL REFORM ACT: "Loser pays" laws, reasonable limits on punitive damages and reform of product liability laws to stem the endless tide of litigation. (Bill Text) (Description)
10. THE CITIZEN LEGISLATURE ACT: A first-ever vote on term limits to replace career politicians with citizen legislators. (Description)
Further, we will instruct the House Budget Committee to report to the floor and we will work to enact additional budget savings, beyond the budget cuts specifically included in the legislation described above, to ensure that the Federal budget deficit will be less than it would have been without the enactment of these bills.
Respecting the judgment of our fellow citizens as we seek their mandate for reform, we hereby pledge our names to this Contract with America.
It’s so useless to complain... but so difficult not to.
We had it all. I mean the Republicans did. Congress, Presidency and the Court. It should have been the Golden Age for less government, controlled spending, Conservative judges... the whole shebang.
Instead?
I don’t even want to think about it. It’s just too damn depressing.
I’ll vote McCain because as bad as he is, the alternative really is worse, but that’s hardly an endorsement.
Sometimes I think I should just give up following politics and get a more relaxing hobby.
Watching the Republicans this last decade or so, it is clear that they long to be the minority party again. They have looked uncomfortable in their own skin. Seems they are tracking to be a super-minority party because we don’t really need two democrat parties duking it out for narrow turf, yet that is what they are doing. Meanwhile, as evidenced by McCain and his 8 year campaign - conservatives are being tossed to the wind.
I don’t feel bad for abandoning the Republican party. I feel they abandoned me by becoming the second democrat party.