The other issue I have is unlike 1993 elected republicans have not cleaned house, and they kept the same leadership, and I think given the chance the remaining republicans would repeat their mistakes.
ON WOSG : jumping a few posts back it looks like it was the chart in #79 that set me off, it repeated the “Democrats are worse than Republicans “ theme that was the basis for McCain campaign. My feeling is if that's the best we can do, we are screwed forever. GWB/republicans paved the way for BoB with too many bad precedents and for the time being most of the public has tuned out what democrats are really doing, and what republicans are saying.
As am I. Obama is pre-overrated and Bush is post-under-rated, but lets keep the eye on the ball - our future. I also know, as you do, that Obama's great threat to our country is not at all about the current state of the economy, for which he at most only partly responsible, but his attempt to abuse the crisis in order to implement socialist economic policies. Rahm E. doesnt want the crisis to "go to waste", ie, an Obama Reichstage-fire-like strategy to use a crisis to gain power. We dont want USA to lose its liberty just because a leftist won the Presidency at a critical time.
And I know that us bitching about democrats will have no positive effect in the short term(too many bad precedents by Rs) .
Actually, it has a salutory POSITIVE effect in slowing the obama agenda. Resistance is exactly what the Democrats don't want and why despite their huge advantages they have stage-managed to suppress dissent. The GOP alternative budget is now out there signalling that the Dems own the budget lock, stock and barrel - all $16 TRILLION in spending for the next 4 years.
Here's another win for the good side - Sen Thune was able to put an amendment in that would undercut the evils of cap-and-trade, neutering it. the amendment passed: http://strata-sphere.com/blog/index.php/archives/8554
The only reason such an amendment passed is that Dems fear voter backlash on this. Without heat, they never see the light.
Unfortunately Obama has lots of time before the public blames him for anything, by then....
We err in playing the 'blame game'. that's a LIBERAL thing to do... they LOVE it, and they win that game. Break that game. Stop blaming Bush, Obama, stop talking personality or who said what when .... those are seconary concerns. Get back to basics and the top concern: What is the RIGHT POLICY FOR U.S. ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY?
Either Obama has the right or wrong policies. If he's wrong and there are better alternatives - state it simply: Obama is wrong and his policies will make us poorer.
The right answer is economic freedom - based on lower tax rates, lower Govt spending with no bailouts earmarks or corporate welfare, sound money, level-playing field regulation, and less Govt interference in market.
THIS LEVEL OF DISCUSSION TOTALLY DEFANGS THE LIBERALS. This is not a discussion of past sins, nor does it sink to the level of illogical mindset of the Dems: "Bush screwed up so we have to give Obama 8 years without a peep of criticism before we can judge him." Nope, it is simply based on the question of what is the right way forward.
If you know of a single liberal defending $2 trillion deficits, thousands of earmarks, $16 trillion in spending, govt spending sprees as 'stimulus' ... I'd like to see it. It's not there. Obama's economic plans are a huge house of cards. Nobody actually thinks they are good for the economy.
The other issue I have is unlike 1993 elected republicans have not cleaned house, and they kept the same leadership, and I think given the chance the remaining republicans would repeat their mistakes.
In actuality, the GOP is more conservative now than in 1993 and the leadership is as fresh now as Dole and Newt were in 1993. In actuality, the votes since Jan 1st are a consistent signal that almost all GOPers (save 3 RINOs) "Get it" and have turned a corner.
ON WOSG : jumping a few posts back it looks like it was the chart in #79 that set me off, it repeated the “Democrats are worse than Republicans “ theme that was the basis for McCain campaign.
Just because it was a weak argument for McCain to use doesnt make it untrue! Budget issues are ALWAYS about matters of degree. Even Ron Paul voted for some appropriations and earmarks. So if Democrats increase spending more in one year than the Republicans did in TEN YEARS, yeah, it's a pretty clear "Democrats are more fiscally irresponsible than Republicans" signal.
My feeling is if that's the best we can do, we are screwed forever.
Sure, but dont ever be afraid of the truth. And if you reject 'lesser of two evils' thinking, be prepared to suffer the greater of evils as a consequence. With amnesty, union card check, schools churning out liberal drones, and a liberal MSM slanting the playing field, we may be screwed forever anyway as Democrats seal their majority. An economic turnaround, even a weak one, will be touted for decades as Obama's 'cure'. What compromises would we need to make to get back to 51%??? Surely I hope not too many.
GWB/republicans paved the way for BoB with too many bad precedents and for the time being most of the public has tuned out what democrats are really doing, and what republicans are saying.
If Republicans put toegether a cogent critique of Obama's radical economic and budget proposals NOW, they will all the more credibility as people start to tune them back in, which will happen sooner or later.