” not just of Republicans but of conservatives, to undo this. Astoundingly, we may come close if they keep it up. “
I wish I could be as sanguine as you are — unfortunately, history shows that once something passes from the realm of the legislators to the grasping hands of the entrenched bureaucracy, it becomes sacrosanct...
The ‘94 revolution, with its Contract With America, was about ‘reform’, instead of ‘rolling back’....
Even Reagan couldn’t manage his desire to get rid of the Department of Education....
If this monstrosity passes, in any form, I’m afraid that we’ve lost....
It certainly won't be easy, but I think invoking either Reagan or 1994 is a little inaccurate. While we aren't there yet we are starting to develop a few people who recognize that "rolling back" isn't enough: we need an activist agenda to dectonstruction federal and state power at all levels. This must be 24/7. I suggested limitations on the # of congressional staff to 2 per. Another (good suggestion someone had) was to require legislators to physcially be in their home states "x" percent of the time (very high) because there is no real need for them to be in WA with the internet, etc. They can vote from Dallas or San Diego. The value of this is that it destroys some, perhaps much, of the power of K street.
But regardless, a NEW BREED of "conservative" must arise who isn't JUST focused on "keeping things where they are" or "slow growth," but activist reductions in federal power using novel and innovative approaches.