I don't understand why so many people here are incapable of thinking strategically. I'll admit the Republicans need to market themselves better and go on the offensive a little more. However, the sad fact is that there isn't a single statewide or national race that can be won with the support of Freepers alone. We'll never see all of our dreams come to fruition, but that shouldn't mean we must therefore entrench ourselves at the expense of advancing at least a few feet in the right direction. If we can get the Democrats to meet us two-thirds of the way, as we did tonight, then we've made progress upon which we can later build. We've adjusted the baseline for future appropriations. Additionally, we've saved some of our ammunition for the bigger fights later. It will be much harder to reform entitlements. I'm certain we won't get everything we want then either. But are we better off pushing to get as much as we possibly can, or should we just give up because we only got two-thirds of what we wanted? If Republicans controlled both chambers of Congress and the presidency, then I'd understand the outrage! But the simple fact of the matter is that Republicans only control half of one branch of government! Considering that, we've gotten an excellent deal.
If you disagree, please explain a better strategy, both for the short-term and long-term.
The last election showed that no marketing was needed by the Republicans. The people made the decision that the RAT party needed to be stopped. Their votes showed that there was a very clear national mandate for the Republicans to implement.
What we saw tonight is that this R leadership is not capable of doing that. The new Congress was not sent there to negotiate & cave in to the RATS. They were sent there to stop them in their tracks & not make deals that end with both sides congratulating themselves & each other.
Its about Credibility. With the troops and with the enemy. Both must be sure you will not run away for you to win.