Back to Bush’s Big-Government Conservatism

National Review ^ | 11/30/11 | Michael Tanner

[Bokababe]

In the wake of the disastrous Bush presidency and the Republican defeats of 2006 and 2008, it was widely assumed that the GOP had repudiated the idea that big government could be harnessed for conservative ends. And, of course, in 2010, the Tea Party led a return to conservatism’s traditional small-government roots, resulting in the biggest Republican landslide in 70 years. One would think that settled the matter.

Yet, just five weeks out from the Iowa caucuses, both of the front-runners for the Republican nomination are strong advocates for a bigger, more activist government....

[subterfuge]

This article is nothing more than a reaffirmation that there are only two republican candidates that can possibly win.

Not buying the propoganda.

[Darren McCarty]

Here’s what sucks. With Romney, we will get big government. That’s his record, regardless of his talk. With Newt, we can get good or bad depending on which Newt. However Newt’s record is better than his talk. Those are the two “frontrunners.” There’s also Cain, Bachmann, Ron Paul, Perry, Gary Johnson, and Huntsman.

[dforest]

They all are enamored of the debate performances. They don’t give a crap about their records. LOL

[gargoyle]

...Bravo!

[Darren McCarty]

Newt’s not Romney. That’s his strength.

[jessduntno]

From the horses mouth;

http://blog.heritage.org/2011/09/30/mr-carney-stop-misrepresenting-heritages-position/

While it’s true that they are fighting Obamacare, the FACT is that the origins of a mandate came from there. Not saying THE mandate, but a mandate that was referenced by many at the time. The proof is irrefutable.

[Bokababe]

3rd Party. GOP & Dem’s are worthless.

If the decks were evenly stacked, I'd agree. But they aren't. Everything -- including the media -- is stacked in favor of a 2 Party system. 3rd Party candidates have to spend too much money to even get their name on the ballot in all the States; they get no free media attention whatever like the other two Parties do; they are too easy to marginalize. The only thing that will work is to take over one or both of the two Parties in overwhelming numbers -- and not to get duped like the Tea Party did. The Tea Party was holding all the cards two years ago, but most of them allowed themselves to get herded back into the GOP coral to ultimately support the likes of a Romney and a Gingrich -- even as a second choice.

[ExTxMarine]

From YOUR link!

"Taranto points out that the Heritage mandate was less onerous than the Obamacare one, as it focused on coverage for catastrophic illness, rather than the comprehensive health plans that Obamacare requires."

You might want to read the content at your link before you use in an attempt to discredit my ACCURATE post!

[gargoyle]

...when what the kids really need is more pencil and paper work and more exercise

...Yea and Both Gingrich and Romney need an exorcist.

[ExTxMarine]

Not saying THE mandate, but a mandate that was referenced by many at the time. The proof is irrefutable.

So, if someone told you to go to hell, and I tracked you down and killed you, then we should arrest the other person for conspiracy to commit murder? I mean, it was his idea!

You own a Chevette and I own a Corvette, but hey, we both have Chevrolet's so we are practically the same - right? Can you really compare these things to one another?

[Bokababe]

This article is nothing more than a reaffirmation that there are only two republican candidates that can possibly win. Not buying the propaganda.

As someone pointed out the other day, not a single vote has been cast yet -- it ain't over until the fat lady sings and she hasn't even warmed up yet. Nothing is written in stone yet.

But the author's assessment is a pretty accurate finger on the pulse of what the field looks like now, especially for those who want smaller government.

[Bokababe]

They all are enamored of the debate performances. They don’t give a crap about their records. LOL

That is precisely it. I've heard two people say, "Gee. I just can't wait until I see Gingrich level Obama in the debate!" It's like the fate of the country resting in hands of high schoolers.

[jessduntno]

“You might want to read the content at your link before you use in an attempt to discredit my ACCURATE post!”

I never said they were identical, Hoss. You are the one who decided to go ballistic on this. Find in my post where I said it was identical to Obamacare.

[jessduntno]

“You own a Chevette and I own a Corvette, but hey, we both have Chevrolet’s so we are practically the same - right? Can you really compare these things to one another?”

No. Those are half-assed comparisons. But if you propose using a component inside a radio that I use to build a walkie talkie, can I say the components are the same?

Yep. Damn right.

[dforest]

The Newt-turds don’t care that the man flip flops as bad as Romney. Newt will triangulate against a conservative Congress. The man is an ego oriented jackass, but by golly, he is a master debater.

Conservatives call their very own kooks. Then they go out and vote for statists. How kooky is that? LOL

[ExTxMarine]

I never said they were identical... [SNIP] Find in my post where I said it was identical to Obamacare.

Yours is a DIRECT IMPLICATION that they are one in the same! For you to throw it out there without clarifying the fact that they are NOTHING alike is simply DISINGENUOUS - just as I stated before!

I went "ballistic" because people like you throw it out there and leave it hanging in the air as if they are one in the same! Your argument is as honest as those who claim that the ObamaCare mandate is the same as requiring car insurance. It is BS!

[jessduntno]

“Yours is a DIRECT IMPLICATION that they are one in the same! For you to throw it out there without clarifying the fact that they are NOTHING alike is simply DISINGENUOUS - just as I stated before!”

And that direct implication was where?

[ExTxMarine]

But if you propose using a component inside a radio that I use to build a walkie talkie, can I say the components are the same?
This is where your statement above is complete BS! They are NOT the same component!

Let me help you understand your confused analogy. I recommended that you use transistor MRF134-176 for your walkie-talkie - it is small and draws minimum power. Upon building the walkie-talkie, you instead use transistor 2N174-3565. This model draws twice as much power and is twice as big as the one I recommended. When management complains of the added costs and size, you tell them it is because I recommended a transistor. You have implied that it is MY transistor that is the problem and that is simply a LIE!

Just because they are both "transistors" does not mean they are the same, but when you say that "ExTxMarine recommended a transistor" without clarification, you are implying it is MY recommendation! Once again, that is being disingenuous!

[jessduntno]

Heritage did put forward the idea of an individual mandate, though it predated HillaryCare by several years. We know this because we were there: In 1988-90, we were employed at Heritage as a public relations associate (a junior writer and editor), and we wrote at least one press release for a publication touting Heritage’s plan for comprehensive legislation to provide universal “quality, affordable health care.”

As a junior publicist, we weren’t being paid for our personal opinions. But we are now, so you will be the first to know that when we worked at Heritage, we hated the Heritage plan, especially the individual mandate. “Universal health care” was neither already established nor inevitable, and we thought the foundation had made a serious philosophical and strategic error in accepting rather than disputing the left-liberal notion that the provision of “quality, affordable health care” to everyone was a proper role of government. As to the mandate, we remember reading about it and thinking: “I thought we were supposed to be for freedom.” - James Tanto, Wall Street Journal

http://www.forbes.com/sites/aroy/2011/10/20/how-a-conservative-think-tank-invented-the-individual-mandate/

[JSteff]

maybe Ron Paul deserves another look?

Maybe his IDEAS deserve another look but for right now he is a nonstarter right from the git-go. He has always been a done deal and would garner no support except from a VERY limited group of like minded uh, oh, you know... (sorry) kooks. Pulling away from our responsibilities to protect our own interests is not the way to solve our problems.