The Can't-Do Republicans

Townhall ^ | 27 April 2018 | Brent Bozell and Tim Graham

[lowbuck]

Back in '92, the late Paul Weyrich and I held a press conference during the Republican National Convention to make two announcements.

First, we were endorsing George Bush 41's re-election. Second, we'd just made the most meaningless endorsement in history. He had so thoroughly bungled his first term that there was nothing to be done to save him. And we were right.

The Republicans are now facing the same future in November. At this point, they will certainly lose the House and quite possibly the Senate. Worse, they've so botched their opportunity that only they can save themselves now. Their $1.3 trillion omnibus bill was not just the most reckless spending bill in history, it was an abject surrender on every single political and policy pledge made to those who put them in office, save helping the military.

It's been this way from the start. First, they asked for control of the House and its appropriations authority to right the fiscal ship, and as importantly, to end Obamacare. In 2010, they got it -- and immediately stated they could do nothing without the Senate. In 2014, they were awarded that, too -- and just as quickly declared they could do nothing without the White House. So, in 2016 they were handed that, and with it complete control of the legislative process, but now with no more excuses available.

And what have they done? They surrendered without a fight. Any real advance, be it Justice Gorsuch, regulatory relief, minimal border security, minimal tax cuts or minimal changes in Obamacare, has all been driven by the White House. Congress has done nothing.

Here's the difference between the two parties. For the past eight years, the GOP has been the party that begins each conversation with, "This is why we can't do it." The Democrats begin theirs with, "This is how we'll get it done." The crisis for Republicans is so grave that not even a rhetorical shift will save them. Only action, concrete action, might. They must come up with victories.

Here's what they need to do, in six easy steps.

1. Like it or not, they must wrap themselves around the president to save him from impeachment. This means publicly embracing him as their leader. More to the point, it means supporting everything he puts on the table from here through November, and doing it with brio.

2. Reverse that disastrous $1.3 trillion omnibus. This talk about a revision, or worse, a balanced budget amendment, is the height of hypocrisy and the public's not going to stand for it. It's like committing rape and then joining the #MeToo movement. Only tangible results, legislation that reduces the deficit and puts the government on the road to fiscal sanity, will work.

3. Kill Obamacare. Nothing less will do. The public that voted these Republicans in has had it with excuses and half-measures.

4. End the funding of Planned Parenthood. The pro-life movement is leaving the GOP, and for good reason. When Republicans award the operation that proudly massacres more than 300,000 babies annually with $450,000,000 dollars taken from American taxpayers, there's no difference between the parties.

5. Fund border security. The base will not stomach any more of the GOP's public displays of affection for Chuck Schumer while denying funds for Trump's border wall. Promises made, promises broken.

6. Deliver real personal tax cuts. What they came up with last year rewarded big business nicely while excusing nearly 50 percent of Americans from the responsibility of paying taxes altogether. Everyone else was given a small amount of relief. Those were your voters, GOP.

Here is the bottom line. On Sept. 30, five weeks before the election, there will be the need for a new spending bill to keep the government running. Everything listed above can be accomplished in that one piece of legislation. No more excuses. No more punts. No more stalling.

It's so obvious, really. At this point the GOP faithful are set to make a devastating declaration in seven months: "We gave you complete control, and you not only accomplished nothing, you broke your word on virtually everything. Good-bye."

And you know what, Republicans? They're right.

[lowbuck]

Short, sweet and on topic. Now is there any chance the Republicans will give the base a reason to pull for the R's in November.

[Lurkinanloomin]

They would rather stop Trump from shutting down the Cheap Labor Express and restoring the rule of law than win.

[dfwgator]

“Republicans are the party that says, ‘Government doesn’t work’, then they get elected and prove it.” - P.J. O’Rourke

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Money quote:

Here's the difference between the two parties. For the past eight years, the
GOP has been the party that begins each conversation with, "This is why we
can't do it." The Democrats begin theirs with, "This is how we'll get it done."

[Trumpnado2016]

The GOP-e knows the easiest way to get rid of POTUS is to roll over and let the DemoRATS sweep into the majority. Then they will sit back and blame their loss on Trump.

[Mark17]

Now is there any chance the Republicans will give the base a reason to pull for the R's in November.

No, they won’t. They are on the same side as the rats. The GOPe, want to impeach Trump too. I was just a lowly enlisted guy, but even I could figure that out. I am becoming more and more convinced, that either the Army will have to step in, and change it, or millions of peasants will have to come over the hill, with their pitch forks.

[deadrock]

Republicants.

[wastoute]

If the GOP doesn’t tee up Watergate 2.0 they deserve to not only lose in November but die as a party. There will be a new Conservative party arise and these corrupt place holders will be chasing ambulances.

[Louis Foxwell]

Trump is working to rebuild the party from the ground up. The GOPe will be dead after the midterms and a gang of Trump Republicans will drain the swamp.

[blueplum]

At this point, they will certainly lose the House and quite possibly the Senate. Worse, they've so botched their opportunity that only they can save themselves now.

Republican seatwarmers and fairweather promisebreakers won't have to worry as much about losing seats to Dems as they will about fresh Republican blood challenging their places. Dems are the party that was, now they're just a front for antifa - and the young generation knows it.

[Nifster]

I agree with what needs to be done

Do not agree that the house will be lost

[JLAGRAYFOX]

I’ll tell ya something short & sweet. Get rid of Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell right now!!! Force John McCain to resign...he is no longer representing the voters and citizens of Arizona. If McCain cannot be present to vote in the Senate, because of his illness, he should do the right thing and resign immediately.

POTUS, Trump will have a massive political rally in Washington, Michigan this coming Saturday. He should use that opportunity to rally the Trump base to rid the the Republican Party of its RINOs & Establishment low life, like Ryan & McConnell. The Trumpies out there are waiting for the boss to take care of business and get rid of the “Deadbeat Never Trumpers”. Either you are 100% with & behind Trump in support and loyalty or, get out of the party and become a Democrat Party, Low Life, America Hater, Traitor & Turncoat!!! Actions speak volumes louder that glowing words!!! Go Trumpie,...MAGA!!!

[SkyPilot]

6. Deliver real personal tax cuts. What they came up with last year rewarded big business nicely while excusing nearly 50 percent of Americans from the responsibility of paying taxes altogether. Everyone else was given a small amount of relief. Those were your voters, GOP.

Yup.

4 winners and 4 losers from the Republican tax bill

But look on the bright side, companies that hate Trump, hate Conservatives, hate Christians and Israel were handed hundreds of Billions in tax cuts, while for millions of individuals and middle class families, our taxes have gone up due to the loss or capping of deductions and the elimination of the personal exemption.

[Be Careful]

Not Can’t Do....it’s Won’t Do

[Rome2000]

I still have mega high medical insurance deductibles from Obamacare that the GOP failed to repeal, and a giant tax increase that the shylocks Cohn and Mnuchin orchestrated.

Oh, and Hillary and the Klintoon and Obama crime families have still not been locked up, and the GOP surrendered control of DOJ back to the communists.

FUBAR

[MSF BU]

Automation is making the cheap labor express irrelevant. The goal is now to dilute the Americans who are here with new arrivals that really have no special regard for the country.

[Paine in the Neck]

The GOP has been trying to give the American people a reason to relegate them to the dustbin of history since Geo. Herbert ran the Reagan Revolution into the ditch. If it wasn't for the malignant bolsheviks in the ‘Rat party saving their butts, they'd be there now.

[Lurkinanloomin]

That was always the goal.
Steal the country from the citizens by flooding it with foreigners.
It was implemented during the George H.W. Bush administration and has continued through Clinton, W and Obama.

[Yooper patriot]

Great post, I just sent this to the RNC:
Dear RNC,

I am writing this in the faint hope that somebody in the organization who actually cares about what I and many of my fellow Republicans perceive and believe about the GOP may actually read it and share it with others that could engender a change for the better. This letter is partially triggered by the repeated calls I have received from the RNC lately and partly because of the chord this article struck with me today:

“The Can’t-Do Republicans”, Brent Bozell and Tim Graham, Townhall 27 April 2018

It pretty much exactly mirrors my views on what has been happening.

I have been what is now being called a conservative Republican since I was 13, at which time I went door to door for Donald Riegle, who was the first betrayer of my trust when he soon switched to the Dems. I was active in the party for many years, including donating to the RNC, state party, and candidates (not a lot, I have never had much), was a precinct delegate, went to state conventions and events, was county sign chairman one year AND ALWAYS VOTED Republican.

And except for Reagan, the ones that won immediately went to Washington and adopted the culture and accepted the power structure, and went along with the Dems to sell us out. Eventually I got so fed up that I quit donating to the party and quit participating. I do donate directly to the candidates I support, including President Trump and Rep Bergman.

I will not participate in the Party or donate to the RNC again unless they change, and the article pretty much gets it right.

I also believe that the GOP is in danger of disaffected members and conservative independents forming a viable 3rd party in desperation.

Thanks for listening.

[lewmera1]

Hey, I disagree we can sit back and not help the Pubs have good candidates... President Trump is busy and needs us to take some ‘sponsibility in elections...Agree that Pubs in Congress need to ask Ryan and McConnell to step aside...but we shouldn’t look to the president to lead us...we should be working to have good people run for office...or we’re just like the ppl on the left who some like to call sheeple...

Also, knowing what the Dems’ leaders have said... how can we think turning Congress over to them is a good idea...and how do Pubs on these news websites rationalize not even accepting that Pubs could win in Nov...we need to understand we’ll have a lame duck president...if he doesn’t get removed...if Dems win