Posted on 11/09/2002 10:14:23 AM PST by forest
Most of us can still remember when the Republicans won Congress. The "Republican Revolution" they called it. They had great ideas and big plans. From the very first day, that revolution started off with a bang.
Whatever happened to that? Anyone remember? No? Well, we do.
Generally speaking, the left made fun of them and instead of standing up and fighting for what they said they believed in, they ran for cover. Which means, many of those good ideas, most of the promises to the American people, were lost.
Below is an article published here on April 11, 1997 concerning that Republican revolution titled, "Why the Revolution Fizzled." Read it and weep. We lost a lot there.
Now we have another chance. But, if we do not join together to constantly demand that those we just elected actually follow the Republican Party platform of smaller government, less regulations and lower taxes, the left will again frighten Republicans in Congress into approving the Democrat's socialist programs.
Republicans in Congress need to know that they have our support for downsizing the regulatory bureaucracy and lowering taxes. The liberal corporate media must be continuously told that the vast majority of American people support these actions. And, those in the Democratic Party must be told to go sit down and shut up because they lost.
Otherwise, the same obnoxious mouths on the left will start the same old distracting problems and, again, nothing benefiting the Liberty of the American people will be accomplished.
They started out with a bang, then ended in a whimper. One reason was that they forgot one basic premise that applies to anyone pioneering new ideals: "The Pioneers get the arrows!"
It's true in every field. Attempt to change the status quo and those comfortable with the current system will protest. And if, as in this case, none of the people supporting change are accustomed to being in a position of strong leadership, the pioneering movement can expect stern and relentless criticism from the previous leaders. It's even worse in politics.
But there's more to it than just that. Not only did these pioneers not prepare for the vicious attack from the far left, they even neglected to protect their core -- their rallying point.
Many thousands of us -- maybe many hundreds of thousands of us -- have watched, listened to and cheered Newt Gingrich over the years. His was the one lone voice from Washington speaking of individual liberty, and freedom from government control. His was the only voice in Washington daring to recommend texts such as "The Federalist Papers" and "Democracy in America," as examples of how our government should be operated.
Yes, Newt had a lot of us voters out here in "fly-over country" convinced that if we could elect just a few more Republicans to Congress, the Republican Revolution would rise up and squelch that ever-oppressive liberal leviathan we call a federal government.
Newt had us convinced that, through the Republican Party, America could again return to the pre-Roosevelt style of limited federal government that made this country so great. Republicans would downsize government by firing a few federal agencies, boards and commissions.
Republicans would recoup the savings from smaller government and reflect them in a lower tax burden for all Americans. Republicans would remove most of those womb to tomb regulations stymying progress and liberty. And Americans might once again pursue their own idea of personal happiness through individual freedom and the opportunity to live their lives as they see fit.
In other words, Newt promised us that, through Republican control of Congress, America would once again have the government intended by the authors of our Constitution. Then, at last, that ever-extending heavy hand of government restriction would be slapped back to where it belongs.
It took Newt a few years to get enough of us to believe him. But, believe him we did. And finally, Republicans gained control of both houses of Congress.
The problem was, the newly elected Republican team was not nearly as cohesive and dependable as the new leadership hoped. Consequently, when the liberal establishment's arrows started flying in the direction of the "pioneers," many of the Republicans immediately cowered, and ran for cover.
Instead of protecting their core, their leader, the person most responsible for getting them there, many Republicans left Newt out front to catch the worst of the liberal's attack. Instead of launching a strong, unified counter attack in support of their ideals and their leader, most Republicans ducked and hid, leaving Newt alone to field the onslaught from the left. Instead of charging in force in support of core issues -- important issues like a reduction in oppressive regulations, an end to pork-barrel spending, a reduction of the bloated federal budget, and repeal of oppressive laws -- many of the elected Republicans groveled to the liberals with a self-indulgent "go along to get along" posture. And in so doing, they left Newt hanging in the breeze, totally unprotected.
Instead of unified support, there was hardly a peep from elected Republicans when liberals charged Newt with over 500 bogus ethics violations. There was seldom a word from the elected Republicans for the three long years that the administration and the liberal press launched a coordinated attack to malign Newt's character. Nor is there support today when make-believe Republicans in the press, like William Kristol of the American Standard, go after Newt.
Most of the Republican cadre are hiding, covering their butts. They're afraid that if they come to Newt's defense, take a position, or make a stand, they might risk their cushy jobs.
And, in a nutshell, that's what this all amounts to.
These are little more than professional politicians protecting their positions. Most have been vetted enough that we voters know that they understand what is right. For sure, they can mouth the ideals of individual freedom, liberty, smaller government and lower taxes. The problem with them is obvious: Many have neither the intestinal fortitude nor the personal integrity to actually stand up and fight for what is right. Not only are they not leaders, they are not even dependable followers.
Newt launched the campaign that put the Republicans in control. Newt spearheaded the "Republican Revolution." But, as soon as the war got a little warm, as soon as the criticism from the left got a little hot, a whole cadre of cowards deserted their posts and abandoned their leader.
Americans want freedom from this over oppressive federal government. We want lower taxes, less government and full disclosure of everything the government does. Newt, and only a handful of elected Republicans, still show the courage necessary to publicly profess these ideals.
When duty called, the others deserted the field of honor. Indeed, they preferred to protect their personal position, rather than the American public and our United States Constitution.
Now we have another chance.
I agree. And while Newt was important, he was compromised by his relationship with his girlfriend. With Repubs everywhere, there is no excuse not to start dismantling the welfare state. And the leftists will have less ability to make noise now that the Net is available everywhere, unfiltered.
Exactly and precisely. The bluenose purists who trashed
then deserted Newt Gingrich did as much harm to this
country as Bill Clinton.
Where did these issues surface in the 2002 election? Other than making GW's tax cut permanent, he's talking about a 1994 Contract With America agenda.
We're holding on to both houses by our fingernails, and he wants to start cutting federal agencies. A good idea to be sure (as it was in 1994), but I don't see the mandate.
The Newt being left as a target was unfortunate. But it was my understanding that while the freshman class of '94 was VERY enthusiastic, it was the Old Guard who was reluctant in implementing the new(t) vision. (Ha! I made a funny!)
Seriously, EVERYONE in congress needs to take a stand. The article kind of implies that it was the freshmen who didn't protect.
Pookie & ME
This is a key point. When you are in power, it is best to cook the frog slowly and quietly. Rather than loudly declare we are going to shut down certain agencies, it is better just to reduce their funding slowly - say 5% per year. This is something that congress can do while just saying they are being fiscally prudent. The agencies then have to start doing layoffs - or cut salaries. It is perfectly possible to cut salaries (as long as it is across the board) while the civil servant keep their jobs. If the agency chooses not to do that, then they can just cut back on hiring. Slow but steady this shrinks the budget and the intrusiveness of the agencies.
In addition, when the Homeland Security Agency is formed and those 170,000 bureaucrats are transfered in - just make sure that the total budget for the agency is less than the combined budgets of the agencies folded in. And then layoff redudant employees - of which there will surely be a bunch.
No need to make a big deal out if it and energize the opposition, and make people think the Republicans are big meanies. I say again, cook the frog slowly and quietly.
I was also disturbed by the way that Newt cashed in on his popularity with the original book deal. Even though it was legal (Rush shouted that from the mountaintops everyday), it was unseemly, and I felt it robbed Newt of some moral authority.
I know there will be arguments regarding Hillary's book, and we all know that her advances are a political payoff (she'll never earn royalties, because that book will never sell enough copies to pay back the advances).
In fact, ANYTHING the Republicans did to address budget and spending priorities was spun by the Democrats as evil. some worked for Democrats(medicare) and some didnt (welfare reform). Guess what? they will try that again next year. Just as cleland tried and failed this election. if we position ourselves right (and Bush seems to be quite good at that on many issues), the Democrats will merely marginalize themselves with their carping.
In the end, the media was able to tear down Newt, but that was only the ability to go after one polarizing figure who was conservative and not cosnervative ideals. The Republicans of 1994 are mostly still in Congress, and conservatives make up the majority of the Republican party. We should be pushing for conservatives ideas in bills, the end to funding left-wing groups by federal govt, etc. Don Nickles is new budget chairman, it is a good step.
The WISE use of power would be to: Keep promises; stay unified; constantly communicate your vision and ideas; neither under-reach (do too little) nor overreach (try to do too much and failing eg, like Clinton's failure in 1994 on health care). Rather, we should set a consevative agenda, make a reasonable legislative plan that American voters will support, and work to get it passed. I see Energy, taxcut permanence, Homeland Security and about 100 new federal judges are needed.
Bush used his politial capital brilliantly before the election. I hope he uses it brilliantly after the election to help the economy and advance the conservative agenda.
Except for that guy in Texas. What's his name? Oh yeah . . . Ron Paul.
Where's Newt now?
This time, cowardice on the part of Republicans should be met with instantaneous outrage from the constituency. This is our moment to shine; let's not let the DNC smokescreen dim our prospects.
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