OK, so my new meter will have to go to eleven.
Posted on 06/24/2003 3:28:54 PM PDT by TLBSHOW
Dick Morris Restates "Big Theory"
June 24, 2003
by Rush Limbaugh
On May 28th of this year, I issued "The BIG Theory" on my program. I said that President Bush's strategy is to steal away Democrat issues by voting for big government programs. I then asked, "What happens when you get in office, and your goal is getting re-elected? Is there ever a point where you say, 'We have all the support we need. Now we can start rolling back government and expanding freedom'?" I'm deeply troubled by this tactic, because it involves rejecting our conservative principles in order to win elections.
Dick Morris calls Bush's strategery "triangulation," comparing it to Bill Clinton positioning himself between liberals and conservatives on issues such as welfare reform. Morris writes that "President Bush has stolen all the Democratic issues," and lists everything from Medicare drug benefits to Head Start to welfare called "tax credits" for people who don't pay taxes. Morris says that advancing big government in the name of "compassion" has helped to assure Bush's reelection. With the war issue faded, Bush has "gotten his political act together with a speed and sureness that shows what a magnificently gifted politician he truly is." So much for Democrats rerunning 1992.
There's just one thing that Morris did not get. Bush isn't just trying to win a second term. He's trying to attract new Republican voters. By acting like liberal Democrats who want to force taxpayers to fund new entitlements, Bush is in essence saying, "I'm your guy." If he's successful in getting even a small percentage of the minority vote that reliably goes Democrat, in addition to keeping conservatives happy on things like tax cuts, this could end up being a major realignment. A lot of people who've apparently been in the meetings with Bush send me e-mails saying, "No, no, no, Rush! Bush is going to get these huge majorities in the House and Senate, then use them to advance conservatism!" Well, I haven't been in those meetings - but even if that does happen, at that point you can wave good-bye to all those new voters.
You're missing both the obvious and the less obvious point here.
The obvious point is that the House alone can't raise the budget - bills have to pass both the House AND the Senate, then be signed by the President, to become law (unless there's a supermajority in support in Congress). In other words, the Democratic House couldn't have raised spending without cooperation from the Republican Senate and the President.
The second, less obvious point, is that while Reagan is generally almost revered around here as The Conservative President, things conservatives didn't like happened during his presidency too.
We tend to remember things like "Mr. Gorbechav, tear down this wall!" and forget things like Reagan supporting a large increase in the earned income tax credit.
OK, so my new meter will have to go to eleven.
Or do you feel inadequate with the words you type and the "picture signature" makes you feel superior.
I liked the old picture better..
I missed neither. Reagan's budget had to get past a House held by the opposition for all eight years. The opposition was the big-spending Democrats. Therefore, Reagan had to compromise with the party whose impulse was bigger spending.
Spending under Reagan is often brought up without this bit of context, generally to divert attention from the reality that Bush is a big spender, even when the GOP holds both chambers of the Legislative branch.
The relevant comparison is spending under Clinton with a GOP legislature, which grew more slowly, even setting aside defense spending, than it has under Bush.
Suddenly, when we hold all the power in DC, the GOP has lost fiscal self-control. To whom should we look to right this recklessness?
Who is the leader of our party?
Let the your words you type be your signature, not a symbol.
Or do you feel inadequate with the words you type and the "picture signature" makes you feel superior.No, no... it's precious, you tricksy thing.
No, but I'm often tempted to feel superior when I read complaints about the graphic, or other similar straw-clutching.
The urge soon passes, though, as I'm a genuinely swell guy.
Outstanding post!! Astutely, eruditious, and logically thought out. Like Kentucky says "AMEN"
Whew you are big on personal symbolism aren't you. Oh well, what else can one expect from the dictionary example of self-absorbtion.
No, but I'm often tempted to feel superior when I read complaints about the graphic, or other similar straw-clutching.
The urge soon passes, though, as I'm a genuinely swell guy
Huh a person with a modicum of humility would give up the vain picture signature for at least 24 hours, IMO, and let his words make his point.
But I am dealing with a person who would go through withdrawl without his "picture", being symbolized as his word, probably like Kings and Queens of old.
Good Question
.....
The BIG Theory of stealing away Democrat issues. I've said from Day One that I don't think doing this to get elected will work, because once these guys get elected their job is to get re-elected. They'll never say, "Okay, now we're in and we'll start acting like conservatives."
since Sabertooth is ignoring my repliesTrue. If word gets out that I'm not an extinct cat, my credibility will be shot.
It's probably not a good idea to confuse "ignoring" with "not noticing." Sometimes it's one, sometimes it's the other. I do however, sincerely apologize for whatever degree of anguish my neglect may have caused you on this thread. Sadly, though, I am hopelessly thoughtless, and can not promise it won't happen again, soon.
Everyone's a critic.
JMO, but you are taking this "extinct cat" business a bit to seriously.
Oh that's right, you have to use the primary symbolism of pictures to prove your point, not words, excuse my faux pas.
It's probably not a good idea to confuse "ignoring" with "not noticing." Sometimes it's one, sometimes it's the other. I do however, sincerely apologize for whatever degree of anguish my neglect may have caused you on this thread. Sadly, though, I am hopelessly thoughtless, and can not promise it won't happen again, soon
And it seems that sarcasm is not a strong point with you either.
Oh well you have the crutch of your "mighty kitty" to fall back on.
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