[EagleMamaMT]

Read later.

[sphinx]

George Bush, regrettably, is not a fiscal conservative, although he is a tax cutter, which makes him close kin. There's a lot of justifiable grumbling about his lack of budgetary discipline. But let's keep focused on our very real strategic opportunities: Social Security privatization; a premium support/MSA-type strategy on health care; vouchering the schools. We're not going to roll back government in these areas, and anyone who thinks we can is delusional. We can, however, drive the system in the right direction.

I am confident we will win on Social Security; the only question is how long it will take. Health care will be tougher, but we're still in the game. On education, I am among those who argued for years against any expansion of the federal role. We have lost that argument decisively in the court of public opinion, and it is pointless to lose elections over it. We need to outflank the liberals with a full court press on school choice, and turn federal aid into our lever for moving recalcitrant local bureaucracies. In the long run, we're going to win this one too.

When I got out of college, I did not expect to see the Berlin Wall fall, the budget balanced, or inflation tamed. (Yeah, yeah, but we balanced the budget once, and we'll do it again.) Those were tougher issues than the ones we face today. In fact, if the opinion polls are to be believed, we already enjoy majority support on the big three I mentioned above. We just have to translate that into voting behavior.

On these issues, the dems are not just wrong. They are visibly dishonest, and increasingly only the stupid are fooled. I think the time is ripe for a major Democrat to break loose and move his Party out of the swamp on these issues. It will start with school choice, and investment options for Social Security will be next. Maybe not this cycle, but within the decade ....

[Imal]

We were fully aware that publishing those comments — all made on the record — would mean we would never be invited to any $1,000-a-plate Republican dinners in Washington.

Then show us the transcript, please. This story is too big to rely on statements quoted out of context.

These guys ought to know better.

[Landru]

"Over the course of an hour-long meeting with Ed Gillespie, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, we took great care to give him every opportunity to explain himself fully so that nothing could be misunderstood. The result was a surprisingly frank admission that the Republican Party [today] defines 'fiscal responsibility' as increasing the federal budget at 'a slower rate of growth' than the Democrats (his words)."

~eh?

"We asked him three times to explain why President Bush and the Republican Congress have increased discretionary non-defense spending at such an alarming rate, and why the party has embraced the expansion of the federal government’s roles in education, agriculture and Great Society-era entitlement programs.
'Those questions have been decided,' was his response. The public wants an expanded federal role in those areas, and the Republican Party at the highest levels has decided to give the public what it wants."

~eh?

"We were fully aware that publishing those comments — all made on the record — would mean we would never be invited to any $1,000-a-plate Republican dinners in Washington. But the rank-and-file Republicans, the men and women who vote GOP because they believe in federalism and limited government, [read: *us*] deserved to know what we knew. Now they do. And they can use the information as they see fit."

~eh??

Don't know about you; but, after reading this?
The past few years make a whole lot more sense right about now.

When we last discussed a facet of this developement, I'd told you the bible & His very Word had been quite successfully redefined.
Remember?

Also spoke with you that with the advent of Arnold on the political scene in CA, attempts have been made to redefine *what* Ronald Reagan conservatism means; hence, what'll be required *if* one considers themself a conservative, now.

Bet you thought to yourself, "The bonehead's gone over the line this time, has completely flipped his wig."
Go on admit it.
It's "OK." ;^)

Thing is?
This RNC clown's now defined the GOP of today; which, as far as you & I are to be concerned?
Is merely another redefinition, and, a clear signal to the right wing constituency to either change to fit them; or, be without political representation.
An "in yo'face" chutzpah from our guys that's sure to cause all manner of deep divisions at a time when we can ill afford *anything* but unity, too.

Of course they can always hurry up & redefine unity, I suppose.

...man-oh-man there's a whole lotta redefinin' goin' on out there, y'know. :o)

[Spiff]

The result was a surprisingly frank admission that the Republican Party defines “fiscal responsibility” as increasing the federal budget at “a slower rate of growth” than the Democrats (his words). We asked him three times to explain why President Bush and the Republican Congress have increased discretionary non-defense spending at such an alarming rate, and why the party has embraced the expansion of the federal government’s roles in education, agriculture and Great Society-era entitlement programs. “Those questions have been decided,” was his response. The public wants an expanded federal role in those areas, and the Republican Party at the highest levels has decided to give the public what it wants.

Further proof that the RNC and the Republican establishment elite has completely lost it! Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! When will the grassroots, rank and file Republicans rise up and throw off these RINOs!? Why do we go year to year, election to election, believing that we have to vote for this RINO or that RINO because a vote for the real Republican is a vote for the Democrat!!? Why do we believe the lies, take the bait, and keep these losers in power who are bankrupting our country, destroying our Constitution, and sinking us further into socialism?

[Gritty]

If the Democrats are just going to Democrats, I see no sense supporting Republicans, just so they can dismantle America at a bit slower rate.

[BureaucratusMaximus]

in no uncertain terms that the days of Reaganesque Republican railings against the expansion of federal government are over.

Regardless, whether this was said, paraphrased, or was an out and out lie...it is the present truth. It would actually be refreshing to find out that Gilespie actually did say this; at least conservatives would finally hear the truth from our beloved republicans, and not have to wander thru all the idle BS of wondering anymore.

[Brimack34]

We can not go jump ship yet. But we can vote in Conservatives in primaries and get control back. Also when they call for money tell them not until they stop the spending. Call your reps. in congress and let them have it.
we have too fight before we jump.

[KantianBurke]

ah heck, how about a bump for old times sake?