'Is the GOP ready for prime time?'

[CoolBlue71]

A speech writer for President George W. Bush (R-Texas), conservative David Frum wonders about the substance of a probable-incoming Republican majority in Congress (particulary with the House). I'm in agreement, because "The Party of No" will become "The Party of Show" — as in, "Show us what you have!" The big loathsome possibility of fucking with Social Security may be on the agenda. But other than more tax cuts — as if that means anything anymore — what is Team Red going to deliver? And what — if any of it — would President Obama sign on for? (Repealing healthcare?)



http://theweek.com/bullpen/column/206770/is-the-gop-ready-for-prime-time

Is the GOP ready for prime time?

All signs point to big Republican gains in November,
enabling the GOP to implement its agenda. But what agenda is that?

By David Frum
TheWeek.com | 09.03.2010

Boehner is signaling, apparently, that the Republican congressional majority will arrive pre-exhausted, without ideas, ready to do business with K Street from Day 1. This is not good news. It’s also unfortunately not surprising news. For 24 months, an emotionally intense opposition to the president has been unsupported by anything like a Republican policy agenda. The party is agreed on holding a vote on the repeal of Obamacare. Beyond that — it's all a big void.

 

[MoltenRock III]

Personally, I think the Foxpublicans have peaked. They've peaked 2 months too early however, if they think they are going to regain Congress in either the House or Senate. I don't think they'll take either.

 

[CowboyBob]

Here's something similar:

GOP Promises Detailed Agenda, If Not A 'Contract'

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129578732

They're going to try to repeal Health Care Reform. Apparently they thought the broken health care system was alright. Okay.... try to take it away but what do they want to replace it with?

"Republicans have been united strongly on what they're against, not what they're for," says Donald Kettl.

I have my doubts if they'll take any majority because they're so fractured. With the tea baggers tearing at it from the right and the more common sense moderates dwindling, can they unite?

Republicans love to run on a "tax cut". If taxes are constantly cut then won't the deficit increase?

The only thing they can crow about is that President Obama hasn't found a cure-all for getting us out of this quagmire economy Bush dropped us in. How, pray tell, will they do it if they're elected into office?

 

[desmond]

Brewer/Jindal, can't lose!

 

[Kulindahr]

If the Republicans aim to cut taxes, it's tantamount to treason at this point.

Not just reducing the deficit, but tackling the debt is as serious a matter for this country as was World War II; the consequences of not dealing with it will be as severe as failure to liberate Europe would have been. If they have any shred of love for this country, they'll agree to let the top bracket go back up, and cooperate in adding two more above that, the the pre-Reagan rate and something substantially higher for the top -- and the increased revenue from those upper brackets would be sent against the debt itself.

But they won't. What concepts lurk in their brains that make them believe we can just keep sending mythical money I can't grasp. They may as well be Nero's companions, fiddling or diddling or whatever while things crumble all around.

 

[altlover85]

I've always thought it is easier to stand in opposition to something than it is to come to a consensus and make a policy of your own.

 

[MoltenRock III]

I've always thought it is easier to stand in opposition to something than it is to come to a consensus and make a policy of your own.

Of course it is. Just listen to Drug Limbaugh, Hannity, and similar. All they do is point out problems with everyone else. They don't have any answers themselves.

 

[altlover85]

On a side note, my above point also explains why even though the Democrats have control of the government, it doesn't mean that they can push through whatever they want. There are ideological differences in the party, just like there are in the Republican party.

 

[BostonPirate]

The GOP is peaking but they may recover... one more katrina or British petroleum and they are back in the game. would the republicans hope for a natural disaster to take political advantage of it?

OF COURSE they would without a moments hesistation.

 

[rareboy]

I'm sure there are fundamentalists praying all over the US for the type of catastrophe or terrorist event that would galvanize the electorate to vote in Christian White Republicans in order to take back their country.

Kuli is dead on. To promise anyone tax cuts in this environment would be disastrous beyond belief.

 

[Kulindahr]

I'm sure there are fundamentalists praying all over the US for the type of catastrophe or terrorist event that would galvanize the electorate to vote in Christian White Republicans in order to take back their country.

Kuli is dead on. To promise anyone tax cuts in this environment would be disastrous beyond belief.

Of course they're not going to pray for harm to the country. But they're almost certainly praying for disaster on the politicians they oppose -- and probably don't stop to think about 'collateral damage'.

I can even picture Palin here:

"Lord, for their offenses against You, strike them down in their pride, for they exalt themselves and prey on the good people of this country, rejecting the freedom and good morals You gave us when You made this a Christian country, and turning us to godlessness, ruining our children and the future of this great land, so they deserve ruin and catastrophe; let it overtake them so righteousness may be exalted, raising up the humble and bringing low the proud!"

 

[Zu-Mendel]

Damnit Kuli, why did you have to make me read the entire paragraph in her voice?

My brain hurt when I got to the end, thank-you-very-much.

 

[CoolBlue71]

Personally, I think the Foxpublicans have peaked. They've peaked 2 months too early however, if they think they are going to regain Congress in either the House or Senate. I don't think they'll take either.

Two things (off the top of my head) make it possible:

1) Obama hasn't provided leadership necessary…and strong enough. Not enough of a stimulus for creating jobs. Healthcare bill was written by the insurance industry. It kills the Democratic base feeling enthusiastic to back the party in the first midterms. Had he been a forceful, even bold, leader — he could do what Franklin Roosevelt did: win more Democratic seats, and keep same-party control for a decade. (Longest stretch — involving Republicans and Democrats — in which one party held the triple combo of the presidency, Senate, and House? …14 years. All during FDR's White House years, starting in 1932; with Harry Truman losing Congress in 1946.)

2) People are panicked. Understandably. And independents — in particular ones not partisan and who truly are independents — have no love for either party and figure, "You guys are the only game in town. I'll go back and forth if I feel the need." And, if this decade is A Lost Decade, we could be seeing this pattern develop where the House and Senate flip three or four times in a ten-year period (as it did just after World War II — and until the mid-1950s — for a total of four times, in 1946, 1948, 1952, and 1954).

 

[justapixel]

I've always thought it is easier to stand in opposition to something than it is to come to a consensus and make a policy of your own.

Of course it is. Just listen to Obama, Democrats, and similar in 2008. All they do is point out problems with everyone else. They don't have any answers themselves.

Then when they came to power, it proved the fact that all the could do is critize. They had no answers.

 

[rareboy]

^ Oh puleeze.

In spite of the party of no, they have managed to accomplish more in two years than the previous administration did in 8...and all without alienating their allies or trampling on the Constitution.

 

[Kulindahr]

Damnit Kuli, why did you have to make me read the entire paragraph in her voice?

My brain hurt when I got to the end, thank-you-very-much.

That wasn't a paragraph, it was one sentence. And that's the way she talks when she prays -- on and on and on. The astounding thing is that her sentence structures actually hang together!

Sorry about the voice, though -- it irritated me, just writing that. Did you get the feeling she was standing near you, swaying, with her eyes closed and one hand in the air?

 

[Kulindahr]

^ Oh puleeze.

In spite of the party of no, they have managed to accomplish more in two years than the previous administration did in 8...and all without alienating their allies or trampling on the Constitution.

I was in agreement right up to the last: Obama continues the same stomp and shuffle on our founding document that Bush got going, and has added a few flourishes.

If he was a real leader, he'd get them to undo the misnamed "USA PATRIOT" Act, and go right ahead and appoint a couple more justices to the Supreme Court -- ones that support ALL our rights, not the enemies of the Bill of Rights he's chosen so far.