Posted on 08/01/2005 1:40:41 AM PDT by Happy2BMe
Republican: GOP Revolution Dying on Washington D.C. Vine
For decades conservative Republicans dreamed of controlling the White House and Congress. The rallying cry was “If only we had the power, we could revolutionize this country and end the era of big government.” Well, in January 2001, it finally happened and the GOP took control of Congress and the White House. Since that time, it has held total control, except for a 17-month period in 2001-02. Yet, not only has Washington D.C. not been revolutionized, but spending has skyrocketed, deficits have ballooned and government has never been bigger.
What happened? It seems that Republicans in Congress only act like Republicans when Democrats are in charge. When the GOP has control, they change from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde and become the monsters they battled against.
Since 2001, Republicans have passed the pork barrel laden farm bill,
an all too expensive education bill, approved a massive new government bureaucracy, the Department of Homeland Security and added an unnecessary Medicare prescription benefit, which according to economist Stephen Moore is “the most financially irresponsible legislation of the last 30 years. “ The party of fiscal discipline is gone and Republicans have become addicted to the big government disease. In treating drug addicts, counselors always look for an important first step, the admission of a problem. Unfortunately, Republicans don’t see big government as a problem anymore, but just a way to buy votes from constituents also addicted to big government. Yet, this addiction is a true problem because as cogently observed by commentator Cal Thomas, “Government programs are the only sign of eternal life on earth! ”
In the last week, two more monstrosities were passed by the Republican controlled Congress, the energy bill and the transportation bill. Both bills are loaded with pork, include too many unnecessary projects and provide obscene perks for influential special interest groups. For example, in the $286.4 billion transportation bill, there is $230 million allocated for a bridge in Alaska to connect an island of 50 people to the mainland. It has been aptly called the “Bridge to Nowhere.” The energy bill authorizes spending of $66 billion and includes $14.5 billion in tax breaks. It doubles the domestic mandate for ethanol production to 7.5 billion gallons by 2012, giving corporate welfare to farmers and little benefit to consumers.
Our federal budget deficit is $333 billion, down from $412 billion last year, but truly “misleading” according to Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC), who believes that “Congress is raiding Social Security to mask the true size of the deficit.” What true deficit reduction has occurred had been due solely to increased tax revenues and not fiscal restraint.
Not only is there no fiscal discipline, there is no conservative agenda. Despite the President’s talk, there is no social security reform on the horizon and no real tax reform being seriously debated. Despite having control of Congress and the White House, Republicans are not pursuing a real conservative agenda, only more big government. For example, a true conservative agenda on the pressing issues of immigration reform, the real threats to the English language, or the multi-faceted culture war does not have the support of the GOP leadership in Congress or the White House and is in no danger of being passed. Republicans seem more interested in providing voters the security of big government than in effective border security.
But, isn’t the country doing so well due to visionary GOP policies? Maybe according to Republican lapdogs on talk radio and Fox News, but real America outside of the beltway knows better. Real wages declined in 2004 and the first quarter of 2005. Today, there are 22,000 fewer private sector jobs today than in March of 2001, when the recession started. Our stock market is stagnant, while gasoline prices keep rising and consumer debt and bankruptcies are skyrocketing. Our trade deficit just keeps going higher, and coupled with large budget deficits and purposely weak U.S. treasury policies, the dollar will continue to get pummeled in currency exchanges.
Today, the politically correct crowd rules the day and the Republicans do not have the will or in the inclination to do anything about it. A party that used to be defined by the mantra of smaller government and more individual freedom is basically indistinguishable from the Democrats on fiscal matters. With philosophical differences between the parties on domestic issues gone, is it any surprise that a new Gallup poll shows Americans becoming “more favorable to the Democratic Party.” Voters will realize that if both parties stand for big government, they might as well support the real thing as opposed to the sick and confused imitation.
In Washington D. C. today, bringing home the bacon is the main goal, not advancing individual freedom or a conservative agenda. This is not what I signed up for as a Reagan Republican. If politics today is all about power, not ideology or principled differences, count me out. So, if the Republicans are not going to govern any differently than the Democrats, what’s the use?
In Washington D. C. today, bringing home the bacon is the main goal, not advancing individual freedom or a conservative agenda. This is not what I signed up for as a Reagan Republican. If politics today is all about power, not ideology or principled differences, count me out.So, if the Republicans are not going to govern any differently than the Democrats, what’s the use?
Haven't supported those worthless Big Stupid Government Republican bastards since '91 and the 'Rats since, well, never.
Screw both Big Stupid Government parties.
If you can't beat 'em, outspend 'em
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Republicans are not pursuing a real conservative agenda, only more big government. For example, a true conservative agenda on the pressing issues of immigration reform, the real threats to the English language, or the multi-faceted culture war does not have the support of the GOP leadership in Congress or the White House and is in no danger of being passed.Republicans seem more interested in providing voters the security of big government than in effective border security.
I'm frankly more concerned about the expansion of our government and that ever present threat to our constitutional freedoms than "cultural" issues.
Big government Republican Ping!
And how many times have you voted for a Republican President to lead this nation according to traditional conservative Republican values, sir?
However, there was an even larger concern on the minds of the Majority who voted President George W. Bush into his second term of office.
Anybody want to bring that one up?
Alex... What is the war on terror?
When everything comes down to getting reelected then you get what you deserve.
I am an advocate of term limits which I believe would solve most of these problems.
The President had the momentum and lost it. At this juncture the only thing good that can happen from now until 2008 is we get two more Supreme Court appointments, because the issues I wanted addressed won't be.
That was my point when someone recently suggested the govt should act as a nanny in the Holloway case and have committee's etc etc getting the govt involved yet once again. I am so tired of so-called conservatives wanting to spend, spend, spend and get involved in every area of our lives. Hello we are Republicans and conservatives, remember what that meant at one time??
Think of it this way... The Democrats put a lot of holes in the roof. In order to fix up the house, we have to spend a lot of money to patch the holes, maintain enough popularity to stay in power long enough to fix all the leaks, and defend the house from terrorists.
Not a set of tasks that lends itself to home repair.
Most of the spending is defense. Most have forgotten the reason, but 9/11 did happen. Deficits were the result but tax cuts have cut into them.
Plus, most forget that the balance of power was tenuous during Bush's first term so the dems had to be countered. Spending did go up, but what if there were dems in charge? Just check their spending bills. All in all, you can bitch and moan as much as you wish, but the real world of politics always trumps idealism, even with RR in charge. You will be happy with some outcomes and unhappy with others.
Whine, whine.
Why not just vote Hillary and Howard Dean in and destroy the republican party.
I hate to say this, 'cuz I despise Hillary & the loud-mouthed Dean...but maybe electing Hillary & Dean is exactly what needs to be done in order to get conservatives w/in the GOP to take their party back. Of course it'll be a very bitter pill to swallow, but the GOP needs to be shaken up SOMEHOW. Its leadership is nothing but a big government one-world mirror image of the Dims.
Not only do we have to content with a corrupt media, America hating liberals and assorted insane commentators, we have to deal with the likes of McCain and his band of cohorts who seek to thwart the President at every turn.
Frankly, I count my blessings every single day that we have this man in office.
The alternative is terrifying.
We'll see lots who refuse to admit", the admission of a problem" on this thread.
Really, if Bush is so bad, why not have some nads and vote your conscience, but STOP your incessant bitchin'!
Hillary!!!....Hillary!!Hillary!!Hillary!!
Anotheer day, another happy malcontent whine.
You can set your watch to their whinings.
Goodness gracious, now we have to listen to some Libt. dope smokin' hack give advise about what "needs to be done".
Yeah, go back to your room and take a couple more hits, bong boy!
Thanks for the ping. A conservative Democrat is better than a liberal Republican, and it's ridiculous that we should have to make the choice.
Talk about the blind leading the blind.
bump
Why don't they just go ahead and join the dem party, because they'd have a much better chance getting their dope smokin', pitchfork legislation passed...
This is circular firing squad thinking. The dims will flood the country with illegals, play the race card to the hilt, the reps will never get back in power. Wise up!
I no longer see any difference at all between the parties.
I wouldn't vote for either.
Hillary won't be any worse than any of the Cinos the GOP will try to stick us with in 08.
Do unto them as they have done unto you. lol
Don't forget to add that the guy you hire to go to the lumber yard for materials to do the job ends up 9 out of 10 times at the local watering hole pissing away your budget.
IMO one illustration is immigration "reform."
It consists of changing the designation of ILLEGAL / undocumented workers to "guest workers." Question: do we get that bridge in Brooklyn with immigration "reform"?
Problem solved. Now shut up, America!
Message to businesses: crime pays (don't they know it!).
I make a distinction between traditional immigration and migrant ILLEGAL / "guest" workers, the latter, millions and millions of them here and millions and millions more on the way, generally have no intention of assimilating.
Just finished reading the thread. There are several political neophytes here who do not understand debate. Having a belief contrary to the "Party's position" is common. Free people have the responsibility to let the Party know. The Goldwater v. Rockefeller "debate" gave us Ronald Reagan. There's another Reagan out there somewhere. (Yes, I know President Reagan signed the 1986 amnesty / reforms, did he wink at the enforcement provisions of the reforms? I don't think so.)
Sadly, the author is 100% correct.
Unfortunately, much of what is stated in this article is true & I agree with. But I agree with you, the alternative is worse.
Ah yes the buchanan/tancredoite arguement that people who grow/process food and build buildings etc are the moral equivalent and as inherantly evil as murderers and rapists.
If they republicans are going to act like democrats, what's the difference?
It doesn't matter who is in office, the end result is always the same...more big-spending government.
The truth is, there is no right or left. There is only right and wrong.
The party bosses and ardent followers would have you believe otherwise. They would have you believe that right is whatever particular party they belong to, and wrong is the political
Instead, both parties and most mainstream organizations funnel into the same end result: total control.
It’s been said that if you don’t like what the Republicans are doing, vote for the Democrats, and if you don’t like what Democrats are doing, vote Republican. It’s set up like a game. I have my favorite team, and you have yours. I’ll back my team no matter what, just as long as your team doesn’t win.
The problem is, both teams are full of scandalous figures who are so busy selling you and I out for their own personal gain, they have no time or desire to help our country in this time of need.
While we Americans are busy cheering our favorite politicos and jeering our least favorites, both sides are pursuing the policy of the destruction of America.
There's a HUGE difference in parties. Just because a few irrelevant social beliefs shared by a minority are not being forced on the entire country, is not a reason to get silly.
There is a huge difference in party rhetoric, but at the end of the day, the actions of both parties are the same.
Some of you folks need to wake up instead of blindly following politicians simply because they arte Republicans.
For example, why did the Republicans pass another huge highway bill. Why didn't they reduce the federal gasoline tax by 3/4 and let the states increase their gas taxes by an equal amount and let the states deal with most of the highway building. Sounds pretty simple to me.
Big Tax Cuts. Strong Military. Decent men and women in govt. instead of debauchery. School Vouchers. Greater emphasis on personal responsibility. Character matters. Conservative judicial appointments.
Say what? Why?
"but maybe electing Hillary & Dean is exactly what needs to be done in order to get conservatives w/in the GOP to take their party back'
Destroying the country for those aims is not a viable solution.
Uh you in your reply #31 was saying people who own and run businesses growing/processing food and building building are as inherantly evil as murderers and rapists.
I probably made 100 posts explaining to people who had nothing against legal immigrants, but were against illegal immigrants because "it was illegal" that there was not a lot of difference between Legal and Illegal.
They expect conservatives to accept BOHICA as a way of life? Are they going to play the Hillary card every time someone says something mean to them?
And what of the "Hispanic" vote?
Are Republicans saying that America has to excuse and accept millions and millions of ILLEGAL migrant workers to avoid upsetting Americans of Hispanic origin? That's an insult to those Americans.
I have no idea the country of my origin. It's one of two or three including Ireland. Ireland is a source of many ILLEGAL aliens. Many left recently owing to New York state's crackdown on drivers licenses. Good.
If the President said that we had to accept / excuse ILLEGAL aliens lest we alienate Irish voters I'd be insulted by it.
I'd get the idea that to Republicans I was less of an American than they feeeeeeeeeeel that they are. What a bunch of arrogant jerks. No vote for Hillary Rats but I'd have to wear haz-mat clothing to vote for a mainline Republican.
OMG how awful to fix up our highways. Vote for Hillary!
" How long has it been since you were able to recognize the Republican Party?"
I am 23. I have never reconized the GOP as anything but socialist. There is hope though, we have to lift up the few who are conservative and pray for the best(Pence,Tancredo,
Shadegg,Coburn)
I'll play.
I was talking about the businesses that hire the migrant workers though it's ILLEGAL to do so. Yes, a crime is a crime.
We have found another Reagan.It is Mike Pence of Indiana.It is up to us to spread the word and support Pence and allow his wing of the party to take over.
"Mike is charismatic. He's articulate, but he's not shrill or mean the way some conservatives can be," said Stephen Moore, former president of the Club for Growth, a conservative political action committee. "I think a lot of us are looking around and saying, 'Who is the next great conservative hero? Where is the next Ronald Reagan in our party?' The Committee has 100 members now. That's a high water mark. So it means that all legislation that passes Congress is going to have go through Mike Pence." ...... Pence has shown that he is not afraid to take unpopular stands. In the last Congress, he defied Bush, spearheading Republican opposition to the drug benefit that Bush wanted and speaking against the president's education initiative, No Child Left Behind Act.
"I was concerned that the ship of conservative governance was veering off course into the dangerous uncharted waters of big government Republicanism," Pence said. "
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54940-2005Mar21.html?referrer=emailarticle
So a business owner who grows/processes food or builds buildings, etc.etc. may hire an employee who shows up everyday, works hard and doesn't cause trouble is akin to a murderer or rapist to you.
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