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Republican: GOP Revolution Dying on Washington D.C. Vine
BayouBuzz ^ | 8/1/2005 | Jeff Crouere

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?


TOPICS: Extended News
KEYWORDS: 109th; gop; gopmodsquad; rinos
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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?


1 posted on 08/01/2005 1:40:41 AM PDT by Happy2BMe
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To: Happy2BMe
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.

2 posted on 08/01/2005 1:42:43 AM PDT by Hank Rearden (Never allow anyone who could only get a government job attempt to tell you how to run your life.)
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To: Happy2BMe

If you can't beat 'em, outspend 'em


3 posted on 08/01/2005 1:43:48 AM PDT by Now_is_The_Time
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To: Reagan Man; Reaganwuzthebest; Gipper08; JohnHuang2; keri; international american; Kay Soze; jpsb; ..
How long has it been since you were able to recognize the Republican Party?

===========================================

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.


4 posted on 08/01/2005 1:44:17 AM PDT by Happy2BMe (Viva La MIGRA - LONG LIVE THE BORDER PATROL!)
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To: Happy2BMe
There is no threat to the "English language." The second generation Latinos that I have encountered in New York, Miami, and Chicago all prefer speaking English with their friends and Spanish with their parents. I agree about immigration reform, but you guys lose me on the "language" issue, which is a tempest in a teapot.

I'm frankly more concerned about the expansion of our government and that ever present threat to our constitutional freedoms than "cultural" issues.

5 posted on 08/01/2005 1:47:10 AM PDT by Clemenza (Life Ain't Fair, GET OVER IT!)
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To: Gondring

Big government Republican Ping!


6 posted on 08/01/2005 1:48:43 AM PDT by jan in Colorado ("My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Hosea 4:6)
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To: Clemenza

And how many times have you voted for a Republican President to lead this nation according to traditional conservative Republican values, sir?


7 posted on 08/01/2005 1:49:12 AM PDT by Happy2BMe (Viva La MIGRA - LONG LIVE THE BORDER PATROL!)
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To: jan in Colorado; All; Barnacle; Salem; F15Eagle; dennisw; JohnHuang2; little jeremiah; GarySpFc; ...
The border issue is a major concern to most Americans.

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?

8 posted on 08/01/2005 1:54:05 AM PDT by Happy2BMe (Viva La MIGRA - LONG LIVE THE BORDER PATROL!)
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To: Happy2BMe
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.

Alex... What is the war on terror?

9 posted on 08/01/2005 2:08:45 AM PDT by jan in Colorado ("My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Hosea 4:6)
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To: Happy2BMe

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.


10 posted on 08/01/2005 3:23:25 AM PDT by Recon Dad
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To: Happy2BMe
The rallying cry was “If only we had the power, we could revolutionize this country and end the era of big government.”

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??

11 posted on 08/01/2005 3:40:11 AM PDT by stopem
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To: Happy2BMe

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.


12 posted on 08/01/2005 4:00:13 AM PDT by coconutt2000 (NO MORE PEACE FOR OIL!!! DOWN WITH TYRANTS, TERRORISTS, AND TIMIDCRATS!!!! (3-T's For World Peace))
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To: Happy2BMe

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.


13 posted on 08/01/2005 4:04:18 AM PDT by KeyWest
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To: Happy2BMe

Whine, whine.

Why not just vote Hillary and Howard Dean in and destroy the republican party.


14 posted on 08/01/2005 4:08:00 AM PDT by tkathy (Tyranny breeds terrorism. Freedom breeds peace.)
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To: tkathy

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.


15 posted on 08/01/2005 4:16:41 AM PDT by libertyman (It's time to make marijuana legal AGAIN!!!)
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To: KeyWest
Evidently the facts just seem to get in the way of Bush bashing.

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.

16 posted on 08/01/2005 4:28:42 AM PDT by OldFriend (MERCY TO THE GUILTY IS CRUELTY TO THE INNOCENT ~ Adam Smith)
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To: Happy2BMe

We'll see lots who refuse to admit", the admission of a problem" on this thread.


17 posted on 08/01/2005 4:31:22 AM PDT by B4Ranch ( Report every illegal alien that you meet. Call 866-347-2423, Employers use 888-464-4218)
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To: tkathy; Happy2BMe
Why not just vote Hillary and Howard Dean in and destroy the republican party.

Really, if Bush is so bad, why not have some nads and vote your conscience, but STOP your incessant bitchin'!

18 posted on 08/01/2005 4:32:29 AM PDT by sirchtruth (Words Mean Things...)
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To: Happy2BMe

Hillary!!!....Hillary!!Hillary!!Hillary!!


19 posted on 08/01/2005 4:35:19 AM PDT by Wolfie
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To: coconutt2000
"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,"

I guess that explains that explains the new pool ,cabana and landscaping
20 posted on 08/01/2005 4:35:22 AM PDT by grjr21
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