Posted on 02/02/2013 12:10:03 PM PST by Kaslin
The Republican Party is in danger of another big loss. This time, they could lose the House of Representatives, giving the Democrats control of both chambers as well as the White House.
The Democratic Party cannot possibly achieve this victory on its own. We are experiencing the slowest recovery in our nation’s history. Economic growth is tepid. The job numbers are awful. Millions of people are out of work precisely because of the policies of the Obama administration.
Ask any employer, any banker, any investor — regardless of party affiliation — and you are likely to hear the same stories. ObamaCare is making companies reluctant to hire. Dodd/Frank financial reform is making banks reluctant to lend. President Obama’s continuing threat to raise taxes is making investors reluctant to invest. Labor policy and environmental regulations are compounding these negative factors.
Plus, Democrats have another big problem: ObamaCare will take $716 billion out of Medicare over the next 10 years and spend it on health insurance for the non-elderly. As senior citizens have increasing difficulty finding doctors who will accept them and as they face increasingly lengthy waits for their care, everyone in Congress will feel their wrath.
The next election, therefore, should be an easy win for the GOP. But so should have the last one. Democrats can only win if the Republicans cooperate in allowing them to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
How might Republicans cooperate in their own demise? By engaging in no-win battles over the budget and allowing Democrats to seize a public relations victory in the process.
At the end of this month, the automatic spending cuts (budget sequester) kicks in. At the end of next month there will be a close-down-the-government (continuing resolution) moment. Then there will be a debt ceiling standoff — probably in May. Each of these episodes is fraught with danger for the GOP. To make matters worse, House Republicans seem to have a suicidal desire to keep passing budgets that have no chance of passage, but can be easily demagogued by the other side.
Let’s get three basic truths out on the table: (1) We have a long-term entitlement spending crisis, under which promises we have made far outstretch any foreseeable revenues; however, (2) reform is virtually impossible unless both parties cooperate; and (3) if one party tries to push through a reform on a totally partisan basis that party is likely to lose the next time voters get to vote.
Reform of major institutions almost always creates more visible losers than winners in the short run. An example is ObamaCare. The president and the Democrats in Congress foolishly pushed the measure through without a single Republican vote. The upshot: Democrats got crushed in the 2010 elections. The Republicans not only took the House of Representatives, they won huge down ballot races all over the country.
The Democrats did walk away with a consolation prize, however. They got the health reform they wanted. Republicans are poised to make a similar mistake. But, unlike their opponents, they will walk away completely empty handed.
Yes we do have a problem of continuing and unsustainable federal deficit spending. But the Republicans in Congress cannot force the Democrats to reform Social Security. They cannot force the Democrats to reform Medicare. Or Medicaid. Or the disabilities program. Or any other major social insurance program.
If they try, President Obama will claim he is trying to protect seniors against Republican attempts to destroy the institutions they depend upon. Republicans will be accused of trying to raise the age of eligibility for Social Security and Medicare, of tinkering with the payment formulas to lower benefits and of “privatization” — all highly unpopular reforms.
Democrats will also make another argument. They will accuse the Republicans of hurting the recovery by creating uncertainty. There is a lot of evidence that public policy uncertainty is a chief cause of our slow recovery. Further, the policies of the Obama administration are the main source of that uncertainty. But Democrats could turn the tables on that issue if Republicans engage in highly visible budget battles with the president.
So what should Republicans do?
First, remind voters at every turn that we have a long-term entitlement spending crisis and that the Obama administration has contributed to that crisis — primarily by creating an entitlement benefit for the nonelderly that is not paid for in any realistic way.
Second, signal a willingness to negotiate with the president and with Democrats in Congress to reform the entitlement programs that almost everyone agrees must be reformed.
Third, avoid the appearance of trying to force the White House to reform Social Security and Medicare against the president’s wishes.
Finally, avoid voting for budgets that have no chance of passage and that imply deep cuts in Social Security and Medicare.
How come media advice for how Republican politicians should act is always different from advice for how Democrat politicians should act?
Put another way, when was the last time Democrats were advised to moderate their positions in order to make themselves appear reasonable?
Final thought. Over the past several months, the NRA has been unyielding in its support of the 2nd Amendment. All the while, the NRA has been accused by msm’ers of being an extremist organization. So who is winning the public opinion fight over the 2nd amendment - the NRA or the MSM? I think we all know the answer to that question. And therein lies a lesson for the GOP.
I think the NRA supports gun control. It helps them raise money.
Of course the RINOublicans will lose the house .
That is the way of the RINO.
And they will, if Boner has anything to do with it.
Put another way, when was the last time Democrats were advised to moderate their positions in order to make themselves appear reasonable?Why should they? They're winning.
One word GOP. Now, and in the future:
JOBS.
Because in 2010, the repubs won a blow out across the nation, we got control most of the redistricting for the 2012 election.
In 2012, more voters in Ohio voted for the democrat congressmen, but the gop won 11 out of 16 seats.
This was also true nationwide as the dems got more votes, but we still held the house.
Until 2022, it will be almost impossible for the dems to control the house.
It was the same in 1984. The repubs won more votes, but the dems had an overwhelming majority in the house of reps due to gerrymandering.
Bottomline: if you are a political party, you do not want to get blown out in 2010 or 2020 or you will suffer the consequences.
The Ohio House and Ohio Senate are similarly gerrymandered to shut out the dems for the next decade. Of course the dems did it to us in IL, MD and CA.
The RNC needs to fire all their PR people.
Are you planning to stay home again to teach the GOP a lesson like in the 2006 election when we lost the House and Pelosi took over, and then was able to cram the 0bamaCare down our throat. Don’t tell me you want o make the same mistake
And you are going to to everything help them to lose it, aren’t you?
I agree
And since you don’t know the Speaker of the House’s correct name tells me a lot
The weepy Speaker deserves all the disrespect he gets her at FR.
However, elections are won and lost on salesmanship. We have the most boring candidates, they don't know how to present information and that is why we lose. They should spend money on the best public relations firm they can find. Salesmanship works.
Dear Kaslin
As much as I enjoy your posts, I cannot and will not vote for RINOs’.
While I am registered as a Republican and will vote in the Texas Republican primaries, IF we do not have a primary challenger to my local RINO, I will not vote for him in the Primary.
In the general I will vote OTHER than Republican for this position. No longer interested in the ever expanding reach of the Federal G’ment, whether at the hands of the Rinos or Rats.
We have had too many years of the Bushes, McCains and Romneys at the Federal level. Not to mention the Senate.
We do have one very bright spot in Senator Cruz I am very happy to say
No...the#1 issue that will cost the GOP the House in ‘14 will be passing Illegal Alien Amnesty. They can talk cute and conservative all they want....but it will be moot if they push multi trillion dollar Amnesty
GOP talk radio and media need to stop pandering to Amnesty Liberals...you aren’t going to beat the Dems dumping the Conservative base for Aliens and Hispanics
If Republicans compromise on any Second Amendment issues, they’ll lose the House. Voter numbers sometimes trump campaign funding from special interest groups.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.