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Pork, Entitlements Killed the GOP
Human Events ^ | 11/21/06 | Michael Lewis

Posted on 11/21/2006 10:54:39 AM PST by NormsRevenge

Republicans were elected to the House in 1994 on a grand promise to cut taxes, government, and spending. They were elected to rein in the government largess after 40 years of one-party rule. It was a revolution for the Republican Party. The movement started by Barry Goldwater had finally reached the pinnacle of politics—a majority believed in the conscience of Conservatives.

The intentions were good, and the 12-year era of Republican rule accomplished some enormous tasks. Welfare reform under a Democratic president has cut the welfare rolls by nearly half since 1996. The economy is strong, thanks to much needed tax cuts enacted by the Bush Administration. Unemployment is at a record low 4.4%, and the Dow continues to perform well. Fully 70% of Americans own their home, and according to the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, wages are rising.

However, the party that established a Contract with America has strayed far from that document. After a few years, Republicans began to trade principles for power, which is never a good choice, no matter what party is in power. Pork became king, and deals were brokered to ensure re-election by bringing home the bacon.

In 1994, 1,500 pork projects were stuffed into Democratic spending bills. In fiscal 2006, Republicans allowed 15,000 such projects to be inserted into the appropriations bills by members of both parties, at a cost of more than $10 billion according to the Wall Street Journal, which is approximately 24% of our current budget deficit of $248 billion. This figure doesn’t even take into account the amount of money that has been “borrowed” from the Social Security Trust Fund in the past several decades to pay for pet projects. Through their spending policies, Republicans have disenchanted their conservative base by acting like Democrats on steroids. The Wall Street Journal reported that even after Sen. Ted Stevens’ (R.-Alaska) “Bridge to Nowhere” was exposed, “Republicans” continued to defend the pork.

Perhaps most disappointing was the Republican sponsored Medicare prescription drug act. This new entitlement program was the largest expansion of government since the 1960s. The vote on the bill was kept open for an unprecedented three hours while “Republican” leaders twisted the arms of reluctant conservatives in an effort to get them to vote yes. The Medicare Part D program was a source of discontent for the conservative base.

The No Child Left Behind Act didn’t help the GOP either. By inserting Washington bureaucrats into local school systems, the GOP sold out the principles of state control of local affairs. NCLB rubbed so many the wrong way that the Republican-dominated Utah legislature enacted a law that placed achievement of standards set forth in NCLB second to achievement of state standards. Several other states are considering similar laws. So much for the party that once wanted to abolish the Department of Education.

Republicanism, not conservatism, lost on Election Day. Republicans were elected to govern as conservatives, and they became liberals. Power for the sake of power was placed above all else-a bad situation for any party. Republicans may find it prudent to know that a poll last week reported by the Wall Street Journal found that most voters were for less government and lower taxes. If the GOP reinstitutes the ideals and principles that made them a majority, and again become the party of Goldwater and Reagan, the sky is the limit in 2008.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bridgetonowhere; entitlements; gop; killed; mexicaninvasion; nochildleftbehind; pork; prescriptiondrugs; warwussiness
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one more whack at the old dead horse submitted for your consideration..
1 posted on 11/21/2006 10:54:42 AM PST by NormsRevenge
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To: NormsRevenge

Compassionate conservatism also got slaughtered. We should have known that we were in trouble when Bush allowed Ted Kennedy to write the Education bill right after Bush took office.


2 posted on 11/21/2006 10:58:21 AM PST by Mogollon
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To: NormsRevenge
Perhaps most disappointing was the Republican sponsored Medicare prescription drug act.
I'll say. And it's going to suck the life out of us for generations. Someone please remind me why I vote republican, because I'm beginning to forget.
3 posted on 11/21/2006 10:58:53 AM PST by Asclepius (protectionists would outsource our dignity and prosperity in return for illusory job security)
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To: NormsRevenge

Enough articles about why we lost. We all know why, and it was many reasons, not one. The author must be short of real material for an article. This is the what, the 200th article on why we lost?


4 posted on 11/21/2006 10:59:39 AM PST by John Lenin (The most dangerous place for a child in America is indeed in its mother's womb)
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To: Mogollon
Compassionate conservatism also got slaughtered. We should have known that we were in trouble when Bush allowed Ted Kennedy to write the Education bill right after Bush took office.

Blasphemy. You will be burned at the stake.

The Dept. of Education has grown faster and bigger under Bush than Clinton's eight years combined.

5 posted on 11/21/2006 11:00:38 AM PST by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote.)
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To: Mogollon
Compassionate conservatism also got slaughtered

AKA Liberalism Lite. Good riddance!

6 posted on 11/21/2006 11:00:51 AM PST by pgkdan
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To: NormsRevenge
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
7 posted on 11/21/2006 11:01:56 AM PST by sionnsar (?trad-anglican.faithweb.com?|Iran Azadi| 5yst3m 0wn3d - it's N0t Y0ur5 (SONY) | UN: Useless Nations)
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To: NormsRevenge

Well we have to see what happens in the next six or so months. If Georgie gets out his veto pen and uses it--perhaps it will bode a bit better for Republicans in 2008. Now we also have to see what kind of loony liberal moves Nancy Pelosi will make.


8 posted on 11/21/2006 11:02:10 AM PST by brooklyn dave (Dhimmis better not be Dhummis!!!!------or else!!!)
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To: NormsRevenge

I am still dissapointed that my Republican congress critter thought we needed a rain forest in Iowa. Not sure I will vote for him again. Took two years to find a city that would take it.


9 posted on 11/21/2006 11:02:48 AM PST by PeterPrinciple (Seeking the Truth here Folks.)
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To: PeterPrinciple

What??


10 posted on 11/21/2006 11:03:22 AM PST by RockinRight (There's nothing in the middle of the road but yellow stripes and dead armadillos.)
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To: NormsRevenge

Nonsense. The Treason Media slaughtered the GOP through the braindead which still believes it to tell the truth. It's portrait of Conservatives was what voters thought they were voting against. It's portrait of the Iraq war was used to steam up the ignorant.


11 posted on 11/21/2006 11:04:49 AM PST by justshutupandtakeit (If you believe ANYTHING in the Treason Media you are a fool.)
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To: NormsRevenge
...at a cost of more than $10 billion according to the Wall Street Journal, which is approximately 24% of our current budget deficit of $248 billion.

So $10 billion is 24% of $248 billion? No wonder the budget is so screwed up with math skills like that.

12 posted on 11/21/2006 11:05:20 AM PST by Non-Sequitur
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To: NormsRevenge

2 party system...tax and spend democrats - borrow and spend republicans.


13 posted on 11/21/2006 11:06:32 AM PST by stuartcr (Everything happens as God wants it to.....otherwise, things would be different.)
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To: NormsRevenge
In 1994, 1,500 pork projects were stuffed into Democratic spending bills. In fiscal 2006, Republicans allowed 15,000 such projects to be inserted into the appropriations bills by members of both parties

That says it all doesn't it about the GOP controlled congress !!!
14 posted on 11/21/2006 11:11:31 AM PST by LM_Guy
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To: justshutupandtakeit

I can understand some deficit spending during a recession but Open Border Bush (and McCain, etc.) didn't help the GOP, nor did the Harriet Myers nomination IMHO.


15 posted on 11/21/2006 11:11:36 AM PST by razzle (Democrat "Science" - embryo cloning, global warming, and darwinism)
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To: NormsRevenge
... at a cost of more than $10 billion according to the Wall Street Journal, which is approximately 24% of our current budget deficit of $248 billion.

Bad math. 10b would be 10% of 100b, and 5% of 200b; it is 4.03% of 248b.

16 posted on 11/21/2006 11:13:02 AM PST by VRWCmember
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To: John Lenin
This is the what, the 200th article on why we lost?

Nope. First article, 200th time. Another couple of hundred reps and maybe it'll make an impression on the 'pubbies.

17 posted on 11/21/2006 11:18:24 AM PST by Grut
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To: Grut

At this point in time it is a total waste. Shows lack of imagination on the authors part.


18 posted on 11/21/2006 11:21:38 AM PST by John Lenin (The most dangerous place for a child in America is indeed in its mother's womb)
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To: RockinRight



Iowa Rainforest Problems

WHO-TV13 News
[Des Moines, Iowa]

August 24, 2005






Coralville, August 24th, 2005- Some people on the Coralville City Council are getting anxious about the money to fund the Iowa Rainforest Project. The project is being built on 20 acres and costs 180 million dollars.
Right now a few city council members are wondering where some of that money is coming from. They also wonder if the land should be developed for something else.

The project received a 50 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, and is waiting on other private donations. It is still slated to open in 2008.







19 posted on 11/21/2006 11:22:08 AM PST by PeterPrinciple (Seeking the Truth here Folks.)
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To: RockinRight

Here is more info. It was an indespensible project of my republican congress critter:

http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=reports_pigbook2004_EW


20 posted on 11/21/2006 11:25:17 AM PST by PeterPrinciple (Seeking the Truth here Folks.)
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