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.
"It's portrait of Conservatives was what voters thought they were voting against"
So the GOP out of control spending, the open borders, the Harriet Miers debacle, the failure to un-tie the hands of our solders in Iraq was all a MSM illusion?
"That means the average cost of each slice of pork was 16,533,333. I want some friggin pork!!!"
You ain't gettn no frigging pork. Only the big business get the pork.
The grassroots gets the pork skins and cracklins.
10% = 165,333. I still want some pork:>))
Well them skins and cracklins by Washington standards look to be worth more than gold eh? Ship mine Fed Ex:>)
There was no "out of control" spending. In fact, the deficit is going down because of Bush's economic policies.
There are no "open" borders since millions are returned every year and the problem with Illegals is WILDLY exaggerated.
There is no "tied" hands of American troops. Destroying those we are trying to protect is not a solution to anything.
Harriet Miers became a debacle because the Loony Lynch Mob torpedoed her. There was nothing wrong with her as a Justice except in the eyes of the Loony Lynch Mob. She was a conservative, fundamentalist Christian and long-time, trusted associate of the President.
So yep it was all an illusion. Particularly when compared with the REAL successes of the GOP: the taking the War on Terror to our enemies, the reform of taxes and the appointment of conservative Justices.
But now you don't have to worry about ANY future successes since the GOP is "being taught a lesson." Another fabulous success by the Wingnut wing of the party.
Well said.
Pretty damn sad too.
Yes it is.
I welcome the failure of the GOP. Besides the war the GOP was not very conservative. Without Ann Coulter and Rush we would have been stuck with an unknown on the SC. The GOP is now socialism lite.
Soon, it will also be pork, entitlements killed the Democrats! What goes around comes around.
Total crap.
It was too conservative for the Nation apparently.
The Lynch mob attack on Miers was a disgrace and had nothing to do with her not being conservative enough in any case.
Just because revenues rose due to the tax cuts and covered some of the wild spending, doesn't mean it wasn't wild spending. And remember, the spending is permanent, but the tax cuts are temporary.
There are no "open" borders since millions are returned every year and the problem with Illegals is WILDLY exaggerated.
Right .... and how did millions get here to be deported if the borders aren't open? And do you really think we catch and deport at a 100% level? And since the problem is estimated at 10Million, and you say millions are returned, how can the problem be WILDLY exaggerated.
You don't even seem to be trying to be logical about any of this.
Harriet Miers might be a nice person, but there is no record of her being the kind of deep thinker needed on the bench. Being a loyal political hack is exactly what would be wrong with having her on the bench, no matter what her conservative, fundamentalist Christian beliefs. If she can't out-think, out-write, and out-argue a Kennedy, a Breyer or hopefully a Ginsburg, then she isn't a good nomination.
It's hard work to be cynical enough, but being logical enough isn't all that hard; give it a try.
Exactly who said we need a deep thinker? I was and am tired of ivory tower eggheads deciding law on things they never experience.
Meirs was treated disgracefully by conservatives, and trashing her and the President hurt us. I elected GWB to decide who to put on the court, not Ann Coulter.
Much of the spending has been in place for decades. Only those who do not understand politics would believe that Bush EVER had a sufficient mandate to change these priorities. He BARELY reached office in the first place then was IMMEDIATELY stabbed in the back by Jeffords putting the Senate in enemy hands.
If you seriously want Major reform you MUST elect conservatives with LARGE majorities not barely winning with only SOME conservatives.
I live in a city with one of the largest Illegal populations in the country they are NOT a huge problem here. In some areas they are more of one. But anyone believing they are going to help solve this problem (which has been growing LONG before 2001) by reducing the power of the GOP is a fool. NOW nothing you want will be done. NOW the House cannot stand in the way of amnesty. Congratulations.
Prior to their nominations MOST candidates are not well known. While I like the result I still believe the attacks on Mier were horribly personal and unworthy of decent people. And you have ZERO evidence she could not stand up against the evil ones.
I am in need of no logic lessons from people who cannot even recognize their own best interest.
Thw whole system blows up in 2018, The politicians will lie to us up to the minute before implosion that everything is just fine if we raise taxes even higher.
Heck Jorge wouldn't even use his veto when the Pubs had the house and senate. No chance he will risk alienating his friends on the left now.
If you seriously want Major reform you MUST elect conservatives with LARGE majorities not barely winning with only SOME conservatives.
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