Obama's Strategy: Get the Republicans a Little Bit Pregnant With Stimulus/Socialism

So then we're on the hook for it -- for good or for ill -- along with himself and the Democrats.

This is a common reaction to Great Big Crises With Unpredictable Outcomes. No one wants to be left behind on the losing team when a crucial, era-defining vote comes up -- witness John F'n' Kerry voting in favor of the Iraq War.

So Obama's trying to get us on board with trillion dollar (Trillion!) deficits by offering some modest tax-cutting.

Here's the calculation on fiscal stimulus: If Obama gets his way, he's looking at massive, trillion dollars deficits, and much more government intervention in the economy. The public may tolerate this due to fears about economic crisis, but if it works out well and the US gets a relatively soft landing from the recession, then the costs will still be visible (deficit, intervention), but the benefits will be intangible (the crisis that didn't come).
What's more, the Democrats have only one possible solution to the massive deficits coming down the pike: increase taxes. (Object lesson: "We can spend more of your money" is the Democrats solution to everything)
If Obama passes the perfect progressive stimulus bill without much Republican help, he owns the spending, the deficits, the tax hikes and all of the pain that comes with it. Republicans will be happy to run against those problems in 2010 and 2012.
But if Obama buys significant Republican support for his bill, Republicans will own the deficits, tax hikes and intervention, as well. The stimulus bill will be for Republicans what the Iraq war was for Democrats - a policy they first supported, then regretted, then tripped over themselves to explain. The "they were for it before they were against it" ads would be inevitable and devastating.

Jon Henke then explains why Republicans are in such a bind.

They are in a bind, and they'll react predictably to this situation. They will take the route of cowardice, attempting to avoid a big disagreement on a huge issue by hugging Obama and the Democrats.

A few token conservatives will have the balls to say No to trillion dollar deficits, forever. Most will fairly jump at the chance to avoid taking a risk.

Posted by: Ace at 02:26 PM

Comments

1 Leadership IS about taking risks and making hard decisions. Christ, I can't count how many times I've had to make hard decisions as a Mission Commander in the Navy that the sailors under me didn't like but they were the correct calls to make. Fucking Republican's better start differentiating themselves from the Democrats or the party will become extinct.

Posted by: CDR M at January 06, 2009 02:29 PM (TJoU6)

2 Just say no!

The so called "tax cuts" (scare quotes are fun!) that the Republicans seem to like so much are nothing more than wealth transfer from tax payers to people who pay no taxes. You can't get a tax cut or rebate on money you didn't pay in the first place. It's a welfare program plain and simple.

To paraphrase Rick from Casablanca, it's not a sell out that bothers me, it's a cut rate one I object to.

Posted by: DrewM. at January 06, 2009 02:31 PM (hlYel)

3 "Fucking Republican's better start differentiating themselves from the Democrats or the party will become extinct."

Amen.

Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at January 06, 2009 02:33 PM (33hVp)

4 The Rs just need to become the party of "NO" and run with it--it won't be popular, initially, but it's just a bit more important that it has the virtue of being correct.

The downside, of course, is that they know they won't get any credit for things just working themselves out on their own and will have to endure media drubbing after media drubbing while they take this stance.

(and no, I'm not holding my breath that anything akin to what I'm suggesting will actually occur, mainly because the Rs are every bit as spineless as we think they are)

Posted by: ECM at January 06, 2009 02:34 PM (q3V+C)

5 Oh and this idea that if the Republicans don't get on board and the bill fails then they own any trouble that comes after is pure bullshit.

That's the beauty and cost of having super-majorities in both houses and a sitting President of the same party....they own it all.

If Republicans don't want to filibuster it, fine. Let the Dems do their dirty deeds on a simple majority vote. The fact is they will get one (at least one) Republican no matter what the leadership decides.

Of course Republicans are so inept at PR they will get stuck with the blame no matter what they do, so they might as well do the right thing and take their chances with that.

Posted by: DrewM. at January 06, 2009 02:35 PM (hlYel)

6
If I get knocked up, I'm naming Ace as the father.

Posted by: A Plover In Every Pot! at January 06, 2009 02:39 PM (wFYko)

7 Tax cuts? Where?

This proposal merely gives people that do not pay very much taxes to begin with an advanced tax credit on their future obligations they may or may not have.

Posted by: Uncle Sam at January 06, 2009 02:40 PM (AHrTm)

8
This is exactly what I don't understand. Why are the Republicans (Mitch "the bitch" McConnell) falling for this trick?

Obama, Reid, and Pelosi DO NOT NEED the Republicans to pass any of their shit legislation. All the calls of bipartisan support are hollow. Obama doesn't want the Republicans input, he just wants them to sign on to his plan so that a) the American think it's a bipartisan package, and b) the Republicans can't use it against the Democrats and Obama in 2010 or in 2012.

Ace is right: the Republicans will go along with it, too.

Posted by: Darling at January 06, 2009 02:41 PM (Lr+pj)

9 What #2 said, just say no.

They have the big majorities now, let them pass what they want without Republican votes and let them take full responsibility for what happens. Elections have consequences, so let the voters reap the consequences of the most liberal president ever and huge Democrat majorities.

I dream of a day when Republicans have some fucking balls and do what's right.

Posted by: thirteen28 at January 06, 2009 02:42 PM (s8N54)

10 Oh and this idea that if the Republicans don't get on board and the bill fails then they own any trouble that comes after is pure bullshit.

Wanna bet?

Posted by: the MSM at January 06, 2009 02:43 PM (FO+YO)

11
The Democrats will simply outsmart the Republicans by throwing them a bone, i.e., offer them a token of a concession.

McConnell and Boehner need to be ousted immediately.

Posted by: Darling at January 06, 2009 02:43 PM (Lr+pj)

12 A few token conservatives will have the balls to say No to trillion dollar deficits, forever.

Everybody repeat after me...trillion dollar deficits bad. A metastasizing, freedom swallowing government...the end of the world as we know it.

Let's keep our eyes on the prize here...it's about more than some economic plan.

Posted by: DrewM. at January 06, 2009 02:44 PM (hlYel)

If I'm a Republican in Congress right now, my best move is to just be an obstructionist asshole. Bring paper-mache Biden and Obama heads onto the House floor, filibuster even the name-that-post-office stuff in the Senate, and Bork every possible nominee.

Posted by: A Balrog of Morgoth at January 06, 2009 02:44 PM (wgLRl)

14 WASHINGTON (AP) - President-elect Barack Obama says the nation probably faces huge deficits for years to come, but heavy spending is needed now to spur the economy.

Obama said Tuesday the deficit appears on track to hit $1 trillion soon. Speaking to reporters after meeting with top economic aides, Obama said: "Potentially we've got trillion-dollar deficits for years to come, even with the economic recovery that we are working on."

When there are Republican presidents deficits are the worst thing ever and "our children and grandchildren" will suffer endlessly. Now that the messiah has announced that deficits are here to stay MiniTrue will begin to explain how deficits aren't really that important or just drop talking about it altogether.

Posted by: TheQuietMan at January 06, 2009 02:45 PM (1Jaio)

15 The Republican intelligentisia, all of it, has yet to figure out that surrender for convenience's sake is a disaster every time. It's like a third base coach that never gets a runner thrown out at home. A political party that agrees with the opposition on everything, including who is qualified to be its own vice presidential candidate, isn't worth supporting with votes or money...ever.

Posted by: The Obvious at January 06, 2009 02:49 PM (1g+FW)

16 This is why I am no longer a Republican. Bush, McCain , Graham, Spector, Snow, Stevens and others who escape me at the moment. How about trying some conservative ideas and principles?

Posted by: Hammer at January 06, 2009 02:49 PM (XWJh5)

17 Did the Democrats lose when they campaigned hard to get us to lose the war in Iraq/Afghanistan, THE issue of the day? No. Turns out they didn't.

Time to return the favor on this issue of the day and not just because it would be the little-"r"-right thing to do. Let the Democrats own the socialization of America and evermore expansive spending and debt (while distancing the Right from Bush's "compassionate conservatism"). In four to eight years, it will be the issue that conservatives can use as the hammer to bludgeon liberals/RINOs.

Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at January 06, 2009 02:50 PM (33hVp)

18 Fox news:

"Bobby Rush tells Fox News that the spurning of Burris was �racist� and that if Burris were not an African-American, Reid would have seated him."

Posted by: Richard Quest at January 06, 2009 02:50 PM (+FzLa)

Bring paper-mache Biden and Obama heads onto the House floor, filibuster even the name-that-post-office stuff in the Senate, and Bork every possible nominee

I agree

I linked this BS plan in the headlines thread this morning. The so-called tax cut is just another increase in the welfare program known as EIC. We do need to purge the roles of the liberal Republicans.

This plan will have one good point though, it will ID the liberal R�s that need to be purged in the next election.

Posted by: Vic at January 06, 2009 02:50 PM (f6os6)

20 This isn't an issue up for uncertainty. The repubs will go along with it, and most will vote for it. They've shown they have no conservative principles when it comes to economics (they don't have many conservative principles, period). The "tax cut" magic only works if you REDUCE YOUR F'N SPENDING, YOU RETARDS! Or, you know, words to that effect.

Posted by: Cautiously Pessimistic at January 06, 2009 02:51 PM (ltwze)

21

There is no actual money. There is only indebtedness.

How many future generations are now in debt? Who asked them?

We are collectively pressing our own "OFF BUTTON."

Posted by: Jimmy at January 06, 2009 02:52 PM (/Ft4q)

Here's the worst part: doing the right thing wouldn't take any courage at all.

Hell, if, say, 39 Republicans voted no, they could take a principled stand without actually impeding the passage of the bill, since, even in the softest of landings, they would still be able to criticize the results (deficits, etc). If the economy goes in the toilet, they would be able to blame Obama for that, too. Politically, voting "no" is almost a no brainer (which is why McCain failed to use this approach with the first stimulus package and lost any chance for the election).

The wosrt strategies are to either 1) successfully prevent cloture and get blamed for everything or 2) to vote strongly in favor, since Obama will claim credit for any good and equally distribute blame for anything bad. Welcome to the Permanent Tory Republican Minority.

Bottom line, "It's evil. Don't touch it!"

Posted by: Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate at January 06, 2009 02:52 PM (Hj9yW)

23 Vic,

They've all ready been identified. It is the whole party, all of it, politicians and journalists alike from Krauthamer all the way to Bush. Good luck purging all that.

Posted by: The Obvious at January 06, 2009 02:53 PM (1g+FW)

Stand up to trillion dollar deficits and accommodate creeping euro-style socialism? Not our guys. The reason why Sarah Palin stands out, for example, isn't because of her stance on issues, per se--many conservatives question her position immigration while more moderate Republicans are leery of what they perceive to be her more populist impulses. No, the reason she stands out is because of her willingness to take risks, to stand on principle even when it might be politically disadvantageous to do so, to say, 'This far and no farther.'

John McCain made a big deal of nonpartisanship and touted his willingness to reach across the aisle. The point is, nonpartisanship isn't a virtue of itself. There are times and places when old-fashioned stick-to-your-guns partisanship is the right way to be, the right position to take. This is one of those times and places.

Posted by: troyriser at January 06, 2009 02:54 PM (NfkMy)

25 Well hey, deficits are no problem. The Fed can just print money to cover 'em, and then we'll be even steven! That might wind up being their only option if no one will lend the money to cover it. Those Treasury yields are starting to inch up.

#5:
Except it's not bullshit, since the media will simply stick them with the blame for anything negative. Democrats filibuster tax cuts: heroic resistance to the conservative looting of the middle class. Republicans filibuster spending increases: harmful obstructionism at a time when the government needs as much power as possible to avert crisis. Economic "stimulus" that winds up making problems worse? The fault of the Republicans for refusing to compromise.

Posted by: Slowking Man at January 06, 2009 02:54 PM (lz0gP)

26
REDUCE YOUR F'N SPENDING, YOU RETARDS!

We're sorry, but your call cannot be completed at this time. Please check the number or try back later.

Posted by: Reid, Pelosi, and Obama at January 06, 2009 02:55 PM (Lr+pj)

27 I'm still hung up on the twisted logic of a cow tax!

Posted by: 8starsnorth at January 06, 2009 02:57 PM (7qImT)

28 You know. I sometimes hate politicians.

Posted by: Ginger at January 06, 2009 03:02 PM (wXwtP)

29 Stimulises are bad. Mmkaay?

Posted by: runninrebel at January 06, 2009 03:02 PM (0n9wc)

30 Here's the strategy I would suggest: Pubbies should only filibuster to protect the integrity of our elections and our individual rights, and to prevent any bailout of the MSM. Other than that, vote against everything the 'Rats do, but don't use a filibuster to prevent it; Let them fuck the economy up royally (but without our side being complicit in the mess) so everybody can plainly see, for the zillionth time in human history, the results of their policies.

Posted by: ol-dirty-/b/tard at January 06, 2009 03:03 PM (IoUF1)

31 Get all the free porn that you can while you can. Pretty soon, China will own our asses and porn and all that good shit will be banned.

Posted by: Ginger at January 06, 2009 03:04 PM (wXwtP)

32 How different from the current administration is Obama's tactic?

GWBush managed to placate America with his "tax stimulus refund check" that somehow was to counter-balance the mushroomed federal expenditures funding the now gone wild federal bureaucrats, paving the way for propaganda requiring new/more/higher taxation.

Republican Gumbies reach across the aisle. RINOs meet their new master.

Voting fraud has polluted every aspect of every level of government. Until THAT issue is cleansed, WTF.

Repudiate tyranny. Federal minions want to blame the taxpayer with all responsibilities for demanding higher taxes. Vocalize dissent. I do not want Federals to overwhelm my freedom to live a personally responsible and productive life. I do not want to bail out any organization. I do not want to pay for the greediest of peopled organizations to progress further against my well being.

Posted by: maverick muse at January 06, 2009 03:06 PM (F1b/5)

They've all ready been identified

There are still some good ones like DeMint of SC and Sessions of AL.

Posted by: Vic at January 06, 2009 03:06 PM (f6os6)

34 I still think the democrats have something on the Republicans. Its such a bafflling mystery why they let the rats fuck them with strap ons. Shit, we need Scooby Doo and the Mystery Machine to solve this fucking mystery.

Posted by: Ginger at January 06, 2009 03:07 PM (wXwtP)

35 Time for a third party - the Conservative party, since it would seem that the Republican party has morphed into a branch of the Democratic party..am so very bitter about the whole thing,

Posted by: IC at January 06, 2009 03:09 PM (jZNCU)

36 President Tom Token announced this morning that he was going to go through every line in the budget.

Guess which party all the pork that outrages him is going to belong to. Go on. Guess.

Posted by: richard mcenroe at January 06, 2009 03:10 PM (FoeBe)

37 History in part is repeating itself. This economic cycle would turn without any additional stimulus package or intervention but the liberal plans circa 1932 will just delay the recovery instead of creating one.

Posted by: polynikes at January 06, 2009 03:13 PM (m2CN7)

38 Oh by the way, the Republicans haven't agreed with Obama yet. Hold fire except across their bows.

Posted by: polynikes at January 06, 2009 03:15 PM (m2CN7)

39
Time for a third party - the Conservative party

I said this on this very blog right after the 06 disastrous elections. No one listened.

Now we have morons on our side who think Obama is going to be Jimmy Carter and a Reagan-esque figure is going to magically appear in 2012 to save us.

Posted by: Darling at January 06, 2009 03:15 PM (Lr+pj)

40 If Obama is smart, he'll be able to play the Republicans like a cheap fiddle.

Posted by: OregonMuse at January 06, 2009 03:24 PM (FO+YO)

41 If Obama is border line retarded he will be able to play the Republicans like a cheap fiddle. That's the point/problem.

Posted by: The Obvious at January 06, 2009 03:27 PM (1g+FW)

42 REDUCE YOUR F'N SPENDING, YOU RETARDS!

We've been urging our members to curb their spending habits. That includes the United States. The US still has to reign in their member states. As far as we can tell, the member states spend money when they are staring at deficits AND they spend money when they are staring at surpluses.

Posted by: The International Monetary Fund at January 06, 2009 03:30 PM (AHrTm)

43 Reading "The Reagan Diaries" right now, and believe it or not, The Gipper talks about sticking to his guns in several situations. I'll be putting in calls to my senators and reps. Let the Dems have their charlie foxtrot...we should have no part of it.

Posted by: Joseph at January 06, 2009 03:31 PM (dd1s0)

44 Welcome to my legacy bitches.

Ineffective opposition to a poorly run US Federal government by the Democratic Party is a recipe for 25 years in the minority.

Eat it or defeat it.

Posted by: Herbert Hoover at January 06, 2009 03:33 PM (AHrTm)

45 Republican's better start differentiating themselves from the Democrats or the party will become extinct.

At what point do we draw the line? Seriously, I've got to figure out why I stick around only to see stupid Republican Charlie Browns get fooled by Lucy yanking away the football for the gazillionth time. It's to a point I really don't want to have any association with these idiots in Congress and the party.

What's left to wait for? Where is that ray of hope (and are we sure it's not the train at the end of the tunnel)?

Incidentally, I'm finishing Garet Garrett's "The Bubble That Broke The World" published in June 1932 and written in 1930-1932 when we were in the same exact state we are now, just having imploded from a credit bubble. Garrett accurately predicted that the wrong moves would be for more government intervention in the economy and correctly anticipated the collapse that would follow. It is not easy reading while we're in nearly the same exact state and Congress (with the willing Republicans) are making the same wrong decisions.

ATTENTION REPUBLICAN ELECTED OFFICIALS: Read your damn history and listen to your constitutents and competent economists. We are going to have a great depression if Obama's current path is pursued. Don't be the party of Hoover once again.

Posted by: HatlessHessian at January 06, 2009 03:33 PM (3/V8w)

46 Even IF, and that is a big IF, Republicans were to gather up their nutsacks and vote NO!, they wouldn't mean it. They've gone along with the Bush socialism-lite for 8 years now....remember the farm bill all those years ago? Now we are going to get socialism, the real thing.This Republican crowd is morally bankrupt and they helped bankrupt my country. I'm pissed.

Third party time.

Posted by: torabora at January 06, 2009 03:38 PM (bhCFp)

47 By the way, my 15-year-old had this analogy last night to describe an Obama "tax cut":

Mr. Obama has a grocery store and he wants to help his shoppers survive a tough economy. Thinking only of others, he announces a price cut on Velveeta cheese blocks, regularly priced at $4.99 a box. Obama announces that he's now cut the price of Velveeta dramatically. He does this by giving every food assistance customer $10 in cash as they walk in the store, and then marking the price of Velveeta up to $10.

Great news, for those that pay for cheese out of their own money now must pay more than twice as much for it, while those that didn't have any money to buy the cheese get it for free. It's not a direct analog but close enough to how those that don't pay taxes get a "cut" while those that do get a "tax raise" all under the description of "tax cuts."

Posted by: HatlessHessian at January 06, 2009 03:38 PM (3/V8w)

Philosophically speaking, a real man has the balls to say "no" when necessary.

It's too bad there are no real men in the GOP. Or in Washington.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at January 06, 2009 03:40 PM (ZGhSv)

49 Third party talk is immensely stupid. Besides splitting the vote, where will the candidates for office come from? Will they join the party because it has another label?

Posted by: AmishDude at January 06, 2009 03:41 PM (T0NGe)

50 John Galt anyone?

Posted by: BillyBob at January 06, 2009 03:41 PM (7HyI+)

51 I predict that the "R"s will once again disappoint us. Its in their DNA.

Posted by: Ginger at January 06, 2009 03:41 PM (wXwtP)

52 Expecting people to vote for status quo in the Republican party is even dumber.

Posted by: The Obvious at January 06, 2009 03:51 PM (1g+FW)

I agree with other posters regarding that whole 'Let's start a third party' stuff: cut it out. 'Third party' is another way of saying 'perpetual loser', and I don't know about you, but I hate losing.

Of course, I might be tempted to write in a vote for 70's rocker Alice Cooper and his Wild Party.

Posted by: troyriser at January 06, 2009 03:56 PM (NfkMy)

54 If the Republican party doesn't reform itself there will be only one party. You don't need to start a third. You need to gain control of the one that claims to represent you. If you can't do that... You won't have to start a third party. You'll be starting a new second party.

Posted by: The Obvious at January 06, 2009 04:00 PM (1g+FW)

.....of course the fucking RINOs will go along with it. Save for a handful of true patriot conservatives, there is no Democrat Party or Republican Party....there is only a Washington party and it's been this way for years. Until we are able to march down Pennsylvania Avenue, go both directions, round 'em all up, lock 'em all up and start from scratch, this is the same sorry shit what we'll keep getting.....supposed Republicans always on the defensive being led around by their nose by the Marxists.......hell, I think except for Coburn, DeMint, Vitter, Shelby, Pence and a few others, they're all fucking Marxists.

Posted by: theadmiral at January 06, 2009 04:13 PM (zNl33)

56 Fucking Republican's better start differentiating themselves from the Democrats or the party will become extinct.

Maybe so, but I'm not sure saving the party is a super high priority. What we're seeing here is a sort of tragedy of the commons, I think. As a group these guys will continue to lose support as they throw their principles overboard at the first hint of a storm. But as individual legislators with the advantage of incumbency, they have a vested interest in the status quo; if they don't rock the boat too much they'll be in office forever. Each Democratic tide or Republican retirement leaves fewer Republican seats, but for the guy who's retiring the harm is pretty abstract.

Posted by: Ace's liver at January 06, 2009 04:18 PM (XIXhw)

Posted by: Another Stupid Typical Fucking Moonbat at January 06, 2009 04:19 PM (YmPwQ)

58 Hmmm...maybe supporting the original TARP program wasn't such a great idea?

Posted by: mjhlaw at January 06, 2009 04:27 PM (0udxW)

Yeah there's been no difference between Dems and Repubs. That's why we were able to confirm Alito and Roberts, tax cuts, partial birth abortion ban, Patriot act, funding for Iraq and Afghanistan, defeat of immigration reform, sunsetting of the AWB and any number of business friendly legislation.

There is definitely room for improvement but we need to do it from the inside and not trying to reinvent the wheel.

Posted by: polynikes at January 06, 2009 04:34 PM (m2CN7)

The GOP is dead. The Reps are going to be putting as much paper and ink into the printing presses as fast as they can and the Dems are going to be turning the crank.

I sent letters to my Texas Senators telling them I didn't want my tax dollars used to bail out anyone especially the Big 3. They both sent letters back telling me why it was so important to use public money to bail everyone out.

There are no conservative priciples in Washington DC anymore. Everyone is a victim and it is up to the Government to rescue us all. Anyone who believes that the Republicans support the beliefs of the morons on this site is truly deluded.

Posted by: markytom at January 06, 2009 04:36 PM (gCiQX)

61 59: Those things are all well and good but to get those things we have squandered a huge budget surplus, mortgaged our kids future on a RX drug that will cost trillions, farm bills and others Democrat give-aways so we could fund the war in Iraq...not to mention TARP. The RINOs have never held the Dems accountable for their shenanigans mainly because many RINOs are equally culpable. I understand the need for compromise but a little ideological purity form so-called Republicans would be nice for a change......and it still works with the American people. Coming out of the summer with the House sit-in on drilling and McCain picking Palin.....all that conservatism was resonating with the people until Paulson and thr other Marxist engineered the economic crisis. Simply put, ideological pure conservatism still works. The assholes in the Washington party just haven't figured it out yet.

Posted by: theadmiral at January 06, 2009 05:12 PM (Jtl1V)

62 A trillion ain't shit. It's just three zeros more than a billion. And what's another name for "zero?" Right! Nothing!

Robert Mugabe figured this out years ago, and has been much happier ever since.

(I teach math. I know these things.)

Posted by: notropis at January 06, 2009 05:15 PM (Y7jLp)

I think Republicans ought to oppose whatever Obama wants and whoever he wants.

They'll lose it all, but that's OK, especially in light of Pelosi's actions.

Oh, and fuck her.

Posted by: drjohn at January 06, 2009 05:39 PM (49tlQ)

64 I understand the comments about "don't vote third party... it just ensures Republican losses" but then again, what do we have now? I voted for Palin and whoever that other loser was on the ticket. We got out the vote here but what America wants is presents, not responsible, non-interventionist government.

So since we're losing anyway, why not use this time to rebuild a responsible party that is ready for when Americans discover what they've ordered up leads to? We all know that the RINO party won't be worth a damn fixing what is coming.

Posted by: HatlessHessian at January 06, 2009 05:39 PM (3/V8w)

65 #55 theadmiral:

I couldn't have said it better myself. There's no way around the truth. The RINOs (ie. the majority of the GOP) are here to stay. They have proven time and time again that they will *not* conform to the ideals that represent true conservatives. It appears we, as an electorate, are not doing our jobs in flushing them out and down the crapper either, for reasons unbeknownst to me. They will continue to lose with their lack of vision and principles, lack of backbone, lack of strength. They truly are the suckers in our government. I see them as just wanting to fit in in DC circles. Why not? If they stand for nothing concrete, what's the harm? They still draw their giant paychecks and still get re-elected. To them, that may be enough. A third party sounds great, but is really not feasible, imo. There are a few good, strong & vocal apples out there: DeMint, for one. We need men like him to lead us back to where we need to be. We need men like him front and center to educate the stupid masses as to what is really happening and will continue to happen at the hands of those in gov't who are running amok and are treasonously wreckless with this country. Speak out LOUD, speak out OFTEN. If the GOP doesn't, it. will. never. ever. change.

Posted by: Twinks at January 06, 2009 05:39 PM (KGbOi)

66 This stimulus/bailout madness reminds me of a scene in the movie Showgirls. Remember what the club owner played by Robert Davi said to the new stripper?
"First I get you used to the money, then I make you swallow"
That�s what the Liberals of both parties are doing to America.

Posted by: el gordo at January 06, 2009 07:00 PM (oskcx)

67 The Repubicans (no, that's not a mis-spelling) have already announced what they are. Now they're just arguing price. They've all turned into prostitutes.

Posted by: RoadRunner at January 06, 2009 07:19 PM (MJFrd)

68 Except we're the ones getting fucked.

Posted by: RoadRunner at January 06, 2009 07:19 PM (MJFrd)

Now is the time to re-read Hayek's The Road to Serfdom.

Page 1: Dedicated To: THE SOCIALISTS OF ALL PARTIES.

Best dedication ever.

Posted by: chemjeff at January 06, 2009 07:33 PM (vkmUf)

70 You guys are IDIOTS.

Just do what the Democrats did....vote enthusiastically for this bill.

Then if it goes bad, say "we were lied to" there was a "rush to stimulus" etc.

It worked for the Dems re: Iraq.

Posted by: Harun at January 06, 2009 09:34 PM (Bc4Ev)

71 Sorry, I shouldn't have called you guys IDIOTS.

You are MORONS.

Posted by: Harun at January 06, 2009 09:34 PM (Bc4Ev)

i'll vote no a 100 times a day and 6 times on sunday. plus as a bonus i'll punch libtards in the face for looking at me wrong.

too bad i have too much self respect to put a R next to my name and get on my knees with the rest of these cock gobblers.

Posted by: e.koenig at January 06, 2009 10:51 PM (2J+Vs)

"They will take the route of cowardice, attempting to avoid a big disagreement on a huge issue by hugging Obama and the Democrats."

Republicans? Cowardly? Noooooo, surely you jest! On all domestic matters, the default GOP position is wanton cowardice. When that fails, they try abject surrender.

Posted by: Fa Cube Itches at January 07, 2009 01:04 AM (8MuSQ)

74 Anyone who uis the part of a trillion dollar deficit plan on an annual basis is no conservative. Its time for the people to feed the tree of liberty.

Posted by: Thomas Jackson at January 07, 2009 02:49 AM (0Qynq)

I think there's two things that need to be done long-term, and the first will help with the second: First, we (that is, conservatives) need to sell our ideals to the general public better. The Liberals have convinced a lot of people that conservative is a dirty word, so we need to do a thorough job of explaining what we really stand for and why our ideas are superior to Liberal ones. To do this, some sort of rebranding might be in order, such as renaming our ideology as Common-sense-Conservatism, Pragmatism, Individualism, or something. (I don't think any of these are really good ideas, but they're the best I can come up with at 3AM.) I'm not really sure how to go about this, but I think the dextrosphere probably has most of the resources needed to do it. Perhaps some of the big-name right-wing blogs to form some sort of coalition to run essays and make YouTube spots explaining and promoting Conservative ideas, and there should be a way to get a lot of the readers involved, too. Part of it might be forming a real right-wing news organization, not like FoxNews (without all the tabloid bullshit for starters) and not blatantly ideological, but with real reporters doing actual reporting from location all over the US and ideally the Middle East and Europe as well and trying for "impartial" from a rightwing mindset, the way. So less "right-wing news" and more "news reported by right-wing people," if you get my drift.

The second thing we need to do is focus on recruiting and promoting better candidates. This may take a while, since in some cases we'll have to grow them from the ground up, but we can start by looking around our local government and talking up anyone who's reasonably conservative, has real leadership potetial, and seems honorable, basically people who walk the walk of Conservativism, don't bite their tongues off when they try to talk the talk, and most importantly, who don't get cowed when someone speaks out against them. These are the people we need to be promoting for higher offices--good city councilmen or mayors who we can push for statewide offices or state legislators, good state officeholders to promote for the national level, honest businessmen we can push into politics as a second career, conservative academics, well-spoken doctors, lawyers, firemen and police. A lot of the good people don't want to enter politics because they see the kind of people they have to associate with or they think someone else better qualified is going to do it or they feel like they're making a vital contribution where they are and don't want to leave. We have to find them and convince them to get in the arena and fight for the ideas they believe in. Incidentally, this is why the third party talk is stupid; we don't have enough good candidates to staff the Republican party, what makes you think they're going to magically appear because we start a national commitee with a different name on the door?

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76 the admiral: bravo

Most serious and self responsible citizens have reached that very conclusion. It boils down to being responsible in performance of duty. That is the very issue that Ace illuminates. Conservatives must speak straight talk, as only that will pierce through and repudiate Marxist revisionism.

I've been hearing the projection that Palin is the independent who will lead the people's legitimate Constitutional conservative revolt against this "new" Marxist regime destroying America.

Beyond appreciating the essence of Palin whose talents connect with America's silent majority, yet learning to voice concerns in Washington and as local communities, I'm not saying that Palin is perfect. But given these Obama years now to study the national/international revisionism of America and the free world, she WILL become a great political warrior effectively benefiting the good in America.

For now, support true conservatives like DeMint. Although our Central Texas "conservative" Senior Senator is cultivating rather than curbing the RINO, thank God for strong conservatives like Representative John Carter standing for what is RIGHT regardless of the odds in Washington.

Speaking of Texas' Senior Senator, who else has received Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison's* request for funds based upon her "Republican" votes. Not to negate what she presumed to stand for, but without the conservative adjective, "Republican" means squat RINO no thanks to her flip-flop on amnesty for illegal aliens. And her packed envelope this week only mentioned TX Govenor search committee once in fine print, leaving more than not to go figure which requires that ever conserved effort: thought.

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