tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post1964666939253531600..comments2023-09-15T04:27:57.129-04:00Comments on Commentarama: Republican Agenda: A StinkerAndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-74072291362682097892010-09-28T11:28:09.359-04:002010-09-28T11:28:09.359-04:00Tom, In normal circumstances I would agree with yo...Tom, In normal circumstances I would agree with you, but I think the Tea Party movement isn't normal. They aren't like any other insurgency we've seen over the past 50 years in that they genuinely seem to be a spontaneous popular movement dedicated to seizing power, rather than being your standard interest group that is following some leader who's real goal is to get into the club.<br /><br />I have hope that the Tea Party people will take over and remake the Republican Party. Beyond that, I couldn't agree with you more -- both parties are nothing more than toys for the ruling class.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-5073091536195603512010-09-28T08:18:37.230-04:002010-09-28T08:18:37.230-04:00Andrew
Large doses of laudanum are needed if you d...Andrew<br />Large doses of laudanum are needed if you do not want what is happening in this country to drive you crazy.<br />Both of our political parties are just that "Parties" for the chosen ones.<br />There is a spark of hope but I fear the dumbed down masses will keep us on this express train we are riding now. Derailing this train is our only hope but I think the Superintendent has the high ball flag out.Tehachapi Tomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-11543568986352231072010-09-28T02:09:36.350-04:002010-09-28T02:09:36.350-04:00Crispy, That would have been nice, but I wouldn...Crispy, That would have been nice, but I wouldn't have expected it -- not from this crew. I was hoping for something a little more, but I guess that was naive. These are the guys who let Bush lead them into a brick wall and then did nothing to fix the situation. So we should hardly be surprised that they would aim right for the wall again.<br /><br />Let's hope 2012 afford the same opportunity and someone up to the task.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-87276186463986843442010-09-28T00:48:17.013-04:002010-09-28T00:48:17.013-04:00Yeah, I guess it was foolish of me to hope that th...Yeah, I guess it was foolish of me to hope that they would just whole-heartedly adopt the Commentarama battle plan you posted awhile back, eh?<br /><br />It is such a wasted opportunity. Ugh.CrispyRicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07302075204880024936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-15795193274354411102010-09-27T18:01:23.876-04:002010-09-27T18:01:23.876-04:00Thanks Ed. It isn't very impressive.Thanks Ed. It isn't very impressive.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-68158258758284079032010-09-27T17:40:27.289-04:002010-09-27T17:40:27.289-04:00I'm not surprised. Nice breakdown.I'm not surprised. Nice breakdown.Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-86244675489700761552010-09-27T13:02:19.667-04:002010-09-27T13:02:19.667-04:00Jed, I couldn't agree more. This is a moment ...Jed, I couldn't agree more. This is a moment where we could set this country right for the next 200 years and undo the last 60 years of rarely checked liberalism and crony capitalism. But we can't do that if our leaders are afraid to seize the opportunity. Let's hope that by 2012, we have leaders who are willing to do that.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-10831227833431734132010-09-27T12:59:14.402-04:002010-09-27T12:59:14.402-04:00RE: Your comments to me-- absolutely!! I realize t...RE: Your comments to me-- absolutely!! I realize there will be some limitations in the next couple years, and the real test will be to get a true downsizer who is articulate identified and elect POTUS in 2012. I truly hope the historic opportunity to roll back liberalism is not wasted.Tennessee Jedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10604275115906776992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-36614720535638451492010-09-27T12:22:33.464-04:002010-09-27T12:22:33.464-04:00Pitts, If what I've read is to be believed, th...Pitts, If what I've read is to be believed, the majority of this was written by Boehner himself as a first draft (after the listening tour he and Cantor took last year), and then handed to aids to polish it up. There was also some argument with the other leaders (Pence) last week before it was release about adding things to it (social issues mainly), but I don't think they had a hand in drafting the majority of it.<br /><br />If I were a company and this had been what my marketing team produced I would fire the whole unit. Seriously.<br /><br />The problem with not having a leadership is that without a clear ideology to bind the party, that leaves guys like McCain and Graham to find their own ways and still claim they are acting according to the party. Until the party starts to stand for something, you do need a leader to hold them together and get them headed in the same direction.<br /><br /><i>Now, that said,</i> the new Tea Party people are more ideological, and they have shown that you don't need a leader to get people headed in the same direction. If that spirit can infect the party, then the leaders will become less relevant. In fact, they would be better called "party representatives" at that point than leaders. But until that happens, the leaders are necessary.<br /><br />Sadly, the ones we have aren't up to the task.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-80568675791039794452010-09-27T12:14:56.373-04:002010-09-27T12:14:56.373-04:00Lawhawk, Well said. You know what this reminds me...Lawhawk, Well said. You know what this reminds me of? The EU constitution. They wanted something "stirring" and then ended up with a 300 page laundry list of irrelevant points and vagueness.<br /><br />This should have been the sort of thing you could recite in a 30 second ad. . . "I promise to...." Instead, this would take 40 minutes and it would have to be read by lawyers, with all kinds of disclaimers appearing on the screen as you read it.<br /><br />It's awful. Very disappointing.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-66804529345372206322010-09-27T12:01:26.553-04:002010-09-27T12:01:26.553-04:00Andrew: who do you think actually wrote this stuff...Andrew: who do you think actually wrote this stuff? Boehner/Cantor? Steele? A group of nameless faceless aides? You've got to wonder sometimes if we'd be better off with no party "leadership" at all, because I've yet to see any of these guys actually lead.Pittsburgh Enigmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06452716444698202766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-41907173283710811132010-09-27T11:58:21.108-04:002010-09-27T11:58:21.108-04:00Andrew: I've made my displeasure with the &qu...Andrew: I've made my displeasure with the "Agenda" known several times in passing over the past few days. But it was good to see a deep analysis of what is wrong with it.<br /><br />The last thing we needed to be at this point was wordy and tentative. We needed short, concise and meaningful rallying points and instead we got a mish-mosh of weak policy statements and backhanded slaps at the Democrats.<br /><br />Like you, I will of course be voting for my Republican candidates, but this agenda is unlikely to sway any conservative Democrat or Independent who was sitting on the fence. Lame, to say the most. We needed the Battle Hymn of the Republic, and we got Merrily We Roll Along.LawHawkRFDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17800255923675295515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-43325535995272354802010-09-27T11:21:06.046-04:002010-09-27T11:21:06.046-04:00Tam, Tell me about it! I don't even expect the...Tam, Tell me about it! I don't even expect them to do anything truly bold, but this is about as little as they could possibly do without admitting: "we don't plan to do anything."AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-43875623080166413052010-09-27T11:03:31.962-04:002010-09-27T11:03:31.962-04:00cowards.cowards.Tamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16892551860593187175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-40977667669583656402010-09-27T10:34:02.593-04:002010-09-27T10:34:02.593-04:00Patti, Tell me about it! They claim these ideas c...Patti, Tell me about it! They claim these ideas came from their "listening tour" during the last year, but I honestly don't see how. No regular (i.e. non-political insider) would have told them this is what they want.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-85909034027057358622010-09-27T10:29:31.856-04:002010-09-27T10:29:31.856-04:00if they would speak to anyone one of us who reads ...if they would speak to anyone one of us who reads here regularly, they would have a much better idea of how to lead us out of his mess. i'm sure we would set them straight in, oh, about 5 minutes.Notawonkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15388997298014397980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-48261486802890279452010-09-27T10:05:08.757-04:002010-09-27T10:05:08.757-04:00Ponderosa, I completely support the party and I th...Ponderosa, I completely support the party and I thank the leadership for finally realizing that they need to stand up to Obama. But I have no faith in their leadership, and this pledge really highlights the problems to me.<br /><br />I think they've learned not to play the Noonan game of splitting the difference and calling it a victory, but they don't grasp that governing requires them to put forward an agenda that advances our idea... using Noonan's example, a -10 agenda.<br /><br />This document reads to me like they want to erase the Obama years and move us right back to 2008 rather than moving us forward to a "conservative 2011 and beyond."<br /><br />And the problem with 2008 is that this was the height of the big government Bush years. This would be like Reagan saying "I want to undo the Carter years and return to the Nixon/Johnson era."AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-40261545452310081712010-09-27T09:58:52.193-04:002010-09-27T09:58:52.193-04:00Jed, No, I'll vote for the Republicans. First...Jed, No, I'll vote for the Republicans. First, we need to stop Obama and Pelosi. Secondly, I don't dislike what they're planning, it's just a totally wasted opportunity. Third, I think their failure will probably be a needed step on the way to purging the party leadership of coward, idiots and hereditary peers, to open the door for people who understand politics and aren't afraid to be political.<br /><br />There are always risks with saying what you believe, but it you aren't willing to do it, then you shouldn't be politics. In this case, that cowardice has translated into a damping down of popular support, it will harm them if they try to do anything bold, and it's caused a huge missed opportunity.<br /><br />Right now they could have introduced even simple unpopular ideas (like moving the retirement age back to 70, or maybe even partial privatization) with little complaint because people currently understand the problem and are willing to accept solutions even if it affects a program they like. But after a year of mucking around, they will have lost the public's trust.<br /><br />Moreover, the worst thing that could happen would be partial success, where the danger to the country really hasn't passed, but the public begins to think that it has. That's when people start worrying about protecting popular programs again and when the momentum for reform vanishes.<br /><br />Basically, these guys have picked the worst time to be cowardly and short-sighted.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-78807103558013616212010-09-27T09:52:03.372-04:002010-09-27T09:52:03.372-04:00Even Peggy Noonan is starting to get it:
"De...Even Peggy Noonan is starting to get it:<br /><br />"Democrats on the Hill or in the White House try to pull it up to 30 [ed - max of 36], Republicans try to pull it back to 25. A deal is struck at 28. Washington Republicans call it victory: "Hey, it coulda been 29!" But regular conservative-minded or Republican voters see yet another loss. They could live with 18. They'd like eight. Instead it's 28."<br /><br />The GOP "guys with cool titles" [otherwise known as the leadership] will eventually wake up - because this time the TP exists.<br /><br /> At least the Prez called it "irresponsible" - high praise indeed. <br /><br />Let's play "Who is more tone deaf!"Ponderosanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-20622619312097293992010-09-27T09:46:44.105-04:002010-09-27T09:46:44.105-04:00Are you going to sit out the election? Hopefully n...Are you going to sit out the election? Hopefully not, of course.<br /><br />I do share your frustration. I don't know whether they actually don't get it or whether they don't trust it. Either way, the result is the same. I know there are political risks involved. Some of the entitlements are quite popular, even with Republicans. But if they can't put together a plan which acts significantly on reducing the deficit, they will be at the mercy of handing the car keys back again.Tennessee Jedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10604275115906776992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-52440110073312953812010-09-27T09:43:20.723-04:002010-09-27T09:43:20.723-04:00Joel, I couldn't agree more. The old adage, K...Joel, I couldn't agree more. The old adage, Keep It Simple Stupid has never been more true than in politics. This thing is confused, talky, a strange mix of too detailed and not detailed enough, and crawling with meaningless fluff. And all of this was unnecessary.<br /><br />What you've listed would have made a better statement of principles or pledge than this thing.<br /><br />I've done both a pledge/statement of principles and an agenda on this site and both are much more clear in terms of what I would stand for and what I would hope to implement than this, and both are long-term focused, i.e. focused on how I would run a government today, tomorrow and in the future. This document looks like something they might implement in 2011, but after that there's nothing.<br /><br />It's awful, and it shows a poor thought process/belief system.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-22905654193671576222010-09-27T09:33:20.421-04:002010-09-27T09:33:20.421-04:00Andrew,
It sounds like the Republicans got the sa...Andrew,<br /><br />It sounds like the Republicans got the same type of people who wrote Obamacare to write this agenda crap.<br /><br />All they needed was five things. <br /><br />Repeal Obamacare, cut spending, cut regulations, extend the Bush Tax cuts indefinately, and protect the borders.Joel Farnhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15856960977033430002noreply@blogger.com