Relevance and the GOP

By TChris, Section Other Politics
Posted on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 12:57:40 PM EST
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Here's a half truth:

An irrelevant Republican Party does no one any good.

Assuming "irrelevant" in this context means powerless, here's the other half: An irrelevant Republican Party does no one any harm. It's not as if a "relevant" Republican Party did any good for the nation as a whole.

The Republican Party is viewed favorably by 34 percent of Americans, while the Democratic Party is viewed favorably by 55 percent. It seems that lying about war, mismanaging the economy, letting New Orleans drown, bullying voters with endless threats about terrorist villains, and covering up scandals involving corruption or bad behavior have set the public against the GOP. Should that surprise us?

If Republicans want to become relevant again, the formula is simple. Learn to govern. Learn to behave. Learn to tell the truth. After the GOP does those things, it can consider another attempt to be relevant to the nation's future.

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Relevance and the GOP | 42 comments (42 topical)

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This is a prime example... (5.00 / 2) (#3)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 01:30:17 PM EST

...of what happens when you let Republicans run a government...

'El Paso County will no longer inspect daycare centers or test for diseases such as West Nile Virus because of a sweeping round of layoffs announced Thursday.

The El Paso County Department of Health and Environment is laying off 23 people, going to a four-day workweek and cutting five vacant positions effective Jan. 1 to help cut $1.68 million from its budget. The cuts mean an end to several inspection and monitoring programs, and a blind eye will be turned to many common public complaints. The layoffs come on top of about 10 positions that were eliminated earlier this year.

Since January, the department has lost 18 percent of its staff and nearly 15 percent of its budget. The health department is mostly funded by state and federal money, but its core services rely on county dollars, which will be $2.8 million in 2009. The health department cut $500,000 earlier this year, but the additional reductions are needed because it's drawn down its emergency savings too far.

"I think it's a dangerous situation," said El Paso County Commissioner Sallie Clark...

Some of the cuts may violate state law. But the law is vague when it comes to public health, said Dr. Ned Calonge, chief medical officer for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Air-quality monitoring, for example, is used to determine whether Colorado Springs is in compliance with the federal clean air laws. If the county doesn't do it, will the state be forced to step in? He said the news was still fresh, and there were many questions for the two agencies to sort through.

Before the latest round of cuts, the health department had eliminated meth lab inspections and a school safety program, and it scaled back disease investigations. It is also performing fewer than half its state-required food-service inspections...'

http://tinyurl.com/6zuhc8

Grover Norquist must be so very proud.

Uh, wait a second (none / 0) (#9)
by bocajeff on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 01:53:09 PM EST

My understanding of Colorado is that the Governor is a Democrat. One elected Senator is a Democrat as is a Senator-elect.

I bet you and I could sit down and find the money for these things in about 5 minutes so that these programs wouldn't be cut...

It's not the Republicans, it's the politicians...


Uh, El Paso county... (5.00 / 1) (#11)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 01:57:48 PM EST

...is a GOP dominated (and I mean dominated) area. Home of Doug Bruce, Focus on the Family and the majority of the reactionary right-wingers in the State.

It IS the Republicans.


So, Ritter isn't the Governor? (none / 0) (#27)
by bocajeff on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 03:03:11 PM EST

: Yes, he is... (none / 0) (#29)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 03:16:05 PM EST

...but what does that have to do with the topic at hand--that being a GOP run county govenment that is cutting vital services?
To wit:

In June, El Paso County cut its suicide prevention program--even though Colorado Springs has the second highest suicide rate in the nation. There aren't enough deputies to patrol the county or staff the jail. Child protection services cut. Selling off the parks.
Doug Bruce's dream is El Paso County's nightmare--but rather than question the busted ideological underpinnings of this failure to govern responsibly, too many will just turn up the volume on their talk radios and continue to vote against their best interests.

http://tinyurl.com/5adz3a

It's the Friedman Economics of Death. (none / 0) (#33)
by desertswine on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 03:34:03 PM EST

I'd add that they ought to be looking (5.00 / 2) (#8)
by inclusiveheart on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 01:47:20 PM EST

for leadership that values public service as well as government.

The thing that really did them in in the end was their utter disdain for all things government. Hating government and trying to run it effectively is pretty impossible.

What did them in was not Republicanism (5.00 / 1) (#10)
by bocajeff on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 01:54:53 PM EST

What did them in was that they weren't conservative on the economy. Yes, the voted for tax cuts, but they increased spending, didn't prepare for the wars (monetarily as well as militarily) and they did things like run up the deficit, pass medicare drugs, ...

Oh, I get it (5.00 / 2) (#19)
by cal1942 on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 02:27:48 PM EST

They weren't TRUE conservatives or Republicans and that's why they failed.

The bunk that steadily rolls out of the mouths of GOP stalwarts never fails to try to sell the age old lame excuses for the utter failure of the disdain for government, incompetence and greed.

Your tax cuts significantly reduced revenue, your increased Pentagon spending, your needless war, your profligate spending on an unusable missile defense system, your irresponsible gift to big pharma, your disdain for regulatory oversight, your costly privatization of public services and your failure to act in emergencies. You've cut funding for social programs and inspections that protect the food supply and the workplace.

It's cutting revenue, spending unnecessarily on big ticket items, rewarding your friends that put us into budgetary ruin.

And now a number of your remaining Seante 'leaders' want to filibuster every proposal of the incoming administration.

It's always the same load of bull from you people. You fail miserably, weaken the nation and then tell us that you weren't faithful enough to the ideology that ALWAYS leads to ruin.

Self delusion of the highest magnitude.


: I think that is what bocajeff... (none / 0) (#22)
by kdog on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 02:37:58 PM EST

said, that the Republican party in no way, shape, or form is a fiscally conservative party. The proof in in the ledger...we're deader than dead broke.
Add in Republican incompetence, crookedness, and excessively socially conservative agenda and you have yourself a failed party. Hopefully permanently.
One down, one to go...after 4-8 years of Democratic incompetence and crookedness, maybe the nation will be ready for some real change, and not just an empty slogan.

: Wow cal, very persuasive argument and great prose! (none / 0) (#43)
by FoxholeAtheist on Mon Nov 24, 2008 at 01:17:39 AM EST

You seem to give props for the tax cuts... (none / 0) (#32)
by gtesta on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 03:25:27 PM EST

as the one tenent that held true to republicanism...but surely you should concede that tax cuts as the answer to all things fiscal can be shown to be an Reductio ad absurdum?
If more and more tax cuts leads to greater and greater revenue, then tax cuts going to zero should lead to revenue going to infinity.
And if that is not true, then there exists a point where tax cuts definitely lead to a reduction in revenue.
I just can't see anything of value in the philosophy of today's Republican Party.
It's time for them to go the way of the Federalists, the Whigs, the Know Nothings...


I seem to recall that Reagan (none / 0) (#35)
by ThatOneVoter on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 03:49:57 PM EST

got one of the largest tax increases in history past---on the backs of the lower class, of course.
Had he not done so, deficits would have been even worse during his term.


We need a party... (5.00 / 1) (#16)
by kdog on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 02:25:20 PM EST

to keep a Dem controlled White House and Senate in line, specifically the spending...but it need not be the Republican Party. Any party will do, as long as they can say "hold on a minute, lets think about this."

One party rule is not good...regardless of which party is ruling. As the saying goes..."Power corrupts, Absolute power corrupts absolutely."

Yeah (none / 0) (#21)
by cal1942 on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 02:36:11 PM EST

let's fail to spend and let the economy go down the drain.

One party government gets things done. It's important that the one party runing the show is actually interested in governing.


: We'll see where we are at... (none / 0) (#23)
by kdog on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 02:41:19 PM EST

in 4-8 years. Without a check on Democratic power I'll wager we will be in a bigger hole, with a higher prison population, and 2 foreign occupations still rolling along and military bases in over 90 countries.
iow, the same freakin' boat.
Yes, one party rule gets more "things done"..that is what should scare the living hell out of us.

My favorite is when they all (5.00 / 1) (#30)
by kenosharick on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 03:20:00 PM EST

nod and agree that they must become the "party of Reagan, once again." Oh, I guess they mean running racist campaigns, slashing taxes for the rich, building massive deficits,invading sovereign nations for fun, and bloating the size of government? Cause that's what he was all about. Oh yeah, Bush too.

: When in doubt... (5.00 / 1) (#31)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 03:23:32 PM EST

...they will always go with what they know. Change is for communists, liberals and non-Americans.

There is no further need for Republicans. (5.00 / 1) (#42)
by No Blood for Hubris on Sat Nov 22, 2008 at 12:48:54 AM EST

They have driven this country into moral and fiscal bankrupcty in 8 short years. (whilst beginning this process somewhat earlier).

And really, haven't we all had enough of that?

The struggle now is amongst the various Dems.

So it goes.

Parties die. Some deserve death. The Republican Bushist fascist Pary certainly does.

Is there any prominent young Republican (none / 0) (#1)
by ThatOneVoter on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 01:05:34 PM EST

who is not crazy? Maybe Jindal?

He's pretty crazy as well. (5.00 / 3) (#2)
by tigercourse on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 01:22:03 PM EST

tommorrow belongs to me (none / 0) (#6)
by Salo on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 01:43:43 PM EST

the mississipi gives it's gold to the sea...


: das younger republican lied (none / 0) (#7)
by Salo on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 01:46:40 PM EST

it's their new song

Jondal doesn't actually (none / 0) (#17)
by gyrfalcon on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 02:25:25 PM EST

foam at the mouth when he's talking. Otherwise, he's just as crazy as the rest of them.


Lets not forget that (none / 0) (#4)
by WS on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 01:35:37 PM EST

Bush/Republicans ran as a moderate or semi-moderate in 2000 and look at what happened. They are not to be trusted.

they will attempt... (none / 0) (#5)
by Salo on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 01:41:33 PM EST

to redefine the war as great historical success. I doug they will anything but dig deeper

I would respectfully add that they might (none / 0) (#12)
by easilydistracted on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 01:58:10 PM EST

want to listen and take heed to the recent advice of Chuck Hagel -- arguably one of the few fairly sensible ones left in their party. I would hurry, however, because he may not remain with the party much longer. He seems rather torqued over the shenanigans of certain factions of the party.

: Only sensible on (5.00 / 1) (#15)
by gyrfalcon on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 02:24:10 PM EST

certain aspects of foreign policy. Most of his domestic views are just as neanderthal as the rest of his GOP buddies.

I am wondering why we don't see (none / 0) (#13)
by Blowback on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 02:10:15 PM EST

the color coded "Terror Alerts" anymore from our Republican "government." You know, the red, orange, blue, green, purple whatever? We just had an election. Wasn't that supposed to get them votes? Anybody know why they are gone?

I was really partial (none / 0) (#18)
by gyrfalcon on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 02:26:52 PM EST

to the duct-taped "safe rooms," myself.


That was (none / 0) (#20)
by cal1942 on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 02:33:00 PM EST

a one trick pony that was already exposed and played out. The public was beginning to finally see it as the pathetic joke that it was.


I think you may lack (none / 0) (#34)
by gyrfalcon on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 03:49:24 PM EST

what my dad used to call "a sensa umah."


: Nah (none / 0) (#38)
by cal1942 on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 04:40:30 PM EST

I'm not so sure about that. As time wore on and the practice continued, the color de jour became the automatic lunchtime joke.
In that sense it's too bad the practice was dropped.

According to Homeland Security... (none / 0) (#24)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 02:46:33 PM EST

...we're still at an elevated (yellow) status. Air travel is at high (orange)status.

Interesting that even FauxNews doesn't have the terror alert status on their home page anymore.


: The terror alerts.... (none / 0) (#26)
by kdog on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 03:00:35 PM EST

are in the business section of your daily newspaper these days.
Violent extremists and undocumented immigrants have been replaced by bankers and brokers as the objects of fear.

The thing about politics (none / 0) (#14)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 02:17:25 PM EST

is that it goes in cycles.

We all know that in the not-to-distant future, perhaps as soon as 2012 even, the Repubs will be lecturing the Dems on how they (the Dems) could become relevant again.

Ah well, I guess that's the nature of the beast.

They should all just (none / 0) (#25)
by lilburro on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 02:52:17 PM EST

stampede into Ron Paul's coalition I think. He at least has some method behind his madness and an ideology that isn't constantly at odds with itself. At this point it would be common sense to abandon the Iraq War too.

: That would be sweet.... (none / 0) (#28)
by kdog on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 03:03:47 PM EST

if Ron Paul became the face of the party...at least he has something positive to offer... liberty.
As for mainstream Republicans...what did they ever have to offer besides bloodshed, tyranny-lite and financial ruin?

Republicans will become relevant when (none / 0) (#36)
by magnetics on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 03:58:52 PM EST

they renounce the legacy of Reagan, and reclaim that of Eisenhower-- i.e. when Hell freezes over.

: Except that Obama already took it, IMO> (none / 0) (#41)
by ThatOneVoter on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 10:40:17 PM EST

Crocodile tears (none / 0) (#37)
by abdiel on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 04:29:34 PM EST

Let's not pretend that we care for the welfare of the Republican Party. All this "tell the truth, learn to behave" stuff is really just code for "you should agree with me".

A two party system is good for keeping the party in power accountable for their actions. The GOP does not have a monopoly on corruption, lying, or sleaze. They deserve disdain because they failed in many respects and pandered the conservative base in the worst ways possible.

But don't act like you would ever support or even respect conservative values if only they were presented fairly and truthfully. It's fine that you disagree, and I even respect that you disagree passionately, but don't act like you're anything less than ecstatic that the GOP is in shambles.

A loyal opposition is fundamental (none / 0) (#39)
by pluege on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 06:22:43 PM EST

to the success of the US government encoded in the Constitution. Trouble with the republicans is that long about 1980 they stopped being loyal to the Constitution and instead adopted a position of loyalty to the republican party...and its been ruination of the US ever since.