GOP can't expect to win in 2010 without overhaul
For the last few weeks, I have been sitting around listening to the right-wing, truth-distorting machine talk about how the American people are upset with the president and how people are tired of tax increases in government-run healthcare.
It just astounds me how quickly the GOP and the far-right extremists in this country can take a few difficult months for the president and turn it into a pre-victory party before the 2010 elections have even gotten underway.
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The GOP needs to understand the election season has not even begun, and even though I expect there to be a few setbacks for the Democratic Party in 2010, they are nowhere near where they were when Newt Gingrich was around.
Now, it’s very true Democrats have had a few difficult months. The Republicans, rightly so, outflanked Democrats on the healthcare debate and have really done a good job taking the party to the bank. But let’s understand that is all they have.
The GOP has offered no alternative to the healthcare legislation.
They have offered no real ideas or reform. They have become a party of oppose, oppose, oppose.
The GOP has allowed far-right fanatics to take over their party. The prime example of this is the ever-famous Rush Limbaugh, who gets on his radio show and says things like, ”I want America to fail.”
Now, I hope any American citizen will be concerned by these types of comments from someone who may be the real leader of one of the two biggest political parties in the United States.
It has even gotten to the point where GOP members of Congress have called into the Rush Limbaugh show to apologize for comments made.
Take for example Rep.Phil Gingrey, R-Georgia. In his statement to Limbaugh he apologized for putting his foot in his mouth.
Even Michael Steele, the chairman of the Republican National Committee called in to apologize for statements he made.
It seems no one in the GOP has the guts to stand up to the far-right in their party.
Members of the GOP are not helping themselves by falling in line with people like Rush Limbaugh.
Now it is apparent that many people are unhappy with President Obama. The healthcare debate has not gone the way that Democrats hoped. And certainly there is cause for concern.
We saw this in last year’s gubernatorial elections for New Jersey and Virginia when Republicans in both states won.
There are a few reasons to explain these victories. One may simply follow a trend that has been going on for many years now—the voters usually elect the party opposite of the president. That is why we tend to see the party not in the White House pick up seats in a mid-term election.
Another reason is that the president is not particularly popular right now:
We still have two wars, attempted attacks by terrorist and a healthcare debate that is not going well for the president. But as I said before, these factors are still not enough to put Republicans back into power in Washington.
Now in the early ’90s, there was a similar situation. President Clinton lost control of both chambers not just because his healthcare bill was defeated, but also Newt Gingrich was able to put together a coalition that was removed 40 years of Democratic Party rule.
The GOP does not have a Newt Gingrich right now. I do not believe they are even close to having one. So while they want to have a big victory in 2010, I say think again. There’s a lot more work to be done.
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by Greg G
Rush Limbaugh said he wanted America to Win, and that meant Obama’s agenda has to loose.
Your little liable-filled piece here is a sad bit of so-called journalism. It’s pure propaganda. You should be ashamed, but I’m sure you aren’t.
by Shane G
Allow me to introduce myself: I’m the man on the street. I no longer listen to campaign promises or rhetoric. I vividly remember my friends being dark-faced about Bush II taking office and a Republican-monopoly government, but I reassured them: “Neither party WANTS total control, because with total control comes total blame if it fails. If 4 or 8 years down the road the country is trashed, the party that had total dominion leading up to it will wreck its future success.” The same now applies to the Democrats. If they failed to capitalize on a rare opportunity to make a move to break the deadlock in Washington and nothing improves for me—the man on the street—you can bet they will feel the wrath the same way the Republicans did come November.
I don’t care who’s in charge, because they are ALL liars and cons. Republican ideology is rooted in greed, combativeness, and prejudice. Democrats will put food on your table after they cut it from your own leg. Republicans blame me for my unemployment but were happy in 2000 to watch my job go to India because it weakens wages and labor unions. Democrats have dogged me savagely for that last $1000 in income tax I owe that my unemployment has rendered me unable to pay, but won’t ask for anything from Wall Street execs who cheat their way out of millions in taxes. Dems also have taxed my paycheck at over 20% my whole adult life to give money and medical coverage to illegals and the less fortunate, but refuse to give me a dime now that I’m in need.
It’s a simple equation: if, by election day, I have either a job at a living wage or access to medical care, I will vote to extend the terms of the incumbents. If I do not, I will vote for change again straight across the ticket. I base my decision not on what they MIGHT do or PROMISE to do, but what they HAVE DONE.
And there are a hell of a lot of me out here.
by Duncan
I’m no fan of Limbaugh. But he never said “I want America to fail.”.
What he said was “I want Obama to fail.”.
It’s these kind of misquotes that give him credibility when he attacks the press.
by Kenneth Barna
I do not like and do not appreciate Mr. Limbaugh because he only tells half-truths at best , and greatly exaggerates anything else if he believes it will help his cause.
For example, I have occasionally listened to him talk about the civil rights movement in this country, and he always says that more republicans voted for the act when it came before the houses of congress than democrats.
If you check on the facts, the percentage of republicans that voted for the bill is greater than the percentage of democrats, but in actual numbers, more democrats voted for the bill than republicans.
So, one can see that Mr. Limbaugh is twisting the facts to suit his argument. With he also knowing that probably no one in his audience will check up on his claims and certainly not challege him either.
by Gary Burnaska
The reason the GOP is making inroads after one year of his presidency is because the luster has worn off. Pres. Obama is now getting slammed in OP-ED articles and comments on internet articles people who were celebrating his victory a year ago.
Obama’s big problem is he oversold himself in the campaign. In a twist of irony for a community organizer whose job was to get people to rally behind activist causes and movements is not getting hobbled by one.
Reason the left is so hard on the Tea Parties, because they are far more effective than any of their organizations.
Did Code Pink stop the war. NO
Did the Tea Baggers kill ObamaCare? YES
Because these anti-war people care more about stupid public stunts like camping out in Crawford texas, or storming televised congressional hearings and shouting slogans. They prefer to do actions that make them “feel positive” rather than get positive results.
TP’s worked to get Scott Brown elected and succeeded.
Scott Brown’s recent victory in Mass. was a vote of no confidence towards the President, Obama on advice of his sycophantic czars and advisers decided to concentrate on his pet project health care bill than focus on the economy and jobs.
He campaigned on sheer charisma and “Hope and Change” now he has to deliver and so far he has not done that. While unemployment has gone up, he would rather focus on health care rather than jobs.
Come 2012 will have to stand on his record, it is already looking like he will be a lame duck after the 1st year of his presidency
by Kenneth Barna
In response to Mr. Burnaska,
I really don’t know if the Tea Baggers were any more effective than any other protest group in regard to policies formed or changed. I do know that they caused alot of resentment to president Obama because of their portrayal of him as someone closer to Hitler or a communist sympathizer with their posters and other paraphernalia. I also cringe at the thought of more than one of these people, that were interviewed during these demonstrations, of not knowing the difference between socialism, communism, or national socialism. Are these the kind of people our country needs in a political debate? I think not.
In my opinion, democrats should not worry about the republicans in congress at this time, and just ram through any and all legislation that they want. They will not get any support from a party that is only interested in supporting big business at the cost of everything else, and whose only solution to any problem is tax cuts.