Glenn Reynolds links two articles which I believe are closely related (albeit linked in separate posts). In one, Newsweek columnist Michael Hirsh, with a decidedly liberal slant, claims that the president has lost control of the agenda in Washington:
The reason Obama is getting so few votes is that he is no longer setting the terms of the debate over how to save the economy. Instead the Republican Party—the one we thought lost the election—is doing that.
Hirsh claims that GOP has turned the debate over the “stimulus” into, what he terms, a “decidedly stale, Republican-style debate over pork, waste and overspending” at a time when additional government spending (in his view) is necessary to lift us out of recession.
This isn’t, however, a stale or “nitpicking” debate, but an essential debate about the purpose of government. When Republicans stand against excessive government spending, they speak for a majority of the American people.
Which brings me to the second of Glenn’s links: Support for Stimulus Package Falls to 37%. The more people learn about this bloated boondoggle, the less likely they are to support.
Kudos to Republican leaders, conservative pundits and bloggers and those mainstream journalists who have highlighted its excesses.
I heard the radio commercial the Dems put together which goes after Republican Senators for the first time today, and this one is about Richard Burr in NC. All over the local talk radio station, which leans way right. Funny, it goes after Rush Limbaugh, goes after Burr, but, never really defends this disgusting porkapalooza bill. And in looks like Burr is not going to play their little game.
Fiscal responsibility just isn’t hopeandchangey.
William, I heard that Richard Burr ad today as well. I promptly called (following up on emails sent previously) to voice my support for his stance. For the first time in a long, long time, I feel like my opinion actually matters to my representatives, with exception to Elizabeth Dole, her office was great at following up. It’s a bright spot in an otherwise depressing time.
So you think the GOP’s job is to make sure the ruling Democrats don’t completely destroy the country financially? They’re good to keep around to make sure the train doesn’t run off the tracks? Their job is to fight for and explain conservative principles of government, and to try to win enough elections to push those principles into actuality – something McCain was unable or unwilling to do. Also, I don’t cotton to your giving McCain so much praise for his talk and as yet no action yet not highlighting the House Republicans and the Senate Conservatives who are really doing the work of exposing this stupid mess of a bill.
When Republicans stand against excessive government spending, they speak for a majority of the American people.
And where were they standing the last eight years as the nation’s debt soared to nine trillion? Suddenly they’ve got religion? Now it’s all fiscal responsibility all the time.
I don’t know how much Obama’s plan will help, but I do know Herb Hoover decided fiscal responsibility was the way to go in 1929. Hooverism isn’t what Republicans should be offering.
Friday’s jobs report is going to jolt this debate in a different direction and Republicans better have something to offer.
Pug, Republicans had not been the protectors of the purse that they should have been in some recent years, but in contast to the Democrats they are positively stingy. Take a look at this news report from a couple years ago for a reminder of Bush concern for the deficit. And remember Dems took over the purse strings in 2006. They also had the Senate early in Bush years due to Jeffords jumping ship as well as had a big presence in the House. It hasn’t been 8 years of Republican rule – it’s been a split govt. for 4.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aAj933iHkxwY&refer=us
I don’t know how much Obama’s plan will help, but I do know Herb Hoover decided fiscal responsibility was the way to go in 1929.
Hoover raised taxes (Revenue Act of 1932 from 25% to 63% on top incomes coupled with across-the-board tax hikes, resulting in an almost 14% drop in GNP — the measurement used at the time) and in a fiscal crisis such as a recession and possible depression, that isn’t fiscal responsibility. So I agree with you that
Hooverism isn’t what Republicans should be offering.
I also agree with you that
Friday’s jobs report is going to jolt this debate in a different direction and Republicans better have something to offer.
Yeah, the last housing report didn’t go so well for the liberals. Better focus on something else and ignore the other.
You, sir, are historically ignorant.
You might want to look up your history. (Amity Schlaes “The Forgotten Man” is an excellent primer). Hoover was an interventionist and a believer in central planning. FDR’s New Deal wasn’t a repudiation of Hoover’s efforts, they were a massive expansion of them… and according to the latest research, the New Deal lengthened the Depression by seven years.
More recently, in the 1990’s, the Japanese tried to revive their economy by massive deficit spending. It failed. And unlike the Obama/Pelosi plan, their plan wasn’t 75% pork/ 25% stimulus. They actually built stuff, and their economy still stagnated. And I don’t mean dog parks, mafia museums, and municipal water parks.
Cannot believe the Americans can be brainwashed so easily. Do they really think that McCain/Palin would be better. They don’t think that all these people claiming unployment benefits cost a fortune to the gov. much more than the cost of the stimulus plan. Republicans are snakes, they don’t want Obama to succeed. Don’t you see that the world loves Obama and is waiting for him. No, the jealous GOP must stop him. U.S. is going down the drain and you need someone with a “brain” to fix things. Put people back to work as soon as possible.
Lou Dobb and Rush Limbaugh should go to hell. They are negative and use the lack of knowledge of the American people to get to their goals. It’s really a scandal. Both shows should be removed from the air. They don’t bring anything good but bad news.
#11 Clouded clearly understands “whose money it is.”
So, “umployment” benefits (socialism) is more expensive to government (“them the rulers,” spending money from “we the people”) than all the pork in the stimulus charade.
“We the people” have no right to express concern about how our money or the money of our posterity is spent by “them the rulers.” Once you elect a bank robber, you have to support him. After all, he will trickle some of his pelf to the little people and every now and then he will blow a bundle at an instant orgy.
Try again, Clouded, you have taken three strikes already, but in the name of fairness and getting along, take another seven or eight.
If the government (them what rules) can’t silence their foes, what good is government? Sorry, Clouded, but the road to your form of dictatorship requires your heros to shred the Constitution a strip at a time. Perhaps you are impatient for a socialist revolution. You might like to get in on the Venezuela happenings. You can wear your red beret and talk to parrots.
Or, you stay here and wear your Che shirt and red beret and talk to parrots at KOS and Huffinpuff. But when you come to this blog, your words reflect your values and your intellect.
“Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann should go to hell. They are negative and use the lack of knowledge of the American people to get to their goals. It’s really a scandal. Both shows should be removed from the air. They don’t bring anything good but bad news.”
There, Claudia – fixed it for you.
PS – Don’t ever say that conservatives are heartless and hateful. Your posting above just contradicts it splendidly.
Regards,
Peter H.
Take my president….please!
By the way, the “world” is wising up to Obama faster than Americans. Leaders all over the world are furious with his “buy American” protectionist plans. British papers are already writing about how Obama has already lost his shine.
But don’t worry, a good part of the world still loves him. our enemies ADORE him! North Korea, Iran, Russia all see him as weak and already on the move.
Who would have guessed that putting a Marxist ideologue with absolutely no experience whatsoever in charge of the most powerful country on Earth would be a bad idea?
Oh thats right, the 46% of Americans who are educated enough to know Democrats, not Republicans have been in charge of congress for the last two years.
But I agree with you on one thing… I can’t believe Americans are brainwashed so easily either. Just mention “hope” and “change” and half of them turn into blithering idiots!
Oh well, at least Obama seems poised to remind Americans what a real “worst president ever” really looks like.
It’s about time since they’ve been acting like girly men all this time!