Will Economy Replace National Security as GOP Issue?
Instead of letting the financial crisis going to waste, the Obama Administration has been using it “a pretext for a wide power grab,” effectively nationalizing General Motors today. Yet, the more Democrats spend, the more control they seek take over the economy, the less favor they will find with the American people.
Obama knew he had to campaign on a “net spending cut” because we Americans don’t have much appetite for a European-style social welfare state. So, as his domestic policy departs from his campaign rhetoric and as memories of the failure of past Republican Congresses to hold true to party principles and hold the line on spending recede, the GOP could once again be able to reclaim the mantle of fiscal responsibility.
Yet, at the same time as Republicans can reclaim a mantle we once had, but later forfeited, the president is making a small effort to take away the one issue which held the GOP together in the past decade–national security.
While the president’s record has been far from perfect on Iraq and Afghanistan, he has been speaking out on the conflict in the first nation in terms nearly identical to those of his predecessor and has authorized a build-up in the second nation which has pleased many on the right, a number of whom have compared it (favorably) to Bush’s policies.
There are signs, a few, not a lot, but more that I had hoped when Obama first emerged as his party’s presidential frontrunner, that he could neutralize the national security issue (well, he will have to get tougher or Iran). All that said, the way things have been going these past few months, the economy could emerge the issue which turns the tide for the GOP.
Provided Republicans continue to say, “No” to Democratic profligacy and offer responsible alternative plans to spendthrift Democrat ones.
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Maybe we should take one from the Dem´s (Emmanuel´s) playbook and not let a good crises go to waste. I think national security can be linked to economy since the one place where Obama has cut spending is in national defense. Also, wanting veterans to pay for health care. National defense was gutted by Carter. Reagan increased military spending to meet the potential threat from the Soviet Union.
Comment by Roberto — March 31, 2009 @ 9:13 am - March 31, 2009
Correction: Emanuel. For a moment I confused him with the messianic Immanuel.
Comment by Roberto — March 31, 2009 @ 9:17 am - March 31, 2009
The Democrats rely on the Republicans to stomp about and scream for more defense spending. They have 7,436 immediate demeaning responses already loaded in the teleprompter.
The Republicans need to keep offering viable alternatives and getting stone walled. The one thing they must do is to vote a unanimous “no” so that the Obama Politburo is forced to carry all of the water.
Comment by heliotrope — March 31, 2009 @ 10:49 am - March 31, 2009
It would serve the GOP well to take up the cause of the economic crisis. Polls show its the #1 issue. But please have a plan, not just a framework without details a la that budget the GOP released last week.
It would look far better to go vote no while publicly stating “because I support this other plan”
Comment by Chuck In Del — March 31, 2009 @ 3:04 pm - March 31, 2009
i just peed a little.
Comment by bob (aka boob) — April 1, 2009 @ 8:57 pm - April 1, 2009
#5 – You might want to quit pi$$ing your brains away, booby boy.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — April 2, 2009 @ 11:42 am - April 2, 2009