Fix the PubbiesFollow

From another thread...Ignoring the "media" comment, the current political situation looks as though we'll have a Democratic president and increased Democratic majorities in both chambers of Congress. Despite the "Look at Congress's poll numbers!" line, a fair prediction would be another 15 Democrats in the House and a half-dozen or so in the Senate. While still unlikely, a 60 Democrat Senate isn't a complete impossibility at this point as once Republican-safe races tighten.

So what should the Republicans do to turn things around? What should they have done two or four years ago? Is the answer just "Yeah, well, wait until the Democrats all suck and then we'll win!"? Just rely on the other guy ******** up badly enough that you look good in comparison? (Hell, some might say that's what the Democrats did)

I'm especially interested in hearing from the Right-wingers around here: If you were given the power to steer the party's direction, what would you change to rehabilitate the party's image?

Personally, I'd hold a party-wide press conference, apologize for Bush, and finish up with "Can we please just take a mulligan on the last eight years?"

Build Time Machine.

Bring back McCain 2000.

???

Profit.

The only "conspiracy" one was the one above yours.

...the rest of this has nothing to do with the thread's topic, per se.

Also, unless the military develops efficient powered armor within the next 5-10 years (which would allow them to downsize while keeping the same overall combat ability), "smaller government" and "strong military" are essentially at odds - the military effectively is the 2nd-largest part of the government (behind civil service), and it's not that much smaller...

Term limits on Congress probably wouldn't fly, barring some kind of grassroots-started Constitutional amendment. You really expect them to step quietly into the background? (Then again, most of the great minds behind communism expected "the powers that be" to do so as the last step of actually getting it going.)

And accountability... you mean the ability for any citizen of their state/district (for senators and representatives) to call for a recall (because, really, there already is - if you don't like a decision your current senator/representative made, YOU VOTE FOR SOMEONE ELSE NEXT ELECTION)? Thank you, I'd prefer less chaos in my government.

Really, both combined are ideal - powered armor filling the role traditionally used by tanks (and some infantry roles as well), unmanned vehicles covering the majority of everything else. I left unmanned vehicles out for two reasons:

1) We already have them, and so it's a matter of incremental improvements; and
2) I forgot.

A strong military is also at odds with lower taxes and an "uncomplicated" tax code. Someone has to pay for all those armored tanks, and the ~$1,000 a year in taxes the government makes off people like me - underemployed and in debt - ain't gonna cut it.

You can't have it both ways. You can pay a flat tax and have no military or a weak military, or pay a tiered tax structure and have as much military as your country can possibly build up. This isn't WWII, where families recycled coat hangers to make metal for tanks, bullets, and guns.

Edited, Oct 22nd 2008 7:40am by catwho

Or, you know, deflect the discussion entirely.

I will say that one thing the right needs to do is to bring a sincerely positive person in for the nomination next time. That's one quality about Sarah Palin that people are responding to wholeheartedly. It was about 40% of Reagan's magic as well.

I don't mean that her conduct has been positive, mind you. Slagging the other side with dubious accusations is the last tactic of the losing team. But her persona, the image of the smart, down to earth, can-do woman really draws people into her circle.

This, and one of the things that most drew me to the Republican party in my youth was the idea of a non-intrusive national government. They should go back to the ideal of letting the States largely govern themselves, and stick to the major issues of the National scene, foreign policy, trade, etc.

Republicans should do absolutely nothing. With Congress' popularity numbers at an all time low, their new powers of unstoppable horrible-ness will utterly kill them. Inexplicably, the public has seen this Congress as Republican-- which explains a lot when it comes to them choosing a borderline Commie-Socialist over a decorated war hero --but having a solid majority with people like Nancy Pelosi running things, the pendulum will quickly swing back to the Right.

Hopefully the Republicans will have learned their lesson and not stray from the philosophy of fiscal responsibility, low taxes, and little government interference in personal and business lives-- unlike the presidents, congresses, and agencies that have said one ting and done another.

But make no mistake, the Democrats won't be able to prevent themselves from going overboard and attempting social change and creating government programs that will cost working Americans their paychecks. Why? Because absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Fait accompli.

Totem

Yeah. Like I said, for some inexplicable reason the public still thinks this is a Republican-led Congress. However, all this will change once the Dems sweep both houses, have a Dem prez, and put two Lefty Supremes in court (unless they choose an anti-Souter who goes right after portraying himself as a Leftie).

It's what led to a Republican era this last time. Hopefully however, when the Republicans get back into power they'll remember the error of their ways and avoid the excesses of this era. Hopefully.

That being said, it's unlikely, seeing that regardless who is in charge, they cannot seem to stop themselves from overdoing whatever their agenda is and ruining a good thing. Happens every time.

So enjoy your run, Dems. Soon enough you'll ***** the pooch and the public will t'row da bums outs.

Totem

That's what I said eight years ago, Totes.

To be fair, Cheney is President of the Senate.

(Which is why he thinks he doesn't work for the executive branch of Gov.)

Edited, Oct 22nd 2008 12:19pm by Omegavegeta