Predictably, the Republican response to President Obama’s speech before Congress last week was to attack wasteful spending and laud the merits of low taxes and small government. Thankfully, the American public doesn’t seem to pay much heed. It’s not that these are inherently bad positions. It’s just that Republicans have absolutely no credibility left on any of these issues.
Why would we trust Republicans to cut spending when their leadership got us the largest budget deficit in history? Why would we put our faith in more Republican-style tax cuts, when after years and years of them we find ourselves in this recession? And hasn’t our confidence in private enterprise given way to calls for more government oversight in light of the banking crisis?
We always end up with big spending and government. Why not give the reins to someone who might actually put them to good use for a change? I believe this is precisely what Barack Obama was elected to do.
Sine Thieme
Overland Park
The Republican Party is missing the point. The Democratic Party finally found its voice with the emergence and ascent of Barack Obama to the highest office. He inspired, he galvanized, and he led. Barack Obama delivered a message and a vision. He articulated his ideas and connected with Americans one citizen at a time.
Judging by the Republican Party’s rising stars — vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, a charismatic, under-qualified governor of Alaska; new African-American Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele, who wants to give his party a hip-hop makeover; and Bobby Jindal, Louisiana’s young Indian-American governor who was selling himself as the Republican Obama as he delivered the rebuttal to the president’s address — it is apparent that the Republicans got it all wrong.
Obama’s message was one of substance. It is about a new direction for America. It is about inclusion and dialogue. It is about hope and community service. It is about America’s leadership in a turbulent world and a chaotic global economy. Republicans need a message and a vision. Enough of the imitations and the superficial symbols.
Rami Saffarini
Platte City
Oabam was elected based on race and buzzwords. Higher taxation and writing hot checks from someone elses checking account does not take talent or intelect.
Posted by: NoMoreMrNiceGuy | March 04, 2009 at 10:22 AM
Tina:
"And please -- Republicans!!! Get rid of Joe the Plumber!!"
Why? Joe got things right about the Messiah's socialism months ago. "Moderate" Republican David Brooks just acknowledged that this is not the Obama "we though we were getting."
Posted by: Arminius | March 04, 2009 at 09:12 AM
Rami is working on earning his golden kee pads.
http://barackobama.meetup.com/325/members/8103750/
Posted by: Arminius | March 04, 2009 at 09:10 AM
Turns out that Sine Thieme is an Obama propagandist. She is merely sharing talking points that were distributed to her:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chuck-lasker/both-campaigns-use-ghost_b_129270.html
Posted by: Arminius | March 04, 2009 at 09:05 AM
"This person has GOT to exist. Remember, four years ago our current President was "Barack who?" so name recognition in 2009 isn't that big a deal. And tell me serious Republicans wouldn't be on somebody like this in a New York minute."
I wonder. Republicans are pretty anal about making people wait their turn and pay their dues before running for the really big offices.
Posted by: TinaMcG | March 02, 2009 at 05:31 PM
As opposed to Rouge, who's got these fantasies of Sarah P. in a camo teddy.
Posted by: Pub 17 | March 02, 2009 at 11:58 AM
I'm thinking somebody who a right-leaning younger Democrat could vote for, a Republican to do what Dennis Moore's doing in JoCo. Somebody with an education, no attitude on race, and who's got a record on REAL conservatism when it comes to prudent, sensible, well-reasoned spending, so we're probably talking a governor here, Mitch Romney without the baggage. And no spouse problems, for Godsake.
This person has GOT to exist. Remember, four years ago our current President was "Barack who?" so name recognition in 2009 isn't that big a deal. And tell me serious Republicans wouldn't be on somebody like this in a New York minute.
Posted by: Pub 17 | March 02, 2009 at 11:57 AM
"...where are the Bill Graveses and Nancy Landons in the Republican Party today?"
... their called John McCain and Rudy Giuliani.
Posted by: JUNGLE JACK | March 02, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Damn, Jim....
I was on the phone and you beat me by 2 1/2 minutes!
Posted by: solomon | March 02, 2009 at 11:20 AM
Welcome back BuddyT,
Your predictions are welcome as well. We all know how on target they were this time. :-)
Posted by: solomon | March 02, 2009 at 11:18 AM
"I predict solid Republican majorities in both houses in 2010..."
This from the guy who (under many different names) predicted that:
- Romney would win the GOP nomination and beat Hillary Clinton in '08
- Hillary would trounce Obama and decisively win the Democratic nomination
- Obama was "toast" on many occasions during the primary and general election
- Sarah Palin would be the answer to McCain's low poll numbers, and because of her, he would win decisively.
Sorry if we take your "predictions" with a 5 lb. bag of salt, buttrag.
What a hoot, indeed.
Posted by: Jim | March 02, 2009 at 11:16 AM
Jim - I'm still holding out hope for Palin.
I'm hoping that her faults were mostly attributable to her attempting to defend stances that McCain held with which she disagreed.
Posted by: JUNGLE JACK | March 02, 2009 at 11:10 AM
Whata hoot, the market has dropped 1000's of points everytime this yahoo opens his mouth with a new "plan". I predict solid Republican majorities in both houses in 2010, after all, you can only blame the other guy so long...People want government out of their lives and to be able to find a job again.
Posted by: BudRog | March 02, 2009 at 11:02 AM
Sadly, the GOP is reduced to the likes of Rush Limbaugh as their leader. He's never been and never will be a candidate for higher office (or even for dog catcher), so how he will reshape the party's fortunes is anyone's guess.
They were pinning their hopes on Bobby Jindal, but he's become a bit of a joke. But then, fabricating folksy stories and hypocritically requesting the same stimulus money you call wasteful will do that.
So who's next?
Posted by: Jim | March 02, 2009 at 09:57 AM
JJ-
An honest question: where are the Bill Graveses and Nancy Landons in the Republican Party today?
Posted by: Pub 17 | March 02, 2009 at 09:35 AM
If Norman Gentle, or Bobby Jindal or whatever his name is i the shining hope of the GOP then we're in for many years of Democrat domination.
Posted by: JUNGLE JACK | March 02, 2009 at 08:51 AM
I would really like to see two strong parties duking it out and working together for the betterment of all of us. I have never liked one-party domination because there is always a sadistic and vengeful aspect to it. So I am really hoping that last week's CPAC conference isn't representative of the best the GOP has to offer. It would have been frightening if it hadn't been so laughable.
And please -- Republicans!!! Get rid of Joe the Plumber!!
Posted by: TinaMcG | March 02, 2009 at 07:40 AM
blah blah blah blah blah.....
(continued next thread)
Posted by: solomon | March 02, 2009 at 07:05 AM