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Name:	4691 -	Reply
Subject:	Someone, please explain what the republicans...
Date:	5/8/2010 12:54:22 PM

have done in the past 20 years that is significant. Don't reply with some comparison to the democrats. I've already written that party off long ago. I've never voted for a democrat; just never seen any reason to do so. But, now I'm trying to understand exactly what my long time support of the republicans has accomplished besides helping keep the democrats out or at least somewhat in check. In other words, have I simply been voting for the least of two evils. The major problems faced by this coutry are long-standing yet little has been done to address anything in a fiscally responsible manner. Honestly, I don't know that I believe that if the power were to totally reverse in 2012 that the republicans would really have the guts to make the changes to get the country back on track to fiscal conservatism allowing little or no federal spending deficit.

Name:	lotowner -	Reply
Subject:	Someone, please explain what the republicans...
Date:	5/8/2010 2:24:27 PM

The only thing that you can project is what the current administration would do if unchecked through 2016. That's scary. I will vote for change from what's going on now. That's known. I'm counting on a change in attitude and philosophy from Republicans after pressured by independent, conservatives, and Tea Party voters after living under Obama, Reid, and Pelosi.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Someone, please explain what the republicans...
Date:	5/8/2010 10:13:48 PM

If voting for the lesser of two evils isn't enough of a reason what is your other option? You can stay away or vote for an obscure 3rd party candidate with no hope of winning, either of which in fact will give you the worst of two evils. Voting for the lesser of two evils in an imperfect world with imperfect choices is the logical, rational and while sometimes objectionable, is the right thing to do.

As for the GOP over the last 20 years that would take us back to 1990. I am going to focus on what they accomplished because you asked for it.

The last major piece of environmental legislation (Clean Air Act Amendments) was proposed by Bush 41.

The GOP proposed the Contract with America that helped them gain control of Congress.
* require all laws that apply to the rest of the country also apply to Congress;
* select a major, independent auditing firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of Congress for waste, fraud or abuse;
* cut the number of House committees, and cut committee staff by one-third;
* limit the terms of all U.S. Congressmen and U.S. Senators;
* ban the casting of proxy votes in committee;
* require committee meetings to be open to the public;
* require a three-fifths majority vote to pass a tax increase;
* and implement a zero base-line budgeting process for the annual Federal Budget.

In 1994 the GOP gained control of Congress and brought nine of the ten proposals in the contract to a vote. NOT ONE OF THEM WOULD HAVE BEEN PROPOSED BY THE DEMS LET ALONE VOTED ON! They also forced Clinton to back welfare reform that has saved the country billions of dollars. They helped stop Hillarycare which was as bad as what we have today but it would have been in place a long time ago. With this alone they saved the country billions of dollars and who knows how many lives. NOT ONE OF THESE WOULD HAVE BEEN OCCURRED IF CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE WAS CONTROLLED BY THE DEMS! They tried to stop Fannie, Freddie and the CRA from ruining the economy to no avail. DEMS BLOCKED EVERY EFFORT TO STOP THIS INSANITY!

The GOP was responsible for Supreme Court Justices Alito, Roberts, Thomas, Renquist and Scalia. All of them are strict constructionists and do not legislate from the bench but look to the Constitution for guidance on laws. NOT ONE OF THEM WOULD HAVE BEEN NOMINATED BY THE DEMS!

I could go on with more examples but my point is that despite the GOP having its flaws and the fact that they abandoned fiscal conservative under W they are not the same as Dems. They are not perfect but if you think there is no difference you are delusional and the last year is living proof of that. To think otherwise and act otherwise, if you really believe in conservatism or even libertarianism is the height of foolishness. Yes I will always take the lesser of two evils if that is my choice. Wishing and hoping there was a third choice is for children and adults will not fall into this trap.

Name:	GoneFishin -	Reply
Subject:	Someone, please explain what the republicans...
Date:	5/9/2010 1:37:59 AM

"The GOP was responsible for Supreme Court Justices Alito, Roberts, Thomas, Renquist and Scalia. All of them are strict constructionists and do not legislate from the bench but look to the Constitution for guidance on laws. NOT ONE OF THEM WOULD HAVE BEEN NOMINATED BY THE DEMS!"

MM, what exactly do you mean by "legislate from the bench"?

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Someone, please explain what the republicans...
Date:	5/9/2010 8:17:29 AM

What I mean is that they interpret laws in light of whether or not they comport with the Constitution of the United States and do not do things like make up rights (i.e., the right to privacy key to Roe v Wade), they believe in states rights and understand that the Constitution limits government, not the people, they do not attempt to right wrongs through judicial fiat (i.e., rule in favor of a protected class just because they are a protected class), they accept the will of the people and do overturn the results of ballot initiatives just because they don't like the outcome.

C'mon GF, you know all this. You know that many of the leftist wing nut policies are unpopular with the vast majority of Americans and so they try to use the courts to enact their radical agenda. That's why those judges like the ones mentioned above that do not allow the courts to be misused in this way are despised and loathed by the leftist wing nuts.

Name:	4691 -	Reply
Subject:	Someone, please explain what the republicans...
Date:	5/9/2010 9:27:23 AM

Thanks for the feedback. I spent time yesteday reviewing the 1994 Contract with America. In my opinion that is one of the most significant accomplishments of the republicans in the past 20 years. Political genius with the way it struck a common chord with Americans. Interesting debae whether or not Perot had a real impact in keeping republicans out of the oval office in 96. My frustration is mainly driven by the failure of our government to address the real problems that will not go away. We need fiscally responsible solutions now. At some point in the future, maybe not so distant, it may be too late. I'd like to belive that the next time I vote it is for change, real change, change for the long term financial security and freedom of Americans. That is what the republicans must deliver.

By the way, I should have limited my question to the past 10 years instead of 20. After spending some hours yesterday refreshing my memory I would say that in my opinion the republicans did an ok job overall during the 90's.

Name:	4691 -	Reply
Subject:	Justices
Date:	5/9/2010 9:35:51 AM

MM - I definitely agree about the republican supreme court appointments. My post was really about my frustrations with fiscal performance. Next to my concern (it goes beyond my comprehension) about our current spending and debt, the damage to the court that is being done by appointing political activist is frightening.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Your complaints are entirely justified
Date:	5/9/2010 10:10:33 AM

And I share them with you completely. For some reason, maybe its the water in DC, when politicians get there over time they forget why we sent them and become fiscally irresponsible. The main difference between the GOP and the Dems is at least they start off fiscally sane. Dems start off being fiscally and socially liberal and go downhill from there.

The good news is we have the ability during the primary process to send packing those GOPers that go off the reservation. That is exactly what happened yesterday in Utah with Bennett and what happened with Specter and what is happening all over the country.

What I particularly like about the Tea Party movement is that the vast majority of them recognize that our best hope is to reform the GOP from within, not split the conservative vote thereby electing Dems. They can and are having a tremendous impact on the primary process and we are getting more true conservatives as candidates. When that happens we win because America is a center right country.

What is going to happen with the current administration and the government media is they are going to put on a full court press to try to convince the American people that the economy is much better than it really is. We saw this recently where they picked one kernel of good news out of a bushel basket of bad news and that becomes the headlines. Unfortunately for them facts are stubborn things and with over 17% un- and under-employment we have people all over the country who either are or know several people that are hurting. They will look for someone to punish and Dem libtards are going to bear the brunt of it.

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