Why this election was good for the Republican Party

[Kaylore]

So I thought I'd wade into this "forum" and give my thoughts on the most recent election. This election might seem like bad news for Republicans. I know some of my fellow conservatives might feel pretty bad but there are some great things that will benifit our party from this election and I thought I'd list them here.

1. The Democrats that won did so in conservative areas and ran on pretty centrist views. That's a good thing. It means that they're accountable and that they aren't going to go off the deep end. Yes, there will be some leftwing policies passed. You'll probably see some minimum wage increases and things of that nature, but you aren't going to see socialism get installed - even with Nancy in charge.

2 They don't have huge leads. That means that they'll be accountable and we can win the seats back sooner rather than later.

3. They might actually handle our money better than our own party. I'm sorry but I've been pretty pissed off at the lack of spending control from congress and Bush of late. We're supposed to be conservatives. Ted Kennedy writing the education bill, making all those airport security workers government employees, ballooning our budget. At worst it will be the same. At best it will be better.

I wasn't sure if the left would pick up on it because I felt the left was too busy making stories up about 9-11 to take advantage. The guys that won came with promises to be more financially responsible, and I think that was key to their success. That's important to me and I honestly feel that this sent a message to our party that they've lost their way, a lot of us are pretty pissed off, and it finally came back to haunt them.

Well I say good. Maybe now these guys will realize that they need to get back to the days of the Contract for America where we had a clear vision to give responsibility back to the citizens and not feed Government like a fat cat.

My hope is that Democrats will work with Republicans to put something together that is fiscally sound and will satisfy the needs of the government. Am I being overly optimistic? Perhaps, but I try to be after every election.

4. They share the blame. When we had everything, everything that went wrong in the country, fair or not, was "our fault". That's the only luxury of not having any power anywhere: You're not accountable. Well now they have to share the blame, and while they will never stop pointing a finger at Bush for even natural disasters, they will not be able to say it was "all republicans."

5. Most of the social issues went our way. In Colorado, and in a lot of other areas in the country, the morale issues tended on the right wing side. That shows that there are still people that support what we believe. It also means that a lot of condidates on both sides of the isle will stay away from such issues. They're safe...for now.

It sucks losing, but we'll regorup and comeback and a split in the government like this is better for democracy anyway. Here's to two years of us working together as Americans!

[Clockwork Orange]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

Here's to two years of us working together as Americans!

Here's to that lasting a lot longer than two years, bro.

[SteveTensi13]

Yep, time to purge the GOP of phony Republicans who brought down the party. This party always stood for fiscal responsibility and moral high ground and somewhere that was lost, maybe it was the drunk with power thing! But, like I said in another thread, I want to give the dems a chance first. Admittedly the thought of Nancy Pelosi as house speaker sends chills down my spine.

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by Clockwork Orange

Here's to that lasting a lot longer than two years, bro.

Well of course, but I was speaking from now until next election. By the way, the '08 campaign has just started.

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by SteveTensi13

Yep, time to purge the GOP of phony Republicans who brought down the party. This party always stood for fiscal responsibility and moral high ground and somewhere that was lost, maybe it was the drunk with power thing! But, like I said in another thread, I want to give the dems a chance first. Admittedly the thought of Nancy Pelosi as house speaker sends chills down my spine.

The last thing she'll want to do is lose her newly acquired power. Watch: she's going to get really moderate really fast.

[Atlas]

I don't know if this is good for the republican party. All the moderate Republicans lost. The Democrats are much more conservative. The end result is that both political parties got more conservative. I don't think that is a good thing for the Republicans. Of course these things can change every couple years.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Originally Posted by Atlas

I don't know if this is good for the republican party. All the moderate Republicans lost. The Democrats are much more conservative. The end result is that both political parties got more conservative. I don't think that is a good thing for the Republicans. Of course these things can change every couple years.

It's going to be interesting to hear GeeDubya's speech tomorrow.

What is he going to say to the Democrats?

"Yeah, I know I've demonized you and treated you like a red-headed stepchild who didn't even exist for the past six years....but now I want to reach out to you..."

[Atlas]

Originally Posted by L.A. BRONCOS FAN

It's going to be interesting to hear GeeDubya's speech tomorrow.

What is he going to say to the Democrats?

"Yeah, I know I've demonized you and treated you like a red-headed stepchild who didn't even exist for the past six years....but now I want to reach out to you..."

especially after all the negative things he has said about Pelosi.

[Barry Ramey]

As long as the hard socialist lefties aren't in charge, I'm fine with it.

[BroncoInferno]

Khan was must have been quick with the pen with Hume interviewed DeLay last night. That was his spin to a 'T'. That isn't you, is it, Tom?

(Just kidding...the only part similar was 'this will be good for Republicans. Hopefully, the two sides will work better together. I think they'll have to to get anything done. The split powers is exactly what the founding fathers envisioned so one side couldn't run wild over the rest of us.)

Seriously, though, the big problem for Republicans winning back Congress will be the majority of governships won by Democrats. That will allow them to use the Republican playbook of '94 and regerrymander districts won by a close margin to ensure that the seat will stay Democrat. That's why the Dems could make only relatively small House gains in '96-'98 after Gingrich had made a fool of himself.

[defenseman]

Accountability is all the democrats now. Whatever happens, they wear it. Is that bad? No, it's absolutely good. If you have the majority, you are fully responsible for the outcome. I wish them the best for the next 2-4 years and hope they do very well. I and many others will be watching for sure...dman

[TailgateNut]

Originally Posted by Barry Ramey

As long as the hard socialist lefties aren't in charge, I'm fine with it.

Just as we had to sit back and watch your party make mistake after mistake, you have no choice , but to be amazed by a party which actually cares about this country and its' citizens, not the allmighty dollar, which has ruled the decisions of your party.

Not gloating, just saying it lke it is!

[Rohirrim]

I think it's funny, watching Mehlman purring on TV last night about how the country is ready for bipartisanship, blah, blah, blah. What a snake. That guy has been the nastiest, name-calling weasel in the bunch. Every time I watch him speak, I expect to hear him hiss. Now, they want the Dems to go all kumbaya for them. The Repugs lost because they went ideological, hard right. They put their heels on the back of the Dems necks for 12 years and ground their faces in the dirt. They got absorbed by their power, corrupted, blew money like a bunch of drunken sailors, bankrupted the country, shoved a bunch of my-way-or-the-highway crap down everybody's throats and NOW they want to play nice? Now they're extolling the virtues of bipartisan governement? Does anybody else find that humorous?

Hastert on the radio this morning sounded all conciliatory. What a joke! That a-hole has been kicking Dems in the balls for years. Suddenly he sounds like Mother Teresa. Frankly, I hope the Dems give him an office in the basement (as far away from the cafeteria as they can) and the farthest parking space they can find so he can walk that fat ass off. Anybody hear about how he hid meetings from Dems or told Dems not to bother showing up for committees because nobody was going to listen to them anyway? How about the one where Durbin walked out of a committee room where the Dems were still talking and turned out the lights? I particularly liked the one where Hastert asked some Dems why they kept on "wasting time" arguing about a bill, because when the decisions were made, they (the Dems) wouldn't even be in the room.

If the Dems can now reach across the aisle and offer bipartisanship, they're better people than I am. I would be in major "payback" mode. I would be itching to show Bush a little "compassionate conservatism" and how I could be a "Uniter, not a divider." I'm sure the Dems won't go that route, though. They're too friggin nice.

[spdirty]

Demonrats didn't win it, GOP lost it. Gotta get back to Reagan. Now hopefully Nancy is speaker and does the impeachment thing as well as a bunch of investigations. Then she'll have a demotion in 2 years.

[defenseman]

Originally Posted by Atlas

especially after all the negative things he has said about Pelosi.

The democrats and pelosi have demonized him for a while now. Your point is?...dman

[Spider]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15620215/
Bush wishes Dems congratulations on victory
President invites new House leaders to White House for lunch



WASHINGTON - President Bush, waking up on Wednesday to a new balance of power in Washington, picked up the phone and called House speaker-in-waiting Nancy Pelosi to invite her to lunch.

“They had a very good conversation. He congratulated her on their wins,” deputy White House press secretary Dana Perino said about Bush’s call to Pelosi the morning after Democrats took control of the House in Tuesday’s election.

Bush invited Pelosi and Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the second-ranking Democratic leader in the House, to have lunch on Thursday at the White House. Bush also called a handful of other lawmakers and invited House Minority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, to the White House on Friday for a meeting over coffee.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Originally Posted by Rohirrim

I think it's funny, watching Mehlman purring on TV last night about how the country is ready for bipartisanship, blah, blah, blah. What a snake. That guy has been the nastiest, name-calling weasel in the bunch. Every time I watch him speak, I expect to hear him hiss. Now, they want the Dems to go all kumbaya for them. The Repugs lost because they went ideological, hard right. They put their heels on the back of the Dems necks for 12 years and ground their faces in the dirt. They got absorbed by their power, corrupted, blew money like a bunch of drunken sailors, bankrupted the country, shoved a bunch of my-way-or-the-highway crap down everybody's throats and NOW they want to play nice? Now they're extolling the virtues of bipartisan governement? Does anybody else find that humorous?

Hastert on the radio this morning sounded all conciliatory. What a joke! That a-hole has been kicking Dems in the balls for years. Suddenly he sounds like Mother Teresa. Frankly, I hope the Dems give him an office in the basement (as far away from the cafeteria as they can) and the farthest parking space they can find so he can walk that fat ass off. Anybody hear about how he hid meetings from Dems or told Dems not to bother showing up for committees because nobody was going to listen to them anyway? How about the one where Durbin walked out of a committee room where the Dems were still talking and turned out the lights? I particularly liked the one where Hastert asked some Dems why they kept on "wasting time" arguing about a bill, because when the decisions were made, they (the Dems) wouldn't even be in the room.

If the Dems can now reach across the aisle and offer bipartisanship, they're better people than I am. I would be in major "payback" mode. I would be itching to show Bush a little "compassionate conservatism" and how I could be a "Uniter, not a divider." I'm sure the Dems won't go that route, though. They're too friggin nice.

Quoted for truth.

[defenseman]

Originally Posted by spdirty

Demonrats didn't win it, GOP lost it. Gotta get back to Reagan. Now hopefully Nancy is speaker and does the impeachment thing as well as a bunch of investigations. Then she'll have a demotion in 2 years.

Reagan was 55 to 45 controlled by the dem's in the senate, and congress was 30+ majority on the democrats side of the house. And you are correct, they will vote her speaker of the house, however if she targets anything that moves continuously and it's framed as vindictive (which it will be), she'll be gone. The dems won because the GOP dropped the ball and the dems capitalized on that by simply saying, "vote for me because I'm not republican" , and america did. They now have control , we'll see what they do with it. GW does need to be careful with his veto power though, the dems will use that to their advantage in 08 if he stomps on everything that crosses his desk. Then again, just because a democratic congress says something, doesn't mean it's necessarily correct. The repubs have proven that...dman

[TailgateNut]

Originally Posted by spdirty

Demonrats didn't win it, GOP lost it. Gotta get back to Reagan. Now hopefully Nancy is speaker and does the impeachment thing as well as a bunch of investigations. Then she'll have a demotion in 2 years.

You sound like the Oakland Raiders. "They didn't win, we lost", pretty damn funny IMHO!

[bronco militia]

only a Republican could find (admit) positives in a defeat....nice thread, Kaylore.

[defenseman]

Originally Posted by Rohirrim

I think it's funny, watching Mehlman purring on TV last night about how the country is ready for bipartisanship, blah, blah, blah. What a snake. That guy has been the nastiest, name-calling weasel in the bunch. Every time I watch him speak, I expect to hear him hiss. Now, they want the Dems to go all kumbaya for them. The Repugs lost because they went ideological, hard right. They put their heels on the back of the Dems necks for 12 years and ground their faces in the dirt. They got absorbed by their power, corrupted, blew money like a bunch of drunken sailors, bankrupted the country, shoved a bunch of my-way-or-the-highway crap down everybody's throats and NOW they want to play nice? Now they're extolling the virtues of bipartisan governement? Does anybody else find that humorous?

Hastert on the radio this morning sounded all conciliatory. What a joke! That a-hole has been kicking Dems in the balls for years. Suddenly he sounds like Mother Teresa. Frankly, I hope the Dems give him an office in the basement (as far away from the cafeteria as they can) and the farthest parking space they can find so he can walk that fat ass off. Anybody hear about how he hid meetings from Dems or told Dems not to bother showing up for committees because nobody was going to listen to them anyway? How about the one where Durbin walked out of a committee room where the Dems were still talking and turned out the lights? I particularly liked the one where Hastert asked some Dems why they kept on "wasting time" arguing about a bill, because when the decisions were made, they (the Dems) wouldn't even be in the room.

If the Dems can now reach across the aisle and offer bipartisanship, they're better people than I am. I would be in major "payback" mode. I would be itching to show Bush a little "compassionate conservatism" and how I could be a "Uniter, not a divider." I'm sure the Dems won't go that route, though. They're too friggin nice.

A handful of folks in this country want what you want. Most folks just want change for the better, I'm hoping the dems understand that. Payback, is an emotional response to the previous existing condition, it will not reap rewards in the long run. If the dems approach the task at hand from a purely professional position, and address the issues for the betterment of the country and the people, they will get mileage out of their majority. If not? They'll lose it in two to four years, gauranteed...dman

[Rohirrim]

Originally Posted by spdirty

Demonrats didn't win it, GOP lost it. Gotta get back to Reagan. Now hopefully Nancy is speaker and does the impeachment thing as well as a bunch of investigations. Then she'll have a demotion in 2 years.

I hate to agree with you (I'll take a shower later ) but it's true. When either one of these parties realizes that in America, you rule from the middle, they will never be voted out. Both parties have sold out to corporate power. That's why we get trade deals that sell out American workers and small business owners and immigration bills that 80% of Americans are opposed to. The great American middle is nationalistic. They are not globalists. Washington DC does not get it. They rule based on who is funneling money into their pockets.

It was funny listening to the pundits yesterday wondering why corruption was one of the leading concerns of the electorate. The American people know that our government is bought and paid for. Now we'll see if the Dems can step up to the plate and kill the corruption, the lobbyists, the special interests, the corporations writing their own bills, the military-industrial complex stuffing its coffers with our hard earned money, the pork, the fat and the "earmarks." Until that happens, the great middle of the American electorate will continue to swing back and forth, from left to right, election after election. Throwing out the old bums, and replacing them with new bums.

[spdirty]

Originally Posted by defenseman

Reagan was 55 to 45 controlled by the dem's in the senate, and congress was 30+ majority on the democrats side of the house. And you are correct, they will vote her speaker of the house, however if she targets anything that moves continuously and it's framed as vindictive (which it will be), she'll be gone. The dems won because the GOP dropped the ball and the dems capitalized on that by simply saying, "vote for me because I'm not republican" , and america did. They now have control , we'll see what they do with it. GW does need to be careful with his veto power though, the dems will use that to their advantage in 08 if he stomps on everything that crosses his desk. Then again, just because a democratic congress says something, doesn't mean it's necessarily correct. The repubs have proven that...dman

Yep. Look, W has vetoed I think 1 bill thats crossed his desk. I doubt he'd veto any spending bills, he will veto any kind of tax hikes. I think at least half the blame is on him and his administration. The other half is on the stupid ass scandals from the congress that just made everyone in the GOP look like asses. Kinda like the House Bank Scandal did for the dems in '94. And in '08 the GOP had better get a presidential candidate who is going to run on FISCALLY RESPONSIBILITY!!!!! ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION!!!!!! And NAILING AL QAIDA!!!!! '08 will be a battle for the sole of the party. If the GOP can't get back to Reagan, I'm switching my affiliation to independant. And Ill probably start voting 3rd party. Oh. And get off the damn moral values kick until we actually start displaying some? Don't run on where you stand on abortion, and gay marriage. Americans hate it when you legislate morality. Those issues should be decided, IMO, in referendums and such.

[Rohirrim]

Originally Posted by defenseman

A handful of folks in this country want what you want. Most folks just want change for the better, I'm hoping the dems understand that. Payback, is an emotional response to the previous existing condition, it will not reap rewards in the long run. If the dems approach the task at hand from a purely professional position, and address the issues for the betterment of the country and the people, they will get mileage out of their majority. If not? They'll lose it in two to four years, gauranteed...dman

In other words, if the Dems do what the Repubs refused to do? I'm afaid you might choke on that "guarantee." The Dems have also won the majority of state houses. The SCOTUS gave them permission to redistrict whenever they want. I'm willing to bet that those new Dem governors are already pulling out their maps and sharpening their pencils. In two years, I'll tell you what the Repubs will be doing; They'll be fighting each other. Just like the Dems did for election after election. No. Good or bad, these Dems will be hanging around for a while. Like I said, if I was in charge, Denny Hastert and his buddies would be on the friggin rack in the basement of the Capitol, but I'm not in charge.

[defenseman]

Originally Posted by Rohirrim

I hate to agree with you (I'll take a shower later ) but it's true. When either one of these parties realizes that in America, you rule from the middle, they will never be voted out. Both parties have sold out to corporate power. That's why we get trade deals that sell out American workers and small business owners and immigration bills that 80% of Americans are opposed to. The great American middle is nationalistic. They are not globalists. Washington DC does not get it. They rule based on who is funneling money into their pockets.

It was funny listening to the pundits yesterday wondering why corruption was one of the leading concerns of the electorate. The American people know that our government is bought and paid for. Now we'll see if the Dems can step up to the plate and kill the corruption, the lobbyists, the special interests, the corporations writing their own bills, the military-industrial complex stuffing its coffers with our hard earned money, the pork, the fat and the "earmarks." Until that happens, the great middle of the American electorate will continue to swing back and forth, from left to right, election after election. Throwing out the old bums, and replacing them with new bums.

Well thought out take there Ro...dman