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GOP 'Pledge' makes closing argument to voters

Ockham

Noblesse oblige
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While long, (8000 words), familiar and with obvious holes - this is a first step of "getting back to basics" by the GOP they're selling to voters. Critics on the Right however, are seeing it as watered down beltway business as usual.

Redstate says:

"At a time when America needs a bold, simple, fresh plan for putting America on the path to fiscal and constitutional sanity - we get instead an almost 8000 word term paper of inside-the-beltway regurgitation that lacks the one thing the American people seem to be dying to have… actual leadership. Harsh? Hardly."
I give credit to the GOP for seeing the writing on the wall left by the Tea Party: get back to basics or else. The GOP isn't jumping into that pool head first... they're wading in and they should. A vast swing to the right with some "bold" plan espousing cutting Social Security, Medicare and the Dept. of Ed. is a sure fire loser. The missing parts like a pledge to cut earmarks, to pass term limits, or to cut corporate tax to the levels the rest of the world uses is missing. Republicans need to understand however, they can't wade in the pool forever. This is a nice first step but it needs some concrete follow up and not on November 3rd --- sooner. We don't need a bold "let's change Washington into Conservative Utopia" - that's what Obama campaigned with a "Progressive Utopia" and we all know that hope and change went down the toilet quick.

Pledge to America - full text.
 
until, like all parties, they are actually in power. Then, . . . what?
 
Love it.. expose their own hypocrisy.. hope the Dems exploit this.
 
Boo Radley said:
until, like all parties, they are actually in power. Then, . . . what?
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Quite right - and normally I'd say we have a two party system so it's a choice between two different types of bad. However, the emerging tea party is just as adamant about kicking out Republicans who play ball, grow government and spend spend spend as they are about Democrats. If the Tea Party has longevity, we actually may have a Republican party that is forced to change - not today, not tomorrow but over the next 3-5 elections. That may just slow the Dem GOP patty cake fest down and put people in office who back up their words with actions.

But I appreciate the cynacism. Where was it in 2010? Cheering Obama?
 
Remix and generalized pap, SSDD, where are jobs?, nothing about banning earmarks!

The late Sam Francis identified the two political parties of America as the evil party and the stupid party, often switching labels. Today, with this "new" contract they are stupid.
Stupid and Evil Political Parties - Vox
 
I'm currently in the process of reading the GOP Plan, and so far I haven't found anything of real substance that goes contrary to what the Washington Post has already summarized herein. To that, Ockham is correct. The GOP is treading very lightly here. From what I've read of it and based on the summary article, there's really nothing groundbreaking in this 21-page pledge that either hasn't already been attempted and shown it's not that easy to fully implement, i.e., not adding attachments to bills before a vote, or IMO that's really going to change things for the better, i.e., repealing health care reform.

Many of the things the GOP are upset about, i.e., spending, TARP, stimulus, will eventually stop on its own, i.e., stimulus spending is only a 2-year program (2009-2011), TARP will end fully once the banks have all stabalized and repaid (most if not all of) their loans (and several large banks already have), and unemployment benefits are limited and have expiration periods anyway. So, when you get down to it there's really nothing along the lines of limiting government spending/fiscal responsibility that the GOP has to "tackle" that won't end on its own in short order. The small business tax issue is a different story, but even here you have to wade through the GOP double-talk.

On the one hand they want to give more tax cuts/credits/deductions to small businesses, but that's what the Obama Administration is doing right now atleast in the short-term. Long-term might be a different story (i.e., taxes under health care legistlation), but no one really knows exactly how this will play out. However, if I understand health care reform legislation correctly, most small businesses would be exempt from paying any new taxes under healthcare reform and few would see a tax increase. Only large corporations would be affected where higher taxes under HCR legislation is concerned and even then they would only pay a tax if they don't provide health insurance coverage to their employees.

I'll keep reading, but so far I really don't see anything Earth-shattering in this new "Contract w/America". Good ideas, but I really don't see anything new that either hasn't already been promised by both parties and said promises have been broken or aren't currently attempting to fully implemented (i.e., posting bills online or waitng 72-yrs before voting on same).
 
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I don't really believe that. Frankly they've had a lot of opportunity to be mad and throw people out, but haven't until now. Makes one wonder why now as there is nothing new here. Second, republicans are more the focus, and are simply rebranding republicans and not democrats. So, it is more part of the republican party than the democrat party. I think this will hurt republicans in the long run, but it is hardly equal distain among the tea party members.
 



Yeah, the Dems have done a great job, so far. Right?
 
PeteEU said:
Love it.. expose their own hypocrisy.. hope the Dems exploit this.
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Pray-tell, how could the Dems possibly exploit this? What are they going to do, tell us about all the great things they've done since they took over?
 
apdst said:
Pray-tell, how could the Dems possibly exploit this? What are they going to do, tell us about all the great things they've done since they took over?
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Been there; done that. How did it go once they were in charge?
 
It's just another one of the GOP's pamphlet full of jingoism and lacking in substance.

But then look who wrote the GOP plan.....a lobbyist who worked for AIG, Pfizer, Exxon, Comcast....


Surprise, it's another contract on America.
 
Moot said:
It's just another one of the GOP's pamphlet full of jingoism and lacking in substance.

But then look who wrote the GOP plan.....a lobbyist who worked for AIG, Pfizer, Exxon, Comcast....




Surprise, it's another contract on America.
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I'll take it over Obama's Euro-retrashing of America any day. :shrug:
 
It's not the Contract with America but it's a good Start.
It is my fondest wish that the "Dims" (no spell error) continue to be arrogant, and point crooked little fingers, call the opposition, names, and continue to dismiss the Tea Party, and in all things put the Trifecta of Doom Obama, Pelosi, Reid and their Socialist/Marxist Dim Party ahead of what's good for America and the "WE THE PEOPLE" because it will make their down fall come November sweet beyond belief.

Knowing that the Wicked Witch of the West is going to have to give up her new plane and go back to flying commercial flights and move out of her $18,000 a month office and reduce her bloated staff.

I Think the Republicans have learned they have been going in the wrong direction allowing the Dims to run wild and unchecked because they were being namby pamby march mallow milk toast long enough.

This may not be everything we want but it shows the "TEA PARTY" is having a serious impact and the Obama agenda is going to be not only be stopped but his Anti-American plans and ploys are going to be rolled back.

I'm not going dancing in the street but it's a good start.

We are now hearing that Obama's inner circle is deserting the sinking ship of Obamania.

Even Rahm Emanuel and David Axelrod along with his entire failed economic team are on the list rats baling on the Amateur in Chief, and may I add for the good of the Nation.

The Conservatives are on a come back, and I for one welcome it.

Those who stand for nothing fall for anything
 
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I frankly think they should have kept their mouths shut until after this coming election and let the Tea Pary do their dirty work. I agree it gives their opponents something to attack. But I like to see goals and focus. But I haven't read the pledge so I don't know.
 
Ockham said:
I'll take it over Obama's Euro-retrashing of America any day. :shrug:
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Have some national self esteem. Be big enough to handle some criticism.
 
Moot said:
It's just another one of the GOP's pamphlet full of jingoism and lacking in substance.

But then look who wrote the GOP plan.....a lobbyist who worked for AIG, Pfizer, Exxon, Comcast....



Surprise, it's another contract on America.
Click to expand...

It's the Democrats that have a Contract ON America the Republicans had a Contract WITH America. The big difference is America doesn't know what is in the Democrat's contract on them. The Democarats secret contract mostly comprises of stealing the peoples money through taxes, destroying the free enterprise system and converting as many people as possible to dependence on the government.
 
"Pledge to America" Unveiled by Republicans (Full Text) - Political Hotsheet - CBS News

introductory vision statement---the economy and the constitution

stop job killing tax hikes, tax deductions for small biz, congressional approval required before any regulation that adds to deficit, repeal and replace obamacare, undo its mandate, non discretionary spending returned to 08 levels, budget caps, cancellation of all unspent tarp, fix fannie and fred, citation of constitutional authority for every bill to be voted on, 3 days allowed for reading of bills, support for troops, sdi, sanctions against iran...

that's a pretty good start

seeya in november

it's gonna be LOUD
 

If they do what they say they will for small businesses, we'll see the economy and jobs grow at astounding rates.. More jobs= more taxes paid.
 
Barbbtx said:
If they do what they say they will for small businesses, we'll see the economy and jobs grow at astounding rates.. More jobs= more taxes paid.
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which is what?
 
What this Pledge says is that GOP pockets are open to receive special interest money once again so that the special interests may dictate the GOP agenda once again.

Not a thing new with that.

Regards frm Rosie
 
I don't have much faith in the current GOP.
 
Well, when you find this secret contract, be sure to let us know. LOL
 

Some thought they should just let the Dems hang themselves.
However, being known as the party of NO doesn't sound so good. They really needed to get their ideas out there and so far I think the Pledge is excellent. They kept social issues out except for a promise to permanently ban all federal funding of abortions which I think polls showed 70% of Americans would be for that. The real focus is on jobs and the economy from the summary I've seen.

It just feels good to think "finally, someone is listening! thank you tea party!"
 
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