November 08, 2006
Tom Coburn Nails It“The overriding theme of this election, however, is that voters are more interested in changing the culture in Washington than changing course in Washington, D.C. This election was not a rejection of conservative principles per se, but a rejection of corrupt, complacent and incompetent government.“A recent CNN poll found that 54 percent of Americans believe government is doing too much while only 37 percent want government to do more. The results of this election reflect that attitude. Among the Republicans who lost their re-election bids a surprising number were political moderates who advocated a more activist government. Several Republican members of the appropriations committees, which have been on a spending binge, also were not re-elected. On the other hand, the two Republican senators who pulled off the most impressive victories were unapologetic conservatives, Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and John Ensign (R-NV). It is also notable that the Democrats who won or who ran competitive races sounded more like Ronald Reagan than Lyndon Johnson.
“This election does not show that voters have abandoned their belief in limited government; it shows that the Republican Party has abandoned them. In fact, these results represent the total failure of big government Republicanism.
“The Republican Party now has an opportunity to rediscover its identity as a party for limited government, free enterprise and individual responsibility. Most Americans still believe in these ideals, which reflect not merely the spirit of 1994 or the Reagan Revolution, but the vision of our founders. If Republicans present real ideas and solutions based on these principles we will do well in the future.
Posted by Jonathan R. on November 8, 2006 03:08 PM
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Comments
True, but you have to also say that the vote was about Iraq, and maybe more about Iraq than other single issue.
Posted by: Lopes at November 8, 2006 06:01 PM
This is so true--conservatives win when they're honest and open about their principles and their stance on limited government--I hope the party has learned something from this experience for upcoming elections.
Posted by: Bethie at November 8, 2006 06:58 PM
This is so true--conservatives win when they're honest and open about their principles and their stance on limited government--I hope the party has learned something from this experience for upcoming elections.
Posted by: Bethie at November 8, 2006 07:00 PM
This is pretty much what I told all the GOP fundraisers that called me and why, as a registered republican I voted for the democrats this time around.
It's not that I moved away from the GOP, it's the GOP that moved away from republican-ness.
And yes of course Iraq is part of it. Not the conceptual idea, but the ongoing execution.
Posted by: Keith at November 8, 2006 07:06 PM
Keith--
I understand the concept of why you voted the way you did, but now, the consequences will have to be paid. Say hello to Nancy P. and Teddy K.
How will these consequences help conservative democrats get their arses to the GOP, and also assure that the GOP gets rid of the type you just voted against?
I think it could have been dealt with after the election with the retention of both houses.
Oh well...........lets go for the ride and see how it plays out. .....buckle up kids....
Posted by: Knightbrigade at November 8, 2006 08:10 PM
I have defended my stand against Bush and the Republicans but I was and am still ticket over the amount of stupid programs and offices the created. They spend too much on Katrina, Too much on the RX benefit and I am sickened by it. I believe compassionate conservatism would make Reagan turn over in his grave. Hopefully the GOP is humbled and will go back to its roots. It is on the Democrats to try to fix it. They will fail and blame everyone but themselves..
Posted by: Tim Dubya at November 9, 2006 12:15 AM
The overriding theme of this election is that Americans can't stand one more hour of unilateral government, authoritarian leadership, and religious fascism.
Strangely, some Republicans are already suggesting that those are exactly the things that need to be restored 2 years from now
Posted by: Brook at November 9, 2006 09:35 PM
Knight, and say goodbye to bridges to nowhere, a president who veto's NOTHING ,and massive pork with no one bothering to look.
Now maybe the president will look, and the Dem's will look at what the adminstration is doing, and with everyone looking over everyone's shoulder and publicising it, maybe, just maybe, they'll act a little more responsibly rather than setting up their own personal fiefdom's and treating the treasury as personal property!
The way the republican's have acted the last 4 years was a disgrace! There was nothing GOP about their votes, bills, spending, immigration policy, or just about anything else. Good war, right reasons, right place, right time, unrealistic exit plan, too cheap, unrealistic expectation of instant absorption of democracy.
Everyone involved in all of that, congressmen, senators, and especially the leadership, should be out.
It wasn't getting any better.
Posted by: Keith at November 10, 2006 12:39 AM
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