Apologetic No More: I am proud to be a Republican
Apr 30th, 2009 by David Anderson
The last two elections the far left masqueraded in Republican clothes while the GOP didn’t even leave the dressing room. The Democrats ran candidates claiming to be pro-business, pro-gun, pro-tax cuts, pro-life, pro-marriage, and pro-military. They claimed that the problem was that Republicans had grown into protecting their power base that they couldn’t perform on these issues. Unfortunately, there was some truth to the charge.
Now that these Democrats have won, we find that most of them played us for fools. Now that they have power they claim that there is a mandate to go back on all of these issues. The old saying is true, “You may fool some of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time”. Thanks to GOP missteps, Democrats run the country-for now.
Now some in the GOP are afraid to stand up and be counted. They want to apologize for saying no to bad ideas. Some like an infamous Senator even left the party. There is all sorts of hand wringing and panic. The party is trying to find itself.
Enough already, I say it is time to stop apologizing and be proud to be a Republican.
I am proud to stand for free markets run by free people who are free to fulfill their destiny.
I am proud to stand for a limited focused government not an ineffective, expansive, meddlesome government.
I am proud to stand for the dignity of humanity and the protection of innocent human life.
I am proud to stand for Americanism because I believe that the American Experiment has advanced the dignity of humanity like nothing else in a 1000 years.
I am proud of the heritage of my party which has always been for civil rights and liberties.
I am proud to stand for the traditions and virtues which build a sound society.
I am proud to stand for sensible, fair, and low taxes.
I am proud to stand up for the defense of this fine nation and it people.
These are the reasons why I am a Republican. They will never go out of style. When we stand up and advance policies based upon these ideals, we will build a new majority. It is that simple. It is that challenging.
David, try all that without using the word democrat! If you can’t sell your warse on your on merits without bashing the other than it questions the confidence you must have in you own wares.
http://kilroysdelaware.blogspot.com/2009/04/kilroy-to-do-unthinkable.html
I coming home but “centered”! This where the part needs to move to but still maintian who we are! The GOP lossed becuase they couldn’t sell themsleve or a life jacket to a drowning man!
Hey Kilroy-Back to your own blog. I invited you to a teepee meeting w/ me and Mr. Smitty.
I don’t know how you can say this:
I am proud of the heritage of my party which has always been for civil rights and liberties.
and this:
I am proud to stand for the dignity of humanity and the protection of innocent human life.
and this:
I am proud to stand for the traditions and virtues which build a sound society.
in the same breath.
Sugar coat it all you want, but those three positions do not coexist without some degree of hypocrisy.
I disagree. There are two major parties. It is silly to pretend the other doesn’t come into play. The Democrats didn’t have any problem bashing us for 12 years. I think that the Washington Democrats have gone wild. They are spending like drunken bureaucrats at a contractors convention in Honolulu. They are taking over businesses, trying to fund abortion around the world, and attempting to destroy the modern energy sector. They haven’t even unveiled their health care takeover yet. If they were moderate and reasonable, I wouldn’t be so concerned. You can’t separate their actions from the mix.
My point is simple and blatant. The only way the Democrats won is by pretending to share Republican positions. They abandoned those positions faster than Hugh Grant can pick up a new girl friend. For Republicans to win those positions back is not to take up the positions that lost elections for the Democrats the 12 previous years. It is for us to be proud of who we are and build policy based upon those principles.
Instead of focusing on what they are doing wrong, I focused on what is right about the GOP. My reference to the Democrats was only to set the stage.
Wait, I read that again. I digress. You didn’t say you were proud to stand up for civil rights, you were proud that your party used to. I get it now.
Brian, hypocrisy makes us better. We have to have standards to live up to not down to. All men are created equal was said when we held 1/4 of our population in slavery. We fight for democracy was said by Wilson at the out set of our WW1 involvement while he refused to support the right of women to vote. Yet, by standing for these principles we became better.
The post modern world would jettison principles and devolve. The traditionalist embraces principles and evolve. It is your choice.
As for those three coexisting, they do easily. The problem is that you confuse liberty with license.
I’m still not past the whole squabble we had a handful of weeks ago about how moderates (lack of a more precise term for someone in my part of the spectrum) “are welcomed” but shouldn’t come to the table until invited, and even when that happens, be silent unless asked otherwise. That’s not verbatim, but that’s the spirit of the logic you put forth. It’s even more raw, for it was echoed very recently by Mr Steele.
Personally, I believe it is all of our table. My problem is as I said with the so called moderates who behave with no moderation. Like Benedict Arlen they rather turn the table over than sit at it. I am with Maria in that we all need to get along. We all stand against socialism and for the individual. That is enough to roll up our sleeves and get to work. Some people don’t want that. They will attack Conservatives like we are the problem not the leftists. It is those people who I say let go. They are the Chaffee’s, Specters, and Jeffords not the Wilsons, Collins, and Crists. The former are divisive and defeatist, the latter bring value, diversity, and energy. We need to become one team with one mission.
You conveniently ignore the fact that when the repubs actually had a chance to govern, they were none of the things you described and everybody who isn’t in denial knows that. Had your party governed well, they would still be in power – they had all the advantages of in incumbency, money, and media – but they blew it. Big. Time.
Your party’s actions don’t match your rhetoric, and as we all know, actions speak louder than words.
“They are taking over businesses, trying to fund abortion around the world, and attempting to destroy the modern energy sector. They haven’t even unveiled their health care takeover yet.”
You’re kidding, right? Taking over business is a reach, and while Republicans might not like the way Obama is handling the economy they have offered no alternative.
As far as the other three… Obama ran, quite openly, as pro-choice. He also ran on green energy and health care. For you to act like he pretended to be a Republican, and we should all be shocked because he never mentioned these things is disingenuous.
You’re sounding a bit hysterical, David. You lost the election, perhaps your time would be better spent figuring out why. I’d start with that 21% figure.
Great comment, pandora.
He might also contemplate that the Democratic party raised far more than the Republican party in the 2008 election cycle for the first time in many years.
Can you save it, FSP? Believe it, or not, I’m rooting for you.
What Dave said might have been heresy to some.
It is often best not to take advice from enemies.
A party that is ruled from the top and is content with generic victories is doomed to oblivion. Remember the fate of the Whigs?
One can ‘duck issues’ and play ‘Dem Lite’ and claim to be a ‘fiscal conservative’ merely by taxing more than spending. Is this any way to create enthusiasm at the grass roots?
How many activists came into the Party as a result of the Goldwater campaign? How many stayed around through the Reagan era and are still fighting the struggle for freedom?
What degree of lingering enthusiasm came out of the Ford and Dole presidential runs?
Too many Republican candidates are simply the lesser of two evils in November.
Principles do mean something.
David – your Republican pride and a dollar will buy you a cup of coffee.
Republican recipes for moral and financial success are like those cold fusion announcements. They don’t work.
I have always been proud to be a member of the party of Lincoln and I’ve never apologized to anyone for it.
“ The Democrats didn’t have any problem bashing us for 12 years. I think that the Washington Democrats have gone wild.”
But apparently they had a hammer in one hand and the solution in the other and honestly it appears the Republicans had their dicks in one hand and the wrong kind of solution in the other.
Now I am a Republican with an independent soul and apparently mouth! The GOP ship was sinking we knew it but yet for the sake of integrity we were to pretend the ship wasn’t sinking. David I don’t have the answers but I know we need to change and connect with people regardless of being a D, R or I. It’s not about rebuilding the party it’s about refocusing it. We can pout and cry in the corner or see our mistakes bring our selves with our “concerns” back to the table. Yea I voted of Obama and yea the stimulus is good but the pork isn’t. But lets no kid ourselves, the Republicans had their share of pork!
I am coming back refocused as a well centered Republicans who can work with my local Democrat leader like Gilligan and Peterson as, yes there are responsibilities to the party but there are needs in the community and the D’s are out public servants. HB76 was pretty much written word for word by me and I went to bipartisan neighborhood legislators and ask for their support! It passed 41 Yes to 0 No! It’s now in the senate with Sokola being an additional sponsor. Sokola is the Chair of the Senate Education Committee. Bottom-line is I have an obligation to my community first then to my party!
This is what I’ll bring back and maybe just maybe we can get others involved with the party by showing our deeds. Gilligan is in 19th and Peterson live is the 19th ( I am not in her senate district) There are broader issues beyond the 19th that we need to address as Republicans but it’s about the people needs not about a win any anointed local Republican. The win for he party and those running must come from winning the people first
15noman
“David – your Republican pride and a dollar will buy you a cup of coffee.” “Republican recipes for moral and financial success are like those cold fusion announcements. They don’t work.”
Yes you are 100% correct and The TEA Party thing was classic example and broad issues involving us all but the GOP tagged it like foolish graffiti artist trying to make it theirs. At the end of the day it appears Protack is the party leader. Not only did the party get egg all over their face, they got chicken shit on their head!
Running from being a Republican because you not happy with the party wasn’t the right answer. The right answers is stepping up and showing them how it’s down! The is one GOP and serious all sides within need to come to center !
They did a good job on several occasions. It was the GOP Congress under Gingrich that balanced the budget when Clinton was fighting to keep 200 billion dollar deficits. He even closed the government down to veto spending restraint. He eventually caved and when it worked claimed credit. The partial birth abortion ban was great.
Yes, you are right that they lost their way. I sort of addressed that in the first paragraphs and in depth in other writings. As I said the incompetence handed the government to the other side. (When I was referring to Democrats who won Republican seats Pandora, that is who I was referring to not President Obama). Life moves on. Most of the leadership who played the prevent devent game of government instead of achieving something for the people have retired. I refuse to be stuck apologizing for other people when there is a plan for the future.
You talk about the past and I will talk about the present and plan for the future. I welcome this time of retrenching and pruning. It will enable us to grow better and stronger. Let’s not change who we are, let’s try to be the best at who we are. Competence, commitment, and character should be our mantra.
David Anderson
“Let’s not change who we are, let’s try to be the best at who we are. Competence, commitment, and character should be our”
Wow! Not that’s leadership!
It was the GOP Congress under Gingrich that balanced the budget when Clinton was fighting to keep 200 billion dollar deficits.
Stop it David, just stop it. You are embarrassing yourself and Republicans even more by repeating this nonsense.
The budget was balanced by revenue growth, not spending cuts.
CBO August 1996:
CBO September 1997:
CBO September 1998:
Pandora: “Can you save it [the Repub party], FSP? Believe it, or not, I’m rooting for you.”
I couldn’t agree more, Pandora. We need a loyal opposition to open up robust debates. This produces better policy and better legislation, which is what I tried to convey back here: http://www.delawarepolitics.net/2009/04/29/yesterday-the-iq-average-of-both-parties-went-up/#comment-13831
You have Repubs like Kilroy, Brian, Dave, Smitty, Maria, and Joanne trying to move you, David and Frank, toward the center where principles survive but pragmatism, debate, and compromise get important things done. But you two continue to pull religiously to the right and continue to ignore some of your party faithful. As someone here asked, doesn’t the number 21% tell you something?
You two and your fellow party extremists need to pay attention to these Republicans, otherwise your party will remain on the margin meditating and pouting, instead of in the center where all the action is.
And then you have noman here again pointing out some facts that demonstrate the validity of demand side fiscal policy. Yet you folks are obviously in denial of this as you remaining 21% continue to push for supply side solutions, even after the last eight years, even after the income disparity has grown further in favor of the wealthy, in disfavor of the middle and lower income sectors, even after policies such as this, and others of course, have reduced our economic activities to a trickle.
What does it take to influence you folks to change your ideological absolutisms, since facts don’t seem to have any impact whatsoever?
I think that FSP has hit on something critical, yet overlooked by extremists in general, on both sides of the aisle, which has to do with a politician’s need to represent his/her constituency.
I heard former US Republican Representative Chris Shays from CT make this point last evening, and I think it is key.
You can’t expect a Repub from CT to have the same positions on policy as a Repub from AL, as an example, yet both can hold the same core party principles.
The extremists in your party, the 21% base, are in denial on this point!
Perry
“What does it take to influence you folks to change your ideological absolutisms, since facts don’t seem to have any impact whatsoever?”
When delivering those facts there seems to be laced in the obviously need for a party win for the sake of a win and not solely on the issues. O’Donnell is classic example playing Tony Robbins bullshit motivational techniques to us like were in kindergarten. Why can’t see just admit the win is more for her than us and ask us to help her win. Joe won’t debate me, Joe won’t debate and therefore I am a better candidate! Protack , I respect the guy and do like him however, I want to be a senator no I want to be governor when in fact he wants an elected position. Bill Lee I love the man and work with him 2004 but he was recruited and slapping public school teachers around for a breakdown in education that involves Washington, Dover and school board who are clueless! Yea we know all about DSEA and how they boned DMA but they are not the blame for F’ed up public schools. Prevailing wages aka all unions doesn’t help. But, let not insult those union who endorse us. Mike Ramone won because he ran as Mike Ramone and carries the core Republican values. John Clatwhorty whom I supported and John is a decent person who mad me feel part of the process and respected me! I supported him as a person and unfortunately for John he wore his Republican star high and it became a target. How in the hell did Romone win it such a Republican blood bath! Nick Manolakos, dam something I forget he is a Republican but yet he has the core values but doesn’t say believe in the values or I don’t want you vote. So we have Mike and Nick in there “showing” the communities Republican aren’t bad guys.
Seems to me there is too much win for the party than win for the candidate!!! We can convert votes sell to the far right to people who are in the middle! And certainly you won’t convert those Delaware Liberals (well may be Pandora, lol) They are so far left their asses kiss up to those so far right! Both have same mentality, we’re right and if you not with us your wrong! Ronal Regan was one of the greatest presidents in history to me! I was only with George 1 but shit George 2 fucked up pure and simple! Sorry George 2 and thanks for the Christmas Card from Crawford , TX they might be worth something to my great grandchildren but dude you screwed up! If it wasn’t for Bush, Obama may not have won! Did Obama win on his merits or Bush’s failures?
Political parties don’t last forever. That’s a good thing. Perry and pandora’s maudlin mourning for the demise of the republican party for the sake of having a “two party system” or “robust debate” or a “loyal opposition” is absurd.
The so-called “debate” within the current two-party structure has never been robust. Both parties are essentially bought and paid for by big dollar donors, PACs, and corporate media sponsors. Both parties pay lip service in election years to making real change, but in the end serve primarily the moneyed interests that pay for their dance tickets – see Tom Carper, exhibit 1. The debate will be much more robust when we have 4 or more viable presidential or gubernatorial candidates instead of the two corporate party sponsored ones.
The demise of the republican party will lead to a historic realignment and reshuffling of political power in this country, from these two corporate behemoth political parties to coalitions of smaller local, regional, and national political parties and affiliations. The current two party system no longer serves Americans and it is becoming harder and harder for Americans to find a home in either party.
The necessity of having just two parties is myth perpetuated by the corporate sponsors and incumbents who benefit from the easy largesse they receive from it.
The 21% that self-identify as republicans are not the “extremists” that many people on the left like to think. They are, in fact, the republican party today. Their views may seem extreme to you, but they aren’t to them just as my views may seem extreme to them but they aren’t to me. Let ‘em be. It is useless and pointless to bemoan the fate of so-called moderates in the republican party. They are adults and they can organize themselves within or outside the party. Enough whining about “places at the table.”
The cliché is true: politics, like nature, abhors a vacuum. As the republican party fades to a different and smaller party, there will be something to fill the void. I predict that we are going to see a whole new evolution of politics in this country that matches the new technology of self-service, blogs, communications, and social networks. I can’t predict exactly what it will look like, but it is coming. I think the Democratic party will also splinter in the next 10 years or at least have serious challengers from the left.
A1, I’m all for many parties. I guess I’m just stunned by what’s happened to Republicans.
FSP’s #24 comment makes sense, but I think it may be a day late and a dollar short. The leadership void in the Republican Party needs to be filled – someone needs to jump in, grab the reins, and yank hard. Oh wait… seems that already happened.
“Perry and pandora’s maudlin mourning for the demise of the republican party for the sake of having a “two party system” or “robust debate” or a “loyal opposition” is absurd.” – anonone
I may not agree with you on issues or policy but I pretty much agree with your analysis in this post. It isn’t like the debate (within government) is really robust, productive, or sometimes even happening with the two party system. Debates can still happen even if one or both parties colapse. It just depends on if people really want them. Right now the majority of people don’t seem to really want debate.
Anyways great post.
FSP, I also agree with #24 generaly. I think once the party figures out what it is again we will realize that there is still room for all of those types of Republican. One of the problems the party is facing is that each type of Republican thinks that the party is or at least should be centered on them and their issues. It isn’t. That type of thought is unproductive as we can see by the results.
A1, what you want is a parliamentary form of legislature, because this facilitates the formation of many parties that then can form coalitions to support certain issues. That is an appealing idea, but it is not our system.
Ever watch the Brits debate? — ’tis quite robust for sure!
The history of our system demonstrates that we have always, with few exceptions, fallen back to having two major parties.
Our current problem, which I consider potentially dangerous, is that we are falling back to a single party with total power. I think Obama recognizes this, as he has constantly reached out to the Repubs, revealing an additional problem, which is that the Repubs are not responding in kind.
Regarding money and politics, that’s our history as well. We can reduce it’s influence if we require public financing of campaigns, if we restrict the length of formal campaigning, and if we cap political contributions, and if we insist on complete transparency and disclosure of the money streams from beginning to end. We have made progress on these controls, but more is needed.
I also must ask you who financed Obama’s campaign? Obama has set a precedent that I think will be followed, which would be a great advance. Obama has already fulfilled your prediction, and the evolution will continue, like I just said.
You make a good point about the perception of extremism, but I would point out that centrists, where governance always gravitates, can see both extremes and work against both when needed. Obama is doing just that, as I view his style so far, which is why he has been in the 60′s in his percentage favorable rating, and why Bush was down around 30%.
Among centrists, the debate is always robust. I guess you haven’t noticed what goes on in the Senate, oddly enough now only amongst the big-tent Dems because the Repubs essentially refuse to engage.
Thanks Tim, I think that this is a great party. I don’t know about any 21%. More people identify with the GOP today than did in April of 2007 or 2008. It is around a third of the public. 32.6% in the lastest Rasmussen poll. The affiliation of Democrats has dropped year over year. It is down to 38.8%. The rest are independents or others. It is the Democrats losing ground not the Republicans. Fortunately they are not too concerned. They have visions of grander.
David, have you looked at the November 2009 election results, Obama, the Senate, the House, the Governors, the blue states?
You are in denial and/or overcome with wishful thinking!
My friend, both sides had worst election seasons. 2008 is history. We need to look at the off year elections in VA and NJ this year and gear up for 2010. 53% of Americans predict that the next President will be a Republican. That is pretty likely if for no other reason than we keep switching back and forth for the last 20 years. If the GOP were so out of whack and dying most people wouldn’t be predicting such an outcome.
The GOP deserved to lose in 2006 and once the economy hit hard times was bound to lose in 2008 unless the Democrats who were equally responsible (they controlled Congress and the majority of the states by that time) made a major mistake. The GOP really never gave a convincing answer to the economic problem except more of the same, plus cut earmarks, corporate taxes, and bailout the banks. That wasn’t going to work in the election. The better campaign won. That is okay.
My mission is to make sure that the GOP doesn’t go crazy and defeat itself the next election by tossing away the opportunity to get back to basics. The people want a viable opposition with real plans based upon their values. We have only been offering worn slogans and taunts against the social liberals. We have to go beyond that. That is where Kilroy is right. Sure you have to say what is wrong with the other guy to justify replacing him, but most of the attention has to be on what you will do better.
You can’t offer a coherent message if some of your senior people are always going the other way. That is why I think we now have an opportunity and I for one will seize it.
“Our current problem, which I consider potentially dangerous, is that we are falling back to a single party with total power. I think Obama recognizes this, as he has constantly reached out to the Repubs, revealing an additional problem, which is that the Repubs are not responding in kind.” – Perry
That first part might be right on, though I am hopeful that is not the case. However, the second part is laughable to most Republicans. When the President learns how to honestly work with others, not just get his photo op. to make it look like he does, things might change on that front. Till then Republicans would do well to stay out of his games as much as possible. Democrats don’t need them so they shouldn’t get too bent out of shape that Republicans don’t want to play house with them. After all the Rebublicans would rather be out fishing or hunting than playing house. Most Republicans just don’t do submissive all that well.
Tim, one can only work with the other side when the other side has some ideas, for example, on how to strengthen the economy.
I would appreciate it if you could give a brief outline on what the Repubs, if they were in power, would do on the economy, for starters. Then we have the wars, the healthcare shortfall, global warming and education. Where are the Repubs on these issues as well?
One more thing: Can you tell me who is leading your party?
Obama has addressed all these issues in detail. Where are the Repubs?
“Most Republicans just don’t do submissive all that well.”
LOL! Ask Rush Limbaugh about Republican submission.
And, Perry, don’t expect more than Cut Taxes! Which is fine as long as that comes with a list of lost services and jobs. Cutting taxes has consequences. Name them, please.
“LOL! Ask Rush Limbaugh about Republican submission.”
-Pandora.
I don’t agree with Rush on everything and I did say most not all. Some of them obviously do submissive like it is an art form, and the Democrats have plenty of jobs available for those Republicans who love to do what they are told in order to keep the Democrats happy. Others, thankfully a couple are in leadership right now, have a decidedly onery streak, and enough steel in their spines to make Pittsburg jealous. Anyways thanks for the reminder and the laugh.
“Tim, one can only work with the other side when the other side has some ideas, for example, on how to strengthen the economy.” -Perry
The suggestion that you and others have repeatedly made is completely false. The Republicans are not in power but they still have ideas and they are proposing a lot of them in the form of bills. Many of those bills will never get anywhere and will get little to no attention in the media because they are not in power. However, just because you don’t see it on CNN doesn’t mean the Republicans aren’t presenting ideas, nor does it mean they have stoped trying to participate in governance. One thing Republicans will hopefully not do is propose legislation to raise taxes in order to fund new programs that the government has no business being involved in to start with. Sorry, we may not be very helpful on that front.
Some of the bills being proposed by Republicans are actually quite interesting. I think that even you might find a few of them worth considering. They may not be direct counterparts to Democrat bills, but I think that is a good thing. Republicans can’t waste time following Democrats around in order to create and alternative bill to every Democrat proposal. They will get nowhere with that strategy, and experience shows the Democrats would just disparage or ignore their efforts to do so anyways.
Do the Republicans in Washington need to do better? Yes, a whole lot better. However, they are doing something and much of it good.
“One more thing: Can you tell me who is leading your party?” -Perry
Unfortunatly, though not unexpectedly Michael Steele hasn’t been able to do much to help answer that question.
I have already indicated, in other threads as well as this one, that the party as a whole doesn’t have a handle on its identity at this point. That is still no reason for them to play along with the Democrat’s game. If the Republicans play the Democrat’s game like you are suggesting they should it will not make the party stronger or better, nor will it improve the country. Laugh if you want, but reguardless of what happens in Washington I think these Tea Parties are going to be instrumental in either the strengthening of Republican Party leadership, or its replacement. So my best answer is that at the moment the leader of the Republican Party is the people. In my opinion that is both a good and a bad thing.
Tim” “Some of the bills being proposed by Republicans are actually quite interesting. “
Tim, you are speaking in generalities, not specifics. Please, what are some of these “interesting” bills?
Look up Paul Ryan’s bills on C-Span.org or Thomas.gov, my friend.
The Democrat recipes for education reform are toxic. More money for heavier gold-plating of bureaucratic ratholes. Note the arrogance of Obama in not fighting for vouchers in the District of Columbia while his kids can attend costly private schools.
Perhaps it is more than George Soros pulling the strings, The NEA cannot be denied its demands.
“I would appreciate it if you could give a brief outline on what the Repubs, if they were in power, would do on the economy, for starters. Then we have the wars, the healthcare shortfall, global warming and education. Where are the Repubs on these issues as well?” -Perry
“Tim, you are speaking in generalities, not specifics. Please, what are some of these “interesting” bills?” – Perry
Okay, for some specifics, I’ll give and example or two of bills proposed by Republicans relating to each of your subjects. I am listing these bills, not to show that they are the perfect, or comprehensive solutions for the various issues you mention, but to show that Republicans have not gone silent or stopped trying to address these areas of concern. Perhaps it isn’t that they have stopped talking but that someone is not listening. Hmm that seems to be a problem on both sides of the asile.
First, on the economy there are ongoing proposals for a Flat Tax, a recent one, SB 932 introduced by Sen. Richard Shelby [R-AL], as well as the Fair Tax championed by Rep. John Linder [R-GA]. I also want to include some less heard of legislation proposals. For example I like the general concept behind H.R. 2169 Limitation on Government Spending Act of 2009 which was proposed by Rep. John Duncan [R-TN] in order to limit government spending to a percentage of GDP which would decrease by 1% each year over the next three years. I also like the idea of H.R. 2063, which is to amend the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to use repaid Troubled Asset Relief Program funds to pay down the public debt, and for other purposes.
Here is a foreign policy one. H.R. 1206, the Syria Accountability and Liberation Act, proposed by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen [R-FL] this will provide a diplomatic strategy for dealing with Syria.
Here is one for domestic policy. S. 84, a bill to close the loophole that allowed the 9/11 hijackers to obtain credit cards from United States banks that financed their terrorist activities, to ensure that illegal immigrants cannot obtain credit cards to evade United States immigration laws, and for other purposes. It was introduced by Sen. David Vitter [R, LA].
Here is one related to the environment, H.R. 53, Bad Polluters Act of 2009, sponsored by Rep. Mark Kirk [R, IL-10]. The bill amends the tax code to deny companies polluting the great lakes the ability to expense the offending refineries. Rep. Kirk is also the lead sponsor of the Green Schools Act, to promote green school construction through matching federal grants.
Here is one related to health care, America’s Affordable Health Care Act of 2009, sponsored by Rep. Jeffrey Fortenberry [R, NE-1]. The bill increases funding for state high-risk health insurance pools.
Here is one to help out education the Teacher Tax Reduction Act of 2009, proposed by Rep. Judy Biggert [R, IL-13]. This bill would help take some pressure off of teachers by doubling their tax deduction for teaching expenses.
Anyways the point of listing a few of these bills is to show that Republicans in Washington are still serving their constituencies and their country. They aren’t just showing up to vote no on every piece of Democrat proposed legislation. They are also writing their own. On the other hand they also aren’t there to write legislation for the Democrat agenda. Nor are they simply voicing their differences on Democrat proposed bills then rolling over and voting for them. That wouldn’t be real opposition.
OK Tim, you stepped up, to your credit. I was not aware of even a single one. I would hope that all these bills get a hearing and an honest debate ensues. Thanks for your effort, an eye opener for me.
No problem, there is a lot more than what is reported on TV. on any of the networks. I am just glad that there are several online sights now where we can dig through all of this if we have the time and patience to do so.
It is not your fault Perry, as Tim said there is a lot going on. He could also add the amazingly detailed reforms on entitlements by Congressman Ryan from WI.
Great job Tim, I decided that since this thread is on the downside of its life to ensure that your comments got a wider reading.