Current GOP Strategy Echoes Kristol’s 1993 Memo Urging Obstruction Of Dems

[one...two...tree 2,762]

With the GOP gearing up to defeat President Obama’s big-ticket initiatives, a lot of folks have been trying to track down a copy of the full memo that Bill Kristol famously wrote in 1993 urging Republicans to block Bill Clinton’s health care reform plan at all costs. Bits and pieces of the memo are floating around but the full one has been elusive.

Well, I have obtained a PDF copy — you can read the whole thing right here. And it’s really a striking read, because it demonstrates two things. First, how much the current GOP strategy seems to echo the strategic objectives Kristol articulated 15 years ago. And second, how much worse off the GOP is now than it was then in terms of being able to achieve those objectives. Here’s the crux:

Passage of the Clinton health care plan, in any form, would guarantee and likely make permanent an unprecedecented federal intrusion into and disruption of the American economy — and the establishment of the largest federal entitlement program since Social Security. It’s success would signal a rebirth of centralized welfare-state policy at the very moment we have begun rolling back that idea in other areas…

The long term political effects of a successful Clinton health care bill will be even worse — much worse. It will relegitimize middle-class dependency for “security” on government spending and regulation. It will revive the reputation of the party that spends and regulates, the Democrats, as the generous protector of middle-class interests. And it will at the same time strike a punishing blow against Republican claims to defend the middle class by restraining government…

Its rejection by Congress and the public would be a monumental setback for the President, and an incontestable piece of evidence that Democratic welfare-state liberalism remains firmly in retreat.

Here’s what’s striking about this. Kristol repeatedly says defeating Clinton on health care would deal a death knell to something that at the time already appeared on its way towards extinction — the “welfare-state,” or the idea that government can improve the lives of the middle class. Kristol describes this idea as “firmly in retreat,” in the process of being “rolled back,” in need of “re-legitimizing.” At the time the defeat of health care was viewed as a potential final victory over liberalism.

Fifteen years later, of course, political conditions are dramatically different. Polls show the public broadly supports a far more activist role for government and backs Obama’s plans to expand the federal government’s role in a way not seen in decades. And it’s conservative ideas that are in retreat. Yet the GOP is pursuing roughly the same strategy today that it did then.

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/presiden...uction-of-dems/

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

If the private sector and those that use it as a fetish were serious about keeping the health care sector private, they would have worked hard to offer a competitive product. They failed. Short term gains over long term prospects. Suckers. They deserve what's coming to them.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

We got to find you a new hobby, Steven.

[alienlovechild 75]

Polls show the public broadly supports a far more activist role for government and backs Obama’s plans to expand the federal government’s role in a way not seen in decades. And it’s conservative ideas that are in retreat.

Polls shift and the GOP smells blood in the water that's why there's more coverage of Limbaugh and on Jindal's response to Obama than Obama's plan. It's called misdirection. Obama wants people to focus on his detractors than his economic policies at this point. Obama knows the clock is running out on his 100 day window; thus, that's why he has Congress ramming bills through that won't have even a positive impact on the economy for months (if ever).

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Polls show the public broadly supports a far more activist role for government and backs Obama's plans to expand the federal government's role in a way not seen in decades. And it's conservative ideas that are in retreat.

Polls shift and the GOP smells blood in the water that's why there's more coverage of Limbaugh and on Jindal's response to Obama than Obama's plan. It's called misdirection. Obama wants people to focus on his detractors than his economic policies at this point. Obama knows the clock is running out on his 100 day window; thus, that's why he has Congress ramming bills through that won't have even a positive impact on the economy for months (if ever).

The Republicans can't easily erase the effects of 8 years of Bush policies, so it's not like Obama's got 100 days to prove the populist issues that he campaigned on will succeed or Americans will be running back in droves to the Republican Party. If he continues to follow through on what he campaigned on, you may see some grumbling going on, but most of it is coming from the ideologues who would never acknowledge anything positive from his policies no matter how successful they become.

Edited March 3, 2009 by Mister Fancypants

[Peikko 1,575]

We got to find you a new hobby, Steven.

[I'm Gone 60]

What's wrong with Republicans using plan from 1993, Obama is using plan from 1933.

[alienlovechild 75]

The Republicans can't easily erase the effects of 8 years of Bush policies, so it's not like Obama's got 100 days to prove the populist issues that he campaigned on will succeed or Americans will be running back in droves to the Republican Party.

No, historically a President makes his mark in his 100 days to pass a budget push Congress to pass legislation he wants. The GOP has two years to get its act together for the midterm election and people will vote based on the last two years 2008-2010 not back to 2000. In 1994, Clinton and the Dems lost control of Congress so it's not that impossible.

If he continues to follow through on what he campaigned on, you may see some grumbling going on, but most of it is coming from the ideologues who would never acknowledge anything positive from his policies no matter how successful they become.

Not exactly. If Obama is successful with the economy it on't be their main beef. It will be who knows what. There wasn't much criticism of Clinton for his economic policies.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

We have a populist President delivering on what he campaigned on, which is right now popular with the American people on issues such as healthcare, bringing our troops home from Iraq, climate change, energy, etc.. The best thing the Republican Party can do right now is to convince the American public that they too want to address those issues Americans care most about right now, and come up with ideas to do so. McCain campaigned on alternative ideas to Obama's and lost, so the GOP can't just go back to that old and song and dance. They desparately need new ideas, and then they need to regain the public's faith that they can deliver on it....no small task in light of what 8 yrs. of Bush's Policies has shown them.

[dalegg 143]

We have a populist President delivering on what he campaigned on, which is right now popular with the American people on issues such as healthcare, bringing our troops home from Iraq, climate change, energy, etc.. The best thing the Republican Party can do right now is to convince the American public that they too want to address those issues Americans care most about right now, and come up with ideas to do so. McCain campaigned on alternative ideas to Obama's and lost, so the GOP can't just go back to that old and song and dance. They desparately need new ideas, and then they need to regain the public's faith that they can deliver on it....no small task in light of what 8 yrs. of Bush's Policies has shown them.

Please...

If Americans aren't better off in 3 years than they are right now, Republicans can elect Mike Huckabee and win. If you want to know what scares me, its just that- that Democrats will fail so bad that voters will elect another Republican based on popularity rather than policy. The last thing I want to see on the GOP ticket is Sarah Palin or Mike Huckabee, but bring the dow down to 4500 and unemployment to 20% and that's just what you'll get.

What the Republicans are doing right now in my opinion is the right thing to do. Stay as far away from these policies as you can get. Let the Democrats own them. Afterall, everything they are promoting goes against the traditional conservative viewpoint so according to Republican philosiphy these policies can do nothing but fail, right? And if we're wrong, well we have a good country to live in, and the remaining GOP consgressmen can retire comfortably so basically its win-win.

[HAL 9000 96]

We have a populist President delivering on what he campaigned on, which is right now popular with the American people on issues such as healthcare, bringing our troops home from Iraq, climate change, energy, etc.. The best thing the Republican Party can do right now is to convince the American public that they too want to address those issues Americans care most about right now, and come up with ideas to do so. McCain campaigned on alternative ideas to Obama's and lost, so the GOP can't just go back to that old and song and dance. They desparately need new ideas, and then they need to regain the public's faith that they can deliver on it....no small task in light of what 8 yrs. of Bush's Policies has shown them.

Please...

If Americans aren't better off in 3 years than they are right now, Republicans can elect Mike Huckabee and win. If you want to know what scares me, its just that- that Democrats will fail so bad that voters will elect another Republican based on popularity rather than policy. The last thing I want to see on the GOP ticket is Sarah Palin or Mike Huckabee, but bring the dow down to 4500 and unemployment to 20% and that's just what you'll get.

What the Republicans are doing right now in my opinion is the right thing to do. Stay as far away from these policies as you can get. Let the Democrats own them. Afterall, everything they are promoting goes against the traditional conservative viewpoint so according to Republican philosiphy these policies can do nothing but fail, right? And if we're wrong, well we have a good country to live in, and the remaining GOP consgressmen can retire comfortably so basically its win-win.

I don't think that Americans would be crazy enough to vote in someone on Bush's level again for a long time... much less anyone farther out on the loonie farm.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

We have a populist President delivering on what he campaigned on, which is right now popular with the American people on issues such as healthcare, bringing our troops home from Iraq, climate change, energy, etc.. The best thing the Republican Party can do right now is to convince the American public that they too want to address those issues Americans care most about right now, and come up with ideas to do so. McCain campaigned on alternative ideas to Obama's and lost, so the GOP can't just go back to that old and song and dance. They desparately need new ideas, and then they need to regain the public's faith that they can deliver on it....no small task in light of what 8 yrs. of Bush's Policies has shown them.

Please...

If Americans aren't better off in 3 years than they are right now, Republicans can elect Mike Huckabee and win. If you want to know what scares me, its just that- that Democrats will fail so bad that voters will elect another Republican based on popularity rather than policy. The last thing I want to see on the GOP ticket is Sarah Palin or Mike Huckabee, but bring the dow down to 4500 and unemployment to 20% and that's just what you'll get.

What the Republicans are doing right now in my opinion is the right thing to do. Stay as far away from these policies as you can get. Let the Democrats own them. Afterall, everything they are promoting goes against the traditional conservative viewpoint so according to Republican philosiphy these policies can do nothing but fail, right? And if we're wrong, well we have a good country to live in, and the remaining GOP consgressmen can retire comfortably so basically its win-win.

I don't think that Americans would be crazy enough to vote in someone on Bush's level again for a long time... much less anyone farther out on the loonie farm.

You should have more faith in the fickle American electorate. Look at these two:

[HAL 9000 96]

We have a populist President delivering on what he campaigned on, which is right now popular with the American people on issues such as healthcare, bringing our troops home from Iraq, climate change, energy, etc.. The best thing the Republican Party can do right now is to convince the American public that they too want to address those issues Americans care most about right now, and come up with ideas to do so. McCain campaigned on alternative ideas to Obama's and lost, so the GOP can't just go back to that old and song and dance. They desparately need new ideas, and then they need to regain the public's faith that they can deliver on it....no small task in light of what 8 yrs. of Bush's Policies has shown them.

Please...

If Americans aren't better off in 3 years than they are right now, Republicans can elect Mike Huckabee and win. If you want to know what scares me, its just that- that Democrats will fail so bad that voters will elect another Republican based on popularity rather than policy. The last thing I want to see on the GOP ticket is Sarah Palin or Mike Huckabee, but bring the dow down to 4500 and unemployment to 20% and that's just what you'll get.

What the Republicans are doing right now in my opinion is the right thing to do. Stay as far away from these policies as you can get. Let the Democrats own them. Afterall, everything they are promoting goes against the traditional conservative viewpoint so according to Republican philosiphy these policies can do nothing but fail, right? And if we're wrong, well we have a good country to live in, and the remaining GOP consgressmen can retire comfortably so basically its win-win.

I don't think that Americans would be crazy enough to vote in someone on Bush's level again for a long time... much less anyone farther out on the loonie farm.

You should have more faith in the fickle American electorate. Look at these two:

Its your idols.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

We have a populist President delivering on what he campaigned on, which is right now popular with the American people on issues such as healthcare, bringing our troops home from Iraq, climate change, energy, etc.. The best thing the Republican Party can do right now is to convince the American public that they too want to address those issues Americans care most about right now, and come up with ideas to do so. McCain campaigned on alternative ideas to Obama's and lost, so the GOP can't just go back to that old and song and dance. They desparately need new ideas, and then they need to regain the public's faith that they can deliver on it....no small task in light of what 8 yrs. of Bush's Policies has shown them.

Please...

If Americans aren't better off in 3 years than they are right now, Republicans can elect Mike Huckabee and win. If you want to know what scares me, its just that- that Democrats will fail so bad that voters will elect another Republican based on popularity rather than policy. The last thing I want to see on the GOP ticket is Sarah Palin or Mike Huckabee, but bring the dow down to 4500 and unemployment to 20% and that's just what you'll get.

What the Republicans are doing right now in my opinion is the right thing to do. Stay as far away from these policies as you can get. Let the Democrats own them. Afterall, everything they are promoting goes against the traditional conservative viewpoint so according to Republican philosiphy these policies can do nothing but fail, right? And if we're wrong, well we have a good country to live in, and the remaining GOP consgressmen can retire comfortably so basically its win-win.

I don't think that Americans would be crazy enough to vote in someone on Bush's level again for a long time... much less anyone farther out on the loonie farm.

You should have more faith in the fickle American electorate. Look at these two:

It's your idols idiots.

Fixed that for ya!