Democrats crumbling, but where is GOP Agenda?
Merle Haggard had a big country western hit with the song “Looking for to a Place to Fall Apart.” That might be the new theme song for Democrats during the home stretch of the 2010 elections. Democrats had hoped that the economy would rebound over the summer and along with it, their political fortunes. But, instead of a "Summer of Recovery" - as the Democrats predicted – "Conditions have deteriorated badly," according to Larry Sabato, Director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics.
Sabato’s latest prediction is for the Democrats to lose the majority in the U.S. House, 8-9 Senate seats, 8 governorships, and 300-500 state legislative seats. “Conditions have deteriorated badly for Democrats over the summer. The economy appears rotten,” according to Sabato, and voters have concluded “that President Obama has over-promised and under-delivered."
Many veteran political observers think Sabato’s predictions for GOP gains are too cautious. Even David Plouffe, Obama’s White House Political guru and his 2008 campaign manager, is talking about a blood bath with as many as 70 House seats and 15 Senate races in play.
Voters prefer electing Republicans over Democrats by a 10 point margin, 51-41. That’s the largest GOP margin at this late stage of the campaign season in 68 years of polling by Gallup. House Democrats are openly discussing a “future without Nancy Pelosi” and a shuffling of leadership with a new Republican majority. The Washington Post notes that Democrats “are running away from Pelosi” during this campaign season. Chet Edwards (D-TX) who Pelosi promoted to be Obama’s Vice-Presidential pick now says he might not support her for Speaker again even if Democrats retain the majority.
Pelosi hailed the passage of ObamaCare as “historic.” Joe Biden called it “a big f---ing deal.” But, now incumbents won’t even mention the Democrat signature issue. “No Democratic incumbent — in the House or in the Senate — has run a pro-reform (health care)TV ad since April, when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) ran one,” according to Politico.com. To do so, according to a Democrat strategist, would be “political malfeasance."
Obama barely uttered the words of his latest stimulus spending plan and Democrat candidates were racing to the nearest political reporter to feign their opposition.
Obama ascended to the Presidency with phenomenal popularity and an ethereal persona. The adoring public couldn’t get enough of “The Anointed One,” and Democrats rushed to support him and his “transformational agenda."
But, in recent months his approval ratings have fallen precipitously. Now, the President has plenty of time to work on his golf game and take vacations since few Democrats want himanywhere near their state.
Obama can’t even get consensus among the Democrats to raise taxes on the “wealthiest Americans” – one of the most vilified groups in his perpetual campaign of class warfare. Increasing numbers of Democrat campaigning incumbents, and even his own recently departed Budget Director, Peter Orzag, have called for an extension of all of the Bush Tax Cuts in opposition to the President.
Obama vowed that his $800 billion economic stimulus would prevent unemployment from rising above 8 percent. However, the month after Obama’s inauguration the unemployment rateblew past the 8 percent threshold and for 16 consecutive months has exceeded 9.4 percent. The President’s new chief economic adviser, Austan Goolsbee admits unemployment will remain high for the foreseeable future.
Federal debt held by the public has increased nearly 50 percent in only the first 20 months of the Obama administration. Following a 2009 deficit of $1.41 trillion, the White House predicts annual deficits exceeding $1.4 trillion for both 2010 and 2011, and average $1 trillion deficits through the end of the decade. Based on current estimates, publicly held debt will surpass total GDP within fifteen years – a level not experienced since World War II. Economists increasingly warn of the dire consequences of the explosion of government debt, and even Obama’s Secretary of State and 2008 presidential rival, Hillary Clinton, recently volunteered that the rapidly increasing debt is creating “a national security threat.”
Warnings about the increasing debt aren’t just coming from the political right. Isabel Sawhill, senior fellow in economic studies at the liberal Brookings Institute, says the rapidly growingtsunami of red ink is an “urgent and growing concern,” and, unless it is quickly addressed, will lead to “higher interest rates, higher taxes, inflation, impact on foreign affairs and reduced flexibility in a crisis.” Indeed, Moodys has warned that the U.S. Treasury’s AAA rating may be in jeopardy because of the rising level of debt.
From an electoral standpoint all of the woes of the Democrats spell opportunity for the GOP in November. Republicans will be given the chance to put the brakes on Obama’s Hope-and-Change. But, that is just the beginning of the work that must be done.
In addition to rejecting Obama’s agenda and reigning in his team of Central Planners, the GOP needs to reverse many of the wrongs committed over the past two years and restore faith in government among the people. Although voters have turned against the Democrats, that doesn’t mean they like Republicans. Large numbers of voters have intense dislike of both parties.
Since early last Spring, GOP leadership has been teasing the release of a “Commitment to America”- a 2010 version of the Gingrich-era Contract with America that is credited with sweeping Republicans to a House majority in 1994. In June, two interactive websites, You Cut and America Speaking Out gave the impression that the GOP wanted to listen to the people, and after getting input from tens of thousands of citizens, a new agenda would be forthcoming taking up the challenge to “Save the Republic.” With Nov. 2 just six weeks away, and early voting starting very soon in most states, no “Commitment” has been released – and the leadership keeps saying “soon."
Maybe the GOP brain trust thinks it is better electioneering strategy to go into a “prevent defense” with momentum on their side. Running against Obama seems to be working out well, so “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is clearly the conventional wisdom of Republican candidates. That might make some sense in normal times, but these aren’t normal. The country is in crisis, and just getting elected is not acceptable. America deserves better than election-eve gimmickry.
The GOP needs to demonstrate that they understand, that they are listening, and that they can again be trusted to govern. Republicans need to tell the American people that they will do more than put the brakes on the Obama train; that they will actually lead.
If by chance the GOP hasn’t put pen to paper yet, the following is a place for them to start. It's my Agenda for America. It's reflective of what needs to get done, and it’s what the American people expect and deserve from their government. Furthermore, we don’t need to "transform" anything – we just need to return to the common-sense, proven principles of freedom and liberty that made America so great in the first place.
An Agenda for America
1. Champion fiscal discipline - Return federal spending to less that 20% of GDP
2. Preserve and Protect US Economic Dominance - Make permanent the 2001-2003 tax cuts
3. Strict adherence to the Constitution and Rule of Law
4. Repeal ObamaCare -implement Patient-Doctor, free-market oriented health care reforms
5. Win the war against Radical Islam
6. Secure our borders – No amnesty
7. Recommit to “Peace through Strength” – Stand firm with friends, Oppose any foe
8. Adopt an “All of the Above” energy policy
9. Let Sound Science determine Environmental Policy
10. Celebrate American Exceptionalism – No Apologies!
