The Turning Tide
drive the discussion, one term 5:41 AM
by Nick Stone of Drawnlines Politics.
Dear Republican Colleagues:
Don’t fret, don’t freak out, and above all else don’t drop the ball. The tide is turning in our American politisphere. The ever-swinging pendulum hasn’t lasted long in the left position before it ran out of steam and it appears poised to begin its rightward swing once more.
By taking the presidency and expanding their majorities in the House and Senate, the Democrats have given the Republicans an enormous gift and wrapped it in a bow. They now own Washington policy outright, and their leadership has been a botched disaster both in terms of vision and of execution. Health care, stimulus, budgets and deficits, the war in Afghanistan, containment of the Axis of Evil – the Democratic leadership has been dismal at all levels by any measure.
We need only consult history to prove the consequences of our decisions at the ballot box. Jimmy Carter’s policy blunders paved the way for the “Reagan Democrats.” The only two 49-state victories in history were both Republican victories, yet in modern history only one Democratic president has ever secured re-election. That Democrat worked with a Republican congress that forced his hand toward a reduction in government, welfare reform, targeted tax cuts, and a strong economy that led to a budget surplus. Not a particularly Democratic agenda.
We all know what happened in November 2008, and the reasons for Republican defeat will be debated for years to come. But the American people spoke – scared about our economy, weary of anyone or anything branded as Bush-esque, and exhausted by the war in Iraq. Choosing to listen to that inner fear, they pulled the lever for the most drastic leftward shift in our politics since 1964. Let us not forget it was that Johnson landslide which set the stage for the next several decades of Republican domination. By tarring and feathering “Mister Conservative” Barry Goldwater, LBJ nailed shut the casket of the entire Democratic Party for decades to come:
Republican wins: 1968, 1972, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1994, 2000, 2002, 2004
Draw: 1976, 1996
Democratic wins: 1992, 2006, 2008
Republicans have done better than Democrats in elections by a factor of three in recent history, and it’s no mystery. Every now and then, the American people are bound to succumb to their inclination to take a chance on the other guy after a string of victories for one party. When that other guy is the Democratic candidate, the consequences of the election victory are often deadly for our economy, our security, and the political future of the Democratic Party. By winning elections, the Dems have the chance to prove to us beyond doubt the poor results of their policies. They deliver failure like Dominoes. I don’t say so –the American people do, time and time again.
In his first 90 days, President Obama astonishingly outlined more new federal spending than had ever occurred from the Declaration of Independence to his inauguration. In eight months, he has accomplished the even more breathtaking feat of spending through a near majority of his political capital. Week by week, battle by battle the American people are turning their backs on the Obama brand. As is typical of any Leftist agenda, the devil is in the details. As the hows and whys of the president’s plans come to light, the skeletons fall out of the closet one by one. Sunshine, Mr. President, is the best disinfectant. In this case, it is likely to take the patient down with the disease.
One needs only glance occasionally at headlines to notice that the tide is turning in America. The recently declared dead GOP is gaining ground rapidly as The Left’s agenda comes to light. Examples of political revival are everywhere:
The Florida Senate seat occupied by Mel Martinez appears extremely likely to remain in GOP control.
The FL Governor Mansion is increasingly Republican-leaning, with independent voters flocking to McCollum from Sink.
The Virginia governor race has Republican Bob McDonnell with a comfortable lead with a divided state Democratic Party, despite an aggressive Obama political machine in favor of Deeds.
The New Jersey governor race has Republican Chris Cristie out in front of incumbent Democrat Jon Corzine due to dismal leadership in the decidedly blue state.
The Nevada Senate race has Harry Reid in trouble and likely to be ousted by either of his likely Republican challengers.
Chris Dodd is in deep trouble in Connecticut and has the Obama machine in high gear to rescue his popularity with a little razzle dazzle – but will the Obama brand become an albatross before election day?
Obama’s FL approval ratings have crashed from 58/35 in June to 47/48 as the state unemployment rate soars and health care details enrage the elderly.
Generic ballot polling shows Republicans with a strong edge over their Democratic counterparts. The recent trends have been astonishing, as the American public becomes more likely to trust the Republican brand to govern.
Colorado Dems are in trouble under the leadership of their Democratic governor, senators and congressmen. The Democratic Party has expended tremendous capital and political capital to turn Colorado blue from the bottom up and have had widespread success, though re-election looks bleak from the top down.
In Ohio, Ted Strickland appears vulnerable to a strong challenge from his Republican counterpart John Kasich. This one might come down to the wire.
Obama’s national approval has sunk to 51% according to last week’s RCP polling data.
NY and MA Governors Patterson and Patrick appear likely targets for dismissal at the ballot box by Republican challengers. This is a particularly deep cut to Northeast Democrats.
This weekend’s first gathering of Drive the Discussion confirmed the sentiment that Republicans have reason to take heart. The full Republican Party of Florida establishment was present to support the gathering of young conservatives, and it was truly a defining experience to be part of. Take it from this blogger that a groundswell of new ideas and revived enthusiasm is happening at this very moment. Not only are there red signs of life in the Sunshine State, but all across the nation – even in some unlikely areas like the Northeast corridor.
Now is the time to drive home the message of the Republican Party at all levels. It is time to apply our most basic conservative principles of liberty, freedom, and strength that have resonated with the electorate an overwhelming majority of election cycles. We need to be out talking with our neighbors and friends to let them know that a government take-over of massive proportions has happened on our watch. It’s time to activate the American pride of our forefathers so that we can compete, so that we can win, and so that we can govern. That groundwork is being laid even as this paragraph is being written.
Conservatives, our time is now to get off the couch and onto the streets.
Dear Republican Colleagues:
Don’t fret, don’t freak out, and above all else don’t drop the ball. The tide is turning in our American politisphere. The ever-swinging pendulum hasn’t lasted long in the left position before it ran out of steam and it appears poised to begin its rightward swing once more.
By taking the presidency and expanding their majorities in the House and Senate, the Democrats have given the Republicans an enormous gift and wrapped it in a bow. They now own Washington policy outright, and their leadership has been a botched disaster both in terms of vision and of execution. Health care, stimulus, budgets and deficits, the war in Afghanistan, containment of the Axis of Evil – the Democratic leadership has been dismal at all levels by any measure.
We need only consult history to prove the consequences of our decisions at the ballot box. Jimmy Carter’s policy blunders paved the way for the “Reagan Democrats.” The only two 49-state victories in history were both Republican victories, yet in modern history only one Democratic president has ever secured re-election. That Democrat worked with a Republican congress that forced his hand toward a reduction in government, welfare reform, targeted tax cuts, and a strong economy that led to a budget surplus. Not a particularly Democratic agenda.
We all know what happened in November 2008, and the reasons for Republican defeat will be debated for years to come. But the American people spoke – scared about our economy, weary of anyone or anything branded as Bush-esque, and exhausted by the war in Iraq. Choosing to listen to that inner fear, they pulled the lever for the most drastic leftward shift in our politics since 1964. Let us not forget it was that Johnson landslide which set the stage for the next several decades of Republican domination. By tarring and feathering “Mister Conservative” Barry Goldwater, LBJ nailed shut the casket of the entire Democratic Party for decades to come:
Republican wins: 1968, 1972, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1994, 2000, 2002, 2004
Draw: 1976, 1996
Democratic wins: 1992, 2006, 2008
Republicans have done better than Democrats in elections by a factor of three in recent history, and it’s no mystery. Every now and then, the American people are bound to succumb to their inclination to take a chance on the other guy after a string of victories for one party. When that other guy is the Democratic candidate, the consequences of the election victory are often deadly for our economy, our security, and the political future of the Democratic Party. By winning elections, the Dems have the chance to prove to us beyond doubt the poor results of their policies. They deliver failure like Dominoes. I don’t say so –the American people do, time and time again.
In his first 90 days, President Obama astonishingly outlined more new federal spending than had ever occurred from the Declaration of Independence to his inauguration. In eight months, he has accomplished the even more breathtaking feat of spending through a near majority of his political capital. Week by week, battle by battle the American people are turning their backs on the Obama brand. As is typical of any Leftist agenda, the devil is in the details. As the hows and whys of the president’s plans come to light, the skeletons fall out of the closet one by one. Sunshine, Mr. President, is the best disinfectant. In this case, it is likely to take the patient down with the disease.
One needs only glance occasionally at headlines to notice that the tide is turning in America. The recently declared dead GOP is gaining ground rapidly as The Left’s agenda comes to light. Examples of political revival are everywhere:
The Florida Senate seat occupied by Mel Martinez appears extremely likely to remain in GOP control.
The FL Governor Mansion is increasingly Republican-leaning, with independent voters flocking to McCollum from Sink.
The Virginia governor race has Republican Bob McDonnell with a comfortable lead with a divided state Democratic Party, despite an aggressive Obama political machine in favor of Deeds.
The New Jersey governor race has Republican Chris Cristie out in front of incumbent Democrat Jon Corzine due to dismal leadership in the decidedly blue state.
The Nevada Senate race has Harry Reid in trouble and likely to be ousted by either of his likely Republican challengers.
Chris Dodd is in deep trouble in Connecticut and has the Obama machine in high gear to rescue his popularity with a little razzle dazzle – but will the Obama brand become an albatross before election day?
Obama’s FL approval ratings have crashed from 58/35 in June to 47/48 as the state unemployment rate soars and health care details enrage the elderly.
Generic ballot polling shows Republicans with a strong edge over their Democratic counterparts. The recent trends have been astonishing, as the American public becomes more likely to trust the Republican brand to govern.
Colorado Dems are in trouble under the leadership of their Democratic governor, senators and congressmen. The Democratic Party has expended tremendous capital and political capital to turn Colorado blue from the bottom up and have had widespread success, though re-election looks bleak from the top down.
In Ohio, Ted Strickland appears vulnerable to a strong challenge from his Republican counterpart John Kasich. This one might come down to the wire.
Obama’s national approval has sunk to 51% according to last week’s RCP polling data.
NY and MA Governors Patterson and Patrick appear likely targets for dismissal at the ballot box by Republican challengers. This is a particularly deep cut to Northeast Democrats.
This weekend’s first gathering of Drive the Discussion confirmed the sentiment that Republicans have reason to take heart. The full Republican Party of Florida establishment was present to support the gathering of young conservatives, and it was truly a defining experience to be part of. Take it from this blogger that a groundswell of new ideas and revived enthusiasm is happening at this very moment. Not only are there red signs of life in the Sunshine State, but all across the nation – even in some unlikely areas like the Northeast corridor.
Now is the time to drive home the message of the Republican Party at all levels. It is time to apply our most basic conservative principles of liberty, freedom, and strength that have resonated with the electorate an overwhelming majority of election cycles. We need to be out talking with our neighbors and friends to let them know that a government take-over of massive proportions has happened on our watch. It’s time to activate the American pride of our forefathers so that we can compete, so that we can win, and so that we can govern. That groundwork is being laid even as this paragraph is being written.
Conservatives, our time is now to get off the couch and onto the streets.
Posted by Nick Stone
on 5:41 AM.
Filed under
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one term
.
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