Republicans Won. Now What?
2010, election day, Republican Party 8:00 AM
by Jessica Osman of Drawnlines Politics
This month’s elections proved once again that politicians should listen to the people. Fed up citizens all over the country told their leaders they were sick of being ignored and of the business as usual practices in their states and in Washington. People spoke with their voices and their votes by ousting several incumbents, most notably Democrats. Many Republicans swept through to take control of everywhere from city and county offices all the way to the House of Representatives.
Republicans spent months telling voters how they would handle our money better than our current leaders and how they had learned from the mistakes of those we voted out in 2006 and 2008. These were Republicans who were returning to fiscal conservative cornerstones and promising to fix America. Voters made their choices and Republicans rode a wave of victory to office. Now what?
Now the real work begins. To stay in favor with voters, Republicans must now fulfill the promises they repeatedly made in their stump speeches. Without putting people back to work and fixing the economy and our deficit (or at least making huge strides in the right direction) the cycle of blame will start all over and Republicans will surely get the pink slip again. With America in crisis, we cannot afford to have politicians sitting at their desks pointing their fingers at their opposition saying no to everything brought to them or refusing to compromise on their own agenda. This is not the time for partisan bullying and pushing through an agenda that only one side will be happy with. Don’t misunderstand, absolutely, Republicans should push for more conservative spending and less taxes, but they shouldn’t be blind and deaf to all the people that don’t agree with them. They must not be too prideful to admit that there are good ideas they can take from Democrats. Plus, isn’t it better to lead a united force with members that feel appreciated and heard rather than rule like a tyrant and have constant grumblings of a coup going on? Republicans said Democrats didn’t listen; well if they want to get reelected they shouldn’t make it that easy for Democrats to turn around and say now they’re the ones not listening.
Republicans also need to not lose sight of what they’re supposed to be doing. This is not the time to push huge personal agendas or make waves with divisive social issues. Republicans get elected because they have generally proven they can handle money better and then they get voted out because once in office they want to push social reforms instead. For at least the next 2 years I think Republicans should ask themselves one question before submitting any bills, suggesting change, etc: “Will this have a positive, negative or no effect on our financial crisis?” If the answer is “positive”, run with it. If the answer is “negative”, run away from it. However, if the answer is “no effect”, just let it be. Items such as extending the Bush tax cuts, cap and trade, overseas aide and borrowing from overseas all can be answered with “positive” or “negative”. Some things like trying to overturn Roe v Wade or creating a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage are things to be left alone. Let me repeat: Leave. It. Alone. It’s not going to happen right now, it’ll upset voters and you were elected based on the promise to fix our economy. Push your social agenda in the next election cycle and see what your constituents think then. I would say almost no person who is struggling financially will be sitting at home saying “I have no idea how I’m going to make rent this month, but I sure am glad my legislators are discussing Roe v Wade”.
Republicans need to look at the long-term and not get tunnel vision. If they can’t keep their promises now, there’s no way voters are going to let them keep the House and then give them the Senate and the White House in 2012. We need all of our leaders to be smart right now and focus on common goals because in case they haven’t noticed, unlike so many of them in the past, this crisis reaches across party lines.
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This month’s elections proved once again that politicians should listen to the people. Fed up citizens all over the country told their leaders they were sick of being ignored and of the business as usual practices in their states and in Washington. People spoke with their voices and their votes by ousting several incumbents, most notably Democrats. Many Republicans swept through to take control of everywhere from city and county offices all the way to the House of Representatives.
Republicans spent months telling voters how they would handle our money better than our current leaders and how they had learned from the mistakes of those we voted out in 2006 and 2008. These were Republicans who were returning to fiscal conservative cornerstones and promising to fix America. Voters made their choices and Republicans rode a wave of victory to office. Now what?
Now the real work begins. To stay in favor with voters, Republicans must now fulfill the promises they repeatedly made in their stump speeches. Without putting people back to work and fixing the economy and our deficit (or at least making huge strides in the right direction) the cycle of blame will start all over and Republicans will surely get the pink slip again. With America in crisis, we cannot afford to have politicians sitting at their desks pointing their fingers at their opposition saying no to everything brought to them or refusing to compromise on their own agenda. This is not the time for partisan bullying and pushing through an agenda that only one side will be happy with. Don’t misunderstand, absolutely, Republicans should push for more conservative spending and less taxes, but they shouldn’t be blind and deaf to all the people that don’t agree with them. They must not be too prideful to admit that there are good ideas they can take from Democrats. Plus, isn’t it better to lead a united force with members that feel appreciated and heard rather than rule like a tyrant and have constant grumblings of a coup going on? Republicans said Democrats didn’t listen; well if they want to get reelected they shouldn’t make it that easy for Democrats to turn around and say now they’re the ones not listening.
Republicans also need to not lose sight of what they’re supposed to be doing. This is not the time to push huge personal agendas or make waves with divisive social issues. Republicans get elected because they have generally proven they can handle money better and then they get voted out because once in office they want to push social reforms instead. For at least the next 2 years I think Republicans should ask themselves one question before submitting any bills, suggesting change, etc: “Will this have a positive, negative or no effect on our financial crisis?” If the answer is “positive”, run with it. If the answer is “negative”, run away from it. However, if the answer is “no effect”, just let it be. Items such as extending the Bush tax cuts, cap and trade, overseas aide and borrowing from overseas all can be answered with “positive” or “negative”. Some things like trying to overturn Roe v Wade or creating a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage are things to be left alone. Let me repeat: Leave. It. Alone. It’s not going to happen right now, it’ll upset voters and you were elected based on the promise to fix our economy. Push your social agenda in the next election cycle and see what your constituents think then. I would say almost no person who is struggling financially will be sitting at home saying “I have no idea how I’m going to make rent this month, but I sure am glad my legislators are discussing Roe v Wade”.
Republicans need to look at the long-term and not get tunnel vision. If they can’t keep their promises now, there’s no way voters are going to let them keep the House and then give them the Senate and the White House in 2012. We need all of our leaders to be smart right now and focus on common goals because in case they haven’t noticed, unlike so many of them in the past, this crisis reaches across party lines.
Check us out on FACEBOOK
Posted by Nick Stone
on 8:00 AM.
Filed under
2010,
election day,
Republican Party
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