Posted by
gilroy man on Saturday, August 02, 2008 4:56:19 PM
Still thinking they can game the system
By Andrew Vander Dussen
Faced with imminent loss in November, the Republicans are trying to change their strategy. New strategies included drilling, fixing unfunded entitlements, and winning the war in Iraq.
Let’s start with drilling. The Republicans newfound interest in drilling would be more convincing if they’d done anything about it from 2000-2006. They had a Republican president, Senate, and House. What better time to reverse Clinton’s position and start drilling? And yet, they did nothing. Which makes them last minute johnnies, crying now about a situation that was in their power to fix years ago.
How about the unfunded entitlements? Well, the impending 50 trillion or so crisis that they tell us about now must not have been there during Bush’s first term when they passed No Child Left Behind or the shiny new prescription drug benefit. If it was there, you think they would have restrained themselves from any new programs and taken care of the existing ones, don’t you think?
The other thing is, this fiscal responsibility scenario doesn’t seem to involve reduced spending. No, it means higher taxes “for the good of the country”. Are we to return to the bad old days of the 1950s when the Democrats spend all the money and the Republicans raise taxes to pay for it? Actually it’s worse now, because the Republicans spend money like the Democrats now too. Which is why the Republicans can’t generate any interest in their party base. I wonder why?
Which leaves their trump card. The Iraq war. Better vote for McCain or else! And you know what, they’re probably right. Which explains their lack of urgency on any other issue. That’s their ace in the hole. No matter how much conservatives dislike Republicans for their open border policies or not protecting the dollar or big fat pork barrel projects, they know people will vote for them out of fear of Barack Obama.
If you want to vote McCain for that reason, I understand. Just keep your eyes open, and be aware of what you’re getting. Not less government, not less entitlements, not border security, not less diversity pushed down your throat. No, all you’ll get is a continued effort towards victory in Afghanistan and Iraq. No more than that. So don’t expect anything more.