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Tuesday, March 9, 2010 | 2:01 a.m.
Sun Coverage
Republicans are so convinced that the fall midterm elections could be a repeat of 1994, the year that ushered them into the majority in Congress, they are reaching into the playbook for the prop that helped propel that victory: a new Contract with America.
House Republicans have tapped one of their own to begin casting for ideas to form a 10-point legislative to-do list, promises candidates would make to voters this fall.
Only problem is, the Tea Party movement beat them to it.
For months, Tea Party activists have been crafting a Contract from America, a soon-to-be released document from the renegade conservative movement.
Not to be outdone, a cadre of old-guard conservatives headed by former Attorney General Edwin Meese and backed by the conservative Heritage Foundation this month launched a broad decree known as the Mount Vernon Statement.
For a political party being criticized as the party of no, the flurry of manifestos offers an aggressive effort to stand for something.
“There is a perception that the 1994 Contract with America contributed to the Republican victory, and a lot of people on the conservative side of the aisle want history to repeat itself,” said John Pitney, a former Republican operative who is now a government professor at Claremont McKenna College.
“They’re also aware they need to be for something,” he said. “They want to define themselves rather than let the other side define them.”
The original Contract with America was essentially a small-government 10-step program — a “detailed agenda for national renewal, a written commitment with no fine print,” it said.
The now almost legendary document championed by then-Republican Rep. Newt Gingrich of Georgia outlined a series of legislative proposals Republican candidates vowed to bring to the House floor for a vote, if elected.
Some of the ideas came to pass in various forms over the years — a reduction of the estate tax and the marriage penalty. Others, including term limits, still loom large in the Republican psyche as brass rings just out of reach.
Today’s drafters insist the new contract, with the working title of “Commitment to America,” will not be a Washington-driven document, but one compiled from the ground up.
“It won’t be a document handed down from on high by politicians, because something like that would land with a big thud,” said House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio, in announcing last month at an annual conservative political conference that he had named fellow Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California to lead the effort. “It’s going to be built by listening.”
Part of the intent here is to counter the Tea Party movement, to assure those independents and conservatives flocking to the vocal group that the Republican Party wants them to stay under its tent.
Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who chairs his party’s campaign committee in the Senate, explained the importance of keeping Tea Party candidates in the fold come November, rather than launching third-party campaigns.
“Third-party races are not good,” Cornyn told reporters Monday.
Tea Party's Scott Ashjian
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Jon Scott Ashjian, Part ...
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Jon Scott Ashjian, Part ...
In Nevada, a potential Tea Party candidate for the U.S. Senate race, Jon Scott Ashjian, could siphon off Republican and independent voters, handing embattled Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid a victory.
“It’s important that their energy and enthusiasm be channeled in the Republican primary process and that ultimately it’s about nominating the strongest candidate to run against the Democrat,” Cornyn said.
A document might convince Tea Partyers the Republican Party hears their concerns.
But whether a display of limited government ideals would attract a wider swath of swing voters remains unclear. Scholars note that times have changed since the 1994 uprising.
Despite the Tea Party’s rejection of an activist federal government that is bailing out banks and stimulating the economy, there remains a sizable portion of voters who want the government to solve problems.
A traditional conservative Republican prescription of tax cuts, balanced budgets and deficit reduction becomes a trickier endeavor when Americans want unemployment benefits, affordable health care and the country is fighting two wars.
“The question facing the political leaders today is whether there are agenda items out there that have a great deal of public appeal,” Pitney said.
“That’s a lot harder to do today,” he said. “You can get a lot of support for cutting government in the abstract. When you start enumerating what these cuts would be, it’s a different story.”
This is not news. It's no secret at all in certain channels that Gingrich, Rove, Luntz, etc all, the same tired old faces and doctrinaires now out of power are backroom conniving something they think can be packaged and sold to the American people for 2012.
We have a two party system for one big reason. Each party has a different set of tools in a different tool box. We don't need Republican tool boxes and tools right now to get the car back on the road on several fronts. We need Democratic Party toolboxes and tools and resolute actions that lead to desired outcomes.
The country can revisit Republican campaign strategies, and hopefully refined ideas too, in about 2020, about the time we get back up to 55 mph from the past 25 years of making a few US citizens extra wealthy and subsidizing China to become a world economic power that put capital-growth in their pockets and a lot of superfulous purchasing in our closets and attics.
Save personal income, value education, promote local banking growth, spend federal tax dollars on Americans first. Those are four objectives you never hear Republicans speak about, never. Those four pillars will create sustainable households and communities.
In other words, more of the same failed BS of the past. They don't have any real solutions for anyone with less than a few million dollars in the bank, and Sue Lowden's new campaign commercial certainly drives that point home. I'm sure every greedy insurance executive in the state is thrilled at the fact that this corporate tool is running on an obstructionist agenda to help protect their profits! She didn't tell us one damn thing about her plans for the working families of Nevada because she doesn't have any. I'm amazed at the shameless arrogance of these people. They really think we're all just a bunch of gullible idiots like their supporters. Unbelievable.
The self declared Tea Party candidate is a Reid shill. Only the Sun continues to promote him as an alternative which should further prove the point.
The voters are not going to be taken in by this pretender inspired in the campaign offices of harry Reid who knows he is toast and is trying to deceive the public one more time.
What a load of BULL.
America is tired of these old sales ploys.
Ed Meese? ED MEESE? Wow! Now THERE is a man that certainly has his finger on the pulse of America!
The NutJobs want power back in the worst way because there is more treasure to plunder.
The Tea Party has the power to do one thing;
Be the Republican's kryptonite.
In that light, I'd say "let's have a look see at that contract, kids!"
Pandering after voters with these silly "contracts" makes for political theatre.
"Look! We have the New Ten Commandments here!"
And, to the Fox viewing NeoNut, it looks like the menu @ Dairy Queen. "Whoa! Look at all this neat stuff! I can't decide which one I like best! These guys are REAL SMART! And they "get it!"
Reality: More political claptrap designed to whet the appetite of the right's masses. Not worth the paper it's printed on, in reality. The repubs don't CARE about you! Sue Lowden? Puh-leese. She is the living embodiment of "Disingenuous Candidate." (Her campaign; "I hate Harry; Don't you? Let's get back to Reaganomics.")
The Right "cares" about being in power to protect their voluminous ASSets and to resume their plundering of the world's biggest baubles.
There's already a "Contract with America" -- it's called the Constitution. Until We the People force government to return to the limits it imposes, and starts respecting Us, this is just another sparkly to distract the dumb masses.
Of course, We must keep in mind We are dealing with a government which, arguably, has violated every treaty it has ever made with its natives.
"Certainly all those who have framed written Constitutions contemplate them as forming the fundamental and paramount law of the nation, and consequently the theory of every such government must be that an act of the Legislature repugnant to the Constitution is void." -- Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. (1 Cranch) 137, 177 (1803)
KillerB,
Great post. We don't need another contract. The one we have is just fine..
The problem is, those pesky politicians don't seem to understand the wording, and until we bury them with it, they never will.
Good point. For example, talk radio ranter Mark Levin, wrote a book "Liberty and Tyranny," that was bulk bought by a number of conservative oligarch groups like the Heritage Foundation (Founded by Bill Coors). A member of the Reagan administration's Ed Meese Justice Department, he was known for: No knock, preventative detention, "co and tell pro" and many of the hangover programs of tricky Dick Nixon administration. He has about as much to do with liberty and freedom as Genghis Khan.
One should note that the prohibition era laws surrounding alcohol, tobacco and firearms ATF are not a focus of the Teabag oligarchs and puppeteers. McCain has made millions with an exclusive beer distributorship in Phoenix for example. Big government is OK if it protects big money and big business. The Teabags are convenient stooges for the Republican Oligarchs.
The March 27 Teabag invasion of Searchlight will be a super magnet for birthers, birchers, bigots, blowhards and other talk radio rabble, I hope people will be on guard against these nutbars (such as the Pentagon shooter or the Austin aerial attacker).
What's going on in Searchlight on March 27th? This article's failure to mention Assjian is very telling.
Mikegino,
This article does mention Ashjian.
What gets me is for 8 years republicans could care less about any of the issues on the table now. Even with a democrat majority GWB would veto anything that would help the working man get a foot up. NOW ,that things look like they're changing and no longer are corporations going to be able to prey on the american people protected by republican laws, these people are acting like they care about us? They even have the nerve to steal the title of a pivotal movement in American history? Anybody that beleives that these people care about America is either stupid, brainwashed, or one of them, and let me tell you something, if these people even get an inkling of power the real tea party is coming baby,REVOLUTION. If it was up to the republicans all hard working Americans that lost their jobs ,due to the GOP's banker buddies playing chess with the American people, would be homeless and starving. What they fail to realize is that the mojority of us are armed and pissed off and not crazy. We wouldnt open fire on the innocent, we wouldn't take the lives of the countless brainwashed pawns. We will take the power back just as our right to bear arms was intended. America is about family, its about love, compassion, and empathy. Not money and corporate greed, its not about imposing you religious will on the masses at the political level, its not about the next election, its not about middle class, or upper class, its not about what race you are, or your sexual orientation. These religious extremists, greedy corporate politicians, and just plain puppets have all infiltrated the ranks of the GOP and tea party thus fundementally destroying the once respectable reputation it held in our early history. All of these individuals should be ashamed of themselves. America if we stand together we will overcome this plague that has infested our leaders. We still have the best political system on the planet. Its just been infiltrated by manipulators that would rather see us in fear than with hope just so they can further their political careers. I say the GOP and tea party are TRAITORS, and all that support them should be held for treason.
lets vote for Ashijan because hes pretty and part of this so called popular tea party. Not because he has a clue. All hes done is say hes part of the tea party.
dear lv sun, thanks for the video of Ashijan, hes just like I said. Why do all buisness people want to be politicians? We need working families that are trying to make an honest living, vote for the guy thats worked for someone his whole life because thats what the governments supposed to do.
The republicans AND the democrats already have contracts with America ...they are NAFTA and allowing China to use their slave labor to destroy the American middle class.... And we can thank the fine folks that call themselves CONS or LIBS for allowing the contracts to continue!
Thank you CONS and LIBS!
Recycling trash is usually a good idea except when the garbage is a GOP idea.
Gimmicks - smoke and mirrors - is what the GOP relies on. Good luck.
I'm waiting for Sgt. Vegas and Sergio to weigh-in.
I can see why people don't recognize what's his name's name Ash-something, people might get him confused with Ashburn, the anti-gay California Republican from Bakersfield who now is out of the closet.
Under Obama the Dow average has risen 61% from it's low under the Bush administration.
I think Massa should move to Vegas and run for office as a Teabag, we need a new clown college grad in Nevada politics.
Tom Gorman: I apologize for my ADD moment.
Oh no, the Tea Partiers like Asjian wouldn't wan't the government to actually solve problems...it's not written in the Constitution!
Anyone remember how some commenters were convinced that the Hillary-supporting PUMAs were going to destroy Obama's chance at a Presidency?
Tea Party = PUMAs
All bark, no bite.
So Rush says he is going to "leave the country if healthcare passes" and asked where he would go he says "Costa Rica".
That's a great place to go they HAVE universal healthcare in Costa Rica!! Everyone is covered in Costa Rica!!
Great call Rush you'll save a bunch o money moving to a country that takes care of it's citizens healthcare needs. I country where nobody goes broke because they get sick.
Passing health care reform means Limbaugh will leave the country?
Cherry on the sundae!
If Limbaugh agrees to leave that is the icing on the cake!
Rush shows his patriotism. If he doesn't like things here, he gets up and leaves. Rush, we hardly knew ye. Hey, maybe he can procure some Oxycontin in Costa Rica.
I am so weary of these GOPers and TeaBaggers framing the debate. When is the 'liberal media' going to call them liars and expose them?
My guess is never, because they are all compromised. The Main Stream Media is incompetent, and inept. They love the food fight that the right keeps pushing.
The media is not interested in ideas or what is right for the country, they just care about the horse race aspect.
This is too serious to state that the ideologues on the Right have as much validity as our moderate Democratic leaders in D.C. have.
The Right Wing is systematically destroying our country from within. They are treasonous and without shame.
The Media doesn't call them on it.
Our country will a be Stupid Fascist state,if the GOP has its way.
Republican ideology ruined our country.
We never want to see it again.
Let it die.
Doggystyle: you don't know what weary is because you've never been South. Come November Child, you'll know what is to get a Collard Greens enema.
Yes, the south will rise again! Hey the better get busy in the bedroom.
Southern Whites are not producing the numbers of babies, that their Hispanic neighbors are.
There are many Latinos working in industries that used to pay decent wages. Now they are being exploited like their White and Black Southern counterparts. But it is OK, because the owners are Big Business and vote for the GOP.
Diamonddog.....
The GOP won't have it's way. Just remember that
the GOP and the teabaggers are the minority in
this country. They will always be the minority.
Their ideology is greed.
Smart Americans already know this.
Repubs want their "grandpa's" America, which is long gone.
And their intolerance makes it difficult for them to relate to what's replaced "grandpa's" America.
Gays used to hide. Now they don't. Repubs can't deal with it.
Minorities used to cower. Now they don't. Repubs can't deal with it.
Women used to tolerate back-alley abortions. Now they don't. Repubs can't deal with it.
The entire free world used to dance to our tune. Now they don't. Repubs can't deal with it.
Repubs are often paranoid xenophobes who perceive our entire existence being threatened by every little shadow.....
What a bunch of socialist horse droppings!
Pierre you are a piece of sh.....erbert you creamy son of a bi....polar cu...cumber
We should prosecute or remove from office every elected Republican official who stonewalls, sabotages, or otherwise does not cooperate with the Democratic party! It was because of Republicans that America got in this sad state of affairs in the first place, and it is because of Republicans that the Obama and the Democrats have been unable to effect any positive or meaningful changes for America! What is so funny is that the Republicans go along thinking that no one in America sees them and knows what they are up to or doing. They would be a big laugh if the consequences were not so severe or the costs so high!
Re: The "Tea Party"
The "Tea Party" is the largest group of committable, fanatical, lunatics running loose in society, with a combined IQ that is lower than a piece of fecal matter on a warm moist lawn! Any self-respecting Republican should steer far away from even the slightest association with that party!
Your right there rabmag. Don't pay any attention to the Tea Party Movement. They are not going to change the makeup of both Houses of Congress this November. Just keep up your hateful rants and craw back into your hole...
rabmag... The truth is a great thing.
I think larry just wet his pants.