GOP Brand In Shambles

[kcballer]

We have to be pro-democracy.  As far as voting, if people more and more people are exempt from taxes, how can we have an honest judgement about government taxation?  Those people have no incentive to balance gov spending vs personal income.

I think everyone over the poverty line should have to pay some small % of income in taxation.  Now they have skin in the game when decisions are made about how the government is spending our $. I would support the voting public being people who pay income and property taxes.  Or scrap the whole IRS and put a flat tax on non-utility goods & services (again people under the poverty line can be exempt).

But aren't you against taxation? I mean everytime there is a tax increase you complain.

[MCWAY]

Many republicans had ideas and plans on healthcare, the truth is they were shut down because they don't have the votes in congress to get those ammendments on board.

That can be fixed in 2010. Of course, it would help if the GOP actually brings their plans to the forefront. They might next year. Timing is everything, in politics.

But, as long as the Dems keep trying to pull a Polanski on the people, they will continue to flounder and may suffer the consequences in 2010.

[George Whorewell]

Lets do an honest analysis here-- America was never better off in the past 10-15 years as when we had Bill Clinton as prez and an overwhelming Republican controlled Congress.

Maybe, just maybe, when the same thing happens over the next few months, things will improve under Obama.

Hedge, what you are reffering to ( I think) is how the country may respond in the next presidential election. Your opinion may or may not be correct, as it is too soon to tell. However, my point is that when looking at US history the same story usually unfolds. The country gives one party a lot of power, that party either does well for a while and screws up or messes things up right away... and then the country turns around and gives all the power back to the other party.

Its a see-saw. Right now, the democrats have all the power and are making things worse while alienating the country in the process. The American peoples response will be typical-- The republicans will be given more and more power. If by the 2012 election, Obama has not made things better, the country will vote in a republican. Now, theres a lot of time between now and then-- However, the GOP brand doesn't have to become substantially better. The republicans just need the democrats brand to keep getting worse.  

[MCWAY]

Lets do an honest analysis here-- America was never better off in the past 10-15 years as when we had Bill Clinton as prez and an overwhelming Republican controlled Congress.

Maybe, just maybe, when the same thing happens over the next few months, things will improve under Obama.

Hedge, what you are reffering to ( I think) is how the country may respond in the next presidential election. Your opinion may or may not be correct, as it is too soon to tell. However, my point is that when looking at US history the same story usually unfolds. The country gives one party a lot of power, that party either does well for a while and screws up or messes things up right away... and then the country turns around and gives all the power back to the other party.

Its a see-saw. Right now, the democrats have all the power and are making things worse while alienating the country in the process. The American peoples response will be typical-- The republicans will be given more and more power. If by the 2012 election, Obama has not made things better, the country will vote in a republican. Now, theres a lot of time between now and then-- However, the GOP brand doesn't have to become substantially better. The republicans just need the democrats brand to keep getting worse.  

In other words, if the Dems are hell-bent on shooting themselves in the feet, "Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!!"

[George Whorewell]

Amen! 

[Hedgehog]

I know George. and typically i would agree with you.
but here in Sweden we have the similar situation with an election coming up next year.
the unemployment is rising and people are pissed.
also the opposition, the social democrats, is traditionally thought of as stronger on job issues.
Yet they fail to dominate in the polls.
why?
because they're doing even worse themselves. terrible leadership et al.
and i think the same could happen in the usa.
it remains to be seen.
lot of time left.

[shootfighter1]

kc, I believe most of us pay far too much in taxation already and those of us who play by the rules get screwed...so I am almost always against increases in taxation.  I'm not against taxation, as I understand some government services and infrastructure is absolutely necessary.  But taxation was never intended to fund the irresponsible gov spending we see.
     I never knew how hard it was on small business until I opened my own general practice medical clinic.  They take nearly 40% of all income we bring in.  I struggled my as- off to take this risk, get loans, hire a few employees and work harder.  Nothing the gov is currently doing is worth taking 40% of my business' income.  (Our city also added a 2% RITA tax recently).  Small business built this country and employs most of our people.  We have the second highest rate of taxation in the world and wonder why so many small businesses are struggling.  Government can't grow the economy, business can.

When you really look at all taxes, you begin to appreciate how much of your income is really being taken away.  Between federal, local, state, RITA, property, excise taxes, estate taxes, sales tax...its crazy.  The bottom line is that our government spends too much money and has increased its power and spending in the last couple decades.  We the people must demand fiscal responsibility and put a limit on our own government.  We can't trust the politicians to be good stewards of our tax dollars, not with the recent abuses.

[shootfighter1]

I would be open to a VAT tax or flat tax across the board for people above the poverty level if it replaced our current system, which is cumbersome, costly and easy for some to cheat.

[Soul Crusher]

BUMP 

[dario73]

LOL. That benny guy sure is an idiot.

[whork25]

Post of the week.

True

[dario73]

I think the biggest problem right now is that there is a growing distrust between voters and their elected officials.

The internet and the new ways of communications has opened up multiple ways of sharing information at grassroot level, and not just information, it's just as often desinformation.

However, it could become easier for the voters to hold their elected officials true, or at least they won't feel the distance the same way previous generations did.

So while the Democrats are hurting like hell, they can actually be looking to be picking up a few seats in the congress IMO in the mid-terms.

Because the GOP is doing even worse. They're completely falling apart.

Look at the whole health care issue eg.

All the Republicans are saying is: "Look at Obama, he's gonna turn this country into a Socialist state"

So lets just keep things the way they are, huh?

Do they think the majority of their Swing voters like the current health care system?

Do the Republicans really believe they will swing back voters that way, keep them from staying home? During a petty mid-term?

Please.

I'm sure plenty of the swing voters are at least starting to think right now that "At least the Democrats are trying to do something. Better something bad than nothing at all."

And if the health care reform fails, I doubt Obama or the Democrats will be punished for it. The Republicans will get all the blame in the mid-terms for it.

Right or wrong.

Republicans needs to come up with some kind of new strategy.

I think they should pull the plug on both wars, and eg push for some kind of radical school reform that would offer private schools to all kids in the USA through tax money.

Also sell all public schools to private enterprises.

Something like that.

And get behind a health care reform, or create one of their own, that isn't controlled by the health insurance corporations. That way they earn credibility.

HEHEHEHE!!!  Do you still believe this nonsense?

[George Whorewell]

Lets do an honest analysis here-- America was never better off in the past 10-15 years as when we had Bill Clinton as prez and an overwhelming Republican controlled Congress.

Maybe, just maybe, when the same thing happens over the next few months, things will improve under Obama.

Hedge, what you are reffering to ( I think) is how the country may respond in the next presidential election. Your opinion may or may not be correct, as it is too soon to tell. However, my point is that when looking at US history the same story usually unfolds. The country gives one party a lot of power, that party either does well for a while and screws up or messes things up right away... and then the country turns around and gives all the power back to the other party.

Its a see-saw. Right now, the democrats have all the power and are making things worse while alienating the country in the process. The American peoples response will be typical-- The republicans will be given more and more power. If by the 2012 election, Obama has not made things better, the country will vote in a republican. Now, theres a lot of time between now and then-- However, the GOP brand doesn't have to become substantially better. The republicans just need the democrats brand to keep getting worse.  

BUMP for me being a genius. Some of you idiots should dig up all of my threads from 2009 and pay close attention. So far, every single thing I predicted thus far has happened. Stay tuned for what happens next fuckers. 

[Soul Crusher]

Krauthhammer - obama agenda is DOA 

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/11/03/charles_krauthammer_obama_agenda_is_dead.html