In The Art of War, Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu states that "the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself." Watching Congressional Republicans' response to President Obama to date, I am left to wonder "when did the GOP become so generous?"
I imagine that at the initial GOP strategy meetings in January that they were briefed by pollsters on data showing that nearly 4 out of 5 voters thought the country was heading in the wrong direction; only 17 percent approved of President Bush's economic policies, 70 percent of Americans believed that the GOP should work with the new President and 66 percent of independents thought the party should move towards the center.
Once the pollsters left the room, my guess is that is when they broke out the Kool-Aid. How else do you explain the party's decision to block President Obama and label him as a socialist, while calling for continued adherence to the Bush policies that yielded the worst job creation record of any President since Hoover. Not to mention proclaiming the infallibility and curative power of the free market after a period in which risky subprime lending had led to a financial meltdown, a collapse in the stock market that destroyed 45 percent of global wealth and job losses nearly equal to the entire population of Los Angeles.
This decision was not a Profile in Courage but an act of willful and destructive blindness. Motivated by ideology and a fear that if Obama succeeded the Democrats, as Rep. Bachmann warned, would "secure a power base that... can never be defeated", Republicans stood firmly against any government spending despite a Moody's analysis that Obama's infrastructure spending would provide three times the stimulus over the Bush tax cuts (which would yield less than 50 cents for each dollar in tax cuts).
After the "S" word attack backfired, as it was ridiculed by Republicans outside the Beltway as "stupid" and "absurd" and only increased public approval for socialism, you would think the GOP would have shown some caution before opposing the first Hispanic Supreme Court nominee who had 2-1 public support. Once again, cries of "Hey Kool-Aid" were heard in the Republican caucus, and the party then proceeded to play the race card on Judge Sotomayor which only increased the public perception of the GOP as the Southern White Man's Party.
Surely the GOP would not be as foolish when it came time to debate health care. Especially when 72 percent of Americans favor a government run health plan -- including 50 percent of Republicans, while only 13 percent of Americans have a favorable opinion of HMOs.
Kool-Aid appears to be in ample supply, however, as the GOP's principal response has been to continue to rely on the "S" word, trumpet HMOs and the private sector as the solution to all problems and dismiss the government's ability to provide comparable care.
This is another instance of willful blindness as the reality is that the largest government provider -- the Veterans Administration -- consistently outperforms private providers in customer satisfaction surveys, and a New England Journal of Medicine study examining the VA using 11 separate measures of quality, found the VA to be "significantly better" than private providers on all measures. Similarly, Medicare was found to have substantially lower admin costs than its private sector counterparts.
For Republicans, these facts are meaningless as long as they continue to follow William Kristol's 1993 admonition to block any health care proposal in order to prevent the revival of the Democrats reputation as "the generous protector of middle-class interests".
The upcoming health care debate will prove to be a critical test for both parties, but it presents a potential no-win situation for the GOP. If President Obama is able to pass a health care bill, the Republicans may see William Kristol's warning come true.
While the defeat of the Clinton health plan led to the GOP takeover in Congress in 1994, this is not 1994. Approval for today's GOP has plummeted to record lows in recent polls. More ominous is the fact that their base may be deserting them as 41 percent of Republicans disapprove of their Congressional leaders. Life-long Republicans like Waldport, Oregon Mayor Herman Welch have left the party citing the Beltway's Republicans adherence to placing "worn out ideology" over the interests of the country.
Unlike 1994, today's GOP is on the road to perdition not revival. After five months, the Congressional Republicans have been out of step with the public on every major issue. Blocking Obama's health plan may lead to a backlash that only accelerates the party's descent, and come November, Democrats will "reward" them handsomely for their generosity.
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...but it is hard to fathom their strategy. Eventually a few rationale Republican leaders will emerge and take over for the loons.
Perhaps it's time for a third party, to give the cowardly democrats some real competition. It would be most gratifying to see the GOP holding down third place.
So we got what we deserved, and now we give the Republicans the scorn they so richly deserve. They will may more taxes, have no influence other than comic. If something turns up like the fondest hope of Mr. Cheney, a terrorist attack, Obama will be so much more articulate and educative about how to respond than the typical Republican bluster.
The great era of successful smirking, a noun-a verb-911, and Giuliani claiming that when those planes hit he said, "thank God George Bush is President." So over!
About the only option left to the GOP is to adopt the Mr. Micawber Strategy that "something will turn up." The something being on the order of a major political stumble by the Democrats or an attack by foreigners. Republicans haven't the luxury of broadening their party given the current political climate and their own internal schisms. They are just trying to hold on to the relatively safe states and districts they already have. Keeping campaign contributions flowing in from business allies while not antagonizing the Social Values or Libertarian Wings of the party are the prime directives. If you are going to adopt this strategy, health care does seem the best battlefield. If and until something comes up.
They've gone feral.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J4LSaGMsBU
Republicans quit playing by the rules; with only 40 seats in the senate they still maintain power via the filibuster to block reasonable and pragmatic legislation. But the filibuster was never meant to be used that way.
Despite the world's economic crisis, plunging employment numbers, over a million more expected home foreclosures, bankruptcies on the rise (mostly attributable to health care problems), and a host of other grave challenges facing the country, republicans are doing everything possible -- from putting holds on nominees, opposing legislation, rejecting ideas, refusing to cooperate -- to undermine Obama. Because if he fails, they think, the voters will put them back in power, but Americans rightfully do not trust them.
Their careless abandon of reason, logic and truth almost led the country over the ledge. And yet they refuse to change, engage or look for solutions; It is their way or the highway.
That is scary.
They sound like children on the verge of having a tantrum.
Thats why the grownups are leaving their party.
Good read. I needed a few laughs today. Thanks.
Many people fall for this junk and the Dems try to counter these blubs with reasoning. It needs to be countered the same way and in unison.
I got my start in politics with Sen. Pell. In his farewell address before retiring in '96 he stressed that "half a loaf can feed an army" since in the democratic process achievement of half of an objective is just as significant as achievement of the ultimate objective and makes it that much easier to do so. Maher and those who share his view ignore this point and instead make the perfect the enemy of the good and equates those who favor a less than perfect solution with those who oppose all solutions altogether.
I've always found Bill a bit much unless I'm in the mood. But I think that's why he - and his type - are a bit much for me as an Independent.
How'd you put it? "perfect (is) the enemy of the good....he equates less than perfect with those who oppose all solutions". In short it's all or nothing. Which makes him sound kind of ....Republican. They're like that. You're with us or against us. They're the deciders. That's what Bill does.
Anyway thanks for clearing up why Bill Maher bugs me. It's because he's a closet Republican. lol I mean he's got the same mindset. I wonder if he knows that?