Steele to GOP Critics: "GET A LIFE" or "FIRE ME" (Congress, activist)

[florida.bob]

The GOP will go thru this infighting a while. The fundamental flaws in their political approach are more and more apparent. All they have to do is look at the current news on the direction of the Economy, Consumer sentiment, Housing, ... all the areas where the facts are belying their rhetoric. Couple that with the impending success of Democratic Legislation. It boils down to the realization that they made a massive mistake in their utter refusal to work on the issues the American people are facing. And, they fear, whether they publically say it or not, their near term viability as Political Party is in jeopardy.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by Jill61

I think you're right on the mark in your assessment, Mike. Even when I think back over the last 50+ years, I'm stumped as to what major accomplishments and advancements to our country's welfare that the Republican agenda has been primarily responsible for, compared to that of Democrats.

The Berlin Wall coming down and the collapse of Communism in Russia were huge accomplishments under Republican leadership. And obviously there is a degree of benefit Americans get from those kinds of events. But what about American advancements?

Democrats were responsible for the Civil Rights Act, Equal Rights legislation, "The New Deal" that brought us out of the Great Depression, Social Security, Medicare for seniors, Space exploration, Environmental protection and the expansion of the National Parks Service, the Family & Medical Leave Act, and now the Equal Pay for Equal Work law passed under President Obama, just to name a few.

Under Republicans we got decades of scab-picking the Glass-Steagall Act until they had a veto-proof majority to ensure its overturning, hence, basically forcing Clinton's hand in signing it out of existence (though I do still hold him almost equally responsible ) and the friggin Patriot Act (and thanks for not fighting that harder, Democrats!). I'm sincerely at a loss to come up with a single thing the Republicans have done that has improved our nation even in the slightest. I'm certainly open to being reminded of some, but I'm doubtful the list would even come close to the major improvements shepherded by Democrats.

I'd say it's long past time that Republicans decided to be for something instead of against everything, and that includes real fiscal conservancy, which they have only really paid lip service to.

Some GOP accomplishments in the last 50 years that come to mind are:

- Interstate Highway System (IHS). Eisenhower knew the value of motor transport to the military. He knew since before WW-I (yes WW ONE) when he took an Army motor convoy across the country to prove the merit of the motor vehicle to the military. When he became President, he started the IHS, arguably one of the largest public works program in all of history. If a DEM wanted to do something similar today (national energy grid? mass transit? you name it) they would be called all sorts of socialist, communist, tax and spend liberal, budget wrecker, etc.

- Eisenhower (again) got the ball rolling on civil rights with the Civil Rights Commission (CRC) back in the late 1950's. He also put federal troops at the schoolhouse doors to assure integration of southern colleges and schools following the landmark SCOTUS decision in Brown vs Board of Education. The CRC submitted its finding after Ike left the White House. During this time, the southern racists were all democrats (aka The Solid South) but when Kennedy got the CRC reports, he and Johnson went ahead with Civil Rights legislation. That is the moment in time when racist southern DEMs went nuts and many went to the GOP. In 1964, DEM Senator Strom Thurmond switched to the GOP, along with many other white racists. In the early 1970's, openly racist DEM Senator Jesse Helms switched to the GOP, in part due to Nixon's "Southern Strategy" of appealing to white southern racists. But it was a GOP President who saw the way forward and started the ball rolling. The DEMs picked up the ball and ran with it in the 1960's. Since those days, the white racists have largely flocked to the GOP, reversing decades of DEM ownership of the white southern vote.

- Carter started a half-hearted military renewal after Vietnam, but it was Reagan who really put it into high gear, truly rebuilding and re-arming our military. The USSR went bankrupt trying to play me-too and they had to walk away from their Warsaw Pact coalition, one of the more amazing events in the history of armed standoffs. America can take a big share of the glory in that, but I think Mikhail Gorbachev was an equal hero, since he was the one who had to lead the Soviet government away from the brink when many of his staunch communist diehards no doubt wanted to press on.

In a larger context, the role reversal of the GOP and DEMs that grew out of Nixon's Southern Strategy are still reverberating around our political landscape. No one seems to know who stands for what these days. No one seems to be in charge. IMO, the vested interest of big money, both domestic and foreign money, are running rampant with our Congress; if you have enough money you can get most any loophole or tax break you want. And it shows. Big money just turned the public option health care bill into a gold mine for the vested interests. Big money is out there turning us against each other with tea parties and what have you, when we should all be united that all Americans deserve good health care, that our financial markets should run smoothly without bailouts and bubbles and shadowy investment games.

[Jadex]

Originally Posted by delusianne

He dropped out and Steele picked up his votes.

But he was still up for the job. People just didnt agree with how he wanted to do things. Cause he wasnt getting enough votes so he dropped out.

But its the fact that you cant say Steele got it only because hes black when there was other black people up for the job but they picked Steele. It was about just picking a black person they could have picked the other person that dropped out

[delusianne]

Originally Posted by Jadex

But he was still up for the job. People just didnt agree with how he wanted to do things. Cause he wasnt getting enough votes so he dropped out.

But its the fact that you cant say Steele got it only because hes black when there was other black people up for the job but they picked Steele. It was about just picking a black person they could have picked the other person that dropped out

I didnt say Steele got it OBHB.

Im surprised the other guy didnt get it, myself. He is Ken Blackwell of Ohio, who did the RNC quite a big favor in 2004.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by florida.bob

The GOP will go thru this infighting a while. The fundamental flaws in their political approach are more and more apparent. All they have to do is look at the current news on the direction of the Economy, Consumer sentiment, Housing, ... all the areas where the facts are belying their rhetoric. Couple that with the impending success of Democratic Legislation. It boils down to the realization that they made a massive mistake in their utter refusal to work on the issues the American people are facing. And, they fear, whether they publically say it or not, their near term viability as Political Party is in jeopardy.

I bolded part of your comments so I can speak to them.

I've said the same thing about the GOP for many years. In these forums I've talked about the GOP's YOYO program.

YOYO = You're On Your Own. It plays out this way.

- Need health care? YOYO to pay for it or find a job that provides it and be sure to take care of yourself so you stay healthy. Never mind that we feed your kids crap in school that makes them obese, never mind that we fight attempts to make food labels useful, YOYO pal.
- Want safe food that's healthy? YOYO to grow it yourself or take extraordinary steps to find truly organic safe food. Never mind that we water down the laws on slaughterhouses, cut the number of inspectors, hah, we got campaign contributors to make happy, YOYO pal.
- Want protection from crime? YOYO, go buy a gun to protect yourself and your home; we're cutting the budget for police. Never mind that massive amounts of drugs from Mexico are flooding YOUR streets, we won't raise taxes to solve it, YOYO pal.
- Want the border closed? Never mind that the National Chamber of Commerce loves all that low cost / no benefits labor that never talks back about abuses. We look out for the business community who donate to us. YOYO pal to make a living so shut up and get to work.

The list goes on, but the point is clear that the GOP does not work on the issues that face most people. They are still in the YOYO and NO NO NO mode. The GOP will continue to fail until they seriously try to resolve such issues as health care, immigration, restoring the financial and investments markets to proper functioning, energy independence and many more topics.

[terrence81]

I find Michael Steele to be the second funniest republican around. The first of course being Ann Coulter. The thing is he has been running his mouth since he was appointed as leader of the RNC. A lot of folks in the GOP are like shut up already. Because he is just so funny I mean it's like okay what stupid thing will Michael Steele say next.

This time? I'm on his side. At least he's speaking his mind. I love it. He gets a bravo from me.

"I'm looking them in the eye and say, 'I've had enough of it. If you don't want me in the job, fire me. But until then, shut up. Get with the program or get out of the way.'"

Get with the program or get out of the way!

[Jill61]

Ok, so we have the Republicans to thank for the Interstate Highway system. Good one. Credit one for them.

I'll give them partial credit for Civil Rights protections. However, Eisenhower may have been in the right position to get the proverbial ball rolling, but it was the benefits of the New Deal and the advocacy of Eleanor Roosevelt that really brought the need for Civil Rights to the forefront.

As for the military renewal program, although phrased somewhat differently in my post, I believe I already gave Republicans credit for those accomplishments. I'm just not sure how they fit the criteria of directly benefiting Americans per se.

[Freemore]

He is promoting his book now. I think he was chosen because he is a weak man. That was proven when he apologized to Rush. I doubt he has a political future after this term is over.

[jkbatca]

99.999% of the republican party of 2010 is only interested in one thing, re-electing their own into various offices. Period.

They are not interested in standing up for anything. They just show up for the vote and then leave to collect their money from lobbyists + other various sources. They are certainly not interested in their constituents.

Pelosi / Reid hand the republican party golden opportunities to show how they can differentiate themselves from the Democrats, and what do we get? Silence. Pure Silence. They allow Pelosi to control the debate and get away with the outrageous things that she has been doing.

Only Ron Paul has been voicing his opinion on what's happening. And an occasional shout-out from Joe Wilson :-)

Although many think 2010 will be a big gain for republicans, I think the Democrats will still have control. The republicans will just offer the same lame candidates and offer no debate or reasons why to vote for them. The Democrats will win purely by default.

Forget about third party. There are too many stupid people to mark any other vote box for anything other than "-R". Even when the republican candidate resigned and endorsed the Democrat, 5% of the most brain dead brain stem republicans still vote for her. That was enough for the Democrat to win.

[florida.bob]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

I bolded part of your comments so I can speak to them.

I've said the same thing about the GOP for many years. In these forums I've talked about the GOP's YOYO program.

YOYO = You're On Your Own. It plays out this way.

- Need health care? YOYO to pay for it or find a job that provides it and be sure to take care of yourself so you stay healthy. Never mind that we feed your kids crap in school that makes them obese, never mind that we fight attempts to make food labels useful, YOYO pal.
- Want safe food that's healthy? YOYO to grow it yourself or take extraordinary steps to find truly organic safe food. Never mind that we water down the laws on slaughterhouses, cut the number of inspectors, hah, we got campaign contributors to make happy, YOYO pal.
- Want protection from crime? YOYO, go buy a gun to protect yourself and your home; we're cutting the budget for police. Never mind that massive amounts of drugs from Mexico are flooding YOUR streets, we won't raise taxes to solve it, YOYO pal.
- Want the border closed? Never mind that the National Chamber of Commerce loves all that low cost / no benefits labor that never talks back about abuses. We look out for the business community who donate to us. YOYO pal to make a living so shut up and get to work.

The list goes on, but the point is clear that the GOP does not work on the issues that face most people. They are still in the YOYO and NO NO NO mode. The GOP will continue to fail until they seriously try to resolve such issues as health care, immigration, restoring the financial and investments markets to proper functioning, energy independence and many more topics.

JNotOYO in that assessment on recent years. It hasn't always been so. I've been voting fairly regularly since 1970. In that time their were several Republicans I supported, some even for President. There was always a certain amount of contention between the Parties, but Congress very often was able to put aside their difference and come to consensus on issues. That has all but disappeared in the last 20yrs or so. We have faced many problems in that time and solutions or attempts at solutions just have not been really present. I certain don't only blame the Repubs for this condition, there is plenty of that on the Dems side as well. It's just that, in this past year, particularly, that dichotomy has never been so blatantly obvious. So until, or unless, that changes, we will continue to be hurt by it.