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Aside from being able to defeat Obama in November (pretty much guaranteed by the condition of the economy, unemployment, and O's record of socialist legislation and financial irresponsibility), what is the most important characteristic the Republican nominee must have?
It's not whether he's had affairs, or even lied about them, or whether he feels your pain... and it's not even "how conservative he is" - all the current Republican candidates are conservative enough for the reversal of trends we need in the next four years, though obviously none is perfect.
What's the most important characteristic?
It's the ability to get conservative legislation INTRODUCED AND PASSED so he can sign it into law as President.
I know, introducing and passing legislation is Congress's job, not the President's. In fact the President has a relatively minor "official" part in making laws - he simply signs (or vetos) what Congress sends him.
But a President has the ability to exert major influence on what Congress sends him, in part through meeting with Congressmen and explaining what he will and won't veto while working out packages with them. And the biggest part of his influence, is through the Bully Pulpit.
Notice the fits of screaming hysteria that country has gone through for the last year or so, not in trying to CUT the Federal budget, but simply in trying to reduce its rate of increase a little. And the effort has had ZERO results so far - just some "automatic" cuts" in the rate of increase, which it looks like will be quietly legislated away before they go into effect in Jan. 2013.
Have you ever wondered how President Reagan managed to get a ***33 PERCENT*** cut in the Income Tax Rate, in his very first year in office? (When he took office the top rate was 75%, he cut it to 50% and cut all the other rates proportionately. Then he did it again later, finally winding up at 28%, less than HALF the rate he started with). In today's Congress, it would be a feat impossible to even imagine.
He did it by using the Bully Pulpit. Reagan would go on national TV and say to people directly, "Here's what I want to happen, here are the advantages and disadvantages, I think you as Americans deserve this an can handle the responsibility etc., SO PLEASE CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSMAN AND TELL HIM TO VOTE FOR THIS." The speech, given many times for different agenda items, was longer than that, but that was the gist. Having a Republican-majority Senate helped, but even the Dem-majority House caved when huge public pressure fell on them.
The most important characteristic the Republican nominee for President in 2012, isn't just to be conservative. It's to be able to get his conservatism INTRODUCED AND PASSED thru the Congress so he can then sign it into law.
At this point, looks like it will be either Romney or Newt. Both have extensive baggage, both have noteable conservative achievements, both have major liberal black marks on their records. And all that stuff is far less important than CAN HE GET CONSERVATIVE LEGISLATION PASSED AND SIGNED INTO LAW.
Part of it depends on what Congress he gets, of course. Republicans will likely keep the House, hopefully with at least the same majority they have now, and there's a good chance they will get a Senate majority (do you believe the liberal pundits, in both parties, who scream it isn't so?). And hopefully there will be a higher percentage of no-tax-increases-and-CUT-the-budget newcomers, as happened in 2010. If so, that will make it a lot easier for the Republican President to actually legislate conservatism (REDUCED govt spending and regulation) into law.
But there will be several more Congressional elections between now and when the Republican president leaves office in 2021, and leftists (in both parties) gaining a majority in one house is always possible. If that happens, then between Newt and Romney, whihc is more likely to be able to get conservative legislation through Congress and onto his desk for signature?
Between Newt and Romney, which of them is more able to persuade members of Congress to vote for his conservatives policies, in enough numbers to get it passed? Which is more able to persuade the American people that NOW IS THE TIME to call or write your Congressman and tell him to pass this legislation?
The most important characteristic the Republican nominee will bring to the White House is NOT promises or perfect hair or a pixie smile or even "I stick strictly to the Constitution". It's "After 8 years with me in office this country will be a lot closer to obeying the Constitution, and I can make that happen better than my opponent for the nomination."
Which candidate can get Congress to pass more conservative legislation even if/when they don't want to?
Aside from being able to defeat Obama in November (pretty much guaranteed by the condition of the economy, unemployment, and O's record of socialist legislation and financial irresponsibility), what is the most important characteristic the Republican nominee must have?
It's not whether he's had affairs, or even lied about them, or whether he feels your pain... and it's not even "how conservative he is" - all the current Republican candidates are conservative enough for the reversal of trends we need in the next four years, though obviously none is perfect.
What's the most important characteristic?
It's the ability to get conservative legislation INTRODUCED AND PASSED so he can sign it into law as President.
I know, introducing and passing legislation is Congress's job, not the President's. In fact the President has a relatively minor "official" part in making laws - he simply signs (or vetos) what Congress sends him.
But a President has the ability to exert major influence on what Congress sends him, in part through meeting with Congressmen and explaining what he will and won't veto while working out packages with them. And the biggest part of his influence, is through the Bully Pulpit.
Notice the fits of screaming hysteria that country has gone through for the last year or so, not in trying to CUT the Federal budget, but simply in trying to reduce its rate of increase a little. And the effort has had ZERO results so far - just some "automatic" cuts" in the rate of increase, which it looks like will be quietly legislated away before they go into effect in Jan. 2013.
Have you ever wondered how President Reagan managed to get a ***33 PERCENT*** cut in the Income Tax Rate, in his very first year in office? (When he took office the top rate was 75%, he cut it to 50% and cut all the other rates proportionately. Then he did it again later, finally winding up at 28%, less than HALF the rate he started with). In today's Congress, it would be a feat impossible to even imagine.
He did it by using the Bully Pulpit. Reagan would go on national TV and say to people directly, "Here's what I want to happen, here are the advantages and disadvantages, I think you as Americans deserve this an can handle the responsibility etc., SO PLEASE CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSMAN AND TELL HIM TO VOTE FOR THIS." The speech, given many times for different agenda items, was longer than that, but that was the gist. Having a Republican-majority Senate helped, but even the Dem-majority House caved when huge public pressure fell on them.
The most important characteristic the Republican nominee for President in 2012, isn't just to be conservative. It's to be able to get his conservatism INTRODUCED AND PASSED thru the Congress so he can then sign it into law.
At this point, looks like it will be either Romney or Newt. Both have extensive baggage, both have noteable conservative achievements, both have major liberal black marks on their records. And all that stuff is far less important than CAN HE GET CONSERVATIVE LEGISLATION PASSED AND SIGNED INTO LAW.
Part of it depends on what Congress he gets, of course. Republicans will likely keep the House, hopefully with at least the same majority they have now, and there's a good chance they will get a Senate majority (do you believe the liberal pundits, in both parties, who scream it isn't so?). And hopefully there will be a higher percentage of no-tax-increases-and-CUT-the-budget newcomers, as happened in 2010. If so, that will make it a lot easier for the Republican President to actually legislate conservatism (REDUCED govt spending and regulation) into law.
But there will be several more Congressional elections between now and when the Republican president leaves office in 2021, and leftists (in both parties) gaining a majority in one house is always possible. If that happens, then between Newt and Romney, whihc is more likely to be able to get conservative legislation through Congress and onto his desk for signature?
Between Newt and Romney, which of them is more able to persuade members of Congress to vote for his conservatives policies, in enough numbers to get it passed? Which is more able to persuade the American people that NOW IS THE TIME to call or write your Congressman and tell him to pass this legislation?
The most important characteristic the Republican nominee will bring to the White House is NOT promises or perfect hair or a pixie smile or even "I stick strictly to the Constitution". It's "After 8 years with me in office this country will be a lot closer to obeying the Constitution, and I can make that happen better than my opponent for the nomination."
Which candidate can get Congress to pass more conservative legislation even if/when they don't want to?
Newt or Romney?
Well Newt is an Ahole and people within his own party can't stand him. I would doubt that he would be very effective. I don't know about Romney, but Huntsman would probably be the most effective.
The most important characteristic for the 2012 Republican nominee for President?
Intelligence.
Nah, there are plenty of smart people who become tyrants, thieves, selfish, loot our treasury, lack common sense and make terrible decisions, and put party and politics above the nation.
Well Newt is an Ahole and people within his own party can't stand him. I would doubt that he would be very effective. I don't know about Romney, but Huntsman would probably be the most effective.
The question is not how he gets along with peeople who were already going to vote for his conservative initiatives.
The question is how will he do with people who did NOT want to vote for his initiatives, and he wants to persuade them?
Being an Ahole might be an advantage at times. If his enemies know he's willing and able to lower the boom on them, they might adjust their behavior accordingly.
You may as well have stopped after this one. This is the only thing that Republicans care about at this point. This is what they're reduced to. Being able to beat Obama. That's the only characteristic that matters now.
As for implementing Conservative ideals once elected (if elected), forget it. Repubs never do it. Mostly because it's a load of bull and could never pass anyway. Big Government and out of control spending will continue.
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