by Frank James
The fight for the soul and future of the Republican Party is taking place over the $787 billion economic stimulus.
Every chance they get, congressional Republicans are trying to reclaim the mantle of the anti-tax, anti-spending, small government party. Their nearly monolithic opposition to the stimulus was a perfect opportunity to make the point that they're no longer the big government, big spending Republican party of the Bush years.
As Politico.com points out, something similar is occurring at the state level with Republican governors, although they aren't nearly as uniform in their opposition as congressional Republicans.
Some governors, underscoring their adherence to their party's newly reanimated anti-spending creed are denouncing the stimulus package. But others are able to be less ideologically pure as they lead states where conservatives don't have the upper hand. The 2012 presidential primaries are the backdrop to all of this.
An excerpt:
On the one side is South Carolina's Mark Sanford, the chairman of the Republican Governors Association, who refers to the spending package as "a tremendous mistake."
"The spending plan will prove to be an absolute disaster," Sanford said in an interview. "The bottom line is that it's horrible."
On the other is Florida's Charlie Crist, the popular first-term governor who appeared on stage with Obama last week to urge passage of the stimulus.
"I support the stimulus plan because, number one, we need it," Crist told Politico. "Florida sends an awful lot of tax dollars to D.C. and we ought to get some of it back."
Many Republican governors, including party heavyweights Mississippi's Haley Barbour, Louisiana's Bobby Jindal, Alaska's Sarah Palin and Rick Perry of Texas, have taken a hard line against what they say are the debt-increasing measures in the economic recovery bill. But Crist and a few others, most notably California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, have been more receptive to the new federal funds.
To some degree, the varying approaches adopted by Sanford and Crist reflect the unique political environments in which they operate. Sanford represents a heavily Republican state where his message has a resonance it wouldn't have in Florida, where Crist must contend with a far more competitive two-party landscape and a budget shortfall that could lead to draconian cuts in services.
Nonetheless, their dueling approaches have suddenly designated Sanford and Crist as the two poles of Republican restoration theory--one that calls for a return to core conservative principles and a back-to-basics approach, and another that is more pragmatic and bipartisan in tone.
Comments
What a bunch of hypocritical oafs. Didn't hear a peep out these bozos when Bush pushed through his tax cuts for the rich which cost tax payers over a trillion.
Posted by: bill r. | February 19, 2009 11:58 AM
Governor Sanford has it right. One "pork and corruption" Democratic Party is quite enough for this country. We don't need two.
Posted by: Inconvenient Truth | February 19, 2009 12:11 PM
The base may like the stubborn principles of the GOPers snubbing the stimulus, but they will eventually have to answer for a ton of poorer, unemployed voters who watched as their state was left behind thanks to base appeasement.
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | February 19, 2009 12:30 PM
The Republican Party doesn't have a soul, they traded it for a tax cut for billionaires.
Posted by: nisl | February 19, 2009 12:30 PM
Governor Sanford has it right. One "pork and corruption" Democratic Party is quite enough for this country. We don't need two.
Posted by: Inconvenient Truth | February 19, 2009 12:11 PM
We already HAVE two "pork and corruption" parties, and have had two at LEAST since Bush took the White House. Republicans have no clean hands on this issue, any more than Dems do.
Posted by: Op109 | February 19, 2009 12:33 PM
They're gonna have a hard time convincing most of us that they are truly about small government. During the Bush years they barely even paid lip service to that ideal. They could achieve more by working with Democrats than by sitting to the side and pouting, claiming they are acting on ideals they have fallen short on so severely when in power themselves.
Posted by: Aaron C. | February 19, 2009 12:34 PM
Inconvenient Truth - Tell me how Gov Sanford plans to pay for increases in unemployment and medicaide claims that his state will see from those losing their jobs in SC? How is he planning to fund education as property values and tax revenues plummet? Pull your head out of that dark place and start asking these questions and you'll find that the Republicans have no answer - only talk.
Posted by: Jeff in Michigan | February 19, 2009 12:39 PM
Borrow and Spend!
Borrow and Spend!
Borrow and Spend!
Ever since Reagan!
Posted by: AAA | February 19, 2009 12:49 PM
It's about time Republicans started acting like Republicans again. Acting like Dems serves no one well.
Posted by: Vast Right Wing Conspirator | February 19, 2009 12:52 PM
Don't take the money then, Gov.
http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2009/02/17/paul-begala-challenges-republicans-who-oppose-stimulus-dont-ta/
Posted by: dt☢ | February 19, 2009 12:55 PM
The GOP has a soul?
Posted by: Bubba ✔ | February 19, 2009 1:11 PM
I must say it's been great to be freed of Bush and his refusal to cut spending for the past 8 years.
Posted by: Jeff | February 19, 2009 1:24 PM
Sadly there just isn't any" heart and soul" because that is what MSM wants to propagandize on the ignorant herd. Naturally you lefties pick up the chant with reckless liberal abandon and cry how cruel and out of touch we are with humanity, as you callously manipulate new government entitlements to produce a dependent underclass who then give up all responsibility for themselves and thus must vote Democrat to continue their subsidization. You think you are building a grand majority to retain absolute power in our government. Conservatives will rise again, as the enormous debt overwhelms your socialist programs and the taxpaying Americans become tired of this liberal agenda and demand to stop paying for failed policies promoted by a growing list of morally deficient Dems. We will be just fine!! You won, so govern, as Obama enjoys his 50$ steak and helps you spend your extra 7 bucks a week for the few weeks. Gotta love it.
Posted by: Bubba Porter | February 19, 2009 1:38 PM
Perhaps. But they're only like inmates fighting over who controls the TV clicker.
Posted by: ornery | February 19, 2009 1:45 PM
"One "pork and corruption" Democratic Party is quite enough for this country. We don't need two."
You're quite right. Unfortunately, that's the fact. To throw just two names out there from the other side of the aisle: pork: Palin's Bridge to Nowhere. Corruption: Abramoff.
It's - and more's the shame - and equal-opportunity issue, and it wouldn't do to ignore or deny that fact.
Posted by: Candia | February 19, 2009 1:47 PM
Oxymoron: GOP = Soul!
Posted by: Neal | February 19, 2009 2:10 PM
I, for one, am confident that the GOP "statesmen" accept relief for their voters. Yes, despite the fact that they are opposed to this plan, they will accept the money--like the anecdotal welfare queens they are.
Because when it comes to a question of hard-core, rock-ribbed conservative principle about spending and restraining federal power--we know which way these rabbity little governors are going to jump, don't we?
I am curious to see if even one of them does stand on principle and reject the money. If one does, it means one of two things: 1) there's oil and GOLD a-gushin' out of every pothole in his state, or 2) he broke into Limbaugh's secret stash.
Posted by: LC | February 19, 2009 2:43 PM
as Obama enjoys his 50$ steak and helps you spend your extra 7 bucks a week for the few weeks. Gotta love it.
Posted by: Bubba Porter | February 19, 2009 1:38 PM
LOL Bubba - no - clue! I bet that $50 steak came from Bush's ranch too!
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | February 19, 2009 2:50 PM
The Repuglicans will do the right-wing thing and take every last penny they can latch on to. It's what Repugs are all about - taking every last cent that isn't nailed down.
If they don't, it will once again show that they're more afraid of Limbaugh and the far right Grover Norquist "think tanks" than they are of voters. I mean, losing an election isn't the worst thing in the world for these ghouls- they'll always have work pontificating on the glories of the free market on FAUX
Posted by: Hey Joe | February 19, 2009 2:53 PM
What soul !!? That Party has not had a soul since President Lincoln !! How they let President Eisenhower or Senator Dirksen sneak in there, I still haven't figured out !!!!!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, America | February 19, 2009 2:56 PM
Sadly there just isn't any" heart and soul" because that is what MSM wants to propagandize on the ignorant herd. Naturally you lefties pick up the chant with reckless liberal abandon and cry how cruel and out of touch we are with humanity, as you callously manipulate new government entitlements to produce a dependent underclass who then give up all responsibility for themselves and thus must vote Democrat to continue their subsidization. You think you are building a grand majority to retain absolute power in our government. Conservatives will rise again, as the enormous debt overwhelms your socialist programs and the taxpaying Americans become tired of this liberal agenda and demand to stop paying for failed policies promoted by a growing list of morally deficient Dems. We will be just fine!! You won, so govern, as Obama enjoys his 50$ steak and helps you spend your extra 7 bucks a week for the few weeks. Gotta love it.
Posted by: Bubba Porter | February 19, 2009 1:38 PM
Fake Bubba, first of all, had "you Republicants" not been grossly out-of-touch, you would never have lost the last two big elections. You ARE out of touch. Deal with it, for your own sakes. Second, the people who are benefitting from entitlements right now are Corporate CEO's grabbing their share of bailout money PLUS maintaining their corporate perks, and I don't see where they particularly qualify as a dependent underclass. Snake's underbelly, I can see, but not dependent underclass. The "dependent underclass" you guys love to denigrate are too busy losing their jobs and their homes, thanks to the last 8 years of Bush. Third, I'd hope NOT to have any kind of permanent majority for the Dems, or for anybody else. Permanent Majority was YOUR thing, and all it ever meant was that you guys wanted a one-party dictatorship (which, for all I can see, is STILL what you guys want). Permanent majority by ANY single group is about as un-American an idea as was ever dreamt up. At some point, of COURSE Conservatives will rise again (as will my lunch if I keep trying to find logic in your statements) -- but first you're going to have to convince enough people you're not greedy, power-hungry crooks. Good luck with that. As for morally deficient, there isn't a Republican in the country who's got grounds to be talking about ANYBODY ELSE'S morals. Not that it'd stop you, of course -- Republicans do their absolute BEST at juding somebody else's flaws, making sure of course that they deny their own. Hypocritical losers all, still unable to handle their reality. Gotta love it.
Posted by: Op109 | February 19, 2009 4:47 PM
The GOP (Grumpy Obstructionist Party) needs more soul... per Eric Holder.
Michael Steele isn't enough.
Posted by: smoky robinson | February 19, 2009 6:09 PM
Just to put things in perspective about how we got here.. this is an excerpt from this site... http://www.heritage.org/Research/Budget/bg1660.cfm
"Ten Common Myths About Taxes, Spending, and Budget Deficits" written in 2003
After holding at around $500 billion throughout the 1990s, discretionary spending increased from $584 billion in 2000 to $843 billion in 2003--a 44 percent increase in just three years. (See Chart 5.) The Republicans' image of spending restraint is clearly undeserved, and their spending spree eventually will mean a higher tax burden for businesses and families.
and this is coming from the Heritage Foundation, which is a Right wing foundation first organized under Regan.
And yes I agree with Bill R.. the Republicans are a bunch of hypocritical oafs.
Op109, Well said.. I enjoyed your commentary.
Posted by: KO | February 19, 2009 6:58 PM
Op109, yea right, tell me about it during the upcoming debate on immigration reform. If Obama would follow the laws he could gain 6 to 7 millions jobs for Americans that are currently occupied by illegals. That twice the number from his so-called stimulus. But nooo, Dem. will pander for votes, just watch. Thus the poor and underclass stay on the dole, dependent on Dems. entitlements.
Posted by: Bubba Porter | February 20, 2009 4:34 AM
I can not believe Palin will she really take money from a terrorist. I remember during the primarys in Pa she kept saying terrorist and was building up anger in the crowd. If there is ever a hypocrit it is Palin.
As for Crist he put the state in a much deeper trench with his tax cuts on property which was a big joke now he cries we have a seriou budget problem in the state. Where do these politicians come from.
Posted by: peggy | February 23, 2009 2:20 PM