GOP Sees Positives In Negative Stand

[cal04]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/08/AR2009020802344.html?hpid=topnews
Leaders Seize On Spending Issue

Three months after their Election Day drubbing, Republican leaders see glimmers of rebirth in the party's liberation from an unpopular president, its selection of its first African American chairman and, most of all, its stand against a stimulus package that they are increasingly confident will provide little economic jolt but will pay off politically for those who oppose it.

After giving the package zero votes in the House, and with their counterparts in the Senate likely to provide in a crucial procedural vote today only the handful of votes needed to avoid a filibuster, Republicans are relishing the opportunity to make a big statement. Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Tex.) suggested last week that the party is learning from the disruptive tactics of the Taliban, and the GOP these days does have the bravado of an insurgent band that has pulled together after a big defeat to carry off a quick, if not particularly damaging, raid on the powers that be.

"We're so far ahead of where we thought we'd be at this time," said Rep. Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), one of several younger congressmen seeking to lead the party's renewal. "It's not a sign that we're back to where we need to be, but it's a sign that we're beginning to find our voice. We're standing on our core principles, and the core principle that suffered the most in recent years was fiscal conservatism and economic liberty. That was the tallest pole in our tent, and we took an ax to it, but now we're building it back."

The second-ranking House Republican, Rep. Eric Cantor (Va.), put it more bluntly. "What transpired . . . and will give us a shot in the arm going forward is that we are standing up on principle and just saying no," he said.

(snip)
Democrats scoff at the Republicans' claim to regrouping, saying the declarations against big spending are undermined by the deficits that were run up under Bush and GOP congressional leadership. The stand against the stimulus appeared to be more rejectionist than the discovery of a new approach for moving forward, they said.

[PSPS]

1. "Economic liberty"

We're standing on our core principles, and the core principle that suffered the most in recent years was fiscal conservatism and economic liberty.

Besides his inability to use grammar correctly, the translation is: We believe that rich people should continue to use all the resources the country provides without having to pay any taxes to support them.

[Cant trust em]

6. I really don't think that most American voters stand on "core principles"

I think that most people honestly want our leaders to work together, even if that means compromising and giving in a little bit. I think that the Republicans are totally miscalculating that people will respect their stand. People really just want to get something done. If the democrats paint the republicans as pissy obstructionists, they can win this fight.

[DBoon]

7. is translated to:

"We want only enough government to protect us from our slaves"

[Idealism]

2. Yet another example of why WaPo isn't in the "librul media."

Negative Stand? What the fuck kind of bullshit phrase is that for keeping people out of work, screwing states over who desperately need money, and getting an inane "tax cut" thrown in that won't amount to anything?

[niceypoo]

3. It is becoming obvious that congress and Obama need to cut the GOP out of the picture

...and do what needs to be done. Including the republicans will only gum up the works. Fuck them, they had their chance and they destroyed the economy.

[ananda]

5. It's kind of hard to cut the GOP out of the picture when..

.. you are GOP lite yourself, if you
get my drift.

[underpants]

4. We'll be rid of this horrible hangover tomorrow I just know it...now let's have another drink

Yeah they've turned the corner all right :eyes:

the problem for them is that they haven't actually hit rock bottom yet but they are just sure that they don't have to think about it IT'S ALL UP FROM HERE BABY!!! now let's have a drink to celebrate

I doubt that they really believe any of this. They have to put on a public face and this is about all they have right now.