'Effective Government" .... use it or lose it

[Stinky The Clown]

Our old nemesis, Newt, was on the talk show circuit this morning. His big point was 'effective government'. And, in classic Newt fashion, when he said it he sounded reasonable, concerned, and populist. He also included this notion - and that very phrase - in his recent memo to the repubs in Congress.

I found the term and the framing very inviting. It sounded as it was intended to sound - reasonable, concerned, and populist.

As Dems, we have several choices:

We can let this pass and hope it goes away (it won't).

We can preemptively counter it ('The Republican controlled government has been ineffective at ....')

We can steal it and run with it **before** they do. ('Democrats are proposing effective solutions to ....')

While Newt The Candidate has serious hurdles to jump before he can be an effective (see how it works? :) ) candidate, he is, we all have to admit, a very skilled political tactician. And he still enjoys widespread support among elected repubs.

We can chortle or vilify or ignore ...... but this, to me, seemed a very serious suggestion that is still in its incubative state in the public lexicon.

Effective Government

Remember it.

[mazzarro]

1. You are right on!

I think liberals should clearly and early define "effective" government to be a government with the adequate resources - human, financial and otherwise - to carry out its responsibilities and obligations efficiently and properly.

[Salviati]

3. And certainly...

an effective government must be run by people who recognize it's role as the solution to some problems, and not an administration that sees the government as the root of all evil, and a "problem" that must be solved itself. Anyone who has Grover Norquist on their side cannot be trusted to run an effective government.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

2. Totally agree. Saw Newt say it and thought the same way as you. nt

[OneGrassRoot]

4. I saw the same and agree as well ......... kick n/t

[cally]

5. I was thinking the same thing today

The Democrats must run on making government work. We have to seize this moment to show how bad the Republican idea of privatizing government is. Oh, a nice slogan: Government for the people, by the people ;-)