AS I SEE IT: GOP needs to regain its principles and voters' trust - Jim Ryun

[Jon8503]

By U.S. REP. JIM RYUN


Shortly after my arrival in Congress 10 years ago, I rode an elevator with a more senior colleague from the other side of the aisle.

My new Democrat friend mentioned that I was among several freshman lawmakers, some of whom were even famous, one being a former world-record-holding track star. I said, “I am that guy.” Apparently, I was not that famous.

This is only one of many fond memories from Congress, a service that brought both victory and defeat.

To recall success, I simply need to look to our service members and the three military installations in my district. One of my goals as a member of the Armed Services Committee was to strengthen our national defense and to build up military bases. With two Army posts and the Air National Guard base in my district, the possible effects of a round of Base Realignment and Closure constantly loomed.

In May 2005, tense anticipation quickly turned to relief. Fort Riley, Fort Leavenworth and Forbes Field would not only stay open, but would also be growing. This recognition of the bases’ significance will result in hundreds of millions of dollars for our military bases and surrounding communities. This victory did not just benefit Kansas, but helped strengthen our national defense.

But I also learned from defeat. The recent election certainly provided an opportunity for reflection on things the Republican Party needs to do better.

On Nov. 7 it became clear that the Republican Party had lost its brand. We became tagged instead as the party of corruption. The shameful activities of some of my former colleagues opened the door for those accusations. Republicans gained the majority in the House in 1994 after Democrats came to be viewed as unethical. This year, we lost the majority for much the same reason.

As Republicans, we must return to our core conservative principles — principles developed as part of the Reagan revolution and amplified by the Contract with America. We must reaffirm our commitment to reforming government.

A return to these principles will help us reclaim the mantle of fiscal responsibility and demonstrate that we are the party of fiscal restraint. We must promote restraint in entitlement and discretionary spending. We must prove that we desire to return control to state and local levels, especially in education.

Conservatism has not been repudiated. We conservatives know that the American people still want a government of strong values and limited intrusion in our lives. We as a party must assure Americans of our renewed vigor to be the party that delivers for them. This is the path we must take to regain the trust we surrendered.

When Republicans do this, we will again experience victory.

Jim Ryun is a Kansas Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives. He lost his re-election bid last month. He lives in Lawrence.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascitystar/news/opinion/16251634.htm

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. What a friggin tool

Looks like he forgot that the majority of his constituents were NOT military people.

Someone also needs to clue him in that the people in this country have rejected the Reagan revolution.

[Jon8503]

2. He is a piece of work. Is he a lawyer, maybe he can go to work for Phil

in his new job in the Johnson County office?

[Mabus]

3. Used to run sports camps

and do work as a motivational speaker. Not a lawyer.

But, what if he's the GOP's hope to replace Brownback? :rofl:

[Jon8503]

4. Brownback, now there is another piece of work. Sometimes I feel

like they all congregated here in MO & KS. However, however, we are beginning to make some progress due to the fact people are beginning to see them for what they are which I still think will come to show very quickly where Kline will attempt to use the Johnson County office for his political purposes.

I understand the Reverend Phillps is going to be Kline's chaplain at the office. (joke, joke).

[Mabus]

6. When JoCo went 65% to 35% for Morrison

you'd think the JoCo GOP would get a clue. It is just out and out hubris on their part because they can't be that stupid.

The thing that really sucks is that there's just a small window in which to act. From what I understand, Morrison had two years left on his term. You can't file a recall petition in the last 18 months or the first 3 months that Kline is DA. If he assumes duties in Jan. the earliest a recall petition can be filed would be April and the latest would be this summer. Kline can bide his time and not start his RW agenda/crapola until this summer. By that time, according to statute, it will be too late to file a petition to remove him. Since you have to state the reason(s) for the recall in the petition, you have to wait until he does something actionable. I wish we could just collect the signatures and fill in the reasons later. It's too bad we can't just get him recalled just because he's Phill Kline.

[atommom]

5. "Conservatism has not been repudiated."

They just don't learn, do they? Maybe it has finally reached the point where their pigheadedness becomes obvious to the general public.

[BuelahWitch]

7. No, Conservatism has been regurgitated

As in :puke:

Cleanup in aisle 666!

On edit: checking to see if I spelled "regurgitated" correctly. I know we have teachers here. :hide: DU spellcheck says I'm clean...

[atommom]

8. ...and they still think they can feed it back to us!

Bleah.

[Fovea]

9. Returning to Reganism? Return to the Contract on America?

Why yes Jim, and while you are at it, why not return to the Volstead Act?
You have had your foot on the clutch for a decade and more...

Goodbye Jim ... Ye hardly knew us.