Some Republicans Fret That Opposition To New Obama Measures Could Seriously Backfire

[Jennicut]

Sam Stein
HuffPost Reporting

Some senior Republican strategists and party veterans are beginning to fret that the party's refusal to work with President Obama, even when he crosses onto their own philosophical turf, could ultimately erode some of the political gains they've made this past year.

Over the past two weeks, Republicans in Congress have united in nearly unanimous opposition to a series of ideologically conservative policy suggestions, starting with a commission to reduce the deficit, a pay-go provision that would limit new expenditures, and a spending freeze on non-military programs.

Opposition has usually been based on specific policy concerns or complaints that the measures aren't going far enough. But the message being sent is that the GOP's sole mission is presidential destruction.
Now, some in the party are beginning to worry.

"I can't tell you why they are taking this approach," said Jim Kolbe, a former member of Congress and longtime fiscal hawk from Arizona. "I have doubts about some of them myself but I think that certainly the pay-go and the commission have some merit and we should be supporting those. I don't have an answer to this. Whether this is just part of them being philosophically opposed or are they just being obstructionists, I don't know?

"I do think there is that worry ," Kolbe added. "I think this thing can turn around just as fast as it turned against the Democrats, it can turn the other way if the Republican don't respond with serious proposals here."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/29/some-republicans-fret-tha_n_442182.html


Obama can use it to his advantage in the weeks to come and Repubs are kind of walking themselves right into that trap.

[monmouth]

1. The next Obama campaign will be pretty inexpensive. Just run

the tape, so much gold can be mined from both he and the Pubbies. I'm thinking he and Plouffe knew this, i.e. the request for the cameras. You can tell when David is in the house.

[Andy823]

2. I agree.

I also think that he should challenge them to more "open" discussions like he did when he went to their retreat. He really did a great job of forcing them into a corner, and if he had more of these events that would be on TV, and if he included the democrats as well, I think the public would be able to see just who "really" is obstructing things, and who is trying to fix the problems. Republicans would have a choice to continue on as they are, not doing anything but trying to make the president fail, or by working with the president and the democrats in trying to solve the problems. Back them into the corner and make them put up or shut up! They want "open" discussion, so give it to them and let the whole world watch!

[Jennicut]

3. Put all the Dems and Repubs in room from both chambers of Congress

and have Obama just go at it, then televise it. Really, most people don't even know what a filibuster is and why things don't get done in DC the way they want them to.

[katmondoo]

4. Jennicut

Thats the best idea ever. Wish it would happen

[Clio the Leo]

5. They need to STOP worrying and START voting! NT

[rasputin1952]

6. "Could" ultimately erode some political gains...

What small gains the GOP may have made, have been tossed smashed by the zealots of the party.

They have nothing, and every day, more people are seeing that. Spiral bound "Health Care Plan", a "Budget" with no numbers, all they have is the ability to be pests, and they have honed that talent well.

Most people don't blame the president for the lack of action, they blame the R's first, and a few D's. With motion forward after the SOTU and the Q&A destruction of the House R's...the D's should be in excellent shape to do things...w/o the interference of the R's...just brush them away like gnats...:D

[opihimoimoi]

13. The pubs are fucked,,,shallow bench...no one able to challenge Obama series.

They had a chance to do good...blew it...they even went and backed W ,,,who disabled the GOP down to 16%

[rasputin1952]

14. Keeping steady pressure on them will destroy the GOP...

the question is do our guys/gals have the gumption to keep pressure upon the boil to burst it...:hi:

How are things out there? It's 14F back here on the Tundra. Made it through the blizzard though from a couple of weeks back, had an extra inch drop overnight...but we survived...wish I was body surfing on the North Shore right about now...:D

[opihimoimoi]

16. Freaking Heat Wave here...78 F winds down to 3mph

still dark at 0305 hours

rained yesterday...aqbout 1/4 inch

Re pUBS...THEY ARE evil...THEY LIE CHEAT STEAL

They are not team players

Party of ZERO

They are defeated Bullies who cry a lot

They need to be rehab-ed...if its possible....or given lobotomies

(throws shoes at them....)

[rasputin1952]

17. I toss my shoes as well...

:D

[Bitwit1234]

7. If the media post these actions of the republicans.

which they won't they never do. The are too LIBERAL to post anything BAD about republicans. Right.....

[msongs]

8. dems squander PR/promotional manna that falls to them from the political heavens...

where's the ad showing McConnell saying he wishes to wreck the Obama/dems agenda ("waterloo"), followed by the voice tying that to republicans and their policies? hmm

Msongs

[Raine]

9. Gee ya think? DUH

what a bunch of dummies, they're just now figuring that out! :silly:

Edit: typo

[ellenfl]

10. after the retreat, repubs will never let cameras in again.

obama annihilated them, on camera, and they know it.

ellen fl

[geek tragedy]

11. The worriers are the Republican version of the DLC

Republican ideas are shit. Their only hope is to convince the public that Democrats are worse. It's been working so far.

[JoeyT]

12. Huh.

So they're afraid that acting like a bunch of obstructive dicks will make them look like a bunch of obstructive dicks.
That seems like a fair concern. Given the state of the media today, they may still be worrying too much.

[burning rain]

15. The Republicans have more to gain from unremitting opposition.

If they cooperate, they are harming themselves by inviting teabaggers to primary them and perhaps run third-party candidates in general elections. Besides that, they'd simply be destroying their brand to help Obama--one doesn't vote Republican to elect help-mates for Democrats.

[yellowcanine]

18. Anytime sentence that includes, "...Republicans fret....." has to have a good ending.