U.S. Republicans blame message, not ideas, for failures

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  • 2

    paulinusa

    "U.S. Republicans blame message, not ideas, for failures"

    They continue to be delusional.

  • -3

    bass4funk

    They continue to be delusional.

    More like the Dems are being typical hard-headed, irrational children. Never wanting to compromise.

  • -2

    RomeoRII

    Ya can't beat Santa Claus (food stamps, Obama phones, etc.). Even with a head start, Santa wins.

    RR

  • -1

    Serrano

    "voters who don't pay close attention to politics"

    Obama has 'em mesmerized!

  • 1

    Laguna

    “We are accountants. Sometimes, though, being an accountant doesn’t pull at the heart strings.”

    Ha ha! Oh, yes, you are all very serious types; you are the adults in the room - I remember quite well what happened last time you were in charge. You want to balance the budget because you're budget hawks: No other issue even comes close to that, as you've repeatedly stated. Well, except for protecting Pentagon spending. Also, taxes on the wealthy cannot be raised under any circumstances. Aside from these two preconditions - which necessitates that the budget be balanced on the backs of the poor - you are all quite ready to compromise - the very definition of "severely conservative."

    We don't even need to get into "legitimate rape" territory here - Ryan implies so every time he opens his mouth about the budget.

  • 0

    Vast Right-Wing Conspirator

    Rep. Ryan may have a point. Remember a few facts;

    Pres. Obama got 6 million FEWER votes than in 2008. The GOP majority in the House of Representatives was re-elected. The GOP controls the majority of state legislatures and governorships.

    The GOP has a large number of young up-and-coming members who will be ready to take to the national stage in 2016. The Democrats seem enamored with running yesterday's news, such as Hillary 3.0, or failing that giving Joe Biden a shot at the presidency. The contrast couldn't be clearer.

  • 0

    Farmboy

    “We have to show our ideas are better at fighting poverty 

    Ummm, is that, "Send the poor to war," or just "let them starve if they can't find work...that'll motivate 'em"?

    how our ideas are better at solving healthcare

    Ummm, is that, "if they can't afford it, they can't afford it ... it's not my problem "?

    how our ideas are better at solving the problems people are experiencing in their daily lives

    Ummm, I have no idea what they're talking about here. Unemployment? Housing market collapse?

    to “stop being the stupid party” and reject anti-intellectual strands within the party.

    Well, yes, this one I think would be a good idea.

  • 1

    SuperLib

    And if they can't sway people by their message, they'll just keep holding legislation hostage anyway.

    “I think they don’t understand the conservative message,” McDonnell told CNN’s “State of the Union.”

    Herman Cain, Michele Bachmann, Mike Hackabee, Ricky Perry, Sarah Palin, Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, and Newt Gingrich.

    There's your problem right there. At least Romney was smart enough to know you have to bullshit the conservative base to get the nomination then jettison them in the general election.

  • 1

    Laguna

    To paraphrase today's Krugman NYT article:

    Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal declared, “We must not be the party that simply protects the well off so they can keep their toys. We have to be the party that shows all Americans how they can thrive.” Meanwhile, back in Louisiana Mr. Jindal is pushing a plan to eliminate the state’s income tax, which falls most heavily on the affluent, and make up for the lost revenue by raising sales taxes, which fall much more heavily on the poor and the middle class. What is different here is that, in the past, Republicans would justify tax cuts for the rich either by claiming that they would pay for themselves or by claiming that they could make up for lost revenue by cutting wasteful spending. But what we’re seeing now is open, explicit reverse Robin Hoodism: taking from ordinary families and giving to the rich. That is, even as Republicans look for a way to sound more sympathetic and less extreme, their actual policies are taking another sharp right turn.

    They don't even try to pretend anymore - it would be pretty useless, anyway. Remember Romney? - to think that was all only a few months ago!

  • -3

    Vast Right-Wing Conspirator

    Krugman is off base. How is a sales tax "taking from the rich and giving to the poor"? By definition, everyone pays the same rate. That's fair in my book. Plus the rich, assuming they spend more money, will also pay more in sales tax. Buying a 100,000 dollar car will mean the owner pays 5x more sales tax than a person buying a 20,000 dollar one.

    The idea of states imposing income tax is repugnant in the first place.

  • -1

    sailwind

    To paraphrase today's Krugman NYT article

    To quote Paul Krugman: 2002

    "To fight this recession the Fed needs more than a snapback; it needs soaring household spending to offset moribund business investment. And to do that, as Paul McCulley of Pimco put it, **Alan Greenspan needs to create a housing bubble **to replace the Nasdaq bubble."

    Messaging 101 lesson for GOP supporters whenever Krugman gets his name mentioned in a discussion.

  • 1

    SuperLib

    You don't get it, Vast. The top 20% of the people in the US own 85% of the wealth and that number is climbing. Just how much revenue do you expect to get from the remaining 15%?

    That recording of Romney talking about the 47% is the message Republicans are sending. They want to write off half the population. They think they can somehow exist on their own little island.

    Enjoy your Mexico.

  • 2

    LFRAgain

    "Republican leaders said on Sunday their party needed to change the way it communicates, not its ideas, to win back the White House."

    Let's see... What are the ideas that the GOP would like to communicate more effectively to America?

    1) That a predominantly Caucasian version of Christianity should be the official religion of America and has a place in all secular settings, including public schools.

    2) That global warming isn't real, at least not as long as denying it will allow those companies that contribute to it to make a profit.

    3) That providing health care for all Americans is a needless expenditure.

    4) That unilateral interference in the affairs of foreign countries, like Iraq and Afghanistan, is a good thing. Unless doing so will lose you an election. Then it's bad, oh, so very bad. Or vice-a-versa, depending on political expediency.

    5) That tax breaks for the wealthy are a wonderful thing, and tax cuts for the poor are bad. That trickle-down economics really do work, if only we'd just give them a fourth chance.

    6) That, according to John Senate Minority Leader John Boehner,, it is a national priority to "help make abortion a relic of the past," because THIS is apparently what Americans really want and need. Not a better economy. Not more more cohesive and productive government. Not health care. Not tax relief. Apparently these things, along with the oft-trumpeted GOP insstence on smaller government ,non-intrusive government take an immediate back seat to deciding for women how they should deal with unwanted pregnancies based almost exclusively on Idea No. 1 above.

    7) This last one comes last only because we know the GOP doesn't really believe in it. They just pay lip service to it because it makes for good ad copy: It's the generally used and abused term "Fiscal Responsibility." Unless, of course,there's a wealthy constituent who needs some pork-barrel love thrown their way or there's a country in desperate need of having the Muslim bombed out of it.

    These are the ideas that the GOP would like to convey to America more effectively.

    But here's the rub: America's heard those ideas loud and clear. And it doesn't like them very much.

    It doesn't matter how much you dress them up and put a new coat of paint on them, America is veering further and further away from this status quote blueprint that, for all intents and purposes, reserves the best our society has to offer to those Americans who are wealthy, white, and espouse the teachings, however loosely, of a Judeo-Christian god.

    It's not the message, guys. It's the ideas. And they suck.

  • 1

    Laguna

    Vast, the vast majority of Americans favor a progressive tax structure; a sales tax is neutral at best, regressive in reality. What Jindal proposes would necessarily transfer large amounts of the burden of financing the Great State of Louisiana from the wealthy to those less well-off.

    If the GOP wants to come out and announce that it is opposed to progressive taxation, that is its prerogative. When voters voters punish the GOP for this at the polls, as they likely will, do not claim that it is the delivery, not the message, that is at fault.

  • 1

    SuperLib

    pamelot: Damn right. If there's more private sector investment in job-creating, money-making enterprises, rather than fleecing it for the state to redistribute, there would be more people working, with more ready cash to spend- A sales tax is a better idea.

    Probably not. You don't just evaporate money and think there will be no consequences. Other municipalities will have to pick up the slack that the state creates by increasing other taxes. Like property taxes.

    Taxes are at historic lows so I don't know why you think that's what is holding consumers back. As for corporations, they are sitting on the largest pile of cash they've ever had. I'm guessing you think that's because of these crippling taxes as well? Thing thing hurting the economy most right now is uncertainty, like not knowing if the government will shut down to appease Republicans. This is all a power play to reduce taxes even more, strap the government, and then eliminate services. The demonetization of the 47% is already well underway.

  • 5

    SushiSake3

    The GOP talks a good talk about fiscal responsibility, but let them into power and they drain the kitty dry.

    They've done this again and again and again and again.

    Bankrupting America, protecting the rich and persecuting minorities - it's all conservatives know how to do.

  • 4

    Jimizo

    I couldn't stop laughing when the Republicans claimed that their more 'analytical' approach was perhaps too sophisticated for voters. Mitt sharing a stage with intellectual giants like Pat Robertson? How about an in-depth foreign policy analysis from the hockey mom? Perhaps Michelle Bachmann can help educate the economically illiterate? A classic line of failure - 'casting pearls before swine'.

  • -1

    sailwind

    Read Governor Jindal's speech;

    Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, a potential candidate for president in 2016, told his fellow Republicans to “stop being the stupid party” and reject anti-intellectual strands within the party.

    Governor Jindal was remarking on Republican candidates that made really idiotic comments in regards to rape and abortion during the campaign. The quote is totally out of context, its about the self-inflicted wounds to the party by candidates that had some pretty off the wall views on rape and abortion and not what this article is trying to imply.

    His full quote:

    We must stop being the stupid party. It’s time for a new Republican party that talks like adults. It’s time for us to articulate our plans and visions for America in real terms. We had a number of Republicans damage the brand this year with offensive and bizarre comments. We’ve had enough of that.

    Also he's making the case that the Republican's aren't going to win by focusing on the oncoming entitlement funding train wreck heading our way. His position is that low information voters just don't see it as a threat yet or meaningful in their lives to be motivated enough to vote for the guys that keep warning about it going bankrupt and want to take the medicine now instead of later.

    He's setting up a contrast between and Congressman Ryan. Ryan does talk budgets and policy budget wonkery. If Ryan runs it will be budgets and entitlement reform as he thinks will resonate with the voters that they're ready to get the fiscal house in order.

    Tells me Governor Jindal is serious about throwing his hat in the ring for 2016. I did like this portion of Jindal's speech.

    If we created American government today, we would not dream of taking money out of people’s pockets, sending it all the way to Washington, handing it over to politicians and bureaucrats to staple thousands of pages of artificial and political instructions to it, then wear that money out by grinding it through the engine of bureaucratic friction…and then sending what’s left of it back to the states, where it all started, in order to grow the American economy.

    http://washingtonexaminer.com/full-text-bobby-jindals-dynamite-speech-to-the-republican-national-committee-in-charlotte/article/2519682#.UQWedmfT5bx

    I'll return the thread back to usual Republicans are nothing but angry knuckle dragging neanderthals who hate minorities and force people to go to church comments.

  • 0

    HonestDictator

    Yeah, obviously their communication is fine, but their outdated ideas are the problem.

  • 2

    Fadamor

    Here's an example of the "ideas" that the Republican party says are "not at fault":

    While the President's inauguration was under way, the State Senate in Virginia voted to change the way the State districts are drawn-up in order to give more districts a Republican majority. Additionally, they approved a bill to change th way Virginia uses it's electoral votes. In the past election (and in all the ones previous), Virginia gives ALL its electoral votes to the candidate who wins the popular vote in the state. The State Senate Republicans wanted to change this to giving the votes based on the popular vote in each DISTRICT (now you see why they voted to re-arrange the voting districts.) They were able to do this because the Democratic State Senator who could have cast the vote to block these things was attending the inauguration. The Republicans claim it was a coincidence. Yeah, right. Not a peep was heard from the Republican Governor about this until the newspapers pointed it out to the public and the public got a bit peeved. After the outcry, the Governor said he would not sign such a bill if it ever made it to his desk. That much is a given as to sign it would have been political suicide.

    Still think it's not your ideas that are at fault, elephants?

  • 0

    SuperLib

    sailwind: Also he's making the case that the Republican's aren't going to win by focusing on the oncoming entitlement funding train wreck heading our way. His position is that low information voters just don't see it as a threat yet or meaningful in their lives to be motivated enough to vote for the guys that keep warning about it going bankrupt and want to take the medicine now instead of later.

    People can see it as a threat and also see Republicans tripping over themselves to make things worse. Threatening to shut down the government or default doesn't seem like much of a sellable plan to me, more like an overreaction from a party that is struggling with credibility. Ryan voting against the Sandy aid is another prime example of losing the battle and losing the war. Same with the subsidies bill that almost didn't make it to a vote. You now how some Republicans calling out other Republicans on some of the issues which tells me that the party isn't even united anymore. You can't tell me that doesn't make people weary of Republican designs.

    Ryan does talk budgets and policy budget wonkery. If Ryan runs it will be budgets and entitlement reform as he thinks will resonate with the voters that they're ready to get the fiscal house in order.

    Ryan is starting to get exposed as someone who likes to sell ideas but doesn't really have numbers that make sense. Even Biden made him look bad. The guy tries to use numbers to attack Democrats and nothing more.

    I'll return the thread back to usual Republicans are nothing but angry knuckle dragging neanderthals who hate minorities and force people to go to church comments.

    We all have our hot points. I know you like to talk about the media being against everything Republicans do.

  • -1

    Peter Payne

    @LFRAgain, do you mind if I save that for the next time my family members post Obama wearing a Hitler mustache on Facebook?

  • -1

    sailwind

    I know you like to talk about the media being against everything Republicans do.

    You know of any MSM articles or T.V besides Fox that has ever really published anything positive about Republicans since Obama came on the scene as a candidate and as President. Pretty sure your going to find not many articles that I can link to.

  • 1

    gcbel

    It's because "takers" aren't receptive to the "message".

    ''Right now about 60 percent of the American people get more benefits in dollar value from the federal government than they pay back in taxes. So we're going to a majority of takers versus makers in America.''

    Paul Ryan

    ''There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it -- that that's an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what. ... These are people who pay no income tax. ... [M]y job is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives.''

    Mitt Romney

  • -1

    sailwind

    It's because "takers" aren't receptive to the "message".

    You might be surprised that Uber-Liberal and 1 million donation giving Bill Maher had a change of heart about your Romney and Ryan quotes recently.

    Maher: But it's not really 47 percent. But I, here’s my question: It's not zero percent either, takers. I mean, there are a lot of dirt bags in this country, and I think it's somewhere in between 47 and zero. I think we should split the difference and say we have 23.5 percent dirt bags in America. I do. Like the Octomom. California pays, we pay to, you know, feed and cloth and spay and neuter her children. And she's not giving back to society.

    MAHER: And here, listen to this about disability. People who take disability, who are on disability, in 1968 it was 51 to1, people on disability to people who worked. In 2001, not that long ago, it was 23 to 1. Now it's 13 to 1, 13 people to one who are on disability. Now, of course, you know, some of that is real. We are an overworked, overstressed, polluted, ripped off and lied to people. So, I mean, obviously there are some people who really do have disabilities. But 13 to 1?

    You know, it just seems like there’s less people pulling the wagon and more people in the wagon, and at some point the wagon is going to break.

    http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2013/01/26/bill-maher-agrees-country-has-takers-we-have-235-dirt-bags-america

  • 0

    LFRAgain

    Peter Payne,

    "LFRAgain, do you mind if I save that for the next time my family members post Obama wearing a Hitler mustache on Facebook?"

    By all means, feel free.

  • 1

    LFRAgain

    Sailwind,

    "I'll return the thread back to usual Republicans are nothing but angry knuckle dragging neanderthals who hate minorities and force people to go to church comments."

    You know, Sailwind, if the Republican Party really did adhere to the concept of responsible fiscal governance as their actual, honest-to-goodness platform, they wouldn't be in the thoroughly chaotic straits they currently are in.

    But knowing full well they couldn't win the White House with the battle cry, "Tighten your belts, folks, it's going to be a bumpy ride," they got into bed with knuckle-dragging Neanderthals who hate minorities and would desperately love to force people to go to church.

    The fact that Bobby Jindal received such a positive reaction from a speech that, among other things, called on Republicans to stop being the "stupid party" vindicates this point. In fact, his entire speech is an unequivocal indictment of the current GOP's obsession with all the things I pointed out in my earlier post, with the exception of actual, genuine, honest-to-goodness sane fiscal policy.

    You sit there and roll your eyes in disgust that anyone would be so rude as to point out the religious extremism, racism, and class-ism that dominates the dialog the GOP has been browbeating the electorate with for the past 5 administrations, but you know, I know, and judging by the reception Gov. Jindal's speech received, the GOP knows the assertions are absolutely true.

    Of course, you're more than welcome to deny them, but then that wouldn't be truthful.

    If the GOP wants to regain relevance in American politics, it desperately needs to shed the support of the Tea Party, the NRA, anti-abortion PACs, Creationists, Prayer in School advocates, so-called Family Values groups, and the rest of the corrosive elements the GOP wooed and courted for extra votes over the last 30 years, and get back to being the fiscally conservative party. Dump the nonsense, because the majority of GOP membership doesn't buy into it anyway, and get back to basics that really matter.

    As someone much smarter than me once said in response to failed domestic policy: "It's the economy, stupid."

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