House Conservatives to Offer Ideas for G.O.P. Message

[babylonsister]

What's that they say about hindsight?


House Conservatives to Offer Ideas for G.O.P. Message

By CARL HULSE
Published: May 20, 2008


WASHINGTON — Conservative Republicans in the House plan to urge their colleagues to rally behind a new manifesto that mixes antispending initiatives and tighter restrictions on government benefits as the party seeks a fresh message after a string of election defeats.

Leaders of the Republican Study Committee intend to use a closed-door party meeting on Tuesday to present a seven-point proposal calling for a constitutional limit on federal spending, a new simplified income tax alternative and a proposal to require recipients of food stamps or housing aid to meet work requirements.

“Clearly, we have been sobered by three special election losses in a row,” said Representative Jeb Hensarling of Texas, chairman of the group of more than 100 Republican lawmakers. “We are sobered by the massive cash advantage that Democrats have to get their message out.”

Mr. Hensarling said that getting off the political defensive would “take unity, and it is going to take unity behind a handful of messages.”

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/20/washington/20cong.html?_r=2&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

[rurallib]

1. They need a good slogan like

"If we weren't in Congress you'd be supporting us in prison" or
"Leading us into the 19th century"
"Don't blame us for what we did. It was the Democrats fault"

[maxrandb]

2. I like

"Republicans - We Bitch that Government is 'corrupt and evil'...and when elected We Prove It!"

or

"Republican Rule - It's not the best screw I've ever had, but it sure is the longest"

[Winterblues]

3. to present a seven-point proposal calling for a constitutional limit

They sure don't like our Constitution at all do they. Every year they come up with some way to change it..

[Juche]

4. Yeah, that'll work

Republicans are so dense sometimes. Scapegoating the poor isn't going to work when 10% of the public is on food stamps. Trying to cut federal spending on everything except war won't resonate when huge swaths of the public are in fear of losing their jobs and can barely afford healthcare, gas, food, rent and childcare. Only the irreversibly dumb still fall for this shit about 'cutting federal spending on everything except war' when they can't afford to take their kids to a doctor.

Republicans can't figure out that the America of 1980 is not the America of 2008. The problems and people in the two time periods are different.

By all means, let them try this tactic. I want them to fail badly in 2008 and 2010. Hopefully it'll wake them up and they'll become a competent, decent party as a result instead of what they are now. It seems the GOP will do anything except admit their ideas are bad and don't work. But that'll change sooner or later.

[Javaman]

5. Here's their new slogan...

"at least you know we're corrupt!"

[Juche]

7. I've got a better one

"Elect us and we'll fix all the problems we caused the last time you elected us"

[NewJeffCT]

6. Let's see if we can help them - how about instead of Compassionate Conservatism

we give them "Friendly Fascism"?