The grumbling. The head shaking. The anger.Written by Rich Wagner & Chip Hanlon
Congressional Republican leaders clearly have no idea what we, their fellow GOP members (and financial backers), say to one another when we get together, yet for years one refrain has been constant: our extreme discontent over how the former GOP majority blew it on spending.
Budget earmarks, which jumped by 285% between 1994 and 2005 as their cost soared by 60%, stand as the perfect symbol of the GOP-led profligacy that drives us crazy still. In and of themselves, earmarks are admittedly a small part in the budget process, amounting to roughly 2% of the federal budget in 2005. Yet they epitomize the fiscal recklessness that led to Republicans becoming a minority in 2006.
Unable to rein it in on the smaller earmark items, it's no wonder the Republican leadership continued to fail on the more critical structural spending issues such as entitlement reform and a reduction in federal spending (hello Prescription Medicare).
Still oblivious to the source of our discontent, a number of free-spending Republicans recently rushed to meet House GOP leader John Boehner, urging him not to back an earmark reform proposal from the Republican Study Committee. The idea they fought so mightily against? A ban on earmark requests from Republican members of Congress for one year.
The porkers' struggle is typified by Rep. Jack Kingston of Georgia--sponsor or co-sponsor of $83MM in earmarks in last year's budget alone--who, amazingly, defended earmarks as "being entrepreneurial about bringing something home."
In response to us on that remark, former Speaker Newt Gingrich scathingly replied, "There's nothing entrepreneurial about the Appropriations Committee spending other people's money."
Alas, bold GOP leadership on earmark reform is still nearly absent in Washington. Michigan's Thad McCotter highlights this by arguing the futility of fighting for earmark reform, saying members of the House can't lead on the issue because, "...we are not the field marshals, we are the foot soldiers."
Thank goodness Newt Gingrich suffered no such humility in 1994.
And that's just the point, isn't it? Today's Congressional Republicans have lost all resemblance to the revolutionaries who then typified the principles our party could--and should--stand for.
Indeed, because today's Republicans are so addicted to pork and big-ticket spending, it is time to demand dramatic action.
Therefore, as a start, we strongly support and call upon the House GOP leadership to institute a minimum one year moratorium on earmarks by Republicans, and for the Senate GOP leaders to follow suit. Concurrently, we urge other Republican donor groups to reinforce this important beginning through their influence as well, with the ultimate intent to work towards substantial Republican spending reform.
Second, we are dialoguing with like-minded groups across the country about electing new Congressional Republican leadership in both houses of Congress. Regardless of November's outcome, it is time to make a clear statement to voters that we intend to establish a new team and goals, re-discovering our lost principles of a government limited in size, scope, and spending.
It is not credible to ask the American people to return Republicans to the majority when all we offer them is the same group of leaders and policies they so recently rejected.
It's not just "branding," but the right policies which will breathe new life into the Republican Party and re-energize voters.
And one more thing: come November 5th, should the current GOP leadership in either house survive to lead in a new Congress, the Lincoln Club of Orange County will review its financial backing of all Congressional Republicans, and we urge others to do likewise. A GOP caucus that would re-elect such leaders is not one we would likely continue to support.
Because, simply put: we refuse to support a permanent minority.
Rich Wagner is the President of the Lincoln Club of Orange County. Chip Hanlon is a Lincoln Club board member, President of Delta Global Advisors, and Founder of GreenFaucet.com.
Awesome! Way to go, guys. I left the GOP and registered as a decline-to-state last year because I was so frustrated with these spending piggies. Something like this at least gives me hope I could one day return to what should be my party.
Ok, so any thoughts on solutions maybe? Or is your entire effort based on two (really one if we're counting credible news sources) previously published articles and a Congressman's blog post?
Don't get me wrong- this decree by the Lincoln Club of Orange County is sure to shake the conservative foundation to its core, but who do you propose will rise up and take the reigns of this bold new initiative?
"We're not happy - you should change" is not an idea, it's not a movement, it's WHINING.
Get to work - real work - raise money for good candidates, help expose liberal's bs agenda, work on a campaign. Maybe even...write your own material? I know it sounds crazy, but give it a shot.
Since my name was on the article that the person above ("Grow Up") is questioning, allow me to reply directly to him (speaking solely for myself, not as a representative of any group).
First, readers should know I have ties to this Spiritof94 website I can tell you that we traced the IP address of "Grow Up," and that the poster of the above comment resides in the U.S. House of Representatives. Based on other web activity conducted by that IP address (Wikipedia edits, etc.), it is clear this person has deep political experience. Before replying to his or her post, let's say it's fair to speculate that the comment above came from a GOP staffer. Now, point-by-point to Mr. or Ms. "Grow Up:"
Our proposed solution, you ask? New Republican leadership in both houses of Congress. We want the majority back, but it makes no sense to ask the American people to re-hire essentially the same leaders they fired two years ago and fired with good reason.
Our effort is based merely on recent articles, you say? You REALLY don't get it, do you? Republicans are furious with you for having spent like drunken sailors, wasted the opportunity to curtail government when you had Congress and the White House and for laying the groundwork for a Democratic sweep of the same type. YOU cause formerly-reliable Republicans to vote Ron Paul for President. YOU cause them to re-register as independents or decline-to-state. YOU cause them to lose hope in our party. We know because we're active in the donor community, and because ur beliefs have been confirmed by the overwhelming email response we have received in the last 10 days.
Whining, you assert? Didn't you learn from Phil Gramm that 'whining' isn't a winning charge to level? No matter. Change IS indeed an idea we sincerely believe a little GOP blood needs to be spilled publicly to show the American people we are serious about returning to our small government roots. You weren't kicked out of the majority because of too much fiscal restraint, but because you offered scant alternative to the Democrats. In fact, you have made such a mess of things that the Democrats now actually get to run against you as though they're the fiscal conservatives. It's laughable, of course, but so are your claims to fiscal conservatismthat's how far you strayed.
Why don't we "do something positive?" Based on your obvious failures, new leadership in and of itself will be positive, as the very name of this website implies.
Why don't we do "real work?" Did you really just ask that? We actually do "real work" in our daily lives, we also not only employ you and support your political careers, but then we have to produce and employ under the often idiotic laws and regulations you write. Oh, and sometimes we even have to clean up your political messes, too. That question should thoroughly embarrass you in retrospect if you have the nerve to re-read it, which I surmise you don't.
Why don't we "raise money" for good candidates? Did you really say that, as well? Actually, it's not a bad idea if you mean we should be more targeted with our donations; from now on, many of us will be contributing only to "good" candidates, not just anyone who claims to be a Republican. We fully intend to financially support the reformers in Congress, who thankfully are growing in numbers and strength within the caucus. That is precisely the positive trend we intend to support.
Finally: you, "Grow Up," posted here anonymously whereas I put my name on my article. If your views are right and you have the courage to defend them, consider this an open invitation to join me as a guest on my podcast (http://www.greenfaucet.com/audio/user/29); we can have an open discussion for all to hear.
In the alternative, I'm very easy to find; Google-search my name and track me down if you have the courage to kick this up a notch in some other forum of your choice, anonymous blog poster.
If not, just complain away while we do the "real work" required to help set this party back on the right course.
Chip Hanlon's comments were right on. He captures how the base is feeling. And Mr. or Ms. Grow UP, I am NOT sending money to the RNC or the Senate and House campaigns. I'm sending money to Jim Demint's group, individual Senators who represent conservative principles, and other organizations that support true conservatism.
Mr. Hanlon,
Your comments are spot-on. Having been a Republican for over 20 years, I voted for Senator Obama in the Virginia Primary and won't be voting for Senator McCain this fall. No Republicans will get a cent of my money this year except in taxes - it's an entreprenurial theft after all...
The Republican leaders in the RNC, the House, and the Senate have gone to great lengths to erase the distinction between Republicans and Democrats; and have taken every opportunity to demonstrate moral cowardice. The first instance was refuse to eliminate all Republican earmarks, and the second instance was the election of the "same ole same ole" Republican leaders. Now we have the House "Impugnment" hearings - faux impeachment hearings - that present an enormous gift to the average American in its insight into the liberal mindset of witch-hunting, and sure as the sun rises, the Republicans will do nothing with it.
Again, thank you Mr. Hanlon for your essay and defense of Spiritof94.
V/R, Dave
Grow Up is the poster child for why the Republican Party is a failure today.
Here in my state I have an awesome choice for senate this year, I can vote for the Democrat, a verified moonbat tax and spend tool, or the other Democrat Susan Collins.
For the first time in my adult life I'm considering not voting at all.