Recently, Krauthammer has enraged conservatives because of his criticism of US Senator Ted Cruz’ filibuster in name only, his acquiescence on amnesty for illegal immigrants and Republican gubernatorial accommodation of ObamaCare’s Medicare exchanges. Yet his advice on GOP tactics at the beginning of the year bears some reviewing, because he highlighted not only the current split within the National GOP, but also the best means for making the most of this unexpected setback.
The Republicans hold the House, and they cannot govern from one half of one branch of the federal government. “[Y]ou can resist but you cannot impose”, Krauthammer explains. Granted, but to what extent should the Republicans oppose the President’s oppositional negotiation tactics and officious policies?
Contrary to the definitions from nationalists and liberals, the Republican Party is no longer divided between liberals and conservatives, but rather by establishment figures and grassroots/groundswell activists. The former recognize that they cannot govern with only the House, while the latter came to Congress precisely to end business as usual in Washington.
Krauthammer identified this distinction early.
Can the Republican Party play by the rules while upending the majority’s plays?
Krauthammer argues “No.”
Instead he approved piecemeal continuing resolutions have funded the government until the shut-down showdown, which House Republicans provided. The Democratically-controlled US Senate finally produced a budget (which would raise taxes, again) and passed a reform to curtail Congressmen’s pay for failing to pass a budget.
Krauthammer was correct on this point months before: Republicans cannot govern, let alone force their policies, through only one chamber of Congress. Yet the PR stunt of forcing Democrats to stand by the monstrous legislation passed in the late Sunday hours of March 2010 and furthered by the same in October 2013 can further burden the Democrats’ failing policies, thus hurting their brand.
The Republicans have held onto the sequester. Red-state Democrats have forced their hand to their own peril. President Obama has wasted declining political capital not leading from crisis to crisis. He will not negotiate, and will not enforce key parts of his signature health care law. Republicans are resisting immigration reform. Forget about climate change or any other part of President Obama’s grand vision for restructuring America.
Chuck voted for Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondull. He has come very late to the movement and doesn't have a clue what it takes to fight the establishment because he was fully entrenched in it all through the 70's, 80's and part of the 90's. He was also one of the "Conservatives" that went to that Kiss Zeros Ring dinner party after he was elected.
Quote: Frank Cannon wrote in post #2Chuck voted for Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondull.
Following tactical advice from some of these failed "conservative" pundits like Krauthammer is like an army platoon following the corpse of General Custer up the next hill.
You're a brave man. Go and break through the lines. And remember, while you're out there risking your life and limb through shot and shell, we'll be in be in here thinking what a sucker you are. ~Rufus T. Firefly
RIGHT'S RIGHT
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About GOP Tactics, Krauthammer was Correct (to a Point)
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Thu Oct 24, 2013 1:37 pm
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