Prominent Conservative Takes to NY Times to Argue that it's Everyone Else's Fault GOP Can't Govern

[marmar]

via AlterNet:



Prominent Conservative Takes to NY Times to Argue that it's Everyone Else's Fault the GOP Can't Govern


I've said for years that Republicans can't govern -- all they really know how to do is divide the country and demonize Democrats and liberals (though they are pretty effective at passing legislation that lines the pockets of their contributors). Now Ramesh Ponnuru of National Review takes to the op-ed page of The New York Times to openly admit that Republicans can't govern and can't lead -- or at least they don't have the guts to try. What's more, they shouldn't even bother! Oh, and it's everyone else's fault, not their own!

...Reforming (Medicare and Social Security) is vital to our nation's long-term fiscal health -- which is why Republicans should ... leave the issue alone. Reform is impossible this year or next unless President Obama takes the lead on it. What's more, Republicans have no mandate for reform, and a failed attempt will only set back the cause.

Some Republicans are understandably eager to take on these entitlements. "The third rail is not the third rail anymore," Representative Paul Ryan, a Republican from Wisconsin, said in December.

Maybe he's right. But Republicans have gotten a painful shock every time they have decided it's finally safe to take on entitlements. Ronald Reagan suffered a defeat in his first year when he tried cutting Social Security's early retirement benefits. Newt Gingrich's 1995 Republican revolution fizzled when President Bill Clinton fought him over Medicare cuts. President George W. Bush's effort to reform Social Security in 2005 ended any political momentum he brought to his second term.

In other words: Yeah, we said over and over and over again in the last two years that we're going to be the bestest fiscal stewards in this country ever, the hawkiest of deficit hawks; we're going to take on the tough challenges, and we hate big government ... but, er, um, if we actually do try to alter entitlement programs in a way that follows logically from our own incessant rhetoric, well, voters will be mean to us! And for us, that will really, really suck! .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/438597/prominent_conservative_takes_to_ny_times_to_argue_that_it%27s_everyone_else%27s_fault_the_gop_can%27t_govern/

[emulatorloo]

1. Kick and Rec for Rep, Paul Ryan. Stick with P90X, stay away from Social Security

[DCKit]

2. Since when has one of their own telling the simple truth ever stopped them?

They're a bunch of three-year-olds, and there's a sheet of hot cookies on the counter.

[socialist_n_TN]

3. They can't govern for one simple reason............

They don't BELIEVE in government. It's not logical for people who don't even believe an institution should exist should be expected to govern. Or at least govern competently. There's only two reasons for someone to get involved in something they don't believe in, self aggandizement or to dismantle it. Neither one of those things are good government. IOW, you've got to believe in something to be able to do it well.

BTW, try this question out on some of your RW debate partners and watch them explode.