From Markos's most recent Newsweek piece:Democrats should and will use Bush and his destructive policies on the campaign trail as the primary example of what happens when people who hate government are elected to run it. The message will be that Bush isn't a historical anomaly: he's the embodiment of modern conservatism.Markos has great examples, but the failure of conservatism as a governing philosophy was best seen with the Hurricane Katrina aftermath. Bush's government -- typifying the type of less-is-more style of his conservative philosophy was both unprepared and unwilling to save New Orleans. And without any respect for government's ability to help people, Bush staffed key posts like the head of FEMA with unskilled cronies. A government seeking to destroy itself cannot serve the people.
And Virginia conservatives fit this mold as well. Democrats like Mark Warner and Tim Kaine try to use government to solve Virginia's problems. In contrast, the conservative obstructionist would rather not -- so the Republicans fight the "results based" approach of our most recent popular governors and the legislative allies of these governors at every turn. Doing this has caused the GOP to lose the governorship twice, one U.S. Senate seat (soon to be two), and now the state Senate. Virginians see that those who hate Virginia's government should not be in control of it.
Our mentally ill are running around shooting up schools and police stations because we won't fund treatment.
Bridges are falling down in Minnesota.
I say starve the beast some more!
Thus government will be made so small it can indeed be drowned in the bathtub, and we are returned to the Middle Ages where only the wealthy will have security because only they can afford to hire their own guards, and only the rich will educate their children because only they can afford tutors, and so on. The ultimate plan of the conservative-libertarian utopia: Anarchy.
You think this is over-reaction? Listen more closely to what Ron Paul is saying, and exactly what the stable of other GOP candidates really are saying.
Democrats continue to focus on getting things done: moving Virginia forward.
In the meantime, just remember:
We are trying to find the right message to win Virginia Voters back
My personal goal is to move Virginia forward in the most cost effective method possible
In a perfect world we need democrats to highlight issues and republicans to ensure the issues are addressed in the most cost-effective measure possible and BOTH parties to WORK TOGETHER to come up with the SOLUTIONS
Unfortunatly due to lobbying and placing more emphasis on winning elections my vision falls apart pretty quickly :-(
A conversation with Gop the parrot will demonstrate how Rovian, Republican-style conservatism turns important and complex social issues into bumper-sticker style sound byte rebuttals:
"We need to effectively fund and maintain urban infrastructure not for pork projects but -- as highlighted by the Minnesota bridge collapse -- to ensure federally-funded projects are safe and secure."
Gop: "No new taxes! No new taxes! Bawk!"
"Policies need to be implemented to prevent gun trafficking, keep deadly assault weapons off the streets, keep guns out of the wrong hands and give police the tools they need to track illegal guns, traffickers and crooked gun dealers."
Gop: "Right to bear arms! Right to bear arms! Bawk!"
"The occupation of Iraq cannot be resolved militarily alone and needs a strong, focused diplomatic effort in the region, and Congress should begin funding the withdraw from Iraq, which by itself will be a pricey and time-consuming endeavor."
Gop: "Cut and run! Cut and run! Bawk!"
"Although national security should always be a concern, so should protecting constitutional liberties because whatever Congress and the president does will be precedence for future lawmakers."
Gop: "Coddling terrorists! Coddling terrorists! Bawk!"
"It's inappropriate for any U.S. government at any level to endorse through funding or legislation any religious sect or dogma because religious freedom is for everybody: minorities, majorities and non-believers alike."
Gop: "Christian nation! Christian nation! Bawk!"
"Sometimes -- such as with religious-minority rights or integration -- minorities' last civil remedy are the courts, which can be the last check on the tyranny of the majority."
Gop: "Liberal judges! Liberal judges! Bawk!"
"The U.S. is the only Western nation not to have universal health care, and brainstorming is necessary to find the most effective and productive insurance plan to ensure all Americans have affordable quality health care."
Gop: "Socialized medicine! Socialized medicine! Bawk!"
And he is absolutely right -- Today's Republicans have only contempt for government, which is why they should not be entrusted with it. And neither their rank and file nor their leaders have learned any of the lessons of the disastrous Bush presidency, which makes them destined to repeat his mistakes, if given the chance.
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