How Do You Grade the Performance of the Conservative Revolution

[Siddhartha]

The results of the 1994 elections gave control of the Congress to the Republicans.
They had an agenda:

1. To overturn "liberal" government policies and laws dating back to FDR.

2. Return the country to "family values" which I read as making the US a Southern Baptist theocracy.

3. Reduce the size and scope of government.

I am not implying that the "Revolution" is over or that the recent election results indicate an rejection of the Conservative agenda.

In your opinion how did the conservatives do and what are their next steps to achieve their objectives?

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Don't confuse Conservative with Republican. From '94 to '98 I'd say the conservatives did a fine job. After '00, conservatism went out the window and the republicans starting running amok.

 

[sandorski]

Their only real accomplishment was Balancing the Budget under Clinton. Subsequent Deficits and their ridiculous WithHunt on Clinton negates the good.

 

[myocardia]

Hmm, I'd have to say they're about 3 miles below human. For those of you who vote Republican every time the polls are open, that means "low".

 

[Sentrosi2121]

I think that, prior to 2001, Congress was doing an ok job.

Then 9/11 hit. And that threw everything into a state of higgledy-piggdely with everyone. Who would be prepared to face what we had to after 9/11?

I'm a Republican, but I can honestly say that I voted for sweeping changes in this past election. Why? Taxpaying citizens after Katrina were treated as paupers and indigents by the government I elected back in 2002. THEY DID NOT GET THE JOB DONE I THOUGHT THEY COULD HANDLE. Thus, this Republican voted Democrat all the way, except for one vote.

 

[Thump553]

The 1994 Newt Gingrich "revolution" I would rank as a B+ in goals sought and achievements made. They (along with the President) made some positive changes for the US.

The 2000 neo-con revolution is a totally different beast. They have failed miserably, not accomplishing anything positive, unless you count a short term illusory prosperity most enjoyed by the already rich, and to be paid for by future generations. I'd give them a failing grade. Conservatism will be back, neo-cons never will be after 2008.

 

[boredhokie]

"9/11 changed everything!"

Same tired answer. Maybe if the republicans worked more than 3 months a year on average they could have gotten something done.

 

[jrenz]

2. Return the country to "family values" which I read as making the US a Southern Baptist theocracy.

That's pretty ignorant. Wouldn't you say family values were a cornerstone of our society in the first half of the century at least? When shows like "Leave it to Beaver" were on in prime time, instead of the violence and profanity we have today? When parents actually raised their children instead of relying on popular culture to do it for them? When being a family meant something? I can't see why returning to these types of values would be a bad thing... yet every time you hear that term these days it's interpreted as turning the US into some sort of religious state.

 

[fitzov]

They've failed at all those agenda points. Did any majority leader state those objectives, or did you get those from the TV?

 

[boredhokie]

Republicans don't believe in any of that. Family values was a concept that got people to the voting booths. The fact that they're a bunch of crooks and pedophiles might have effected their "strong on family values" image.

 

[Jhhnn]

Heh. If nothing else, some of the above responses show that the faithful are still in a trance state. Congressional Repub turnover between 1994 and 2006 was quite low, and changes in the leadership even less, other than substituting Frist for Lott.

The real difference was the changing of the guard in the executive, Bush vs Clinton. After 2000, and definitely after 2002, the so-called conservatives could have it their own way, and they did.

Having come to power on the strength of loaded emotional issues and intellectual non-sequiters, they revealed their true agenda- the most outrageous looting spree ever attempted by the financial elite, a transfer of wealth and income to the top .1% not seen since the gilded age, deceptively financed with debt, justified with the boogeyman of 9/11... cleverly packaged in mega-church mock christian piety.

Possibly the most successful collection of liars, cheats and thieves in the history of the world... and some of us still keep the faith, despite all evidence to the contrary- it's the political version of battered wife syndrome.

 

[Thump553]

Originally posted by: jrenz

2. Return the country to "family values" which I read as making the US a Southern Baptist theocracy.

That's pretty ignorant. Wouldn't you say family values were a cornerstone of our society in the first half of the century at least? When shows like "Leave it to Beaver" were on in prime time, instead of the violence and profanity we have today? When parents actually raised their children instead of relying on popular culture to do it for them? When being a family meant something? I can't see why returning to these types of values would be a bad thing... yet every time you hear that term these days it's interpreted as turning the US into some sort of religious state.

The peaceful 50's (and before) was pretty much an illusion. Wife beating was then viewed as a minor incident, rapes were rarely reported (due to shame) and racial violence was a constant background threat (at a minimum) for much of America's population. There was less divorce, true, but the alternative was hardly better.

There is nothing at all wrong with having good family values and living by the Ten Commandments and the golden rule. Forcing one's religious beliefs upon entire population, in a one size fits all mentality, is not acceptable for the United States. Afganistan, Iran and the theocracies can follow that philosphy, but to me it is un-American.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Siddhartha
The results of the 1994 elections gave control of the Congress to the Republicans.
They had an agenda:

1. To overturn "liberal" government policies and laws dating back to FDR.

2. Return the country to "family values" which I read as making the US a Southern Baptist theocracy.

3. Reduce the size and scope of government.

I am not implying that the "Revolution" is over or that the recent election results indicate an rejection of the Conservative agenda.

In your opinion how did the conservatives do and what are there next steps to achieve their objectives?

Good question, looks like the Architect of the 1994 Corporate Takeover of America is not very happy:

11-13-2006 Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich Blames Bush For Election Loss Waiting Too Long To Replace Rumsfeld

WASHINGTON - The White House is trying to soothe Republicans who say the party might have fared better on Election Day if President Bush had not waited until after the vote to oust Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has suggested that if Bush replaced Rumsfeld two weeks before the election, voters would not have been as angry about the unpopular Iraq war. Republicans would have gained the boost they needed, according to Gingrich, to retain their majority in the Senate and hold onto 10 to 15 more House seats.

Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., the outgoing chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, agreed with that assessment.

Bush should have removed Rumsfeld "as soon as he had made up his mind. And that's a hard thing to calculate. But it's highly doubtful that he made up his mind between the time the election returns came in on Tuesday and Wednesday when Rumsfeld was out."

 

[zephyrprime]

Welfare reform was probably the only thing they managed to get done.

As far as the items the OP brought up:
1. To overturn "liberal" government policies and laws dating back to FDR.
> They did reform welfare (which only dated back to lbj, not fdr) but they didn't do anything about any other programs. In fact, they expanded entitlements by making the medicare drug act.
2. Return the country to "family values" which I read as making the US a Southern Baptist theocracy.
> Didn't happen. The gov isn't really any good at affecting culture anyway.
3. Reduce the size and scope of government.
> That sure as heck didn't happen. I *was* happening for a while but Bush the Second threw that all out the window.

 

[Genx87]

It was doing great until they started acting like democrats.
I'd say after 2000 and especially in 02 they stopped being the smaller govt coservatives they were in 1994.

If they didnt expand the govt like they have, we would be in surplus's during a time of war. They spent like drunken sailors with a drunk to sign the bill

 

[Moonbeam]

We had an outbreak of the Republican disease in a population that had no natural immunity. Antibodies have now developed and the nation is beginning to mend.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Genx87
It was doing great until they started acting like democrats.

I'd say after 2000 and especially in 02 they stopped being the smaller govt coservatives they were in 1994.

If they didnt expand the govt like they have, we would be in surplus's during a time of war.

They spent like drunken sailors with a drunk to sign the bill

Then why did you continue to support them???

Why do you continue to support them???

 

[ayabe]

Originally posted by: jrenz

2. Return the country to "family values" which I read as making the US a Southern Baptist theocracy.

That's pretty ignorant. Wouldn't you say family values were a cornerstone of our society in the first half of the century at least? When shows like "Leave it to Beaver" were on in prime time, instead of the violence and profanity we have today? When parents actually raised their children instead of relying on popular culture to do it for them? When being a family meant something? I can't see why returning to these types of values would be a bad thing... yet every time you hear that term these days it's interpreted as turning the US into some sort of religious state.

Because the world has moved on and as others have stated you are wanting to return to the ideal time period that in reality never existed. The cultural revolution has been over for 40 years now.

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Genx87
It was doing great until they started acting like democrats.

I'd say after 2000 and especially in 02 they stopped being the smaller govt coservatives they were in 1994.

If they didnt expand the govt like they have, we would be in surplus's during a time of war.

They spent like drunken sailors with a drunk to sign the bill

Then why did you continue to support them???

Why do you continue to support them???

It must be an issue of pure ego, as all logical alternatives fail in analysis. The Republicans have performed disastrously over the past 6 years, in actions that have resulted directly in the deaths of tens of thousands, a total polarization of the domestic population, turning the rest of the world firmly against us, and throwing the country into such massive debt that even with emergency measures will take a very long time to repair.

Yet people still stick blindly to one side without being able to admit that the Republicans in power over the past 6 years have utterly betrayed our country and our planet. I am historically conservative, and applaud the budget measures previously accomplished by the Republicans under Clinton. I withheld voting in 2000, and supported Bush up to shortly after 9/11. After witnessing stupid decisions rain down like an avalanche, I have permanently disavowed any connection with this insane group of lemmings.

Anyone not utterly disgusted with what's been happening is either willfully blind, or possibly they choose not to educate themselves on the cold reality of the way things have been happening.

This is not a default endorsement of Democrats and their common policies, many of which I vehemently oppose, such as gun control.

This is a fundamental rejection of what the Republicans have become under Bush/Neocon rule. It will be quite some time before I believe in a reformed Republican party, if ever.

 

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: Arkaign

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Genx87
It was doing great until they started acting like democrats.

I'd say after 2000 and especially in 02 they stopped being the smaller govt coservatives they were in 1994.

If they didnt expand the govt like they have, we would be in surplus's during a time of war.

They spent like drunken sailors with a drunk to sign the bill

Then why did you continue to support them???

Why do you continue to support them???

It must be an issue of pure ego, as all logical alternatives fail in analysis. The Republicans have performed disastrously over the past 6 years, in actions that have resulted directly in the deaths of tens of thousands, a total polarization of the domestic population, turning the rest of the world firmly against us, and throwing the country into such massive debt that even with emergency measures will take a very long time to repair.

Yet people still stick blindly to one side without being able to admit that the Republicans in power over the past 6 years have utterly betrayed our country and our planet. I am historically conservative, and applaud the budget measures previously accomplished by the Republicans under Clinton. I withheld voting in 2000, and supported Bush up to shortly after 9/11. After witnessing stupid decisions rain down like an avalanche, I have permanently disavowed any connection with this insane group of lemmings.

Anyone not utterly disgusted with what's been happening is either willfully blind, or possibly they choose not to educate themselves on the cold reality of the way things have been happening.

This is not a default endorsement of Democrats and their common policies, many of which I vehemently oppose, such as gun control.

This is a fundamental rejection of what the Republicans have become under Bush/Neocon rule. It will be quite some time before I believe in a reformed Republican party, if ever.

Your first mistake is believing something coming out of Daves mouth.

Welcome to P&N, good day.

 

[Ferocious]

The welfare reform that Newt and co. pushed was a good idea and it was successful. :thumbsup:


Welfare must only be a last resort safety net for severe hardship cases. Not a way of life.

 

[GoPackGo]

The Republicans were nothing near conservative since Bush became president.

9/11 won them two elections and they failed to step up to the plate.

 

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: Ferocious
The welfare reform that Newt and co. pushed was a good idea and it was successful. :thumbsup:


Welfare must only be a last resort safety net for severe hardship cases. Not a way of life.

It is interesting to see the levels of poverty dropped once Welfare reform was passed in ~96?

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Arkaign

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Genx87
It was doing great until they started acting like democrats.

I'd say after 2000 and especially in 02 they stopped being the smaller govt coservatives they were in 1994.

If they didnt expand the govt like they have, we would be in surplus's during a time of war.

They spent like drunken sailors with a drunk to sign the bill

Then why did you continue to support them???

Why do you continue to support them???

It must be an issue of pure ego, as all logical alternatives fail in analysis. The Republicans have performed disastrously over the past 6 years, in actions that have resulted directly in the deaths of tens of thousands, a total polarization of the domestic population, turning the rest of the world firmly against us, and throwing the country into such massive debt that even with emergency measures will take a very long time to repair.

Yet people still stick blindly to one side without being able to admit that the Republicans in power over the past 6 years have utterly betrayed our country and our planet. I am historically conservative, and applaud the budget measures previously accomplished by the Republicans under Clinton. I withheld voting in 2000, and supported Bush up to shortly after 9/11. After witnessing stupid decisions rain down like an avalanche, I have permanently disavowed any connection with this insane group of lemmings.

Anyone not utterly disgusted with what's been happening is either willfully blind, or possibly they choose not to educate themselves on the cold reality of the way things have been happening.

This is not a default endorsement of Democrats and their common policies, many of which I vehemently oppose, such as gun control.

This is a fundamental rejection of what the Republicans have become under Bush/Neocon rule. It will be quite some time before I believe in a reformed Republican party, if ever.

Question for you sir.

Do you support a very strong border between Texas & Mexico?

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Arkaign

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Genx87
It was doing great until they started acting like democrats.

I'd say after 2000 and especially in 02 they stopped being the smaller govt coservatives they were in 1994.

If they didnt expand the govt like they have, we would be in surplus's during a time of war.

They spent like drunken sailors with a drunk to sign the bill

Then why did you continue to support them???

Why do you continue to support them???

It must be an issue of pure ego, as all logical alternatives fail in analysis. The Republicans have performed disastrously over the past 6 years, in actions that have resulted directly in the deaths of tens of thousands, a total polarization of the domestic population, turning the rest of the world firmly against us, and throwing the country into such massive debt that even with emergency measures will take a very long time to repair.

Yet people still stick blindly to one side without being able to admit that the Republicans in power over the past 6 years have utterly betrayed our country and our planet. I am historically conservative, and applaud the budget measures previously accomplished by the Republicans under Clinton. I withheld voting in 2000, and supported Bush up to shortly after 9/11. After witnessing stupid decisions rain down like an avalanche, I have permanently disavowed any connection with this insane group of lemmings.

Anyone not utterly disgusted with what's been happening is either willfully blind, or possibly they choose not to educate themselves on the cold reality of the way things have been happening.

This is not a default endorsement of Democrats and their common policies, many of which I vehemently oppose, such as gun control.

This is a fundamental rejection of what the Republicans have become under Bush/Neocon rule. It will be quite some time before I believe in a reformed Republican party, if ever.

Question for you sir.

Do you support a very strong border between Texas & Mexico?

For security reasons, yes. I don't think it should be a new Berlin wall, or overly militarized in any way. Nor do I think that it should be seen as anti-Mexican in nature. It should be seen as fixing our national security holes where they physically exist, as potential enemies can now just walk across the border with whatever they please, and there is little to even slow them down.

I think immigration should be reformed, we need to end illegal immigration and replace it with fast-tracked immigration standards. I think functional english should be a necessity, and that should include being able to read road signs, communicate emergencies, and general understanding of common terms.

By being so hot and cold on the immigration issue, we have suceeded in fracturing our society in the states directly affected (I live in Texas), and what you end up with is a community that stays to itself, is generally responsibile and law-abiding (other than the obvious illegal immigration in the first place), but interacts as little as possible with society at large. There are unneccesary burdens placed on our social services because of this alienation, as these people will function much more completely in our economy if they are not castigated to such a severe degree. A mexican family making $4/hr working black-ticket construction or sweating away in some seedy bar bussing tables isn't going to bring much to the table. But an ambitious and integrated Mexican working class has the ability to revitalize our cities, and the increased tax revenue and income from area businesses will pay its own dividends.

A strong border policy does not have to be a hostile one. I have not put an overlarge amount of thought on this issue either, as my attentions have been focused on other things of late, but these are my basic viewpoints on this situation. I sincerely hope that something positive arises in the future regarding it.