Contract with America

[Guest]

In 1994 the republicans had a revolt and called it the Contract with America. Do you think we should rally congress to have another one? We can call it The Contract of America II.

Clarification: I had a post deleted because I mentioned a revolt. I am sorry if anybody thought I meant us citizens would actually head to the streets in a revolt like they are doing now in Iran. The revolt I am talking about is at the voting booth.


Keedy

[Guest]

If only we could all do something to inspire we the people to wake up and be counted. Even if we could only inspire those with a like desire...party insensitive...just bring America back. Wouldn't it be neat to create a rally.....name it what is most appropriate for the cause....then for a solid week (or month or what ever) keep contacting all the 545.
And a second wave to be designed to over whelm the media to let them know what we are doing and dare them not to cover it.

Oh if only we could get a ground swell....if that is too complex and too much to expect from the not me or apathetic Americans, maybe we could at least get a following for the 2010 elections. Turn it upside down.

Think about it if we could only inspire 10% of America.....that would be 30,000,000......you would think out of the so called majority usually tagged at 83% or more....10% should be a do able number. Anybody have any idea what 30,000,000.....OK if the big number scares any body let's look for 5% that being 15,000,000.....do you have any idea what 15,000,000 letters arriving at each of the 545 would creat? What the media's reaction would be when they get theirs?

I wish I could wave a wand and make it happen......as I am afraid that is what it will take:sad:

btk

[Guest]

If only we could all do something to inspire we the people to wake up and be counted. Even if we could only inspire those with a like desire...party insensitive...just bring America back. Wouldn't it be neat to create a rally.....name it what is most appropriate for the cause....then for a solid week (or month or what ever) keep contacting all the 545.
And a second wave to be designed to over whelm the media to let them know what we are doing and dare them not to cover it.

Oh if only we could get a ground swell....if that is too complex and too much to expect from the not me or apathetic Americans, maybe we could at least get a following for the 2010 elections. Turn it upside down.

Think about it if we could only inspire 10% of America.....that would be 30,000,000......you would think out of the so called majority usually tagged at 83% or more....10% should be a do able number. Anybody have any idea what 30,000,000.....OK if the big number scares any body let's look for 5% that being 15,000,000.....do you have any idea what 15,000,000 letters arriving at each of the 545 would creat? What the media's reaction would be when they get theirs?

I wish I could wave a wand and make it happen......as I am afraid that is what it will take:sad:

btk

If people had just 10% of your passion...we could do it.:beer3:

[Guest]

It takes leadership in the party to get it done. Someone who will step up and tell it like it is. I think that's what most Americans want.

Who's your dream team for 2012?

[Guest]

I can recall being at a meeting in Washington, after the 1994 elections, but before the 104th Congress was seated. The Republicans had firm control of the Congress and had laid out a list of legislative steps during the campaign that they called "Contract With America". The speaker at the meeting I attended was Dick Armey (R-Texas), the incoming Majority Leader of the House.

Armey explained in great detail the control that the GOP had of the Congress and how they were going to ramrod through a series of almost 100 bills that had already been written. He spoke of voting in a "bill a day" for the first 100 days.

During the first hundred days of the 104th Congress, Armey pledged "to bring to the floor the ten major bills, each to be given a full and open debate, each to be given a clear and fair vote, and each to be immediately available for public inspection". The text of the proposed bills was included in the Contract, which was released prior to the election. These bills were not governmental reforms, as the previous promises were; rather, they represented significant changes to policy. The main included tax cuts for businesses and individuals, term limits for legislators, social security reform, tort reform, and welfare reform.

Even with the Congressional plurality held by the GOP, the results of the Contract were spotty. Many of the promised bills did pass in the House. But about half of them failed to make it thru conference committee or a Senate vote. A few that passed the House never made it out of Senate committee. A couple that passed both houses were vetoed by President Clinton.

What we're seeing right now is a repeat of the Contract With America I. The President and the Congress have been active in passing legislation and dealing with the terrible economic crisis, bankruptcies, wars, etc. But I think it's not too early to see fissures already forming in the legislative plans of the heavy Democratic majority in the 111th Congress. They do not appear--at this point anyway--to be reaching consensus on the President's healthcare legislation or even his budget.

Yes, I think that the Democrats will pass a fair share of what President Obama campaigned on. But if history has taught us anything, it's not likely that the "Obama list" is going to sail through Congress unmolested.

And maybe that's a good thing. Just so long as the Congress doesn't again lower itself to bitter partisan bickering instead of doing "the people's work" and passing some legislation anyway.

P.S. Your "dream team" question is a tough one, DK. Right now I can't see anyone on the horizon who is capable of providing the electorate a real choice. Until some appear, we'll have one-party rule. But as I pointed out above, even with almost all the players on one team they often get stalled because they begin arguing with each other rather than some opponent from another political party. The GOP has time, I think. But I sure wish someone would emerge from the bushes that would be a party spokesman, other than the pundits and entertainers who seem to have assumed complete control of providing the "Republican message" to the public. If that doesn't change soon, the last-best hope is that the Democrats don't have any more success with Contract II than the Republicans had with Contract I.

[Guest]

step up to the plate. Maybe it is the "mission impossible" syndrone?

Such a quandry to deal with....no sterling viable candidates stepping up to the plate (either party)....yet the incompetents continue to take up space.

Maybe the circled wagons are more impenertable than most of us think.

btk

[Guest]

If there is a Contract of America II is isn't the kind of contract I want to be on board with. It looks like were well on the way with a Contract to Destroy America!!!!!!!!!

[Guest]

The GOP has time, I think. But I sure wish someone would emerge from the bushes that would be a party spokesman, other than the pundits and entertainers who seem to have assumed complete control of providing the "Republican message" to the public. If that doesn't change soon, the last-best hope is that the Democrats don't have any more success with Contract II than the Republicans had with Contract I.
[/QUOTE]
I take umbrage at that statement. Seems like the deck has been stacked against the conservative voices for a long time. The mainstream media has been Obama's cheerleader since he started campaigning. All the major newspapers, lead by The New York Times have championed his cause. All the major television stations have literally been part of the Obama propaganda machine, and most of them do it without shame. NBC must be the initials for the New Barack Channel.
The magazine that you herald form your thread above, Newsweak, has broken a record for having Obama picture on the cover. I wouldn't allow that propaganda rag into my home. Period.
The conservative movement doesn't have the resources that Obama's machine has, but it seems like all the statists would like to see what little voice we have..eliminated.
And remember, there are plenty in congress right now who are trying to trample on our constitutional rights to free speech by silencing talk radio. The people have to wake-up and see what is happening to our rights and our country. We have a congress, right now, that is willing to pass any bill, without even reading it, that is shoved in front of them by the Obama Machine. They have left the republicans out of most of the conferences and have defaulted on the campaign promises of being transparent with all of the processes of our congress.
We need to go to the polls in 2010 and balance our government so that power is distributed fairly and our rights and our great country will survive as we have known it for over 230 years.

[Guest]

...The magazine that you herald form your thread above, Newsweak, has broken a record for having Obama picture on the cover. I wouldn't allow that propaganda rag into my home. Period...
Good golly, Miss Molly...are you going to reject a thoughtful, well-written, educational article because it's published in a magazine had a man's picture on the cover too frequently for your taste?

Wow!

I listen to Rush Limbaugh every now and then, just to see what subject has his attention, what his position is and why, and for some entertainment in the way he presents his argument. I also try to read or watch other media sources which lean towards the other side, just to get enough information so I can form my own opinion. If I were to simply refuse to expose myself to sources like Limbaugh, Hannity, Coulter, or any of the conservative think tanks, how could I understand what they propose and stand for? How could I arrive at a well-informed opinion?

[Guest]

Good golly, Miss Molly...are you going to reject a thoughtful, well-written, educational article because it's published in a magazine had a man's picture on the cover too frequently for your taste?

Wow!

I listen to Rush Limbaugh every now and then, just to see what subject has his attention, what his position is and why, and for some entertainment in the way he presents his argument. I also try to read or watch other media sources which lean towards the other side, just to get enough information so I can form my own opinion. If I were to simply refuse to expose myself to sources like Limbaugh, Hannity, Coulter, or any of the conservative think tanks, how could I understand what they propose and stand for? How could I arrive at a well-informed opinion?

Keep your friends close...but keep your enemies closer. LOL I totally agree. My wife asks me all the time why I am watching a particular newscast or reading a left-leaning web site. I tell her that I have to re-affirm my beliefs by listening to theirs.
My reference to having Newsweak in my home was meant to imply that I would not pay for such trash. Every publication has their obligatory opposing view so in the future when they are questioned on their impartiality they can reference a particular article. They can say..."see this article..it shows that we are fair" That in reality, they have maybe 90% of their articles leaning to the left, is left out of their reasoning.
In closing...there are ton's of references and magazines which people can accumulate impartial data. Magazines with Obama's picture on the cover and fluff pieces with his wife growing a garden when we (taxpayers) pay millions of dollars to staff the White House with chefs, waiters and all kinds of expensive China is rather facetious, don' you think?

[Guest]

...I tell her that I have to re-affirm my beliefs by listening to theirs...
Try the Newsweek article by Fareed Zakria. I think you'll find it interesting. I'll also predict that you will be in complete agreement with his conclusions.