A Democratic President and Democratic Congress

During the closing days of the 2008 presidential campaign, John McCain and Sarah Palin were asking the voters, "do you really want a Democratic president and Democratic Congress?"  The implication was, if that is the case, there would be no checks and balances and Congress would just be a rubber stamp of Obama's policies and programs.  The Republican nominee was not doing too well with the voters on the real issues, so a new tactic was tried.  It too failed.

 

The case has already been made that the Republican Congress did indeed rubber stamp Bush's policies during the six years they controlled Congress.  Their leaders met every day and produced talking points for their members to repeat over and over again; there were no descent among their rank and file.  

 

The same can not be said about the Democratic party.  The fact is that the Democratic party does not issue talking points for their members to follow like robots.  The Congressional Democrats will be with Obama on most of the critical issues facing our country but will put their stamp on many of the issues, and there will certainly be some descent within the party. 

 

The country will do better under Democratic control because of Democratic independence and their vision of being progressive and the fact that Democrats won't be spending time on issues that divide us.  

The Republican Governors Conference

Republican Governors met in Miami on November 13 to map a future for their party after the GOP's devastating election day defeats.  The governors said the future of the GOP rests within their ranks (the governors) and not Washington politicians (Senators and Congressmen). 

 

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty said that in his view, the Republican party needs more than a combover.  Other comments included a need to reach out more as a party and become more inclusive.

Gov. Palin said, "we are the minority party, let us resolve not to be the negative party.  Let us reach out to Barack Obama, show him how lower taxes provide opportunity for the private sector to grow." 

Obviously, the theme of their conference was that Republicans are looking to their governors to fill the leadership vacuum.  But lets look at what has actually taken place with in the Republican party, both on the national and state level.

 

During the 2008 presidential election, Republican governors failed to reject and denounce the personal attacks by the McCain-Palin ticket and the divisive issues they conjured up.  Once again, the governors failed to promote an inclusive campaign and were silent on the issue; they just went with the flow.  Many of them even appeared on television and used the talking points of the national Republican party.  They did not practice what they now preach. 

 

Gov. Palin's above comments are laughable when she says "lets not be the negative party."  She had a great opportunity to actually be positive as a V.P. candidate and change the tone and she blew it big time.  

 

If the Republican governors really want to change their party than they need to stand up and speak out to the neocons who have been running their party and say enough is enough.  Time will tell if they have the wisdom, character, and judgment to do so.