Friends falling out
Published September 27, 2013
by Carter Wrenn, Talking About Politics, September 26, 2013.
September 27, 2013 at 11:22 am
TP Wohlford says:
I appreciate it when my Dem friends show concern over the future of the GOP. Let me allay their fears....
"They" (the GOP) "took it on the chin" because one side is throwing the same temper tantrums they threw in Wisconsin, Michigan and other places. And just as in those places, they then threw garbage into the national media, making it look like a big deal -- you know, people like Dem marketing gurus who write columns for, say, NCSpin?
As I recall history, the Gov in Wisconsin, along with most of the GOP legislators, survived recall attempts, and the GOP looks to preserve power there for the foreseeable future. There, the protesters were banging drums and getting arrested and such -- a real big party! - but if anything, they're farther behind today than when they started protesting.
AS I recall the Michigan story, there were massive recall efforts for Engler in '91 after his upset victory. HE left office in Jan 2003, having served 3 terms, the last two elections almost uncontested. He, like Walker, dared to take on the unions and entrenched Dem power bases, and he won bigtime.
The Michigan GOP lost power starting in 2003 because they spent like Dems. In 2011, the "Tough Nerd" came to power, facing a $800 million rolling debt and about $1 billion deficit. And yes, the usual playbook -- recall petitions, public temper tantrums, a national media assault. Well, the budget was balanced, and after 8 years of constant cuts to education, that line item is going the other way. And yes, he did get a Right to Work law passed, and survived a "unions forever" state constitutional amendment vote.
So, history teaches us that this is all a Dem playbook thing. History shows us that, to date, it hasn't work, and perhaps has even worked against them in many ways. And history shows us that the GOP people get re-elected, but only if they remember why voters sent them in the first place.