In a previous commentary, I went into a lot of detail about unprecedented growth that we have seen in the size and scope of the federal government SINCE Republicans recaptured control of Congress in 1994 — SINCE we replaced Bill Clinton with George W. Bush. The article I have chosen to highlight as the main link on today’s issue of the FlashReport is from the San Francisco Chronicle, and it is titled, "GOP is in a ‘deep funk’ over Bush spending" – and the article is definitely worth a read. A lot of times, I toss away articles from the main stream media (MSM) that try to tell a story of Republicans upset with Republicans, taking it as yet another opportunity for those in the media to divide Republicans. But this article is on point.
I know that Republicans are upset and frustrated about ‘comfort’ and ‘enthusiasm’ that our GOP leaders seem to have in presiding over the growth and governance of a bloated federal bureaucracy. How do I know? First and foremost — that sentiment is felt by… ME! I’ve talked about it on this page before, but the GOP is quickly being hijacked by those who no longer want our party to be about limiting the size of government, and being the party of personal responsibility and the idea of federalism (the idea decisions should be made at a local level – the individual, then the family, then friends and community, and then local, state and eventually the national government). These days, the message seems to be "we will solve your problems" and then a relative comfort in using tax dollars to do it.
This kind of message coming out of Washington, D.C., on top of the recent scandals surrounding former Congressman-now-convict Duke Cunningham, and uber-Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff are having an unfortunate and chilling effect on GOP enthusiasm and excitement. I have received so many e-mails from Republicans around the Golden State frustrated with the state of affairs, pining for the return of a Ronald Reagan who will champion the limited-government message of our party.
Enter into this debate the current negotiations in Sacramento over infrastructure investment. Here we have two basic challenges. The first is that a three or eight month campaign by our Republican Governor with the central theme being infrastructure growth may appeal to Californians who are rightfully frustrated with clogged freeways — however, it is still the Republican Party championing the theme of what the government can do to solve problems. Real infrastructure investment, even by conservative standards, is appropriate — but focusing on that theme on top of the excessive and exorbitant largess in federal and state spending that is taking place — and it will only serve to supress the enthusiasm and drive of base GOP voters.
Add to it the complexities of the potential results of negotiations on the infrastructure package that are taking place right now. Legislative Republicans have made a clear case for those points that will enable them to support a borrowing package — a substantial pay-as-you-go component, a 6% spending cap, needed spending reforms, and a laser-sharp focus on REAL infrastructure investment.
The problem as revealed yesterday in a very telling article by Greg Lucas in the San Francisco Chronicle, is that Democrats want to load up this borrowing plan with a ton of big-government, centralized planning, social-engineering programs that will completely blow-out-of-the-water any way for grassroots Republicans to support the plan. Yes, we want another lane on the freeway on which we commute, but why does that also mean we need to support subsidized housing?
The biggest danger of all, though, is the whole idea that the campaign theme for the spring or fall from Republicans is promoting what the federal and state government can do for you. What the GOP needs from Washington, D.C., and from Sacramento, is a return to empower the individual, and how a government which governs least governs best.
As President Ronald Reagan said in his first inaugural address (watch it or read it here):
Let us return to the message of Ronald Reagan, and excite our GOP base and watch a Republican turnout this November like you haven’t seen in over a decade!
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