Are republicans the "party of ideas" as Barak Obama said in Nevada?

Obama was quoted as saying, “It’s fair to say that the Republicans were the party of ideas for a pretty long chunk of time there over the last 10 to 15 years.”

Obama blasted for GOP remark
http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2008/01/19/News/344934.html


Some Democratic 'ideas' :

I. Real Security - At Home and Overseas
* Implement the proposals of the 9/11 Commission.
* Require the Iraqis to take responsibility for their country.
* Begin phased redeployment of US troops from Iraq.
* Fully man, train and equip our National Guard and our police, firefighters and other first responders.
* Enact a GI Bill of Rights to honor our commitment to US veterans

II. Energy Independence - Lower Gas Prices
* Create a cleaner environment, and free the US from dependence on foreign oil, with initiatives for energy-efficient technologies and domestically-produced alternatives.
* Increase biofuels sold in the US
* End tax giveaways to Big Oil companies.
* Enact tough laws to stop price gouging of the American public.

III. College Access for All
* Increase tax deductions and tax credits for college tuition.
* Slash interest rates for student loans.
* Expand Pell Grants, the need-based, undergraduate federally-funded program

IV. Better American Jobs. Better Pay. Prosperity for All.
* Raise the federal minimum wage, which has remained at $5.15 since 1997.
* End tax giveaways that reward companies for moving US jobs overseas.
* Affordable broadband access for every American.
* Renewed US commitment to research & development.
* Educate 100,000 new US scientists, engineers and mathmaticians in the next four years.

V. Retirement Security and Dignity
* Fight privatization of Social Security
* Expand tax incentives for middle-class and working families to save
* Pension reform via greater transparency and fairness, and protection for older workers.

VI. Affordable Health Care
* Promote stem cell research that offers real hope to milions of American families who suffer from devastating diseases.
* Fix the Medicare prescription drug benefit by negotiating lower drug prices and ending wasteful giveaways to drug companies and HMOs.

http://usliberals.about.com/od/liberalleadership/a/DemAgenda.htm


What republican 'ideas' so impress Barak Obama?

mud, while we drag them along...

He said that they WERE able to think outside the box. He did not say that he agreed with these novel ideas. He also said that it is about time for the democrats to start thinking outside the box. That's all.

does that mean he's disregarding *Democratic ideas during the same period, or devaluing them?

America.... not hard to figure out what he's saying...

Those who don't make the same mistakes over and over. He says that he doesn't know much about that time so why is he saying that reagan is such and idea man. Reagan's idea is to trash the middle class and favor the rich. What he did to FDR's programs is a sin. I cannot disagree more with his idea bs. He is very low on my list for a vote.

and funnel the bulk of the treasury into the military and into tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy.

but it will be a have to situation before I do. It seems the more I here him talk the more I shake my head. He sure has been letting a lot of stupid stuff come out of his mouth of late, by design or by accident, either way its been a total turn off for me. sorry

discount? What did William Jefferson Clinton do for blacks and Latinos?

Really, Mr. Obama? The Republicans have been the party of ideas for the past ten to fifteen years? Including the last seven years of Bill Clinton’s administration? Really, Mr. Obama?

Since the economy is the hot topic these days, let’s just look at what President Clinton did for minorities in terms of economic gains — even though Obama dismisses those achievements. From a U.S. government Web site in April 1999:

Unemployment Rate for African Americans and Hispanics Remains Historically Low. Under President Clinton and Vice President Gore, the Hispanic unemployment rate has dropped from 11.3 percent in January 1993 to a record low of 5.8 percent in March 1999. The unemployment rate for African Americans has fallen from 14.1 percent in January 1993 to 8.1 percent in March 1999–one of the lowest levels on record for African Americans.

Here are additional economic accomplishments of the Clinton/Gore administration — as of 1999 (during the administration’s second term) — that also had a direct positive effect for minorities:

18.2 Million New Jobs. …
Unemployment at 4.2 Percent in March …
Highest Share of New Jobs in Private Sector in 50 Years. Since the President and Vice President took office, the private sector has added 16.7 million new jobs–with 2.4 million jobs added in the past year. Since 1993, 92 percent of the 18.2 million new jobs have been in the private sector–the highest percentage in 50 years.
Fastest and Longest Real Wage Growth in Two Decades. Last month, average hourly earnings increased 0.2 percent. Under the Clinton-Gore Administration, real wages have risen 6.1 percent–compared to declining 4.3 percent during the Reagan and Bush Administrations. After adjusting for inflation, wages have increased almost 2.7 percent in 1998–the fastest real wage growth in more than two decades and the third year in a row–the longest sustained growth since the early 1970s.
Construction Jobs Are Coming Back. …
Manufacturing Jobs Have Increased. After losing 2.1 million manufacturing jobs between 1981 and 1992, the economy has created 350,000 new manufacturing jobs since 1993. After losing 46,000 jobs in the auto industry during the Bush Administration, the United States has 147,000 new auto industry jobs under the Clinton-Gore Administration.
Inflation Rate Is the Lowest Since the 1950s. …
President Clinton signed the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, “which passed Congress without a single Republican vote.”

It raised taxes on the wealthiest 1.2% of taxpayers,<35> while cutting taxes for 15 million low-income families and making tax cuts available to 90% of small businesses.<36> Additionally, it mandated that the budget be balanced over a number of years, through the implementation of spending restraints.

Listen, Mr. Obama. If you think that President Clinton and Vice President Gore accomplished those amazing turnarounds for the economy and for minorities by singing “Kumbayah” with Republicans, you’ve just shown how naive you are.

And you’ve exposed how uninformed you are about the brutal history of U.S. politics where every progressive step is spattered with the blood, sweat and tears of all who fought so hard for those gains.

And Obama and supporters re-read the last paragraph and understand obama did not arrive here through a virgin birth. he's here off the blood, sweat and tears of all who fought so hard for those gains.

in the caucuses in NV. Aside from the one instance where one of his volunteer precinct captains delivered the flyer about Repubs being able to change party affiliation to vote against Clinton, his ads on TV and radio here are encouraging Repubs and Inds to change their registration to participate -- granted, his ads are not as blatant as the one the precinct volunteer got in to trouble about -- but the message is clear, IMHO. None of the other candidates are speaking about the registration rules at the caucuses, only Obama. His ads and Ron Paul's are the two I hear on both liberal and 'conservative' talk radio here, too.

the goals of the republicans are reprehensible. And most of their methods.
But look back at the last several decades: the conservatives have CONTROLLED the debate backwards and forwards. Whether they were in control of both houses or not.
It would be naive to ignore how they did it and fail to try to see if there were anything to learn from that.
The republicans controlled things because they knew how to manipulate the people, the system, and the message.
They were all about control. In fact, they saw the control as the delivery mechanism, and what it delivered was less important than the control.
Yes, its fascist. But fascism happens for a reason.

But, that's a different thing than whether Democrats were offering better 'ideas'. It would be interesting to ask Obama WHY he thinks republicans were the "party of ideas." Was it their message which was superior, or, as you say, was it because of their ability to manipulate what the public heard?

their is something to learn from the success of the conservative movement. I wouldn't say I admire it, but the success should teach us something about where our vulnerabilities are as a population. Democrats should strive to repair those vulnerabilities and make us better citizens. Republicans want to exploit those weaknesses and keep us weak.
I'm sort of just thinking out loud.

i thought he was just pandering to the right by being disingenuous about the Regan years.... but that would be too manipulative. Doh!

I guess I can't even make a point about politics in general without people injecting their own partisan primary choice bullshit into it.

take a rest already, you guys are making this place insufferable.

and diviseveness....of the pre Regan era are things he finds distateful. he sure sounds like he's anti- progressive and into being a simple minded- Dale Carnigieesque empty but shining beacon of hope.

I do not know what else I am supposed to get from that. Seriously, explain to me- if he though Regan was bad- how come you'd never be able to tell? i think because he is talking about how acomplished he was- on the surface that reads positive, I truly believe he is being deliberately vague in order to woo Regan's fans....god knows, the few who aren;t toal racists might fall for it. but if he has been slamming anyone when he talks about recent history- it's progressives of the baby boomer generation, that's not in dispute. i just think it's foolish.

and you're wrong, i do not yet have a candidate. not thrilled with anyone.

I don't have to explain anything to you about what obama meant because I was only making my OWN point about republicans.

sheesh, how many times do I gotta tell you and you're asking me to explain someone else's point? did you even read my post at all?

of substance. It's quite clear what he meant by this. It's not anything against Dems, it's just a wake-up call to do better. If every statement every politician makes has to be completely balanced and leave no room for any wingnut mis-interpretation, we will get what we asked for; bland, disclaimer-laden, pandering, useless pseudo-ideas. In fact, that very well might be the point of his comment. It's like the "fine-print" for your credit card statement or any other corporate contract. Every time they get sued or challenged, they add another disclaimer to the fine print, and eventually we end up with 40 pages of type to small to read. Politicians who have been in the game a long time often sound like that too.

The tact in Obama's exchange was a direct put-down of the Democratic party and an elevation of the republican con-job which we've battled over the years. I guess he wanted to illustrate what he would be looking for from the republicans he says he'll be able to coalesce with if elected. I think he's on thin ice with this tactic. I've, personally, found NOTHING about republicans or their agenda which I would elevate or emulate.

The fact is that there is still about 50% of the country out there that you haven't convinced that republican ideas are worthless.

I'd be angling to get more Democrat-leaning voters to the polls

Does Obama really believe Republicans will cross over in any appreciable way? Too funny. He's certainly doing much to clear the path for Hillary.

Each generation has the thoughts that brings people to power. Since I see power in this country coming from the bottom up and a leader gets in front and runs with that I see the GOP trying to turn the power, so they led the group for a good generation. They are more in the autocrat style of govt. Now it is a new generation and we need new people and thinkers. I think the Clinton were more in the way things were and we can plan on change coming now.. This is not an age of my father and WW2 and 'white men' only. So RR 'new' thoughts were just old ones he was trying to re-set but what ever it was, it was in power for many years. Looks to me we are just back on track of moving on into another generation and we will leave these people behind. If this all did not happen my family would still be carriage makers, women would not vote and the whole older time things would stick around. I wish I could put this better and make it clear. I feel the Dem. Party is the only party that can do this but they also have trouble leaving the old days behind.

. . . their party, their positions in power, and their corporate benefactors.

The Clinton administration was actually a break from that . . .


from mzmolly: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=2714986

-The Strongest Economy in a Generation Longest Economic Expansion in U.S. History.
-Moving From Record Deficits to Record Surplus.
Over 21 Million New Jobs.
-Fastest and Longest Real Wage Growth in Over Three Decades.
-Unemployment Is Nearly the Lowest in Three Decades.
-Highest Homeownership Rate in History.
-Lowest Poverty Rate in Two Decades.
-Largest Five-Year Drop in Child Poverty Rate Since the ‘60s.
-Tax Cuts for Working Families.
-Family and Medical Leave Act
-Improved Access to Affordable, Quality Child Care and Early Childhood Programs.
-Increased the Minimum Wage.
-Signed the Landmark Work Incentives Improvement Act.
-Signed the Adoption and Safe Families Act.
-One America dialogues to promote and facilitate discussions on racial diversity and understanding.
-Largest Investment in Education in 30 Years Opening the Doors of College to All Americans.
-Expanding Work Study and Pell Grants.
-Making College More Affordable.
-Expanded Head Start funding by 90 percent.
-Lowest Crime Rates in 25 Years Lowest Overall Crime Rate in 25 Years.
-Putting 100,000 More Police on the Streets.
-More Than Half a Million Felons, Fugitives and Domestic Abusers Denied Guns.
-National Campaign Against Youth Violence.
-Fighting Hate Crimes.
-Nearly Doubled Child Support Collections.
-Child Abuse Declines for Five Years in a Row.
-Expanded Investment in Urban and Rural Areas.
-Encouraging Investment in Underserved Communities with the New Markets Initiative.
-Enacted Most Comprehensive Medicare Reforms in History.
-Enacted Single Largest Investment in Health Care for Children since 1965.
-Signed Mental Health Parity Provisions into Law.
-Implementing Comprehensive Nursing Home Quality Initiative.
-Ensuring Safe Food for America’s Families. -- The Clinton-Gore -Administration has implemented a new science-based inspection system --
-Issued Regulation that Drug Companies Provide Adequate Testing for Children.
-The Clinton-Gore Administration has taken strong steps to protect a woman’s right to choose and to promote safe reproductive health services for women, ala RU-486
-Growing the Economy And Improving the Environment Preserving Our National Treasures.
-Preserving Our National Forests.
-Keeping Our Drinking Water Safe.
-Clearing the Air of Unhealthy Pollution.
-Reducing the Threat of Global Warming.
-A Strong Research and Development Agenda Unprecedented Investment in Biomedical Research.

http://pearlyabraham.tripod.com/htmls/bill-legacy2.html

I keep it!

I think Clinton saw it in a new way and moved things on and this Bush is trying to re-grab those old days once more. It is a fight that will go for a long time but I do see we are moving into new ways and I see people like Obama as the people we will be able to count on and pull it all together. I do not think Clinton would hurt us at all but I frankly do not wish to see these same old people back into govt. The world is changing and it is time we got in to the movement. The days of the same old people out of the same old schools is going. If Clinton gets in to the WH and I always say If until after Nov. I hope we will not re-do the 90's. I hope she will see the world is a new and better way. I sure like that open mind of a type like Obama. I am not sure that the Clinton's are such people but they are sure better than what we see in the GOP.

I think Clinton saw it in a new way and moved things on and this Bush is trying to re-grab those old days once more. It is a fight that will go for a long time but I do see we are moving into new ways and I see people like Obama as the people we will be able to count on and pull it all together. I do not think Clinton would hurt us at all but I frankly do not wish to see these same old people back into govt. The world is changing and it is time we got in to the movement. The days of the same old people out of the same old schools is going. If Clinton gets in to the WH and I always say If until after Nov. I hope we will not re-do the 90's. I hope she will see the world is a new and better way. I sure like that open mind of a type like Obama. I am not sure that the Clinton's are such people but they are sure better than what we see in the GOP.

and praising Republicans. Its not justified, nor is it useful so why does he do it?

Swing voters who are looking to vote for the Democratic candidate this time know the GOP has screwed up royally. There's little need to convince them. If Obama is doing it to attract those voters, its ridiculous.

Every time I read something, he's uttered Reagan, Republicans are good, blah blah blah. Why can't he seem to stay off the Repuke topic altogether, for Gods' sakes???

says, whether it's right-wing sociopathy or just waffle, they're going to end up thinking a "short back and sides" is cool, and The Dude, a reprehensible bum, instead of him "takin' her easy for all us sinners".

I will vote for one before anything right of center but HRCs strong against numbers speak volumes for me. I want someone who will negotiate and make progress, not someone who will force the pendulum to far the other direction.


Recognize what hes doing for what it is. hes reaching out. His stated policies should be enough. Anything else would be the dirty tricks of teh republicans which include pandering to your extreme base and vilifying your opponents. These are the ways of a huckabee, not of a democrat.

I don't really know how this rhetoric, praising republicans or their agenda, serves to advance our own party's interests which will need MORE Democrats elected in THIS cycle for any Democratic agenda to prevail.

What the heck have they come up with in the last eight
years except endless war? Their party is in disarray and
rightly so.

ideas nonetheless.

ideas.

Between good ideas and bad ideas, that is.

Like when Rick LAZIO tripped and fell flat on his face in a parade and when GHOULiani dropped out (the first time).

him some pug votes, but it is not going to be popular with liberals, myself included, who have been fighting for many years now to rid the world of these same ideas..."outside the box" of sensible and fair-minded governance.

:(

that Democrats “don’t stand for anything” or “have no new ideas.” Why, after all, must ideas be new? The Democrats have had the best kind of ideas—old ideas, ones that worked. Progressive taxation, labor regulations, livable wages, trade tariffs—these ideas may be old, but they’re the ideas that transformed the average American from a miserable serf to a privileged suburbanite in just a few decades. Why abandon them for newer, dumber ideas? Just for novelty’s sake?

on the rethugs. But hey, it happens.

Latinos tend to be more pragmatic. They vote for their economic self interest, not for feel good ideas. And they may have wondered what was in it for them if Obama was offering them a re-run of the Reagan era.