Republicans, "After the loving"

Posted by Saint Somebody on Sunday, October 25, 2009 4:30:30 PM

" I knew it was time to quit, when it didn't hurt to play bad anymore." A former PGA tour player explained his transition from competitor to private citizen this way. It is poignant and sad, the moment when what was everything, becomes nothing. It is the moment when your expectations die.

Some Republican lawmakers may face these transition-to-private-citizen moments before the next election cycle. It is time to quit when, it doesn't hurt to be a hypocrite anymore.

Republican hearts are all aflutter now that disenchantment with hope and change is spreading. It's time to dust off the 'small government, fiscal discipline' mantras that live in republican hearts from the primary to general election every couple years. This is the valentine that Republicans send to voters. Then, off to Washington, where 'small government, fiscal discipline' is so yesterday.

Washington is San Padre island for Republicans. The Democrats don't have a curfew, they have a credit card, a platinum card actually and a printing press. All Republicans have is 'small government, fiscal discipline'. They want to go on spring break, too. When given the opportunity, they do. That is precisely the problem.

Republicans delude themselves if they think that voters regret sending them home in 2008. They went to Washington. They didn't study. The didn't go to church on Sunday and they lied to the folks back home. They spent recklessly.

Obama will have a hard sell to the voters come 2012. But the voters will not reflexively turn back to Republicans. Only a few of us remember Eisenhower. The voters don't trust Republicans and only a select few, Ryan, Bachmann, Dreier.... have any stomach for being Republicans after the electoral loving.

A lot of people would like to vote for a Republican. They are reluctant to do so because they have voted for Republicans. "Relative" fiscal sanity is not going to cut it with voters this time.