Republicans Begin to Question the Competence of Their Leadership

[babylonsister]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-creamer/republicans-begin-to-ques_b_525215.html

Republicans Begin to Question the Competence of Their Leadership
Robert Creamer


If there is anything that the Republicans hate, it's losing. And when it came to the health care bill...Republicans lost big.

They had bet all the marbles on stopping health care reform cold and then convincing voters next fall that Obama's Democrats couldn't deliver. They were practically putting together the TV commercials: "Obama's Democrats promise change and deliver nothing..." "Democrats are all talk and no action..." "Even with big majorities in the House and Senate, Democrats couldn't convince Congress to support Obamacare." To their credit, they knew that if they stopped health care reform, they would cripple Obama's ability to pass anything in his program. But their strategy turned out to be a disaster.

The captains of the Republican ship -- Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Minority Leader John Boehner, and the feckless Republican Chairman Michael Steele -- ran the Republican ship right into the rocks. Is it any wonder that the crew is beginning to mutter about mutiny? In recent days I have spoken to a number of Republican members of Congress who are not at all happy with the leadership of their party.

snip//

The problem isn't that they don't have a program. The problem is that their programs led us into the worst economic and foreign policy catastrophes in half a century. Their problem isn't that they were unable to enact their policies. The problem is that they did enact their policies - and they were disasters.

The program of the Republican Party is the deregulation of Wall Street; it's the privatization of Social Security; it's doing away with Medicare and replacing it with vouchers. Their program is to stand up for the big Wall Street banks, the health insurance companies, the oil companies, and the very rich. Try running in the midterms on that program.

That's why they were reduced to being the "Party of No" in the first place. They couldn't very well offer their true policy alternatives, because they were politically radioactive.

But in times of difficulty, organizations need leaders who can rise to the occasion -- understand the building of coalitions -- take advantage of political opportunities -- and make the tough choices that are necessary for success in the long term. Clearly McConnell, Boehner and Steele were not those kinds of leaders. They've bungled every challenge they've faced, and that's why rank and file Republican officeholders are beginning to lose faith in their leadership.

[hobbit709]

1. They are a little slow on the uptake.

We questioned their competence years ago.

[MUAD_DIB]

5. Yes, but the confidence game they were playing then was still netting them

some profit for their party. I believe that "competence" may mean something different to them. Competence may mean just not getting caught doing immoral/illegal things and remaining in power while they do it.

[Chipper Chat]

2. How long before Michael Steele is replaced

by the Shrieking Magpie Palin?

[babylonsister]

3. I seriously doubt she wants a 'real' job where she might actually

have to work. We saw how well that worked out in Alaska.

[Chipper Chat]

4. Yes, but she has an "Alaska-sized" ego.

She would gladly fellate Rush if he askes her to take the job.

[Captain Hilts]

6. They need to question the message their leadership is trying to foist on the US. nt

[Demeter]

7. Republicans Must Next Evaluate Their OWN Sanity

as a logical follow through

[Jefferson23]

8. Let the implosion continue, we are better off that way for now. When

Frum was fired I think everyone watching them thought, omg....they are nuts! And they are, evidently there is still
no room at the inn for moderates who tell them they were wrong. Their objective to break Obama was a fiasco, and the longer they
say NO to everything in the future, the more obvious it becomes to Independents and moderate Republicans, they do not have the best
interests of the public at hand.