Cantor on GOP: "We screwed up when we were in the majority"

[ProSense]

Cantor on GOP: "We screwed up when we were in the majority"

by Jed Lewison

Eric Cantor has a hilarious new pitch for the Republican Party: you can trust us because we know that the last time we ran the show, we fucked up.

We screwed up when we were in the majority. We fell in love with power. We spent way too much money—especially on earmarks. There was too much corruption when we ran this place. We were guilty.

Okay, so even though Republicans controlled Congress for over a decade -- including during the Bush presidency -- we're supposed to trust them because they now realize that they "screwed up" the last time around? The only scant piece of evidence Cantor offers for his claim is that he hopes to "take a cue" from Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell and "cut programs" to balance the budget. Only one problem: McDonnell relied on Federal aid to balance his state's books.

According to a Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis report released this week, last year’s Recovery Act provided $2.5 billion in stimulus relief to ‘maintain crucial services for citizens’ and ‘help close the state’s budget shortfall in 2010-2012.’ Virginia legislators relied on $1.3 billion in enhanced Medicaid funding, $1 billion in funding for K-12 and higher education, $39 million for public safety, and $200 million in general support to reduce ‘what would otherwise have been a $5.4 billion budget hole.’”

So Cantor's argument boils down to: we screwed up, but trust us, we won't screw up again, and offers as proof a transparently bogus claim about Bob McDonnell's tenure in office?

With a campaign as hollow as this, it's no wonder that Democrats are surging: the GOP alternative is really no alternative at all.

Steve Benen: CANTOR'S CRACKED CALCULATOR...

[TheCowsCameHome]

Yes, and you haven't changed a bit

except you may be worse now.

[David Zephyr]

1. Baby, I know I cheated on you, beat you, but take me back cuz I love you. Trust me.

That's their message.

[liberal N proud]

2. And we expect nothing different from you if you regain control.

Pigs

[applegrove]

3. ...no clothes.

[Andy823]

4. So let's see now

They screwed up when they were in the majority, and they have screwed up as the minority, so americans should put them back in the "majority" since they obviously haven't learned their lesson the first time? I don't think so!

[prolesunited]

5. And if you look at their platform

it's exactly the same.

[Sherman A1]

15. +1, Agreed & Well Said!

You hit the nail on the head!

[gkhouston]

6. No, you screwed EVERYBODY when you were in the majority, and too many people remember it. n/t

[jpgray]

7. You know, if it doesn't work for Domino's...

It shouldn't work for a major political party.

[Historic NY]

8. No you still can't have the keys Eric.

[K8-EEE]

9. Honey, I've changed, from now on it will all be different!

I'll never hit you again, and the check is in the mail too, really!

[ProgressOnTheMove]

10. They actively messed things up beyond all recognition, no accident.

[JoePhilly]

12. Very true ... their goal of destroying the economy has a purpose ...

corporations need compliant, terrified workers, that are too afraid of losing their job to complain or demand better wages or benefits.

[opihimoimoi]

11. A Major Reason To Come out to VOTE BLUE...Cantor , DeMint, Bachmann, Angle, Witless, Boner, ewtc

These GOP Dudes are SCAREY

[Proud Liberal Dem]

13. What a pitch!

:eyes:

So, he's saying that:

a.)They (the Republicans) now admit that they screwed up (royally) before when they were in the majority.
b.)Their path to salvation was found in the example of Bob McDonnell's decision to CUT state services to balance the budget (which is likely to end up on the backs of people less affluent and/or privileged)- leaving aside the fact that budget was balanced as a result of the much maligned and lied about stimulus plan that all but three Republicans in the House and the Senate voted AGAINST. :banghead:

My big question to Cantor is, if they realized that they screwed up majorly when they were last in power and now realize the error of their ways, WHY are they not trying to be more "bipartisan" and working with the Democrats and President Obama to solve important national issues? Why isn't Cantor and/or other Republicans calling for their Senate brethren to stop preventing everything from coming up for a vote? All I hear from them is about starting baseless investigations of President Obama, eliminating something called "Obamacare", shutting down government, and cutting spending (while simultaneously being vague and non-specific about WHAT to cut other than "earmarks"). Pretty much continuing to be nothing more than a "Party of NO"!

:shrug:

[old mark]

14. I didn't mean it!...It really wasn't my fault - I got carried away...Had a few too many, ya know...

but it won't happen again, honest! I really learned my lesson last time, and the time before that, too! And...well, never mind that ancient history...

Next time it will be better, you just wait and see!

Sincerely, GOP.

[Skidmore]

16. And they want the chance to screw up again....

Has the makings of a great billboard.

[COLGATE4]

17. Who was it on TV that just had a hilarious take on this similar

to what many have posted (think it was Jon Stewart) "Honey, I promise I'll never do it again. Take me back, baby and, I promise, I'll keep trying to screw your sister every chance I get". (Apologies to Jon if I mangled it.)

[niceypoo]

18. Yes, everytime the same mistake

He tries to blame 'earmarks' for the 6 trillion they racked up over 8 years? They want to cut, what, 19$ billion in earmarks every year? Stunning dishonesty in a moment of grudging honesty.

[zehnkatzen]

19. k/r n/t

[Supersedeas]

20. But they don't propose to do things ANY differently