In a recent Op-Ed we were reminded of the existence of “reasonable” Republicans. Many of us who grew up in the Republican Party remember such people and mourn their public demise. We have suspected they still exist and wish their return to prominence.
But unfortunately there are others who are not so reasonable. In recent history former Governor Ehrlich left office with a legacy of a $1.5 billion structural deficit. Too often from incoming Governor Hogan we heard the mantra of cutting taxes without a meaningful plan. What are we to expect? A push for greater income inequality? A cutback on services for the most vulnerable and needy?
We don’t have gridlock in Washington, we have obstruction in the interest of inhibiting government. Certainly there is the need for governmental reform in so many areas and among many issues our health care system requires fundamental reform. We can only hope that the efforts to sabotage the Affordable Care Act are not successful. For the first time millions have health care. And then there is the matter of our national infrastructure. We are waiting for constructive cooperation.
We need two functional political parties but the litany of hate, anger, disruption and dysfunction has become more than distasteful. Fearmongering and prejudice with cries of immigrant threat, ISIS at our borders and invocations of Benghazi are hardly useful. What many of us would love to hear are statesmanlike constructive policies from reasonable people which indicate a willingness to explore productive solutions together and the now unspoken word of compromise.
Yes, many of us remember excellent and thoughtful Republican politicians in Maryland’s past but recent experience has been less than encouraging. We can hope that the cited “basic tenets” of the Republican Party will be restored as a centerpiece and that reasonable Republicans will again take their place on the political stage. We need them back in a cooperative national effort to solve waiting problems and to restore a functional Congress.
Joe Lill says
Perfect!!
Fletcher Hall says
The Republican Party was indeeed fortunate to make a bit of headway in the past off-year election.
This process is somewhat like turning around the Titanic. One inch at a time. And,
there are many, many, problems and issues to address.This effort will need all the voices of
reason and rteasonableness which can be found.This pertains to both Washington and Annapolis.
Norm Dulak says
I greatly appreciate the thoughtful and intelligent remarks Mr. Burt has made here.
gerry maynes says
Yes, All that is needed is for the President to act like a statesman and not like the bomb thrower that he is. Remember the people cannot recall the President, like A Prime Minister in England. Our only regress is to turn the congress over to the opposition party to keep the Chief Executive in check. The people have done this twice and Mr Obama still has not taken heed.
Mr Clinton, When faced with a mid term lost of the congress adopted many of the Republican Ideas and was successful . Mr Obamas response was to taunt the new Senate before they have evne3n taken power. This is a recipe for disaster for our country and for his own party. A new pole pole shows Hilary Clinton losing to Gov. Romney and tied with Chris Christie. This was unthinkable a few months ago and I believe the direct results of Mr Obamas power play.
James Nick says
Re: “Mr Clinton, When faced with a mid term lost of the congress adopted many of the Republican Ideas and was successful”
In fact, Mr Clinton caving in to Republican ideas helped grease the skids for the US financial meltdown that President Obama has only now managed to pull us out of. The 1999 Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act passed by a Republican controlled Congress and signed by Clinton repealed the two provisions of the Glass-Steagall Act that restricted affiliations between banks and securities firms. It was the repeal of these restrictions that was an important contributory cause of the financial crisis by permitting Wall Street investment banking firms to gamble with their depositors’ money that was held in their affiliated commercial banks.
If this is an example of what can happen when yielding to Republican policies then it would be a colossal mistake for President Obama to go down the path Clinton followed.
Gerry Maynes says
Oh, That’s what caused the economic crash. To that I have two words Barney Frank. Yes the Democratic financial midget that was behind giving mortgages to people who could not afford to pay them, in the name of fairness. But, at this point what does it matter if Mr. Obama fails to heed the voice of the people and continues to gto about his misguided way. In January 2017 he will be a very unpleasenr memory. Much like Jimmy Carter and Richard Nixon, He will have left the country in terrible shape and his party in ruins. Heck the Democrats can hold the next Govenors convention in a large phone booth. Health care is still taken up way to much of the average families income, the world thinks we are a joke and the economy is in a deep rut. The people are more divided then ever. That is Mr Obamas legacy. That’s why he should work with the new congress.
Gren Whitman says
Along with “Warrior Bob” Kramer, I am ready to track how Gov.-elect Larry Hogan fulfills his campaign statements.
Five of them—in no special order—are:
No. 1: Cut taxes.
No. 2: Reduce state spending by “$2 billion.”
No. 3: Keep firearms away from mentally ill.
No. 4: Maintain spending on school construction.
No. 5: Senate President Miller will cooperate with him.
Speaking personally as well as politically, we Marylanders can take heart that Mike, Mike, and Maggie are on the job in Annapolis.