Rand Paul: Without change, GOP will "not win again in my lifetime"

[ishii]

You do know that Paul Volcker was responsible for taming inflation in the 1980s, right? A Democrat appointed by Carter. He and the Federal Reserve Board are the ones who raised interest rates to record levels to get inflation under control. The only thing Reagan did was reappoint him in 1983.

And unemployment? And economic growth? Restoring America’s defenses? Reagan did much more than merely re-appoint Paul Volcker. The president in office gets the blame if things go bad, or the credit when things go well. As you point out, the truth is a bit more complex. But, we need to consider that under Carter, so many things went wrong and under Reagan, so many things went right. So I think its appropriate to give Reagan high marks for his presidency. Historians and economists have been debating Reagan’s presidency for decades and will continue to do so. But the successes under Reagan were too many and lasted too long to simplistically attribute it to a Fed Chairman.

Ishii

 

[ishii]

Eh maybe.

The inevitable collapse of the Federal government will be a rough transition, but power like nature abhors a vacuum and we’ll see a default return to the Articles of Confederation days.

State governments (the stable ones anyway; sorry California) will remain intact.

You can wave a magic wand and get the super duper GOP of your dreams to run the WH, House, Senate and SC and the country will still fall from the events set in motion in the 1960’s on the culture front and the 1910’s with the creation of the Federal Reserve.

The US is financially and morally bankrupt; not a recipe for long life.

Well, it has taken a long time for things to get the way they are. I don’t know anyone who is so naïve that they think merely electing Republicans will turn the country around. And I would not necessarily desire a return to the “articles of confederation days” - unless you like the chaos of 50 different foreign policies and trade policies of states competing with each other. The US is not morally bankrupt - but some of its people are. I do not share your views or your pessimism. The view that “its all going down the tubes” is too easily used as an excuse to abstain from (at times painful) civic responsibilities - such as not staying home on election day in a fit of righteous anger because Howard Philips or St. (Ron) Paul won’t be elected president.

That said, I think I just might look into buying some land in the Okanogan.

Ishii

 

[saintjohnxxiii]

Thanks, saintjohnxxiii. Why do you think Romney lost the election? What did he do that lost him for it? Most of the analysis has been to the effect that his 47% comment and his inability to shake the “out of touch rich guy” doomed him. Maybe you have a different take? I actually liked Romney and though he was a good man - morally upright and wholesome which is consistent with my experience with most Mormon people. Sure he wasn’t a movement conservative and his conversion on abortion was easily portrayed as opportunistic - by those who probably were searching for an excuse to not vote for him anyway. I think he would have made a good president.

Do you think Romney’s Mormonism also contributed to evangelicals not voting for him?

You are correct about the 3 GOP presidential terms from 1980-92. But remember that Bush was essentially running for Reagan’s 3rd term, and the economy was still doing well, and the Democrats hadn’t learned to not nominate statist liberals yet. The country was not yet as it is now with 47% takers and back in 1988, 45% the country was not as liberal or plagued by entitlement mentality. Now, however, even with a stagnant economy, dismal performance of the incumbent, the Democrats still won - courtesy of those entitlement voters, the 47%, and a little help from Democrat friends, Sandy (hurricane), Sandra (Fluke), and Candy (Crowley). That said, I highly doubt that the Democrat running in 2016 will be running on any accomplishments of Obama. Most likely they will be running away from his mistakes. Neither a Democrat win in 2016, nor a GOP win is inevitable.

Thanks again for your comments.

Ishii

Thanks for your reply Ishii. Regarding your question about Romney’s Mormonism and evangelicals, I honestly don’t know but anything is possible. I honestly felt that Romney wasn’t saying he was pro-life to get the conservative vote. I do think that Rudy Giuliani was saying he was pro-life “to pander to the base” during the 2008 Republican primaries because prior to that he had expressed pro-choice beliefs.

 

[ishii]

Why 1981; because of Reagan? Certainly the country was going downhill both at home and abroad during the Carter administration. Some would set the date in the late 1960’s when there was a cultural revolution. Others might say the 1860’s during and after the Civil War. Despite this cry of despair and doom, the US continues to be resilient and reports of its death have been, as Mark Twain would say, “greatly exaggerated.”

 

[ssancho]

Ron Paul - LOL. A 77 year old libertarian was the last shot for the GOP? Everyone needs to take a step back. In 1988 some we’re saying the Democrat party was doomed. Now some are saying that about the GOP. Why they forget is how inept the Democrat party is and how fail prone liberalism is. It is already starting with Obamacare. I have my doubt about the GOPs ability to capitalize on the democrat mistakes, but in no way are they finished. Look at how successful they are at the state level.

Ishii

As a Republican, I say: for clear-headed analysis.

:tsktsk:

The left loves to remind the GOP that they’ve only won the popular vote once since 1988, and in every case a moderate/establishment republican ran.

They don’t like to talk about what happened in the three election cycles before that, two of which when a principled, articulate conservative ran

Wouldn’t it be twice since 1988? Bush 41 (1988) and Bush 43 (2004) both won the popular vote.

Tell me, how long can the left keep this up? If all these minorities and blue-collar union workers that you count on to have kids become liberal and stop having them, where are your numbers going to come from? What happens when all of the white 1960s liberal hippies start dying out?

If the American left wants to talk demographics, they ought to take a good, hard look at Japan and Western Europe.

Give it a few generations. The country will be overwhelmingly socially conservative. Demographically unrecognizable, but socially conservative. Wasn’t it St. Teresa de Avila that said, “patience obtains all things”?

 

[Geist]

do not share your views or your pessimism.

I suspect it is because I am younger than you and born and raised in a very blue state; I know what today’s voters want.

Free (to them anyway) stuff; and they vote accordingly.

That said, I think I just might look into buying some land in the Okanogan.

Never a bad idea.

 

[RC_Sojourner]

So its time to give up and buy a compound in Montana?

You should look up the site: Charles Carrol Society, and search the “Catholic redoubt”. It includes Montana. They’re faithful Catholics who aren’t really separatists per se, but are preparing for the collapse of the United States.

I mean, even Pat Buchannan’s book: Suicide of a Superpower: Why America won’t Surivive to 2025 shows how these ideas are gaining a wider acceptance by scholars, etc.

Here’s the link for the Redoubt btw: charlescarrollsociety.com/american-redoubt/

 

[RC_Sojourner]

Well, it has taken a long time for things to get the way they are. I don’t know anyone who is so naïve that they think merely electing Republicans will turn the country around. And I would not necessarily desire a return to the “articles of confederation days” - unless you like the chaos of 50 different foreign policies and trade policies of states competing with each other. The US is not morally bankrupt - but some of its people are. I do not share your views or your pessimism. The view that “its all going down the tubes” is too easily used as an excuse to abstain from (at times painful) civic responsibilities - such as not staying home on election day in a fit of righteous anger because Howard Philips or St. (Ron) Paul won’t be elected president.

That said, I think I just might look into buying some land in the Okanogan.

Ishii

I would agree that the U.S. is not morally bankrupt. I mean, look at some of the nations in Europe. They’re still extent, and they’re way more morally bankrupt than we are.

Also, as my above post suggests, in the event of a collapse of the U.S., we would not have 50 separate states become 50 separate nations. Many say that the South will stay together (though Florida and the peripheral South are up for grabs). The Northeast will likely stay together. The Midwest perhaps. And some of the Rocky Mountain states.
You’d probably have an independent Mormon nation in Utah and the surrounds, a successor to the state of Deseret.

And, as for California, Hawaii, Alaska, New Mexico, Arizona, etc. We can’t rule out that other nations will acquire these territories: China, Canada, Mexico, etc.

I’m not saying this will definitely happen in my lifetime. But, from what I’ve read, it wouldn’t surprise me either. And, it isn’t daunting for my Catholic faith either.

Nations rise and fall, the Church outlives them all.

(ooh, that rhymed rather pleasantly )

 

[ProVobis]

You do know that Paul Volcker was responsible for taming inflation in the 1980s, right? A Democrat appointed by Carter. He and the Federal Reserve Board are the ones who raised interest rates to record levels to get inflation under control. The only thing Reagan did was reappoint him in 1983.

And right after Reagan replaced Volcker with Greenspan, the market crashed bigtime in 1987.

 

[Cricket2]

Some have mentioned the past efforts of Romney for President and seem to imply that he would have been a better president. How is the first corporate raider suppose to be good for any nation?

Romney is a thief. That is what corporate raiders do, they steal money that is not theirs.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Some have mentioned the past efforts of Romney for President and seem to imply that he would have been a better president. How is the first corporate raider suppose to be good for any nation?

Romney is a thief. That is what corporate raiders do, they steal money that is not theirs.

A thief? Eric Holder would make certain he went to prison if he was literally a thief.

But I would much prefer that “corporate raiders” as you call them take over moribund companies risking their own money to try to make them viable for resale than to have Obama take my money in order to buy votes from the gullible with it.

 

[Cricket2]

A thief? Eric Holder would make certain he went to prison if he was literally a thief.

But I would much prefer that “corporate raiders” as you call them take over moribund companies risking their own money to try to make them viable for resale than to have Obama take my money in order to buy votes from the gullible with it.

I can accept no one who is a “corporate raider.” This is an evil practice usually done for the sole purpose of personal gain. They are and never will be anything but thieves. I am against all the ongoing mergers as well. The only thing this practice has done is cost innocent workers their retirement funds, lost people jobs they have had for years and promote monopolies. They benefit a few at the expense of many.

These companies don’t risk their own money, they risk their employees monies via the retirement accounts they have established and that of investors. Retirement monies should be totally off limits too all companies. They should also be backed by the government in case a company does go belly up.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I can accept no one who is a “corporate raider.” This is an evil practice usually done for the sole purpose of personal gain. They are and never will be anything but thieves. I am against all the ongoing mergers as well. The only thing this practice has done is cost innocent workers their retirement funds, lost people jobs they have had for years and promote monopolies. They benefit a few at the expense of many.

These companies don’t risk their own money, they risk their employees monies via the retirement accounts they have established and that of investors. Retirement monies should be totally off limits too all companies. They should also be backed by the government in case a company does go belly up.

Might be that seriously researching investment banking would be enlightening. I have no idea what situations you are talking about, but I do remember a myth perpetrated by the Obama people during the last election, that Romney’s group “robbed” a pension plan. What they actually did was stop contributions to a plan that wasn’t sustainable from the earnings of the company. Might not be the case you’re talking about, but all of Obama’s “corporate raider” assertions against Romney proved to be a crock.Romney’s group did make money on some deals, but lost on some.

Maybe others are true, but I dont’ know what they are.

 

[Midwest88]

And if the GOP takes a big step to the left in order to be seen as more inclusive, the Democratic Party will simply move further to the left cancelling out the move.

Pretty much this. GOP becoming DNC Light is not a good sign for the country … and the world.

 

[Geist]

You should look up the site: Charles Carrol Society, and search the “Catholic redoubt”. It includes Montana. They’re faithful Catholics who aren’t really separatists per se, but are preparing for the collapse of the United States.

I mean, even Pat Buchannan’s book: Suicide of a Superpower: Why America won’t Surivive to 2025 shows how these ideas are gaining a wider acceptance by scholars, etc.

Here’s the link for the Redoubt btw: charlescarrollsociety.com/american-redoubt/

Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Shame my location is so far away.

 

[Geist]

That is what corporate raiders do, they steal money that is not theirs.

Like welfare parasites?

 

[Midwest88]

One’s faith should inform one’s actions when it comes to the most basic of moral principles.

That’s a good point. In my experience, in the Millennial crowd, they by pass the basics/fundamentals and think they’re Lebron James or Blake Griffin. “Practice? Practice? Who needs practice?” Where are the sporting scouts to tell them they need much work? Meh. That would be seen as being “judgmental.”

 

[Midwest88]

Right… If it weren’t for “the liberal media,” the GOP would rule the world…

Actually it’s the liberal media, without quotes … since it’s very real. A more “kinder” way to put would be “the media that leans heavily to the left.” As someone who use to be a liberal it ALWAYS makes me chuckle when people deny such leanings, or that the right & conservatives are just making things up because they’re losing the culture war. It’s also not surprising that such people usual believe whatever meme & canard that is spewed by the media about the right or conservatives.

“Reagan was vastly overrated and was the person who initiated the ‘trickle down theory’ which led to the poor becoming poorer and the rich becoming richer.”

“If only the GOP would become socially progressive they would not turn off people.”

“Ha! You watch ‘Faux’ News?” And on and on and on.

 

[ProVobis]

Might be that seriously researching investment banking would be enlightening. I have no idea what situations you are talking about, but I do remember a myth perpetrated by the Obama people during the last election, that Romney’s group “robbed” a pension plan. What they actually did was stop contributions to a plan that wasn’t sustainable from the earnings of the company. Might not be the case you’re talking about, but all of Obama’s “corporate raider” assertions against Romney proved to be a crock.Romney’s group did make money on some deals, but lost on some.

Maybe others are true, but I dont’ know what they are.

Much of the problem involves pension funds needing to take greater risks because of the very low interest rate environment. AFAIK, most pension funds had been set up actuarily expecting growing returns at 5% on safe investments. That isn’t happening so everyone but the Fed gets blamed for the state of inadequate pension funds everywhere. Neither Romney or Obama mentioned this.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Much of the problem involves pension funds needing to take greater risks because of the very low interest rate environment. AFAIK, most pension funds had been set up actuarily expecting growing returns at 5% on safe investments. That isn’t happening so everyone but the Fed gets blamed for the state of inadequate pension funds everywhere. Neither Romney or Obama mentioned this.

Interesting observation. The same is true of health insurance companies. And when the return on investment is low, there’s no place to go but to raise premiums.