Newt? Really?
Rep. Eric Cantor (VA-7) desperately wants to create an image that the GOP is full of problem-solvers.
Newt Gingrich, with his “American Solutions” organization – remember, the one that kept him from running for president – is one such problem-solver.
But Gingrich has been around for a long time…why then is Gingrich considered such a big score for Cantor’s “National Council for a New America“?
Personally, I’m not yet sold on Cantor’s idea.
Frankly, an organization that is supposed to work for bipartisan solutions to our nation’s most pressing problems has already been Constitutionally mandated – it’s called Congress.
If this National Council is a new political organization, there are any number of venues open, such as, oh, the Republican Party, the various caucuses, and, yes, Newt’s “American Solutions.”
If we’re seeking a think tank, how about Heritage? Cato?
Has the Republican Party and well-known conservative institutions become so tarnished that tried-and-true national leaders who are signing onto Cantor’s vision – Romney, Palin, McCain, Gingrich, Barbour, to name just a few – are ditching it for this new group? Why can’t these problem-solvers do this work within the party structure?
“The National Council for a New America will engage with and empower the American people to develop innovative solutions that meet the serious challenges confronting our country,” wrote Cantor at the forming of this organization. “It is the right time to begin a thoughtful conversation about the future of this country.”
Certainly I don’t think anyone would quibble about having debate, discussion and dialogue to advance the causes of freedom and prosperity. But is another organization necessary? Particularly one that is stocked with Republican leadership?
Forgive me if I don’t get too excited about Republicans forming another organization to advance Republican ideology.
It’s not more organizations that need to be formed: it’s a pretty simple solution of cutting government waste, bureaucracy, and spending…and acting on it.
True conservatism doesn’t need a focus group or another blue ribbon panel. It doesn’t need another organization or PAC.
It needs people committed to the principles and then coordinating, organizing, motivating, and mobilizing action.
If we can’t do that in the structure that already exists, we’ve got problems.
Category: Government
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JR, the same could’ve been said about the Contract with America. Why couldn’t 1994 candidates just run on the Party platform?
Because the new vehicle is a little more entrepreneurial, a little more activist, a little more assertive.
I wouldn’t have firm reliance on old organizations that haven’t exactly proven they can chart a new course.
So there is this Congressman from Wisconsin Paul Ryan. Articulate (doesn’t make you cringe when he talks) with actual ideas. Seems like a logical choice within the system and a good alternative to more Newts.
And what’s with the name? “New America”? I kind of liked the old one.
My concern with the organization at the very start was that it seemed to be an establishment tool designed to edge out more conservative outsiders like Sarah Palin, Mark Sanford, and Mike Huckabee. Although, Cantor claims that an offer to join was made to Palin outright.
They have now brought Palin onboard, and then Newt. They still have not brought Sanford or Huckabee onboard. At the very outset of this whole thing you had Cantor and Romney giving the whole “it’s not about personalities,” bit when asked about certain people not being there.
I think that if this new council is to suceed, then there has to be a full spectrum message. Ignoring values issues or fiscal issues will drive away independents who are otherwise inclined to come back to the GOP in 2010 and 2012.
Talk about pilling on to ones plate. Cantor rather arrogantly bank rolls millions in fundraising and never really gest a formible challenger in the 7th District which to be honest is a shame because countless Republicans/Republicrats like myself have to hold our nose every cycle and support the guy. He has been know Bliley thats for sure and frankly many folks (as in Gop-backers) thyinks he is about as arrogant as they come and have been highly critical of his wife association with the Board of MG. He is pretty safe in the 7th for now at least thanks to the idiocy of the Democrats in not finding an alternative with a real shot at competing there. A few Republicans actually wondered how Periello would have faired against Cantor had he been running in the 7th and not against Goode last cycle. In the end votes matter, but frankly Cantor isn’t really as popular in his own district as he thinks he is and the more limelight he gets in the coming years could either solidify him or bring him down. I love how people tout numbers and I remind them that George Allen was extremely popular in polling as well and we all know where he is today right?
AOF, what is your beef with Congressman Cantor? Is it his strong support of our military that bothers you? Maybe it is his strong prolife stance, or maybe it is his strong support for the war on terror. Could be his consistent support for cutting taxes to grow the economy? Maybe it is his opposition to obama’s 3.5 trillion dollar budget where .48 cents of every dollar now goes to pay interest on the debt. Maybe Congressman Cantor’s pro business positions bother you. But you may be right, if we do away with the free enterprise system then we can all work for the federal govenrment and never have to worry about losing our job. Yeah, I can see how all of thoes things could upset a Republican like you.
Oh Linwood come on now. We both know that Cantor hardly represented true conservative core beliefs last year in his support for the stimulus packages and of course bailouts. There is talking the talk and than there is walking the walk my friend and all his efforts IMHO are meant to cloud that fact that he; like many other Republicans in Congress hit the well far too many times and lost any sense of fiscal conservativism. So yeah frankly Linwood, as a fiscal conservative Cantor has been no friend of mine thats for sure. He may sit just fine with all the pro-Isreal; social conservatives across the 7th and thats fine but as far as Cantor being a fiscal conservative he can hardly make the case. He will of course continue to make the case of those credentials. Thats just what politicians do. BTW exactly what has Cantor done to support the free enterprise system? Did he not support last Fall the auto bailout money and the government involvement in the auto industry?
No he did not support the auto bailouts and you have no idea of how close the banking system came to complete collapse. There were many many conservative economist supporting the first bailout. Does Steve Forbes ring a bell? Can you imagine what would have happened if AIG, Bank of America, Wachovia, and other big banks had collapsed all at one time? Every American would have been financially ruined. As bad as it got, the origional bailout pluged the dike that was about to collapse. Eric did not support any additional bailouts. You may want to get your facts right first.
AOF, What’s you problem with Isreal? You don’t like the only Democracy in the Middle East? You think we are better off with Hamas dominating that area? Don’t pretend to be a Republican, be proud of what you really are, what ever that is.