Obviously, the Republican Party still has a role to
play. GOP legislators can best be described as
"useful idiots" who make Democratic proposals seem moderate
and responsible. Consider the "compromise" stimulus
package.
Reports the Washington Post:
The compromise represented a dramatic finale to a tumultuous
and frustrating week for Democrats pushing the package, as
Senate
Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) saw the limitations
of an expanded majority and a band of GOP centrists came to
appreciate the very high price they can extract for their votes
on key measures.
The bipartisan deal was cut after two days of talks and would
cut more than $100 billion from the $920 billion bill, dropping
its cost to about $820 billion, if amendments added on the
Senate floor are retained.
The Democrats suggest more than $900 billion in pork. So
Republican "centrists" cut a few billion here and there, and
everyone can now embrace $800 billion in pork. The
economy is saved. Fiscal probity is maintained.
Millions (or is that hundreds of millions, per Nancy
Pelosi?) of Americans will go back to work. Such a victory!
Do you think we could sell the Republican Party to some country
overseas that is looking for a completely useless, faux
opposition party?
About the Author
Doug Bandow is a Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute and the Senior Fellow in International Religious Persecution at the Institute on Religion and Public Policy. A former Special Assistant to President Ronald Reagan, he is author of Beyond Good Intentions: A Biblical View of Politics (Crossway).
