Senator Elect Scott Brown is making himself known a Massachusetts-style Republican, meaning he is a moderate. The Hill reports that Brown would depart with the GOP on some issues like the spending freeze that President Obama came up with last week as well as abortion rights.
While that might make some tea partiers upset, I for one an happy to see that there might be a little bit more room in the GOP. Maybe there is hope for a Big Tent conservatism after all.
From Real Republican Majority:
RMC National Board co-Chair Candy Straight has a new blog up at the Huffington Post today. Candy addressed the dangerous “purity test resolution†being pushed by Party extremists that would cut many of the RNC’s top recruits out of funding, and mandate the so-called litmus tests. Candy’s post, which reminds all of us that an inclusive big tent GOP is the one and only way to win elections and promote the real Republican agenda of sound fiscal policy and economic growth….
No other ethnic political apparatus in this country is so firmly in the pocket of one party as African-Americans and the Democratic Party. Â For decades, Democrats have pandered to African-Americans at election time, then forgot their promises a day later. Â And yet, we keep coming back, waiting for more empty promises. Read more »
Here are what some centrist GOP groups have to say on President Obama’s State of the Union:
Republican Mainstreet Partnership:
Tonight, in his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama proposed a three year “freeze” on non-defense discretionary spending. “President Obama’s spending ‘freeze’ proposal makes it clear he still isn’t taking the growing deficit and national debt seriously,” said, former U.S. Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), President of the Republican Main Street Partnership. “Instead of offering substantive solutions, the President has chosen to offer what amounts to little more than election year window-dressing.”
Let me make it clear from the start that I’ve never been one who thinks that events like the State Of The Union are much more than a splashy show. It’s the closest we come to a formal state occassion and so we make the most of the hype but it rarely lasts much beyond a few days. Read more »
Travis Johnson liveblogged the President’s State of the Union Address earlier this evening. We’ve grouped several of his blog posts into one for people to read.
Got both sides on their feet for this. But it’s rhetoric. What does that mean?
Here it comes..
- National Export Initiative – Aggressively seek new markets for our products (prediction:Â liberals will go nuts the first time we sign a deal with a “bad guy”)
Republicans laughed at the spending til next year. An irritated Obama responds “that’s how budgeting works.” Yikes.
And again he blames Bush. (“The last 8 years got us into this mess.” Uh, you were President for part of that…)
Joe Wilson just applauded a call for earmark reform. I see you, Joe!! (A proposal to publish all earmark requests drew bipartisan applause.)
Okay…no. He tells the Democrats to use their majority power to pass their agenda. Then he calls the Republicans out for being “saying no.”  How can he rationalize that kind of cognitive dissonance?
I’m unhappy to see Members of Congress on their Blackberries in the middle of the SotU. Classless.
All in all, I think it was good. He gave Republicans things to support, and some things he knows we can’t or won’t. He called out our Party to step up to the plate and participate in legislation, and called out his own Party for what many liberals are calling cowardice.
Our response to this can only be to fight back with ideas. Real ideas that address the needs of the American people, but do it in a way that is consistent with our beliefs: small, efficient, non-intrusive government.
I continue to be very proud of Virginia’s Governor, Bob McDonnell. A brilliantly moderate speech, reaching out to the American middle where the voters who left our Party escaped to. If we’re going to bring those folks home, McDonnell’s the kind of person who can do it.
Well, it’s done.
All in all, I think it was good. He gave Republicans things to support, and some things he knows we can’t or won’t. He called out our Party to step up to the plate and participate in legislation, and called out his own Party for what many liberals are calling cowardice.
Our response to this can only be to fight back with ideas. Real ideas that address the needs of the American people, but do it in a way that is consistent with our beliefs: small, efficient, non-intrusive government.
Now he’s doing what he does. This is where he speaks to the better angels of the political class’s nature and asks for them to follow the example of the American people and move this country forward even in the face of adversity. That was the Obama of 2008…
End to Don’t Ask Don’t Tell by the end of this year. I, for one, thinks it’s about time. We can’t afford to lose anymore resources to a policy much of the military leadership doesn’t stand behind.
I’m happy to see that foreign policy discussions and discussions of our military still gets bipartisan support.
I’m unhappy to see Members of Congress on their Blackberries in the middle of the SotU. Classless.
Best part of this speech:Â a bipartisan scolding for hyperpartisan politics.
Okay…no. He tells the Democrats to use their majority power to pass their agenda. Then he calls the Republicans out for being “saying no.”  How can he rationalize that kind of cognitive dissonance?
He just dissed the Supreme Court! In the State of the Union!
Joe Wilson just applauded a call for earmark reform. I see you, Joe!! (A proposal to publish all earmark requests drew bipartisan applause.)
Paying off a trillion dollars:
Republicans laughed at the spending til next year. An irritated Obama responds “that’s how budgeting works.” Yikes.
And again he blames Bush. (“The last 8 years got us into this mess.” Uh, you were President for part of that…)
John McCain just said it best:Â “Blaming Bush.”
One year later…that’s just tacky and disingenuous. At what point does he own this?
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