So… the GOP has made a Pledge To America
Basically, they’ve given us a checklist for all the promises they will break or won’t fulfill, and just blame the Democrats and/or Obama for preventing them from getting these things done. i.e. sounds good, attempts to make them look good, but they know if they fail to fulfill there are no consequences.
Outside the Beltway has a good write-up.
And Erick Erickson, of redstate.com, nails it:
Yes, yes, it is full of mom tested, kid approved pablum that will make certain hearts on the right sing in solidarity. But like a diet full of sugar, it will actually do nothing but keep making Washington fatter before we crash from the sugar high.
[…]
The entirety of this Promise is laughable. Why? It is an illusion that fixates on stuff the GOP already should be doing while not daring to touch on stuff that will have any meaningful longterm effects on the size and scope of the federal government.
This document proves the GOP is more focused on the acquisition of power than the advocacy of long term sound public policy. All the good stuff in it is stuff we expect them to do. What is not in it is more than a little telling that the House GOP has not learned much of anything from 2006.
Election day is around the corner, and they’re just jockeying for position.
Honestly, if they actually did do these things, I’d be impressed. So, impress me. I’m waiting. So far, I’ve been nothing but disappointed.
Stuff From Hsoi 
As another gun blogger noted, it’s full of things they didn’t do when they had control of Congress and the Presidency for six years.
Yup! They’re just riding the wave of “what can get us back in power?” I don’t expect them to honor a damn thing in there.
Frankly what’s more sad? That the masses will accept and believe this pablum. But I’m happy that the masses are getting smarter.
Here’s hoping they learned something after the Contract With America. That’s what we want from the GOP and if they would deliver it would be good for everyone. The cynical position is more realistic though.
Indeed. If they actually would deliever this, it’d be great.
The real thing I hope they learn is that if they promise, if they win majority, if they don’t deliver (and well, if they get Legislative majority, it’s arguable that we can give them a “pass” for the next 2 years while Obama remains in office). But then if all things swing their way in 2012 well…. then either they deliver or they’ll be purged in 2014 just like we may have in 2010.
But I somehow doubt they plan that long term, or care. It’s not about doing what’s right, it’s about swaying power, keeping their jobs, getting paid, etc.. It’s all self-serving for the immediate future.
I wish I wasn’t so cynical, but how can you not be?
Indeed, it is difficult to not be cynical, but at the same time it is difficult to not be stupidly optimistic.
For example, the Tea Parties, which admittedly contain a few macadamias, seem to be more interested in putting new faces into office in place of the old faces that wore the GOPs jersey, but didn’t play for the smaller government team.
Of course, the dangerous and probable course is that they’ll ride into office and then promptly forget just like they did with the Contract With America (which literally lasted about 4 days after the election).
In my opinion the case for term limits has never been clearer. Also, I support groups like DownsizeDC which help me to constantly apply small government pressure to my congresscritters.
Term limits would be a good start.
But you know what I’m starting to favor? Direct accountability.
If I make a bad decision for my family, I will pay the consequences. If I make a bad decision for my company (be it the one I work for or the one I own), I pay the consequences. If you break the law, you go to jail. If Congresscritters make bad legislation, what are the consequences? they don’t get reelected… no, many times they get reelected, but even if they don’t, so what?
When people have a vested interest, they do things with more care. For instance, homeowners tend to take care of the house, but renters generally don’t. You give a bunch of kids a skate park and who knows how they’ll treat it, but if they helped to build the park, you better believe they’re going to care about it.
I’d love to see direct accountability for what goes on up there. I reckon that’d really slow the process down and get them to focus a lot more.