Change we can deceive (Wizbang)

While Barack Obama continues to advance the megalomaniac theory that by electing a man whose campaign theme was change the American people were demanding President Obama radically remold the country in his image the American people hold a much different opinion on the proper role of government. Funny how seeing the annual deficit balloon from a "Bush spends like a firggin' drunken sailor" $500 billion to a "Holy flurking schmidt!" $3.5 trillion (that number is my back envelope calculation, BTW) in one year tends to jaundice the public towards Washington.

Especially since a large majority of the country knows where the actual blame lies:

In early October, as the meltdown of the financial industry gained momentum following the collapse of Lehman Brothers, a Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 59% of U.S. voters agreed with Ronald Reagan that "government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem."

Since then, the stock market has fallen roughly 3,000 points, millions of jobs have been lost, nearly a trillion dollars has been spent so far to bail out the financial industry, an additional $787-billion government stimulus package has been approved, and a new president has taken office who has proposed spending billions and billions more.

Despite all that, a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey shows that the basic views of the American people have not change: 59% of voters still agree with Reagan's inaugural address statement. Only 28% disagree, and 14% are not sure.

I'm at a loss when it comes to examples of government performance and demonstration of problem solving skill that have convinced 28% of the public Reagan's words ring false.

Getting the public to swallow a $3 trillion deficit won't be easy and Republicans have a chance to seize the limited government high ground. Don't believe the despair. A true change we could believe in would be smaller government, more freedom, and seizing less private money for redistributionist largess.

Although the Republican Party in Washington veered away from Reagan's approach in the years since the 40th president left office, 83% of Republican voters around the country still agree with him. So do 40% of Democrats and 60% of those not affiliated with either major party.

By my math, that's an election wining coalition. Congress and Obama are all but begging Republicans to embrace the inner Goldwater. We sure as hell didn't and can't win by trying to outspend liberals.

Comments (10)

Funny how seeing t... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by Stan25 | February 27, 2009 10:36 AM | Score: -2 (6 votes cast)

Stan25:

Funny how seeing the annual deficit balloon from a "Bush spends like a firggin' drunken sailor" $500 billion to a "Holy flurking schmidt!" $3.5 trillion (that number is my back envelope calculation, BTW) in one year tends to jaundice the public towards Washington.

Funny how the Dems condemned Bush and the Republicans for spending all of this money. Then they turn around and spent better than 6x that amount and maybe more before the Obama people are out of office

Bush and Co spent most of this money on Iraq and Afghanistan not on pet Dem projects. That is what really scalded the Dems legs. Now if Bush had spent this money on the social programs the Dems wanted to fund, they would be saying Bush was the best President since FDR

Posted on February 27, 2009 10:36

We'll see come the mid-term... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by GarandFan | February 27, 2009 11:13 AM | Score: 2 (4 votes cast)

GarandFan:

We'll see come the mid-terms of 2010. If the economy is worse, or is stagnant, maybe there's a chance. 2012 will tell, because those bright promises and bills Barry & Co are running up will be coming due.

Politicians are getting more and more bold and "in your face" lately. Congress passes a bill giving DC a representative, in violation of the Constitution. In Sacramento, they try to weasel a budget without 2/3's vote, in violation of the State Constitution. Then to cap it off, they 'balance' the budget and send voters 6 ballot initiatives. One proposes a "cap on spending". Hell, everyone is for that. Then you read further, that if voters approve the "cap", the just in-acted tax increases will continue for TWO MORE YEARS. That means a total of FOUR YEARS of increased taxes.

Who the hell is working for who?

Posted on February 27, 2009 11:13

"We sure as hell didn't and... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by Justice69 | February 27, 2009 11:42 AM | Score: -5 (7 votes cast)

Justice69:

"We sure as hell didn't and can't win"

And never will again once my President is done with you. You can console yourself with the fact that you were right for the first time in your life though. LOL!

Posted on February 27, 2009 11:42

Next time, maybe we won't n... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by nikkolai | February 27, 2009 12:18 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

nikkolai:

Next time, maybe we won't nominate a "Democrat-lite" dude as our candidate.

Posted on February 27, 2009 12:18

Next time, maybe we won'... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by Parthenon | February 27, 2009 1:34 PM | Score: -2 (2 votes cast)

Parthenon:

83% lifetime rating from American Conservative Union = Democrat-lite?

Of course the solution is to get MORE conservative. Govs. Jindal and Palin, please.

Posted on February 27, 2009 13:34

So 59% of voters still agre... (Below threshold)

6. Posted by Bruce Henry | February 27, 2009 1:44 PM | Score: -4 (6 votes cast)

Bruce Henry:

So 59% of voters still agree with Reagan's statement that "government is not the solution, it's the problem."

Most people also agree with, "A penny saved is a penny earned." Do they put that into practice in real life? Hell, no! They think "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." Do they eat an apple every day?

It's kinda like how everybody hates lawyers until they need one. THEN, they want the sharpest, most ruthless bastard they can find. Sometimes the forces arrayed against the little guy are so huge that ONLY the Government can effectively help.

Here's another little saying that lots of people believe: "There oughta be a LAW!"

Posted on February 27, 2009 13:44

We've tried having the doct... (Below threshold)

7. Posted by Bob | February 27, 2009 2:02 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

Bob:

We've tried having the doctors, nurses and guards run the asylum - now it's time for a CHANGE.

Posted on February 27, 2009 14:02

There's also a little sayin... (Below threshold)

8. Posted by Justice69 | February 27, 2009 3:02 PM | Score: -2 (4 votes cast)

There's also a little saying that recreational proctologists should be more discreet, right Doctor Brucie?

Posted on February 27, 2009 15:02

Mr. Henry, you too good for... (Below threshold)