Republicans Rising

Tom Fetzer must have adequately addressed the most important issue on the minds of delegates at the state Republican convention this weekend: his sexual orientation.
 
This obsession with whether someone is gay is one of the problems Republicans have. Another, judging from the recent war of words on our blog, is their anger. At each other, no less.
 
Why are these people so mad?
 
It reminds me of the old joke about academic politics: the lower the stakes, the higher the level of bitterness.
 
So long as Republicans keep their angry faces out front – Limbaugh, Gingrich, Palin – the better for Democrats. For all their talk about Ronald Reagan, Republicans don’t seem to understand that Reagan’s sunny optimism beats dark anger any day.
 
Now Fetzer and his colleagues around the nation face a test in the coming election cycle. And Democrats may be giving them an opening on taxes and spending.
 
For all Obama’s popularity, the new federal spending – and the prospect of endless deficits – is a potential political time bomb. So, in North Carolina, is the legislative Democrats’ gamble on raising taxes.
 
If the Republicans can’t win on this – their favorite issue – they really are in a bad way.
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Gary Pearce

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Republicans Rising

Tom Fetzer must have adequately addressed the most important issue on the minds of delegates at the state Republican convention this weekend: his sexual orientation.
 
This obsession with whether someone is gay is one of the problems Republicans have. Another, judging from the recent war of words on our blog, is their anger. At each other, no less.
 
Why are these people so mad?
 
It reminds me of the old joke about academic politics: the lower the stakes, the higher the level of bitterness.
 
So long as Republicans keep their angry faces out front – Limbaugh, Gingrich, Palin – the better for Democrats. For all their talk about Ronald Reagan, Republicans don’t seem to understand that Reagan’s sunny optimism beats dark anger any day.
 
Now Fetzer and his colleagues around the nation face a test in the coming election cycle. And Democrats may be giving them an opening on taxes and spending.
 
For all Obama’s popularity, the new federal spending – and the prospect of endless deficits – is a potential political time bomb. So, in North Carolina, is the legislative Democrats’ gamble on raising taxes.
 
If the Republicans can’t win on this – their favorite issue – they really are in a bad way.
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Gary Pearce

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