Underwear Gnomes are Running the GOP

by Eileen | 9:47 pm, February 24, 2013

Freshly back from one of those political confabs where business cards get passed around like canapes and, ideally, fatigued activists get a boost, I’ve been thinking (still) about the grave problems that face the GOP, right-sympathetic Independents, and all the satellite organizations of the American Rightwing. As such, this may come off as the product [...]

If Crossroads GPS Does What It Says It Will, More Power to Them

by Eileen | 8:56 am, February 11, 2013

Crossroads GPS, Karl Rove’s gig, has a new project aimed at strategically targeting money to key races in order to prevent unelectable Republicans from winning primaries – the Conservative Victory Project.  ‘Bout damn time.  I, for one, am pleased to see Karl has moved on from pitching temper tantrums on air. Electoral politics are not [...]

Secretary of State Candidate Scott Gessler at Liberty on the Rocks

by T.L. James | 8:57 pm, September 5, 2009

Republican Secretary of State candidate Scott Gessler spoke Wednesday at Liberty on the Rocks, and People’s Press Collective was there. (Okay, so we were a little unprepared as it turned out, but we were there.) Watch as Scott explains what the Secretary of State’s vital roles are, and his own plans for the office. Part [...]

How Republicans Can Win On Health Reform

by Ari Armstrong | 11:35 am, September 2, 2009

“Republicans suck.” I had heard that Jon Caldara began his July talk to the Denver Metro Young Republicans (DMYR) with that line, so I figured I’d repeat it when I addressed the group on August 25 about health policy.

I really like the DMYRs. It is a vibrant and passionate group on the whole truly committed to liberty. If the Republican Party of Colorado is to have a future, it needs to start with people like this.

I explained that Republicans have advocated bad policies in areas of insurance controls and health welfare.

It was Republican Mitt Romney, for example, who passed insurance mandates in Massachusetts, which the Democrats have now worked into their “reform” bill. I drew on the article by Dr. Paul Hsieh for The Objective Standard on the matter.

Michael Cannon has also written about the failures of the Romney model.

I explained that mandated insurance is inherently tied to tighter insurance controls and expanded subsidies. Moreover, Romney’s plan didn’t address the underlying problems, particularly the high costs of employer-paid insurance (driven by tax distortions) and capricious insurance controls.

The result of this GOP scheme? Skyrocketing tax costs and premiums, a damaged insurance industry, more political meddling, and doctor shortages.

Next I criticized Bob Beauprez’s endorsement of mandated insurance and Mike Coffman’s endorsement of insurance controls.

With respect to health welfare, I discussed Bush’s costly Medicare prescription drug program, Jim DeMint’s plan to expand welfare, and Michael Steele’s endorsment of health welfare as a “right.”

Then I turned to the positive portion of my talk. How can Republicans win on health reform?

First and foremost, Republicans must make liberty in medicine a moral issue. People have the right to control their own lives and resources, free from political interference. Republicans must answer the Democrats’ challenge to address the moral argument. Republicans who try to make the debate all about budgets and cost are destined to lose.

Republicans must articulate the harms of decades of political controls in medicine. They must explain how tax distortions created the expensive, non-portable, employer-paid system. They must talk about how insurance controls drive up premiums and undermine a competitive, consumer-responsive insurance industry. And they must talk about all the ways that forced wealth transfers, via taxation and politically-controlled insurance premiums, drive up costs and reduce responsibility.

Finally, Republicans must advocate true free-market reforms. Expanded Health Savings Accounts would help offset the tax distortions driving employer-paid insurance. Rolling back insurance controls will restore competitiveness and bring down insurance rates. Tort reform will weed out frivolous law suits. And welfare reform will rein in expansions of various programs, control costs, and ultimately begin to move back in the direction of voluntary charity.

Many Republicans are trying to “me too” the Democrats on health reform by advocating more insurance controls and more health welfare. But is it not now abundantly obvious that Republicans cannot win on a Democrat-lite platform?

If Republicans wish to win on health policy and other issues — and if they want to deserve to win — they should start with DMYR’s five principles:

* “The best government is a small, Constitutionally-constrained one.”

* “A strong national defense is… vital to the preservation of our liberty.”

* “Capitalism is the only moral philosophical system.”

* Individual rights and personal responsibility.

* The Rule of law.

Ryan Frazier: Next Generation of Conservative Leadership?

by wesley | 8:44 pm, March 21, 2009

Politico.com had an article discussing the three potential GOP candidates seriously considering the 2010 bid for Colorado Senator.  The article discusses some of the opportunities and challenges each potential candidate would face in the primary race.  It juxtaposed the established former Congressman with a long resume of political offices to the young “fresh face” City Councilman [...]

Stop being politicians and try to be leaders.

by John West | 10:42 pm, November 12, 2008

I hope I’m not just being naïve here, but when are we going to see an election for President where once the final blows are dealt and a winner is declared that the entire nation pulls together behind the winner?  Has that ever been the case?  I seem to remember a founding father saying something [...]

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