California Conservative

Simply put, it’s because they’re desperate. This Washington Post article goes a little more in-depth than that but they still get it essentially right:

Less than two years after leaving office, only 25% of Americans believe that if Republicans return to power in Congress their economic agenda will mean a return to former President Bush’s economic policies. 65% say that a Republican Congress will promote a “new economic agenda that is different from George W. Bush’s policies.” Even Democrats and liberals are unconvinced that a Republican Congress means a return to Bushanomics. And moderates and Independents, the key swing blocs in all major policy debates, have completely divorced congressional Republicans from the economic philosophy and failed policies of President Bush.

Democrats have to do this because their ‘accomplishments’ aren’t popular, with the stimulus having failed, health care being seen as a massive federal power grab and cap and tax being seen for what it is: the biggest tax increase in American history.

Ultimately, the Democrats’ tactics will fail for 3 reasons: 1) Chris Christie’s spending habits don’t remind anyone of GWB’s spending habits, 2) Paul Ryan’s Roadmap doesn’t remind anyone of GWB’s economic policies and 3) the Democrats’ economic policies stink.

Let’s deal with these one at a time, starting with Chris Christie. Had GWB fought the Democrats over spending like Gov. Christie is doing, we’d now have John McCain as president and President Bush would have a 60 percent approval rating. Gov. Christie’s fiscal restraint is reinvigorating both conservative and unaffiliated voters. After watching President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and Sen. Reid spend with reckless abandon, a jolt of Chris Christie is exactly what America was looking for.

Paul Ryan’s Roadmap and his detailed budgets don’t look like anything the Bush administration would’ve proposed. Clearly, Paul Ryan’s star shined brightest during the Health Care Summit held at Blair House. I certainly remember this exchange: (more…)