To the older members of this this forum: A reminder about the contract with America

[Thorgrim]

I believe some said "everyone knew about it...it was everywhere I got sick of hearing about it!"

“I’ve never seen a positive message win a midterm,” observes veteran political analyst Charlie Cook. Newt Gingrich’s “Contract with America” may seem like an exception. But as Cook notes, a poll in late October 1994 showed that 70 percent of voters hadn’t even heard of the contract, which, we forget, was mainly a collection of dull procedural reforms (“limit the terms of all committee chairs … ban the casting of proxy votes in committee”) meant to reinforce Gingrich’s larger negative strategy of highlighting “corrupt” Democratic rule. This year, the former speaker has wisely counseled the Democrats to do likewise: make the election a referendum on corrupt and incompetent Republican rule by adopting the slogan “Had Enough?”

Politics 101 - Paul Glastris

Well, looks like those people were wrong and I was right

This isn't shocking, its almost always the case

However, it brings up the discussion, are Democrats winning nothing now in such a good margin that it proves the strategy that offering "nothing" or a small plan is better than a huge comprehensive plan that opens them up to attack

[Phantom]

I see, you found a factually incorrect editorial written by a political hack and that proves you right and everyone else wrong.

[Thorgrim]

Originally Posted by Phantom

I see, you found a factually incorrect editorial written by a political hack and that proves you right and everyone else wrong.

Charlie Cook is a political hack?

[Stylerod]

I remember a poll saying that the contract with America was the main reason democrats, independents and undecideds decided to vote republican that year.

And I was there. I wasn't even into politics back then and I got sick of it. You were still trying to figure out what it was going to be like to kiss a girl.

[Thorgrim]

Originally Posted by Stylerod

I remember a poll saying that the contract with America was the main reason democrats, independents and undecideds decided to vote republican that year.

And I was there. I wasn't even into politics back then and I got sick of it. You were still trying to figure out what it was going to be like to kiss a girl.

Well thats a nice little story that completely side steps the issue that you were wrong or Charlie Cook is a fraud

I'll let the audience decide

[RMNIXON]

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

However, it brings up the discussion, are Democrats winning nothing now in such a good margin that it proves the strategy that offering "nothing" or a small plan is better than a huge comprehensive plan that opens them up to attack

Glad you admit they offer nothing!

But they do have plans that just might open them up to attack. So they fool the voters just like they did in 1992 by playing to the center with phony no tax cut promices and not a word about National Health Care and Gays in the Military. What an honest bunch we have at work here!

[RMNIXON]

Here are those "Dull Proceedural Reforms:"



FIRST, require all laws that apply to the rest of the country also apply equally to the Congress;
SECOND, select a major, independent auditing firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of Congress for waste, fraud or abuse;
THIRD, cut the number of House committees, and cut committee staff by one-third;
FOURTH, limit the terms of all committee chairs;
FIFTH, ban the casting of proxy votes in committee;
SIXTH, require committee meetings to be open to the public;
SEVENTH, require a three-fifths majority vote to pass a tax increase;
EIGHTH, guarantee an honest accounting of our Federal Budget by implementing zero base-line budgeting.


Details at:


Republican Contract with America

[Stylerod]

Originally Posted by RMNIXON

Glad you admit they offer nothing!

I didn't even notice that! What an admission!

[motivez]

Well, it was in "quotes"

I don't remember the contract with America, but I was like 11 or something then.. I had no reason to know about it.

I would guess that it was probably similar to the way most political initiatives are in the country. A small but politically active minority of the country will have known about it in great detail, a somewhat larger and less active minority will have known something about it, and so on until we get to the majority of politically uninterested people in this country who don't pay much attention to anything going on in the political arena.

[KatKanPlay]

Contract with America is the campaign that won elections that year. The hype was in your face, it was everywhere, and it sounded damn good.
I worked full time and raising 2 teenage boys, oye. I trusted my government. I always tried to stay informrd and pay attention but quite honestly the "contract" seemed to fade into obscurity, and I went on with my life. Information wasnt as easy to access at that time.

Since I am one of the older members on this forum I felt it my duty to respond.

Now having said all that, I cant offer a damn bit of insight on this "contract"!