Weird question. What have the Republicans done RIGHT?

[Peak_Oil]

We bash them and bash them and bash them. I'm off to Texas next week to visit family, and they're Republicans. I'd like to know a couple things they've done that positively affect the general population. There's got to be something they've done right.

Any ideas?

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Give me a couple years

to dig something up. :)

[trotsky]

2. The Do-Not-Call List.

That surprised me, they went against their big business friends.

[Hippo_Tron]

9. Bush should've campaigned on that

It was REALLY the only good thing that they accomplished in four years.

[w4rma]

12. That's the only non-negative thing I can think of. Maybe some Repukes

can chime in here and tell us what Bush has done right?

[dolo amber]

28. And put a lot of people in economically depressed

areas out of work...but that's cool, cos now no one bugs me at dinnertime...

Just sayin'. :hi:

[trotsky]

30. That could help explain it then...

I can imagine the Republican gears a'turnin...

"Screw workers... help business... screw workers... help business... ARRRGH! What should I choose?"

[Yupster]

49. The 10 % income tax bracket

was a great idea.

[dave123williams]

3. I'm stumped; perfected election fraud?

[stray cat]

4. They do a great job of manipulating the media.

They are also good at getting elected and effectively shredding their adversarys.

[liberal N proud]

5. Let me see...

There was the.....?? No that wasn't it
But there was the.....?? No
How about... No
You know what, I can't think of anything! Sorry

[TyeDye75]

6. On 9/11 they ran around looking concerned.

Gulianni mayor of America... remeber.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Okay, I Googled

'republican good deeds'

and got 186,000 hits.

[blm]

8. Gained control of most of the media and most of the voting machines.

If you wanted to gain power no matter what, that would be considered the RIGHT move to make.

Blows for democracy and good governance, though.

[BlueEyedSon]

10. F*&king us blind

[Hippo_Tron]

11. It's a matter of opinion, to the Republicans, the tax cuts are HUGE

Now they get to keep their money and those lazy people on welfare will get a job. Oh and, he didn't get a blow job in the Oval Office, mind you.

[catmandu57]

18. If you have money

or are waiting the judgement day they're pretty much batting 1000. If on the other hand your a poor working, or middle class person there's nothing they've done right except keeping the phone silent furing dinner, and my state no call list already did that for me.

[Hippo_Tron]

19. You don't understand how their brains function...

In that, they don't. Even Republicans who don't have a lot of money hate high taxes and hate social programs, it's just been implanted into their head. Also, it's anti-christian to accept government handouts, just ask nutcases like Alan Keyes.

[magellan]

43. Unless the handouts come from a faith-based organization (nim)

[indepat]

31. Implementing a highly regressive tax scheme and gutting social security

are jobs #1 and #1-a, for they go hand-in-hand (actually from the hands of the poor to the pockets of the most affluent).

[Laelth]

13. This is a difficult question.

Republicans ended slavery in the US, and they also started the public school system. Both of these happened in the 19th century when the Republican party was the more liberal party. If you mean to ask what have "conservatives" ever done right, then that's a tougher question. The interstate highway system comes to mind. As does (perhaps) increasing the military budget to bankrupt the Soviet Union out of the cold war (not that I support such a large military--just that it's better than nuclear war). In general, though, I think Mark Shields is right. He says, "A conservative is someone who supports liberal policies 20 years after they become law." In that sense, this is what conservatives always do right. They admit that they were wrong (about 20 years later). Ask any conservative how they feel about segregation. Ask them about slavery. Ask them about social security. Ask them about medicare. Most of them would have fought against the government getting involved in these issues. Sooner or later, though, they'll admit that all the great liberal triumphs were really, in the end, good ideas.

Just try that out in Texas. ;)

-Laelth

[mark414]

15. that's the key

there IS a difference, historically at least between republicans and conservatives

i mean, the republican party DID start as an abolitionist party

the republican party in and of itself has (in the past) done some great things, just as the democratic party has done some terrible things

but it's unfair to use those labels, which conservatives today do so all too willingly, to make judgements about the respective parties today. hell, teddy roosevelt was a republican and he did some absolutely amazing things. even nixon started OSHA and the EPA.

so i guess, in conclusion, republicans and democrats have both done very good and very terrible things, but conservatives have almost never done anything good.

[Hippo_Tron]

21. Republican party started as anti-slavery AND pro-business

The Republican party ended slavery as an institution but did jack shit in the ways of enforcing the civil rights legislation which means that all they did was end the institution and not really change the status of black people, at least in the south.

What the Republican party did do, was win the Civil War and preserve the union. In the election of 1864, McClellan, the Democratic Candidate was for peace with the south. McClellan looked like a sure victory because people were growing tired of the massive deaths caused by the war. The tide turned, when Atlanta fell to the Union and Lincoln was re-elected.

[mark414]

25. yeah but nobody did shit to change the status of black people back then

the racism was just as bad in the north as it was in the south, even today

i can't remember who said this, but it was something like "what's the difference between a southern white and a northern white? answer: the southern white will call you nigger to your face"

[noiretextatique]

46. yeah, it sure STARTED that way, but later became home to strom thurmond

jesse helms, the CCC, KKK and every other racist nitwit in america who opposed the civil rights movement. the party of lincoln bears no resemblance whatsoever to the modern republican party.

[Peak_Oil]

16. So far we've got

the DNC list, public schools, federal highway system (personally I disagree, we should have done it with trains, but that's another story), medicare, social security.

I mean, there's got to be something drawing people to the Republican party. I'm having a hard time coming up with a list myself, and I think it's because I'm so biased against them. I think the war on terra is very much like any other empire-building war and is evil. Republicans think it's the right thing to do, which I can't understand.

There's got to be something that the republicans like about Bush. What is it? Strong leadership? I think it's ridiculous, but that seems to be their opinion of the situation.

Could it just be that they don't want to be associated with the gays and blacks?

[Hippo_Tron]

20. It's the Jesus, Stupid!

It's sad, but true, the homophobia and the anti-abortion stances keep them getting the votes of Christian fundamentalists.

Edit: I hope you understand that expression, and understand that I'm not calling you stupid.

[noiretextatique]

51. the bush voters i talked to didn't seem to know why they voted for him

but they sure knew why they voted against kerry (mainly the swift boat nonsense), and of course his "french" wife :eyes:

[autorank]

14. I asked & answered this the other night: 1 thing only-proposed, not done

I heard that they want to extend daylight savings time year round. Well, that's a damn good idea. I'm sure what I heard was wrong because nothing good comes fromt the Republicans, incliding the so-called liberal Republicans.

[On the Road]

17. This Term -- Nada

The weak dollar policy has some merits, but is probably bad on balance.

Previous administrations do have accomplishments. Bush I's tax cuts started the process of balancing the budget. Nixon had some progressive legislation like EEO and EPA, and they had teeth, unlike current Republican proposals which are usually a cruel joke.

The Bush administration? They go nuthin'.

[Cleita]

22. They took over the mainstream media that people

pay attention to who are the ones that get a light rinse in current events. I got into an argument with a relative some time ago about the present administration. When I tried to present her with facts about Bush stealing the 2000 election from Gore, she said absolutely that I was wrong. When I asked her to cite her sources, she replied it was on the news.

Then she said that Gore had won the popular vote but not the electoral vote, which I had to tell her he had also won, once the newspapers were able to go in and count the votes that the Supreme Court had stopped. She said she hadn't heard it on the news so I must be wrong.

So you see, most people, who are not news junkies or interested in delving deeper into current events, still see the broadcast and cable news as having some sort of authority and accuracy that it doesn't have in actuality.

[TO Kid]

23. Trade

I wouldn't exactly say they got it "right" but the FTA was an improvement over what existed before. Now if we could just get you guys to honour it for steel & lumber, but that's a whole 'nother rant.

[barb162]

24. I understand they will put on one helluva inauguration day but that's

about it from my standpont.

Other than they are doing global warming right (very fast)
They are good at alienating a lot of other countries.
They lie extremely effectively .

[Julius Civitatus]

26. They filled their pockets with lots of $$$

And they have been very good at securing tax cuts for the richest Americans.

They are also very good at assigning no-bid contracts to companies owned by Republican supporters.

But what they are really, really godd at is manipulating the media with false scandals and pushing their agenda.

[indigobusiness]

27. Everything.

That's the problem.

They should try doing things left.

[heretheycome]

29. well

they have won most of the elections. They have taken over the congress and senate.

That of course is only true if you believe in the elections

oh ya and they are putting christ back in christmas
lol /sarcastic

[newyawker99]

35. Hi heretheycome!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Mountainman]

32. The only thing I can thin of is Eisenhower's military industrial complex

speach which no one paid attention to.

[AllegroRondo]

33. The one thing I liked about Reagan

he increased pay for the military by more than anyone, bringing it more on par with civilian pay.

Not that it has kept up since then.

[Tyler Durden]

34. I don't know about YOU

But HM1 Tyler Durden of the USN didn't see any particular WINDFALL in the 80's.

Reagan did his "600 shit, I mean Ship Navy" bit, and dragged some moldy battleships out of mothballs saving them from a horrific fate as monument ships.

Of Course there were the consultants at Dahlgren NSWS Space Command raking in around $100k/per doing program for "Star Whores/ I mean Wars" with their PoliSci degrees.

And how about them ol' Bradley Fighting Vehicles, RACED into production in 1981! Didn't need to test them buggers too well, did we?

Now if you're talking about Re-Up bonuses, WELL! Then we can talk about Doctors, Nurses, Pilots etc, but I never saw any of it.

Were you in the service in the Reagan years? I was.

[leftofthedial]

36. the coup

and 9-11

were executed flawlessly

[klyon]

37. No nothing

I won't even give him credit for the Do Not Call list. I have been on a list for 10 years or more. It was voluntary and worked good.

No Child Left Behind was the first of his bait & switch sales tactics. Nothing is what it appears.

Your best bet is to avoid all discussions on any topic except food and the weather to be safe. Ahhhhh on better thought the weather might lead to global warming. So stick to food and keep your mouth full of it for peace and harmony.

KL

[imax2268]

38. nothing...

absolutely nothing...unless you count distorting facts...they are great at that...

[plg1011]

39. they won

so far that is all that matters

[jellybelly]

Fox News

because of their attractive talking heads.(some are hot, I just push the mute button)

[billie_]

40. Staying unified and Framing their message...and cheating! n/t

[Skittles]

41. NOTHING

there is not one g.d. thing they do that is in the best interests of WE, THE PEOPLE

[jmowreader]

42. Do you mean "classic Republicans" or "new Republicans"?

Classic Republicanism died when Jimmy Carter was elected. New Republicanism was born when Ronald Reagan was elected.

Classic Republicans are responsible for all manner of good things. Today, most classic Republicans would leave the Republican Party for greener pastures. (I think Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt would both be Democrats today.)

New Republicans are responsible for all manner of things, none of them good.

I don't even think the Do Not Call list is unabashedly good--there are enough ways to get around it that it's nearly worthless.

[bobedwards]

44. They let the Assault Weapons ban die

Sorry, but I didn't like that damn thing. It was a completely worthless law, as it didn't even ban AK-47s or Uzis, just required slight modifications that had no effect on the weapons. It's better that a stupid hypocritical law expire than let it live on and decieve us into thinking that it was doing something. "OOh, let's curb crime by requiring new AK-47s to have fixed stocks, no bayonet lugs, and no flash hiders (trust me, they don't eliminate muzzle flash at night) and say America is safer because assault weapons are banned." I bought an AK-47 variant during the AW ban, and personally I don't see anything wrong with me owning it. Not planning on breaking the law with it, just fun to shoot up Osama bin Laden targets every now and then. Sorry, didn't mean to go on a soap box. The Republicans got it right when they let that sorry ass ban die.

[bling bling]

45. I'm too lazy to look it up and do much research on it right now,

but what about the Americans With Disabilities Act? Bush I is credited with that. That was a good thing for many people.

[BeHereNow]

47. Make Hitler and Stalin look like Boy Scouts?

I'd say they have done that right.
BHN

[Swamp Rat]

48. 0

:hurts:

[noiretextatique]

50. well...they have been effective

in destroying the country, and ruining america's reputation around the world.

[devilgrrl]

52. They've done a damn good job destroying America!

That's for sure!

[Peter Frank]

53. The'ye reminded us of the validity of the axiom...

"...ablolute power corrupts absolutely."

[Sirveri]

54. back in the begining of '03 they extended unemployment benies.

Though with all the outcry that was already happening they probably had to do that or a bunch of people would have rose up and crushed them.