Republicans Plan Renaissance Mountain Weekend
By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers
The Democrats have Renaissance Weekend, and now conservatives are trying to catch up with their own weekend of policy brainstorming. Several tell our Suzi Parker that they are planning for the Steamboat Institute Inaugural Freedom Conference, slated for August 28-29 in Colorado.
It's time, says Grover Norquist, founder and president of Americans for Tax Reform and one of the weekend's speakers. "You saw the excitement about the April 15 Tea Party rallies and the July 4 rallies. There is a groundswell of grass-roots opposition to big government," he says in a reference to one of the major topics.
The centerpiece of the mountain weekend will be the principles of the Founding Fathers as championed by Ronald Reagan and how they apply to the modern conservative movement. One of Reagan's sons, radio host Michael Reagan, will give the keynote address at the event in Steamboat Springs.
"We are literally going to the mountaintop to inspire conservatives how we can get out of the valley and reclaim the shining city on the hill," says Kirsten Fedewa, cofounder and a board member of the Steamboat Institute. "This is a Renaissance weekend for Republicans."
Michael Reagan says he is tired of politicians trying to define his father. "I sat and listened during the last election cycle, trying to define what my father meant," he says. "I don't remember them being in the room when it was being done."
Pundit Tony Blankley, also a speaker at the event, says it's not about influencing the 2012 election but rather about the 2010 midterms. "Like all parties that have been smashed in elections, it [the Republican Party] has to regain their bearings," he says. "But that's not going to happen with one meeting or one group. Once we figure all that out, the other requirement is the governing party screws up."
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Reader Comments
Ignorance and Confusion
Bush was Reagen II? Are you insane? He spent like there was no tomorrow, increasing public spending by 70%. He gave into wasteful government programs (the Medicare Act of 2003 being a prime example), didn't try to reign in the government with the sole exception of attempting to privatize social security. The only thing anywhere near Reagen's policies Bush did was lower taxes and his handling of the 2000 recession, which was a success.
Bush sr was little better, having repeatedly given in to Democratic-sponsored 'tax and spend' policies and expanding wasteful spending, such as increasing spending for welfare and for unemployment insurance. Unemployment and poverty increased as a result.
As for Reagen...if you look at statistics listing population below the poverty line....they maxed at the peak of the Carter-based recession in late 1982 at around 15.2% and steadily declined tell reaching 12.8% in 1989. The last half of the Carter administration showed the most rapid climb in poverty rates in recent history, jumping from 11.7% in 1979 to 13% in 1980 to 14% in 1981. Contrary to your conclusion, Reagen reduced poverty in the US, while it increased under Bush sr, and more slowly under Bush jr, due to their spending practices.
As for this mythical 'working man' they no longer exist. They are and have long been a dying breed, giving into union leaching in the hippie era which has resulted in jobs going overseas due to the insanely high demands for pay and pensions. Those who demand such pay out of 'entitlement' deserve to loose their jobs to someone from China, or a new immigrant to the US who actually works for their money.
~REAGAN, THE GOP'S MESSIAH~
It is so funny to me that the Repubs like to call President Obama, the Dems' Messiah. Blah, blah, blah,.
Now think about it. Don't you think the GOP has praised their Pres. Reagan as their Messiah?
find something else
Channel Reagan? Did you fall asleep for eight years?
From January 20, 2001 until January 2, 2009 we had Ronald Reagan's policies fully implemented by George W. Bush.
Trickle down economics, lack of sensible government control over selfish short-sighted business leaders, huge deficits, a large increase in the number of people below the poverty line, no energy policy, the attempted destruction of the American worker, and on and on. It was Reagan's policies without any common-sense restraints.
Reagan's policies nearly destroyed the economy of the United States.
And you want to bring this back?
Ridiculous.
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