GOP Strategist Todd Harris Can't Name One Thing Republicans Have Done for the Country in 20 Years
Republican strategist Todd Harris has some trouble giving Chris Matthews one example of anything Republicans have done that's positive for America in the last 20 years. I'll be curious if he does any better when Matthews has him back on. I'm not counting on it.
MATTHEWS: I just wanted to get the Republican bragging points straight here. So the Republican Party has kept us safe, except for 9/11. Is that the argument? No, really, because you had the worst attack on the American homeland in history, but you`re bragging about your ability to defend the country because you say -- you defended America, except for 9/11. That`s your defense, right?
HARRIS: Look, Chris...
MATTHEWS: That`s the bragging point of the Republican Party for the last -- I asked you to name one thing they`ve done for this country in 15 to 20 years. I`ll keep going back further. And you`re having a hard time giving me an answer. What has the Republican Party...
HARRIS: No, no. I`m...
MATTHEWS: ... done for the country?
HARRIS: I`m not...
MATTHEWS: I`m just -- it`s a good question.
HARRIS: Chris, I`m not having...
MCMAHON: Squandered the surplus.
HARRIS: ... a hard time giving you an answer.
MCMAHON: Don`t forget, squandered the surplus.
HARRIS: When I decide to write a book about the history of the last 20 years of the Republican Party, I`ll be happy to talk to you about that.
MATTHEWS: No, just give me one...
HARRIS: My job is to win elections -- my job is to...
MATTHEWS: Just give me one.
HARRIS: ... win elections in 2010.
MATTHEWS: OK.
HARRIS: And I`m going to keep my eye on the ball.
MCMAHON: He doesn`t have one. He doesn`t have one!
MATTHEWS: Steve McMahon -- Steve McMahon, YouTube is watching. You`re the Republican consultant, one of the best in the country. Tell me what the Republican Party has done for this country in the last 10 to 20 years? Thank you, Steve McMahon.
(LAUGHTER)
MATTHEWS: Thank you, Todd Harris. You got plenty of time, `64 -- we`ll have you back with the answer.
zip
Some stuff you can't make up!
Well Todd Harris, I can understand that you were put somewhat on the spot with that "ambush journalism" question that Chris Matthews pitched at you. I have been sitting here mulling over that same question for nearly 5 minutes, and I can tell you pretty much unequivocally that the Republicans have done nothing positive for America in 100+ years (Reconstruction?), not just 15 or 20 years.
Suck on that lemon, Todd.
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."
-- John F. Kennedy
...Who also wanted to give every freed slave "forty acres and a mule".
Those Republicans would be code pink or move on Democrats today.
Because those radical Republicans didn't actually want to give the freed slaves 40 acres and a mule. What they wanted to do was create a propaganda firestorm that would divide the South still further, and make sure that the Republicans consolidated and retained power.
Sounds vaguely familiar, doesn't it?
the republicans' last good act was raising the speed limit.
Bush signed one or two okay bills, but that doesn't count. We need policy that republicans supported (and pushed into law) and democrats opposed, that the republicans were proven correct about.
I've been reading the book "the Bloody shirt" which looks at the Reconstruction years and it was the conservative movement of the Democratic party that messed up reconstruction in the South. the anger (like the tea party anger actually) at the attempt at enfranchisement of the newly freed slaves. It's not realy about Democrats or Republicans, its about conservative/libertarians vs progressives/liberals.
It's the CONservatives who have not done anything good for America throughout most of our history.
When angry, count four, when very angry, swear.
-Mark Twain-
Why conservatism has not done anything good in 100 years.
Because the only reason to be conservative is greed. If you ask one why he is a republican he will say because of the mythical republican values. Then I ask them what values they are speaking of. The only answer I have ever gotten back is because they are against abortion. When you explain to them that the republicans had control of the presidency and both houses and did nothing to stop abortion. Their eyes glaze over and they just ignore what you say. Then one of them always says Lincoln freed the slaves, he was a republican. They don't know or care about the parties switching sides.
The best I have ever come away with after talking to a republican is frustration! They don't care about fact's they Believe!
crickets
far left loon >.<
That's technically an 'accomplishment' right? Along with starting (but alas, not finishing) two wars, squandering a surplus, racking up record deficits, wrecking the economy, ruining America's reputation, and overturning rule-of-law and ethical prohibitions against torture that go back to the era of the Magna Carta.
(pause)
Oh, they meant GOOD stuff.
Nope, can't think of a single thing.
To the rich. And he taxed unemployment. I guess it depends on where you are in life as to how you define good.
If you are very rich, they did great.
if you're not...... well.
If you own a bank.. they were great to you.
If you worked in the bank, not so much.
If you owned or ran a Savings and Loan, You loved them.
If you had stock or savings in it, nope.
If you were a Defense Contractor. Yup.
If you worked for the defense contractor.Nope
If you liked writing off the interest on your Credit Card? Nope
If you are the Credit Card.Mmmmm, yummy loooove.
If you are Big Poluttin Industry. MmMmMM. Can ya feel the love?
If you are the environment. Your butt hole hurts and you didn't even get a quarter.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
It doesn't take courage to put money into your own pocket.
It's a great question to ask your Republican "friends" at the water cooler, or ...wherever.
far left loon >.<
What has the GOP ever done for you?
My brother was a GOPer. I asked him that question. You should have seen the look on his face. A couple of weeks later, I talked to him.
He said he couldn't answer the question. He switched over to the left.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
Anyone who actually believes conservatism could easily say that the GOP protected their freedom, gave them a booming economy, lowered their taxes by some mystical amount, slowed government encroachment all over their personal bid'ness, and so on.
Chances are no one has ever had the temerity to ask him that question before. Ergo the 'doh' mode.
Matthews can make them squirm sometimes. He can make both sides squirm though, that's the problem.
Politics is for the present, but an equation is for eternity. Albert Einstein
he's supposed to be a news commentator, not a lackey for the Democrats. That said, TYT makes a very good point that Matthews has made a career out of shilling for whoever happens to be in power at the moment.
Nixon did form the EPA(credit to Alice. She came up with that one the other day) Due too alot of pressure from the left. Nixon did close the chapter known as Viet Nam.
Yeah, I know, Laos and Cambodia.
Then, it's Eisenhower building the highways.
There's gotta be more than that.
Getting the Iran hostages out? Oh yeah, not so good to cut backroom deals to throw an election.
anyone else?
Geeeezzz. He had that deer in the headlights look.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
In the last 20 years.
I can't think of one thing.
far left loon >.<
That hasn't been spun to appear that he actually did some good.
Someone has been into Wiki on Goober W Boosh and painted him to look like a hero.
Anyway,..
In 2006, Bush declared the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands a national monument, creating the largest marine reserve to date. The Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument comprises 84 million acres (340,000 km²) and is home to 7,000 species of fish, birds, and other marine animals, many of which are specific to only those islands.[138] The move was hailed by conservationists for "its foresight and leadership in protecting this incredible area".[139]
I'll say this. This was good. Too bad he didn't address the garbage pile the size of Texas 1000 miles south of Hawaii. The size of fucking Texas.. jesus. That's huge.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
Turning the coral reefs into a national monument was probably the only thing George W. Bush did right during the entire eight years he was in office, in my opinion. In all fairness, however, he wasn't the first president to create protections for that area -- he simply made them stronger -- so he really doesn't deserve full credit for that.
Never trust anyone who insists that patriotism requires you to blindfold yourself with the flag.
On the one hand, they made long-distance transportation easier for middle-class folks. On the other, they encouraged more use of fossil fuels instead of continuing public reliance on railroads. Jimmy Carter tried to stem the tide of oil dependence with energy-saving legislation that might have made the US energy-independent by now. But GOP shining star Reagan undid all his efforts. Now we're stuck in two Middle Eastern wars.
How embarrassing
Goodnight, Frau Blücher
I was gong to throw Harris a life preserver but fuck it. Why should I?
Not that they'd call that a good thing, but Bush I passed it.
Bush signed a number of major laws in his presidency, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; this was one of the most pro-civil rights bills in decades.[11] He worked to increase federal spending for education, childcare, and advanced technology research.[11] In dealing with the environment, Bush reauthorized the Clean Air Act, requiring cleaner burning fuels.[11] He quarreled with Congress over an eventually signed bill to aid police in capturing criminals, and signed into law a measure to improve the nation's highway system.[11]
Let the slings and arrows commence. Hey? It's Wiki.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
Conservative Republicans don't get to give themselves brownie points for that one - it was one of the few truly bipartisan efforts we've seen going back for more years.
He invested in fighting AIDS in Africa. That's all I've got. Other than that, he's The Worst President In United States History.
Mostly abstinence only pamphlets . Condoms. Underfunded or so late that it became irrelevant. Not a lot of $$$ for aids meds. But there was some.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
Did the pamphelets come praising Jeeebus, and with cheek piercing chewing gum?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
http://carnalreason.org/images/chick/0100_17.gif
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
The Global Gag Order negated that and then some.
Bush's 15bn AIDS initiative in Africa consisted of re-purposing money already committed.
a blue dress somewhere didn't they?
Oh and created enough potential blowback to last a few lifetimes?
All we have to do is wait for some pissed off kids to grow up....
Come on Todd baby , tell him what real Robin Hoods you are ! it's an easy question ! You could have said we are the ones mainly responsible for the biggest transfer of wealth in history , from the lower and the middle class to the upper 1 % .
"The poor have sometimes objected to being governed badly; the rich have always objected to being governed at all."
Never posted before. Big fan of the site (even though, because of the uber-subjective title, I can only forward it to like-minded liberal friends which, what's the point of forwarding it to people who already agree with me?). And though I try to avoid TV and just watch selected TV shows on the web (Daily Show, Dexter, 30 Rock) it seems to me that you're unfair to this Chris Matthews dude. Just judging from the clips/reportage about him on your site and the other lil political blogs, he seems to be the ONLY one outside of the uber-liberal hosts (who, though great, are totally preaching to the converted and not helping us, really) that ever says or asks conservatives ANYTHING objective. He actually calls liars out on air?! Olberman and Maddows are killer, but conservatives won't even go on their shows. Yet they WILL go on Matthews, and then sometime/often he kisses their asses ok, but other times he CALLS THEM OUT?! But then when Matthews doesn't agree with your (admittedly, OUR) objectives 100%, you lay into him, call him a twit. Believe that anyone who does make a difference in this climate will be someone with diverse views (unlike me) who doesn't just agree with liberal ideology 100% (like I do). I don't want to watch TV to see him, but from your reportage, Matthews sounds like our only hope real in regards to TV!
Sometimes Chris is almost heroic with his hardball questions and I can't believe he's the same guy that sucks up to Republicans at other times.
He doesn't seem to have a discernible point of view, but maybe that's the mark of good journalism. Or a total lack of values?
I don't know. Tweety has me all confused.
The GOP won the Cold War, silly!
And Nixon made cheap Chinese communist labor available to American manufacturers. Reagan HAD to end the Cold War then. Wouldn't be prudent to give Americans' jobs to the Enemy.
The GOP won the Cold War, silly!
And they've got the ties to Bin Laden and mujahadeen to prove it!
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
I still don't buy that argument. Every post-WWII President prior to Reagan played their part in winning the Cold War.
But the key was Lech Walesa's Solidarność movement helping to split away the satellite Euro-communist states in the Warsaw Pact, the Afghanistan war exhausting the USSR, rampant corruption, and Mikhail Gorbachev's Glasnost and Perestroika.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Day-yam! How the hell can Tweety keep a straight face?
Proud DFH, emeritus!
PWNED!!!!
Matthews FTW!
Never trust anyone who insists that patriotism requires you to blindfold yourself with the flag.
Not to say that Harris COULD come up with something positive, but in what you show here, it's typical Matthews - sometimes he's so busy talking that he talks right over himself. It would be nice if he'd just asked the question and gotten the hell out of the way. THEN this segment might have had some teeth to it. As it is, it's just another chapter in the long story of Chris Matthews interviewing himself.
That's right Chris...
And the internet is the only prayer intelligence has
of winning over ignorance in this world.
Swallow it!
Here's a question.
As a Republican strategists you folks are constantly polling and analyzing. Given essentially total GOP control of all policies for the last 30 years, have you done or seen any studies that qualify and quantify how badly your Party has fucked up the nation?
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
Two narratives the Democrats should use to fight the Republicans in the 2010 election are:
(1) What have the Republicans done for the country in the last 10 or 20 years?
and
(2) Don't get fooled again by the Republicans.
The Democrats would be smart to make 2010 a continued referedum about the Republicans. Go on the offensive.
We made Sloppy Joe's...
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
I mean seriously? What have they done in the past 20 year?
Both parties suck if you ask me. They are all to blame.
First of all in the last 20 years the Dems have only controlled the Whitehouse for the 8 years of Clinton and the 1 year of Obama.
Clinton had quite a number of achievements. He took the budget from a big deficit after G H Bush and turned it into a surplus. We had 6 very good economic years under Clinton with some of the strongest job growth this country ever had (the longest peace time economic expanison in American history to be exact and he created 15 million jobs wtih 4% unemployment; Bush had no expansion of the economy and did not create a single job, his fathers record was not much different). Clinton left office with a 65% approval rating, despite the "sex" scandal, the highest ever for a president since WWII. etc. etc. etc. Trade deals with China and NAFTA. Under Clinton it was 8 years of peace, progress and prosperity.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1110165.stm
Obama in his 1st year has spent almost 100% of his time trying to fix the mess Bush left the country in. However, if he passes the healthcare bill, it will be the biggest healthcare reform in several generations. He has also brought the economy back from the abysis.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/18/business/ec...
Though it would involve giving come credit to Clinton, if I were asked the question the only thing I think might work would be to bring up "welfare reform". Of course, that leaves the GOP with the dubious distinction of having, as its major accomplishment, booted poor families off of government assistance.
(and in fact, TANF is now about 75% smaller than during the 90s).
Of course, it also would then harm the easy GOP talking point of using the poor as their goal for "cutting spending".
Morning Schmoe played this clip and the first thing he took credit for was welfare reform and a balanced budget. As you noted, these all happened when Clinton was President so he definitely gets credit too. Can they claim anything when the repugs had complete control of Congress and the White House?
This is the ONLY way in which conservatives should be addressed on the T.V. talk shows.
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