What do Republicans want?

[Beet]

Since it appears voters will put the GOP in the driver's seat this year, the question remains: what do Republicans want? Of course, they've put out their 'pledge', but that is boring, frankly. What do the Republicans on this board want the next Congress to do, assuming that it is Republican? What do they want Obama to do, assuming he were shocked enough by the election to work with the next Congress?

[Franzl]

I want a control on spending, for the most part.....and divided government is most likely to lead to that, IMO.

I'm not actually endorsing a GOP majority in the House (although I wouldn't mind the Senate at all)....but I won't be unhappy if it happens.

[WillK]

Since it appears voters will put the GOP in the driver's seat this year, the question remains: what do Republicans want? Of course, they've put out their 'pledge', but that is boring, frankly. What do the Republicans on this board want the next Congress to do, assuming that it is Republican? What do they want Obama to do, assuming he were shocked enough by the election to work with the next Congress?

They want Power.

[LBJ Revivalist]

Defund Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, put any public works projects on hold, repeal all regulations (including safety regulations and child law labor laws) on business, abolish the EPA and allow for increased deforestation, ensure gay marriage remains banned in all 50 states, repeal Roe v. Wade.

This Congress will be the most far right Congress in probably 100 years.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Defund Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, put any public works projects on hold, repeal all regulations (including safety regulations and child law labor laws) on business, abolish the EPA and allow for increased deforestation, ensure gay marriage remains banned in all 50 states, repeal Roe v. Wade.

This Congress will be the most far right Congress in probably 100 years.

lulz @ that list.

They won't get too far if that's what they really wanted.

[angus]

what do Republicans want?

world peace and a little place to call my own. 


Actually, many of us want austerity measures, beginning with a total repeal of the Medical Insurance Bill passed by this congress.  But even if the GOP controlled both chambers, they'd not have enough votes for cloture in the senate.  And even if they could get a bill passed, the president wouldn't sign the law.  So I think the priority ought to be paying off government debt and balancing the budget, and I think they should start with areas of general agreement (defunding TARP, etc.) in order to get bipartisan support as much as possible.

I hope they stay away from the divisive "cultural" issues such as same-sex marriage and abortion.

[Landslide Lyndon]

I want a control on spending, for the most part.....and divided government is most likely to lead to that, IMO.

Sorry to say that Franzl but if you really believe that Bhoener and McConnell are interested in cutting spending then you're naive.
They have made pretty clear that they won't touch entitlements and defense spending, so all the talk about deficit reduction is pure blather.  

[Vepres]

Republican voters are interested in rolling back Obamacare, reducing the deficit, stopping tax hikes, cutting government.

[WillK]

... So I think the priority ought to be paying off government debt and balancing the budget, and I think they should start with areas of general agreement (defunding TARP, etc.)

There is no general agreement that defunding TARP helps pay off the debt or balance the budget. 
The NYT reported a week ago that TARP "could conceivably earn taxpayers a profit." 

[angus]

... So I think the priority ought to be paying off government debt and balancing the budget, and I think they should start with areas of general agreement (defunding TARP, etc.)

There is no general agreement that defunding TARP helps pay off the debt or balance the budget. 
The NYT reported a week ago that TARP "could conceivably earn taxpayers a profit." 

Consider this:  According to Pew, 34% correctly say that TARP was enacted by the Bush administration.  Nearly half (47%) believe TARP was passed under President Obama.

[East Coast Republican]

Republican voters are interested in rolling back Obamacare, reducing the deficit, stopping tax hikes, cutting government.

Everything he said-it will create a favorable environment for job creation.

[TeePee4Prez]

Republican voters are interested in rolling back Obamacare, reducing the deficit, stopping tax hikes, cutting government.

Everything he said-it will create a favorable environment for job creation.

Just like Bush's policies did.  Rrrrrright.

[Frink]

Republican voters are interested in rolling back Obamacare, reducing the deficit, stopping tax hikes, cutting government.

Everything he said-it will create a favorable environment for job creation.

Err not all of those. Its also more or less ignoring the causes and path out of the recession.

[fezzyfestoon]

They want Power.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Republican voters are interested in rolling back Obamacare, reducing the deficit, stopping tax hikes, cutting government.

Everything he said-it will create a favorable environment for job creation.

Just like Bush's policies did.  Rrrrrright.

It should be noted that in three years or so (2004-2007), George Bush's policies pushed the total number of jobs from 132 mil to 138 mil.

George Bush didn't create the Recession of 2007-2009. The bubble which popped had its origins in the early 1990's and was the result of global financial trends. Its hard to argue that Bush somehow magically caused Housing to heat up worldwide back when he was just thinking about running against a super popular and very undefeatable Ann Richards. Bush also wasn't President or in any way did he have the ability to cause Tech sector to overheat in 1998-2001.

But the period in which he could control what happened in the economy he did create 6 million jobs over three and half to four years. Extended out to 8 years without recessions (Clinton had good timing recession that ended before and then one that began after his Presidency) and Bush would have created about 12 Million jobs at that rate, 10 million less then Clinton but also keep in mind that the 1990's were a perfect storm of great trends that will likely never happen again.

[Beet]

A lot of the 'jobs created' in 2004-2007 were in housing construction. Other jobs were created to support a level of consumer spending that could only be sustained by unrealistic housing values and people taking out MEW. So basically all the jobs created during the Bush administration were bubble jobs. It was a lie that we're (or at least Democrats are) paying for now.

[opebo]

Well, overall, they want to lick boots.  Since it seems funny to describe the owners as 'Republicans' since they transcend that and both parties serve them, I just mention what the ordinary mass of Republicans like to do - worship power.

If you worship power, you tend to like to see power concentrated as narrowly as possible, and like to see the masses at the bottom of the pyramid subjected to as much misery and humiliation as possible.

Another way of putting this is - they want the status quo, the sado-masochistic sickos.

[Marokai Backbeat]

They want Power.

[tpfkaw]

They want a majority, so they can get their precious committee chairmanships and cushy sinecures after they retire.  Except for the real true believers, of which there are few, and even fewer incumbents.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

They want to accelerate the running of this country into the ground.

[cannonia]

Republican voters are interested in rolling back Obamacare, reducing the deficit, stopping tax hikes, cutting government.

Everything he said-it will create a favorable environment for job creation.

Just like Bush's policies did.  Rrrrrright.

The size and scope of government increased under the Bush administration.  While rolling back Obama policies would be good, we could definitely do better.

[Frozen Sky Ever Why]

I want this arrogant administration to start showing accountability and an end to its free pass to do anything it wants.

[Brittain33]

They want a majority, so they can get their precious committee chairmanships and cushy sinecures after they retire.  Except for the real true believers, of which there are few, and even fewer incumbents.

There will be a few more true believers than before in this Congress, but they won't be driving the bus. You hit the nail on the head. It's about power, wealth, and comfort--the best lifestyle for you and for your circle, as long as you can keep it, with good high-paying options for after you move on from "public service." It's why most of them aren't really concerned about actually repealing Obama's health care plan unless failing to do so endangers their majority. Also why tax cuts take precedence over actually doing something about the deficit. Wealthy people notice if the tax rates change, but people are willing to turn a blind eye to the deficit when they get into the voting booth.

[specific_name]

The Republicans aren't going to go for austerity. This country can't stomach austerity, until it's forced upon us. The whole house of cards depends upon spending and low taxes. It's easy enough to talk about cutting someone else's job and livelihood, but the reality of it will cause people to buy less things not more, among other problems. What we're dealing with is a pattern of spending combined with inappropriate tax cuts that stretches back years. Now it's catching up with us and the denial may be beginning to end. But not for the Republicans or Democrats in power who will merely try to reenact the past and fail either way.

They want the status quo more or less, with a degree of gridlock. The radical element doesn't have the numbers in the party, yet.

[minionofmidas]

Turn back the clock five and a half years and make everybody forget the intervening period ever happened.