A Real Republican Contract For November

Yesterday I wrote about the need for conservatives and loyalist Republicans to emphasize and act upon the unifying and appealing principle of individual freedoms.

But, that won’t do us much good in time for November’s expected walloping in the Congress. According to able and caring observer Mark Tapscott, neither will Karl Rove’s prescription for talk about “contrasts.” As Tapscott says:

[T]he GOP can talk till they are blue in the face between now and November about "contrasts" with the Democrats BUT NOBODY BELIEVES THEM ANYMORE. The day is long gone when Republicans can talk their way back into the majority.

Tapscott recommends a drastic pledge in order for Republicans to have any credibility in time for November. That congressional Republicans will take the pledge is likely incredible, which just demonstrates how deep the hole in to which they’ve dug themselves, and us who depended upon them.

The only thing that can save the GOP are concrete actions that may persuade sufficient numbers of voters that this time, the Republicans will actually do what they say they will do if they are returned to the majority in Congress. The GOP "brand" is so damaged that there is no guarantee that doing these things will get Republicans back in control of the levers of congressional power.

What kind of concrete actions? Here are five, for starters. Note that each requires every Republican Member to do something tangible that is clearly contrary to the norm for people who put their self-interest ahead of the national interest. Add five more similarly concrete measures and we've got a new Contract with America that people will take seriously:

TERMINATE EARMARKS
First, every Republican Member of Congress - Senate and House - must agree to withdraw all standing earmark requests and to seek no more earmarks for any reason in the future. As proof of the GOP's seriousness, both GOP congressional campaign committees and the Republican National Committee withdraw all financial and other re-election support for any incumbent GOPer who refuses to sign and abide by this pledge and the following three as well.

SEEK TERM LIMITS
Second, every Republican Member in Congress must co-sponsor a constitutional amendment providing term limits for Congress - three House terms and two senate terms - which is to be introduced as soon as possible AND agree to abide by the terms of the amendment and campaign for its adoption by their home state legislatures.

START ENTITLEMENT REFORM
Third, every Republican Member must co-sponsor legislation canceling the special congressional provisions of the federal retirement program for all active incumbents and replacing it for each Member with Social Security benefits calculated on the basis of the national median individual income.

NO MORE TAXES
Fourth, every Republican Member must co-sponsor legislation making the Bush tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 permanent, abolishing the AMT and proposing a constitutional amendment requiring that federal spending not exceed federal revenues in any single year unless approved by super-majorities of the Senate and House, exept in times of congressionally declared war.

STOP THE SPENDING
Having withdrawn all standing earmarks requests, all Republican Members will vote against any spending bill brought to a floor vote that contains a spending increase greater than the cost of living or earmarks.

ENFORCEMENT OF THESE PLEDGES:
In addition to the party committee sanctions noted in the first pledge, all Republican Members will promise to resign if the party regains the majority but fails to fulfill all five pledges within two years. And for good measure concerning GOP Members who decline to sign and work for all four pledges, the party committees offer at least $250,000 to a credible primary challenger who will sign and abide by these pledges.

EVEN the more conservative and thoughtful Republicans in Congress can only come up with a shadow of Tapscott's contract, and their caucus leadership demurs.