Good policy, good politics

Michael Barone@NRO:GOP Battle Cry: Repeal Obamacare, Cut Spending:

"... the macroeconomy is in a very different place than it was during the Gingrich era. Then, we were well launched into an economic recovery, one aided by Republicans’ partial victories on budget and tax issues. Money didn’t seem scarce, and shutting down the government seemed extreme.

Today, we are in, if not an official recession, at least an agonizingly slow recovery. And if Democrats complain that it’s unfair for government and public employees to be limited to what they got in 2008, Republicans can reply that an awful lot of their constituents would be very happy to go back to the income levels and the housing equity and the 401(k) balances they had in 2008.

Everyone has been suffering. Why should government be exempt? Wouldn’t it function better if it went on a diet?"

Most of us are tired of hearing the Democrat whining--

"But the public LOVES health care reform when they are told about the individual provisions!"

"Tax cuts for the rich are eeeeeeeeeeevil!"

"The Stimulus worked, but we need more!"

"Millions of jobs saved or created! Unemployment numbers increase? What unemployment numbers increase?"

.....and on and on and on and on and on.