Don’t Fall for Tom Kovacks “Moderate Republican” Bullshit
I have said that Kovacks is one of a small number of Republicans who does not make me want to vomit. He does make me queasy though. Here is the thing, there is nothing “moderate” about the economic theories that inform Kovacks’ choice of parties. He is a Republican.
Republicans – even so-called moderate Republicans – have bought into an economic theory that is not only failed nonsense, but is killing his country. Republicans, like otherwise sane sounding Tom Kovacks, believe that wealth is by its very nature, morally and economically virtuous.
Harold Meyerson explained it all very well back in 2004:
“(the Bush) administration has trusted more to pure theory than virtually any modern president’s. The Iraq war is a triumph of ideology over the facts on the ground (it’s certainly not a triumph of anything else). And, as it’s currently shaping up, Bush’s second term looks to be even more theory-driven than his first.
Theory certainly is driving the administration’s tax policies. In his first term, Bush took an ax to the taxes on dividends and mega-estates. In his second term, according to a story by The Post’s Jonathan Weisman and Jeffrey H. Birnbaum, the president is looking at eliminating taxes on dividends and capital gains and creating generous tax shelters for all investment income. The theory here is that investment, not labor, is the real creator of wealth — so the taxes on investment income will be scrapped, while those on wages will keep rolling along.
And in the name of this theory, Bush seems willing to sacrifice much of the social compact that made America, in the second half of the 20th century, the first majority middle-class nation in human history.
While Republicans politicians like Christine O’Donnell, and Sarah “Stand with our North Korea allies” Palin work to turn Modern Republicanism into a wacky reality TV sideshow that is too easily laughed off, the core of modern Republicanism is no laughing matter.
At every level of government so-called “moderate” and sane looking Republicans like Tom Kovacks need to be rebuked by voters so that this insidious and catastrophic economic theory of using the levers of government to enrich the rich can be put to death in our lifetimes.
Moderate Republicans have been a breed that talks tough but then votes for what their leadership wants. On the national level, supposed moderates Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins and Scott Brown have all signed onto a Republican challenge of the new health care law. Snowe even voted this law out of committee!
I’m not sure it matters as much on the local level because Republicans don’t seem to be waging this war on the local level. It doesn’t mean that it won’t start (look at what Christie’s doing in NJ for example). I’d like to think that we can vote for people over party sometimes but I’m not sure it’s possible when one party is collectively insane.
Jason is right in theory, but it is hard to see where a R would be that different from a D at the NCC level in any practical terms. Construction approvals? not really.
To the extent that NCC has any effect on union interests, perhaps R vs. D would make a difference. Delaware Republicans have an obsession with unions… they perceive unions as being the source of Democratic electoral success, rather than their own effed-up Republican policies. They have the crazy idea that if they can weaken unions or cut worker pay, somehow that will win them more votes. This delusion informs a lot of their policies.
Democrats are now selling us trickle-down too – even our entire Delaware delegation is hyper-willing to vote for tax cuts for the rich. Not that the News Journal or WDEL will ever challenge them for a serious explanation, but any explanation will most likely insult us by telling us tax cuts for the rich are good for the economy and will somehow help the rest of us. It is warmed-over trickle-down.
Google “now is not the time to raise taxes” and you find mostly Democrats are saying it. It is some kind of coordinated talking point as part of the Democratic plan to continue the Bush tax cuts for the rich.
You are absolutely right that far too many Democrats have been absorbed into the “Club for Growth” borg hive-mind. That is a different, albeit important, issue.
The immediate concern is to prevent another Republican from gaining a foothold in electoral politics. Tom Delay’s first win was in 1978 when he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives.
The immediate concern is to prevent another Republican from gaining a foothold in electoral politics.
Good point. If you agree R vs. D makes no difference at the NCC level, choose the Democrat for that reason. Or if you think R vs. D does make a difference in NCC, state your reasoning.
Yeah, probably one good reason to vote D is to deny Republicans a new guy on their shallow bench.
Nemski isn’t going to to be happy with you.
What has oft been ignored in Delaware when it comes to the ‘moderate Republican’ meme is that it has always first and foremost been in service to making sure that the Billionaires On the Hill get to make and keep their ill-gotten billions.
‘Moderate Republicanism’ in Delaware has always been how the media has described the duPonts, their heirs, and their ilk getting average Delawareans to vote against the interest of average Delawareans. What, for example, is moderate about legalizing usury in the name of ‘financial center development’? Sure, it created lotsa jobs and, for awhile, made Delaware a national envy. But, it also created 18.6% interest on credit cards, created a new class of wealthy counterbalanced by a new class of at best middle-income people, created, through a series of tax cuts, a flat tax for those earning $60K or more all the way up to the Billionaires on the Hill, had Delaware take its eye off the ball when it came to our blue-collar industries, and, ultimately collapsed as Houses of (Credit) Cards are wont to do.
The issue isn’t so much Kovach, although he makes his living representing the powerful against those who live and travel in environmentally-questionable areas made so by his employers.
The issue, in my mind, is that he was selected by the representatives of the Billionaires on the Hill FOR the Billionaires on the Hill, he will be funded by them, and he will do their bidding if elected.
As to the R’s, I agree with Dave if his legit theory is that we need checks and balances. Which is why I’ve argued for someone like Bob Valihura as auditor, not the amiable good ol’ boy dunce we have there in Tom Wagner. D’s will have to make sure that there ARE checks and balances, not so much on the Markells and Denns who have, I believe, amply demonstrated that they have the State’s interests at heart. But for the Clarks, Weldin Stewarts, Tony DeLucas, et als of this state. Otherwise, the corruption and abuses of the Minner Administration will prove not to be the exception, but the rule, of one-party government.
“They have the crazy idea that if they can weaken unions or cut worker pay, somehow that will win them more votes. This delusion informs a lot of their policies.”
I’m not sure that their delusion is all that delusional. Union members do a lot of the leg work in campaigns like going door-to-door passing out campaign literature. In large part Repubs want to weaken and, if possible, dismantle unions so that they can reduce the number of boots on the ground for Dems during political campaigns.
Prove that the Insurance Commissioner is corrupt or STFU. What a load of shit.
One thing I know. Never elect a Republican. They will break your heart, break the nation, state, county, rep. district, civic association, anything they can lay their thieving hands on, in service to their billionaire masters.
You guys are right about Republicans, but, I cannot bring myself to vote for Tim Sheldon!
@ Auntie Dem–
Many people feel that way about Obama. He’s been a colossal disappointment so far.
Kovach was my representative. He is not a moderate, he is pro corporation and we should all know that before we vote.
Curious. But anon, what is your problem with corporations? Probably 60% of corporations consiste of a single person like your dentist, accountant, etc. Ever hear those radio ads for Legal Zoom encouraging people to incorporate their business? Who do you think are the corporations? For about $200 you can create a corporation in Delaware.
Probably 80% of all corporations include 5 people or less — like the dry cleaners down the street, the mom & pop restaurant, etc.
Why are you opposed to all of these small businesses?