# What has the Republican party accomplished? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 5, 2016, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-republican-party-accomplished/748000 "2016-03-05T15:02:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2016, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-republican-party-accomplished/748000/21 "2016-03-05T19:44:22Z")
GHWB doesn’t get a pass on the economy. It wasn’t merely “unfortunate”. He had the same ability to affect it as any President does. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2016, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-republican-party-accomplished/748000/22 "2016-03-05T19:45:09Z")
How much can Republicans do with a Democrat president? What did Democrats do when Bush was president? ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2016, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-republican-party-accomplished/748000/23 "2016-03-05T21:53:40Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > Republicans have had control over Congress for the past six year or so, right? And Senate for the past two. But for the life of me, I can’t remember a thing they’ve accomplished other than say “NO” to anything Obama or the Democrats try to do. > > Now, I suppose it could be argued that they were elected to do just that. But surely that’s not a good answer, is it? Threw out the No Child Left Behind Act and replaced it with the Every Student Succeeds Act. Briefly passed some very small budget trims, most of which have since been overturned. But other than that, mostly just sat there and refused to let the Democrats’ agenda moved forward. And that’s a good thing, contrary to what most liberal pundits say. Most of what government does is harmful, so a gridlocked government where major legislation rarely moves forward is a good thing. Since the day that the Republicans took over the House of Representatives and the gridlock began, the American economy has grown much faster than most other first world economies, millions of jobs have been created and unemployment has plunged, inflation has remained low, and the stock market has gone up considerably. Obviously our government is far from ideal, but the last five years would have been a lot worse if one of the major parties had been in charge of the entire federal government. ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2016, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-republican-party-accomplished/748000/24 "2016-03-05T22:13:18Z")
They beatified Reagan. Eventually, images will show him as blond and blue-eyed and cradling a lamb. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2016, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-republican-party-accomplished/748000/25 "2016-03-05T22:20:24Z")
> [@Esox\_Lucius](#): > > They beatified Reagan. Eventually, images will show him as blond and blue-eyed and cradling a lamb. Too peaceful for the neo-cons. Maybe blond and blue-eyed and wielding a flaming sword. Or perhaps they’ll opt for the good ol’ “white armor” cliche. > **[State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda What is Propaganda? - State...](https://exhibitions.ushmm.org/propaganda)** > > This exhibition encourages us to think about what propaganda is, how it works, and how to respond when it aims to divide people and promote violence. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2016, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-republican-party-accomplished/748000/26 "2016-03-05T22:23:02Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > Threw out the No Child Left Behind Act and replaced it with the Every Student Succeeds Act. > > Briefly passed some very small budget trims, most of which have since been overturned. > > But other than that, mostly just sat there and refused to let the Democrats’ agenda moved forward. And that’s a good thing, contrary to what most liberal pundits say. Most of what government does is harmful, so a gridlocked government where major legislation rarely moves forward is a good thing. **Since the day that the Republicans took over the House of Representatives and the gridlock began, the American economy has grown much faster than most other first world economies, millions of jobs have been created and unemployment has plunged, inflation has remained low, and the stock market has gone up considerably.** Obviously our government is far from ideal, but the last five years would have been a lot worse if one of the major parties had been in charge of the entire federal government. And yet rather than trying to take credit for such, they’ve continued to paint Obama as a failure and don’t mention/distort/lie about all those rebounds. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2016, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-republican-party-accomplished/748000/27 "2016-03-05T23:02:58Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > But other than that, mostly just sat there and refused to let the Democrats’ agenda moved forward. And that’s a good thing, contrary to what most liberal pundits say. Most of what government does is harmful, so a gridlocked government where major legislation rarely moves forward is a good thing. Since the day that the Republicans took over the House of Representatives and the gridlock began, the American economy has grown much faster than most other first world economies, millions of jobs have been created and unemployment has plunged, inflation has remained low, and the stock market has gone up considerably. Obviously our government is far from ideal, but the last five years would have been a lot worse if one of the major parties had been in charge of the entire federal government. Of course, that’s all unfalsifiable- sure, they can \*say \*that they kept Obama/Democrats from making things worse, but there’s no way to prove that their actions kept the country from ruin. That’s why I’ve asked for \*positive \*actions, not just saying “NO”. I’ve got this magic rock- it keeps demons away. Want to know how well it works? Well, you don’t see any demons around, do you? ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2016, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-republican-party-accomplished/748000/28 "2016-03-05T23:05:06Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > Now, I suppose it could be argued that they were elected to do just that. But surely that’s not a good answer, is it? Why isn’t it a good answer? > [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Well, clearly, but they question is what agenda WERE they elected to achieve and has that agenda come to pass? > > Just denying the other side isn’t really an accomplishment of which one should be proud. Why do you think this isn’t an accomplishment? Failing to enact additional gun control and having him experience the greatest frustration of his presidency is an accomplishment of the opposition party. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2016, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-republican-party-accomplished/748000/29 "2016-03-05T23:27:43Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > Why isn’t it a good answer? > > Why do you think this isn’t an accomplishment? Failing to enact additional gun control and having him experience the greatest frustration of his presidency is an accomplishment of the opposition party. Folks, lets give this one to him. His party is not likely to have one more accomplishment, like ever. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-republican-party-accomplished/748000/30 "2016-03-06T00:03:05Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > GHWB doesn’t get a pass on the economy. It wasn’t merely “unfortunate”. He had the same ability to affect it as any President does. Which is minimal, I am one who doesn’t rate President’s very much on the economy. Voters do, which is very weird. But largely out of ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-republican-party-accomplished/748000/31 "2016-03-06T02:27:14Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Too peaceful for the neo-cons. Maybe blond and blue-eyed and wielding a flaming sword. > > Or perhaps they’ll opt for the good ol’ “white armor” cliche. > > [https://www.ushmm.org/propaganda/archive/painting-the-standard-bearer/](https://www.ushmm.org/propaganda/archive/painting-the-standard-bearer/) I find it a bit hilarious and disturbing that the painting is in the U.S. Army Art Collection, but most of all, I’m surprised that the U.S. Army has an art collection. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-republican-party-accomplished/748000/32 "2016-03-06T02:30:19Z")
The only real Republican accomplishment has been spending control. The President has fairly consistently asked for $200 billion more each year than he got, so you figure $1.2 trillion less added to the debt than would otherwise have been the case isn’t nothing. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-republican-party-accomplished/748000/33 "2016-03-06T03:55:58Z")
Of course you can rationalize a way for most anything to be ‘not all bad’. But obstruction isn’t governance. Nor is it leadership. Nor is it dignified. And I think people might just be very sick of it. More so than they imagine. I’m just saying they could find themselves very surprised by the outcome of this election potentially. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-republican-party-accomplished/748000/34 "2016-03-06T04:00:45Z")
Well, obstruction runs on both sides. The GOP couldn’t pass anything they wanted due to a likely veto. There just wasn’t much communication going on between the President and Congress unless there was an emergency. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-republican-party-accomplished/748000/35 "2016-03-06T04:14:21Z")
> [@Esox\_Lucius](#): > > I find it a bit hilarious and disturbing that the painting is in the U.S. Army Art Collection, but most of all, I’m surprised that the U.S. Army has an art collection. Hell, the NAVY has an art collection, too! I think they acquired this Paul Cadmus painting just to keep it out of the public view. (Although I saw it several years ago when it was on loan to the Whitney in New York) > **[File:PaulCadmusTheFleetsIn.jpg](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PaulCadmusTheFleetsIn.jpg)** > > PaulCadmusTheFleetsIn.jpg ‎(776 × 411 pixels, file size: 147 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) > The Fleet's In! (1934) > By Paul Cadmus > Tempera on canvas, 37 x 67" Note the gentleman “in the red necktie” towards the left, making friends with the one seemingly sober sailor. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-republican-party-accomplished/748000/36 "2016-03-06T04:59:43Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Well, obstruction runs on both sides. The GOP couldn’t pass anything they wanted due to a likely veto. There just wasn’t much communication going on between the President and Congress unless there was an emergency. What did they want to pass that they didn’t bother trying? ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-republican-party-accomplished/748000/37 "2016-03-06T06:25:19Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Hell, the NAVY has an art collection, too! > > I think they acquired this Paul Cadmus painting just to keep it out of the public view. (Although I saw it several years ago when it was on loan to the Whitney in New York) > > [File:PaulCadmusTheFleetsIn.jpg - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PaulCadmusTheFleetsIn.jpg) > > Note the gentleman “in the red necktie” towards the left, making friends with the one seemingly sober sailor. I thought the sailor was passing him a doobie, but now I see that Red Tie has given him a cigarette. So yeah, he’s gay. I’m shocked, shocked I say! Also, that Cadmus could paint a fine set of buttocks. That woman’s ass leaves nothing to the imagination. I’ll be in my bunk, as they say. ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-republican-party-accomplished/748000/38 "2016-03-06T07:36:58Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Well, obstruction runs on both sides. The GOP couldn’t pass anything they wanted due to a likely veto. That line is so old and tired by now. Have a heart and put it out of its misery. > [@adaher](#): > > There just wasn’t much communication going on between the President and Congress unless there was an emergency. You mean until the nation’s business leaders shouted in the GOP leadership’s faces, _ **“What the fuck are you idiots doing!!?”** _ That’s what you meant by emergency, right? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-republican-party-accomplished/748000/39 "2016-03-06T07:50:33Z")
> [@Esox\_Lucius](#): > > That line is so old and tired by now. Have a heart and put it out of its misery. They can’t. The False Equivalence fallacy is one of their favourite bits of rhetoric. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-republican-party-accomplished/748000/40 "2016-03-06T18:20:21Z")
> [@Esox\_Lucius](#): > > That line is so old and tired by now. Have a heart and put it out of its misery. > > You mean until the nation’s business leaders shouted in the GOP leadership’s faces, _ **“What the fuck are you idiots doing!!?”** _ > > That’s what you meant by emergency, right? Don’t scare him away. I’m actually dying to know what the principled and constructive things were that they couldn’t address because Obama [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-republican-party-accomplished/748000.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-republican-party-accomplished/748000.md?page=3)