GOP

11:01 AM, Apr 29, 2013 • By DANIEL HALPER

The editors of National Review write:

Republican congressional leaders thought they had come up with a great idea: Pass a bill through the House getting rid of an Obamacare “slush fund” that is slated to be used to advertise the benefits of the program. To make the bill more painful for the Democrats to oppose, redirect the funds to Obamacare’s ailing fund for “high-risk pools” for sick people — a better version of which is part of every conservative plan to replace Obamacare.

Now those congressional leaders are furious with conservative House members and organizations who have scuttled the bill for the time being; the bill’s opponents see it as a surrender in the battle to repeal Obamacare completely. While we side with the leadership on this specific bill, the uproar reflects the justified suspicion of grassroots conservatives that Republicans are just mouthing their support for repeal and replacement of Obamacare and have no real plan for bringing it about.

The failure to devise and articulate an anti-Obamacare strategy is, however, not that of the party leaders alone. Their conservative critics, when they have advanced their own strategies, have made proposals that are likely to set back the cause — such as using the threat of a government shutdown to force the Democrats to acquiesce in repeal.

The basic outline of a workable strategy is easy to draw up. First, Republicans should explain why Obamacare is unlikely to work. Second, they should finally unite behind an alternative that would let at least as many people get coverage as Obamacare but without the law’s side-effects. Third, they should say that they plan to repeal and replace Obamacare as soon as they can do so — whether in one fell swoop, which could occur only under a new president in 2017, or one step at a time. Fourth, they should advance bills that both replace parts of Obamacare and highlight its flaws.

Whole thing here.

From the House to the Senate.

Apr 22, 2013, Vol. 18, No. 30 • By MICHAEL WARREN

When Republican senator Tim Scott addresses an audience, he paces back and forth on the stage. He doesn’t use notes or look at a teleprompter. He punctuates with his hands, pointing his index finger outward or turning his palms upward. He looks and sounds like a revivalist preacher or a motivational speaker. When he asks his audience a question, he expects to hear an answer.

“You want to listen to a quick story?” he asked the crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference last month. They did, so he told one.

From the House to the Senate.

Apr 22, 2013, Vol. 18, No. 30 • By MICHAEL WARREN

When Republican senator Tim Scott addresses an audience, he paces back and forth on the stage. He doesn’t use notes or look at a teleprompter. He punctuates with his hands, pointing his index finger outward or turning his palms upward. He looks and sounds like a revivalist preacher or a motivational speaker. When he asks his audience a question, he expects to hear an answer.

“You want to listen to a quick story?” he asked the crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference last month. They did, so he told one.

Hosted by Michael Graham.

4:22 PM, Mar 14, 2013 • By TWS PODCAST

THE WEEKLY STANDARD podcast with Fred Barnes. Hosted by Michael Graham.

Hosted by Michael Graham.

4:22 PM, Mar 14, 2013 • By TWS PODCAST

THE WEEKLY STANDARD podcast with Fred Barnes. Hosted by Michael Graham.

7:00 AM, Mar 13, 2013 • By JEFFREY H. ANDERSON

In the aftermath of Mitt Romney’s defeat in last fall’s election, and the defeat of a myriad of Republican Senate candidates (establishment and Tea Party alike) in Romney’s wake, Republicans are getting no shortage of free advice. The quantity of that advice, however, is more apparent than its quality.

Hosted by Michael Graham.

4:05 PM, Feb 28, 2013 • By TWS PODCAST

THE WEEKLY STANDARD podcast, hosted by Michael Graham, with Jay Cost on how the GOP can win in 2014.

Hosted by Michael Graham.

4:05 PM, Feb 28, 2013 • By TWS PODCAST

THE WEEKLY STANDARD podcast, hosted by Michael Graham, with Jay Cost on how the GOP can win in 2014.

Feb 4, 2013, Vol. 18, No. 20 • By WILLIAM KRISTOL

President Obama has gone on the offensive at the beginning of his second term, and Republicans aren’t happy campers. Of course, every Republican camp is unhappy in its own way.

These are not your father’s Republicans.

Jan 28, 2013, Vol. 18, No. 19 • By NOEMIE EMERY

Jan 28, 2013, Vol. 18, No. 19 • By WILLIAM KRISTOL

In March 1975, with the United States in post-Watergate disarray at home, stunned by repeated diplomatic defeats at the United Nations, and about to suffer the humiliation of seeing an ally at whose side we had fought for many years be overrun by the North Vietnamese Communist Army, Daniel Patrick Moynihan asked: “What then does the United States do?”

His answer, in an article in Commentary magazine:

These are not your father’s Republicans.

Jan 28, 2013, Vol. 18, No. 19 • By NOEMIE EMERY

Jan 28, 2013, Vol. 18, No. 19 • By WILLIAM KRISTOL

In March 1975, with the United States in post-Watergate disarray at home, stunned by repeated diplomatic defeats at the United Nations, and about to suffer the humiliation of seeing an ally at whose side we had fought for many years be overrun by the North Vietnamese Communist Army, Daniel Patrick Moynihan asked: “What then does the United States do?”

His answer, in an article in Commentary magazine:

2:37 PM, Dec 20, 2012 • By DANIEL HALPER

Senate Democrats are trying to gain Republican support for the legislation meant to help those affected by Hurricane Sandy by offering kickbacks, a senior Senate aide tells THE WEEKLY STANDARD.