Republican candidates abandoning small-government ideology; Rove "sensed a shift"

[DeepModem Mom]

Boston Globe: News Analysis
Candidates abandoning small-government ideology
By Peter S. Canellos
Globe Staff / January 16, 2008

WASHINGTON - For most of the past year, almost every Republican presidential contender tried to present himself as the real Reagan conservative, without questioning whether Ronald Reagan's antigovernment message was applicable in 2008.

Now, after voting in three high-profile states, it seems that many GOP candidates might have miscalculated: Republican voters may still love Reagan, but his antigovernment message isn't playing well on the campaign trail. Iowans chose Mike Huckabee, who promised an administration that would do more for low- and middle-income people. New Hampshire chose John McCain, who promised a small government but one committed to activism against problems such as global warming.

Mitt Romney initially pledged his total fidelity to Reagan's "three-legged stool" of strong defense, low taxes, and a "pro-life" social agenda. But after losing two states and much of his credibility, he shifted gears in auto-crazed Michigan, promising government action to combat the loss of manufacturing jobs....

...if one thing is clear, it's that the early-voting states have sent a clear signal in favor of activism over ideology, suggesting that the traditional Republican anti-tax, anti-spending message might not satisfy even some conservatives in a time of economic unease....

***

Bush's political guru, Karl Rove, sensed a shift in appetite and warned his fellow Republicans that the country wanted more action on healthcare and education and that they could not afford to cede those priorities to the Democrats....

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/01/16/candidates_abandoning_small_government_ideology/?page=full

[YOY]

1. Because it doesn't f***ing work!

Sh*t we've been trying to tell them for decades but did they want to listen NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

[shain from kane]

2. Small government under Reagan? Hugh deficits, hugh increase in the national debt.

His highly touted tax cuts almost detroyed the real estate market as it had been previously configured, and led to the savings & loan debacle.