Inside the Beltway: Memo to Republicans: Shake the ‘do nothing’ image

NEWS AND OPINION:

Now hear this: The GOP must immediately fire up the engines, jettison old baggage and ride the post-midterm positivity wave. Some 53 percent of Americans now say they want Republicans in Congress to set the nation’s course — compared to 36 percent who side with the White House and President Obama. So says a Gallup poll released Tuesday, which also bears a cautionary warning, “But after four years of partisan gridlock, most Americans are not optimistic that the election’s outcome will improve things.”

Indeed, only about a third of the respondents say the nation will be better off with the GOP in power. Another 19 percent say the U.S. will be “worse off” and 44 percent said there would be no difference. The sooner Republicans start that engine and buff up an image of productivity and optimism, the better. The media, meanwhile, are off on an alternative narrative, homing in on the possibility that Republicans will slide back into the do-nothing mire.

“A new do-nothing Congress: The question of the day is, What difference will it make if Republicans take the Senate?” asked Bloomberg columnist (and former top Obama budget aide) Peter Orszag, who posed that question before the midterms were even complete.

“Dems have nothing to fear. Hey, Democrats, trust me on this one: The all-talk, no-action Republicans aren’t going to challenge business as usual. They never really do,” predicts Veronique de Rugy of the Daily Beast.

ALL ABOARD AIR CLINTON

Such tedious work, and few would envy doing it. Nevertheless, Ruby Cramer, who covers Democratic politics for Buzzfeed, went through all available press and public records, plus private sources, to figure out how much former President Bill Clinton and his potential presidential spouse Hillary Clinton racked up in airfare costs during the 2014 midterm election season. The couple headlined 75 rallies and fundraisers, logging in some 50,000 miles from state to state. The assorted campaigns picked up the tab.

“When the Clintons travel, they fly private. This year, their airfare cost candidates at least $699,000, available state and federal campaign finance reports show. Payments from campaigns and party committees to Executive Fliteways, the independent charter company the Clintons use, could be found for just under half of the trips the former first family took on behalf of Democrats this year,” the indefatigable Ms. Cramer reports.

“We already knew that Tuesday’s results were a devastating blow to Hillary’s presidential ambitions. Now we know it also cost Democrats a lot as well. But I guess when you’re ’dead broke,’ a $700K private air travel bill seems reasonable. Maybe it’s time to ask Sens.-unelect Kay Hagan, Mark Pryor, Mark Udall, etc.: Was it worth it?” responds Sarah Isgur Flores, deputy communications director for the Republican National Committee — who also observed that 15 of the “Clinton candidates” lost their bids for office during the midterms.

MR. BUSH ON MR. BUSH

“I was aware that there would be inevitable comparisons between Dad and me, some good and some not. He had assured me that I should feel free to criticize any of his decisions without fear of offending him,” writes former President George W. Bush in his new book “41: A Portrait of My Father,” released on Tuesday. “As he wrote in a 1998 letter to Jeb and me, ’At some point both of you may want to say, well, I don’t agree with my Dad on that point, or frankly I think Dad was wrong on that. Do it. Chart your own course, not just on the issues but on defining yourselves. No one will ever question your love of family — your devotion to your parents.”

Of note: In its first 24 hours, the 304-page book reached No. 3 on the Amazon best-sellers list, and No. 1 in the retailer’s American history and political categories. Reactions were similar at Barnes & Noble. Mr. Bush himself is already making the rounds, appearing on CBS, NBC, Fox News and National Public Radio, and also unveiled a double portrait that he painted of himself and his dad on Tuesday at the George W. Bush Presidential Library in Dallas. The audience included Dad, of course, along with George P. Bush, who recently won his own race for Texas land commissioner.

“If anybody ever wonders, how to become the nominee of a party, from vice president to president, and how to succeed a president, read this book — because he handled the timing superbly during the campaign,” Mr. Bush advised his audience.

ONE FOR MR. GOLDWATER

Barry Goldwater still has a multitude of appreciative fans who credit the Arizona senator and 1964 Republican presidential candidate as the driving force of modern conservatism in its earliest days. And those appreciative fans will celebrate all this on Tuesday, marking the 50th anniversary of Goldwater’s campaign with a forum at the Heritage Foundation and a dinner at a Capitol Hill hotel — with keynote remarks by none other than former California Rep. Barry Goldwater Jr. The sizable host committee includes everyone from publisher Al Regnery to longtime conservative strategist Richard Viguerie.

“It was about ideas in those days — and ideas have consequences,” says Jack Cox, an organizer of the celebration and former chief of staff to the younger Mr. Goldwater. Tickets are still available, and information can be found here: Goldwater50.com.

ROOM FOR ONE MORE

Currently in an early stage: The Better Government Party, a new political party aspiring “to eventually displace Republicans and Democrats, whose parties are useless, corrupt and fraudulent,” says founder Mike Mann, a philanthropist who made his money through myriad consumer websites. His project and motivations are hybrids.

“The Better Government Party believes in quality health care and education for all U.S. citizens. [Party members] believe in very strong environmental protection and free-market economics. In addition, they believe in promoting pure American ideals globally — like human rights, political freedom, free speech and environmentalism,” he says.

Well, OK. Give it a shot.

“Americans are so used to congressmen lying, cheating and stealing that they have been conditioned to think it’s acceptable. I’m trained and studied. I’m from Washington. I know this stuff,” Mr. Mann declares.

MR. WEST HEADS FOR TEXAS

The Dallas-based National Center for Policy Analysis has a new CEO — the intrepid Allen B. West, retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and former Republican lawmaker. The organization itself offers relentless, frequent research and insight into issues such as health care, tax reform, entitlements, retirement policy, energy, the environment and education.

“I believe one of the center’s strengths is that it is not headquartered in Washington, D.C.,” Mr. West says, adding, “It will be policy, not politics that secures a sound economic future for Americans.”

POLL DU JOUR

• 69 percent of Americans would not want President Obama to run for a third term, if he could; 94 percent of Republicans, 81 percent of independents and 44 percent of Democrats agree.

• 45 percent of Americans overall prefer neither Mr. Obama or Mrs. Clinton as a politician; 86 percent of Republicans, 57 percent of independents and 10 percent of Democrats agree.

• 25 percent overall prefer Mrs. Clinton over Mr. Obama; 11 percent of Republicans, 19 percent of independents and 38 percent of Democrats agree.

• 21 percent overall prefer Mr. Obama over Mrs. Clinton; 1 percent of Republicans, 16 percent of independents and 42 percent of Democrats agree.

• 9 percent overall are not sure whom they prefer; 3 percent of Republicans, 8 percent of independents and 11 percent of Democrats agree.

Source: An Economist/YouGov poll of 997 U.S. adults conducted Nov. 1-3 and released Tuesday.

• Cranky proclamations, fine whines to jharper @washingtontimes.com.