Memo to congressional Republicans

It’s time for the endangered species known as Republican members of Congress to plot their strategy for the Barack Obama era.

I have some strong suggestions for you to consider.

Based on Obama’s current vacillating state on several major issues of the day, I think I know what his plan is for his presidency. I think he’s going to surprise his Weather Underground cheerleaders and not be the radical he is in his heart.

I think he is going to attempt to seduce you – and make you part of his team.

You must resist these romantic overtures at all costs.

Let me give you an example of what is to come shortly.

Obama pledged unequivocally throughout his campaign to repeal George W. Bush’s tax cuts.

He will approach you early in his reign with a compromise plan. He will agree not to repeal those tax cuts if you back him on his so-called “economic stimulus packages.” Do not be tempted to take this deal.

Here’s why: Obama is only offering this deal to you because he knows repealing those tax cuts will hurt what is now “his economy.” He’s not dumb enough to believe higher taxes on the most productive sector of our public is a recipe for turning the economy around. No one believes this except the people dumb enough to have voted for him.

So, call his bluff.

Don’t agree. Don’t agree to anything. He doesn’t need your votes to do whatever he wants. Let him take the rap for his actions. And let him know that will be your position. You are going to stick to your principles (for those of you Republicans who have some).

Let him do what he wants with Democrat votes. You oppose every bad spending plan, every encroachment on American liberties, every amnesty bill for illegal aliens, every inane program he comes up with.

Your hands will be clean in 2010.

He’s already campaigning for re-election in 2012.

You need to start campaigning for 2010 – when Republicans will have an excellent chance to provide the American people with a real alternative to the misery he and the Democrats in the Congress have created. And you know they will.

Don’t be a part of it – not even a small part.

Get back to winning principles – as clearly articulated by Ronald Reagan in the 1980s.

You don’t have to be uncivil. You don’t have to be confrontational. You don’t have to appear mean.

Let Obama and the Democrats make their own bed. They earned the chance. Now let them have it.

This is very important advice. I hope you are paying close attention. This will be the difference between major advances in 2010, which you can count on, and total victory.

Please think about what I am saying very carefully. It is the road to redemption.

I know presidents can be very persuasive. I know some of you want pork delivered to your district. I know you think you went to Washington to compromise. Please get out of that mode of thinking. Look what it has cost you and your colleagues and the American people so far.

It’s time to sit back and vote your conscience – those of you who still have one. For those of you who don’t, it’s a good time to get one. Find some backbone while you’re at it.

Don’t help this man by allowing him to spread the blame around in two years and four years. That’s what he wants to do. He wants to create consensus in Washington. That’s the only way the Democrats can hold on to power. Their ideas don’t work. We know that. Now it’s time to allow the American people to see them in action – with no one else to blame.

Just get out of the way. Be the loyal opposition. Period. End of story. It’s easy.

The harder work is coming in 2010.

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