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No you should not accept it just because it's a plan.  The devil is in the details.  That said, it does address the issue the American people feel Congress has either ignored or rejected.  I wish it had the elimination of earmarks.  I wish it had a balanced budget amendment but it does have dozens of specifics regarding spending, taxes, health care, national security that the American people want now.

Fair question.  And I want to emphasize I am a pollster, not a policy person.  That question is better addressed to members of Congress.  That said, the plan does call for a line by line examination of every budget and every expenditure.  Frankly, I hope they do a forensic audit that holds each agency accountable for what they spend and how they spend it.  At the very minimum Washington has a responsbility to spend your tax dollars a lot more wisely.

It had better rsult in lower spending or the newly elected people will be thrown out just as fast as the current incumbents. Make no mistake, the Republicans were fired in 2006 because of waste, corruption and mismanagement.  That's exactly what's happening to the Democrats today.  If the Republicans break their pledge they'll be punished as they should be.  As for the Democrats, they should have listened much more carefully to the American center.  That's why they won in 2008 and that's why they will lose in 2010.

Neither are legally binding.  But both of them are sincere efforts to tell voters what they will do before the election, not after.  You should be outraged that the Democrats won't take a vote on the tax cut issue until after the election.  You have a right to know where they stand right now. 

I realize that there are those reading this who won't believe what I'm about to say but those who know me know exactly how I think about questions like this.

I want and demand accountability.  If this pledge holds these people's feet to the fire, it was a success regardless of the electoral outcome.  Elections happen one day every two years.  Governing happens the other 728 days.  I care more about governing than about elections.

You made me chuckle.  Paul Ryan is brilliant. Paul Ryan is the brightest member of the House on either side.  He's the only individual pursuing a genuinely thoughtful, intellectual, comprehensive approach to all these issues, and many of his ideas can be found in the pledge.

As for Eric Cantor, he has been able to reach across the aisle and engage in bipartisan conversations that Nancy Pelosi either wouldn't or couldn't. 

These two people give me faith that the next generation of GOP leaders will be better than the past.

Neither are legally binding.  Unfortunately, thanks to our court system, many of our laws arent' legally binding.  It's all open to interpretation.  All I have to do is point to Rod Blagojevich.  Enough said.

I understand your frustration.  For several years Republicans were rudderless. They had no agenda and no purpose.  That changed over the past six months.  They have a complete health-care plan down to the details.  It's unfortunate the press won't write about it.  They have a complete alternative budget but the press won't write about it.  They have an entirely different approach to national security and energy security but no one knows about it.  If it's not written in the Washington Post no one knows it exists. 

At a minimum, the plegdge should be respected for the attempt to put in writing a clearly defined plan for 2011.  And I think it goes beyond that. 

You are well-read and well-versed in the difference between the two documents.  I loved the fact that the people could clip out the contract, put it on their refrigerator and keep treack opf the Republican commitment.  But with the Web millions of people will hold the Republicans accountable so I think the Pledge has just as much a chance of succeeding.

Call Paul Ryan's office. 

I don't agree and the best evidence is the stimulus which failed to stimulate and we are a trillion dollars poor as a result.  And by the way, the difference in spending perceptions betwee Republican and Democrats is why I believe the GOP will win the House.  The Democrats spent way too much. 

Most of the benefits have still not been given and the cost is prohibitive.  I think the American people would prefer health-care reform that is less expensive, less bureaucratic and more personalized.