Why have the Republicans tried to avoid offering an agenda of their own all these years?

[Texin]

8. Simple really: if you don't state the agenda upfront, you don't have to defend it.

I think the likes of the Scott Walker, Snyder and Kasich pretty much say it all. They never went to the the statehouses saying they were going to gut collective bargaining. They may have had the overall favor of a majority of voters on this issue, but a rethug doesn't get elected in states like WI, MI and OH without drawing Democratic crossovers. Many of the Dems (and shockingly, some rethugs too) are also members of unions and they wouldn't have viewed any idea of "reforming" collective bargaining, i.e., gutting labor union representation, favorably. Their votes might have meant the difference in any or all of these races. By stating your stands and your intentions, you're going to draw fire from opposition. Keeping the cards close to the vest, or simply stating that you're "not planning at this point" to take on a particular issue lends plausible deniability about any charge the opposition might lob your way.