Posted on 04/04/2006 6:14:48 PM PDT by Frank T
And therein lies the problem, of the fall of the class of '94. Delay helped knee-cap the conservative reform movement early on.
He was concerned to a much greater extent of party over principle, and neglected to consider that voters put in a GOP majority on the basis of change and reform, and not for any particular affection for the party.
If '94 was to stand for anything, it was to shrink the size and reach of the Feds. Part of that means shrinking the power of lobbyists too, not just switching who K street gives money to, for re-election campaigns. If people still want that nonsense, it should have been moved down to state level, as much as humanly possible.
Interesting that Delay fingers soft moderate Republicans as the difference between winning and losing in '06. His own primary contest showed that a good chunk of the conservative base voted against him. Much of the rest were too loyal not to do their job.
Thank God He communicated with Delay and told him to scram.
Good riddance. Delay, while great in the minority, decided that when the GOP came to power the most important thing to do was to replace a democratic pork and patronage machine with a GOP one... and thus the end of the modern conservative movement.
Loser...good ridance....if there's more like him.....
DeLay is an honorable man and has been an excellent House leader. There are precious few like him in D.C. I've never heard of another elected representative who voluntarily stepped down for the good of his party, have you?
Don't they all, at some point?
Well, for congressmen at least, they can step down and become...lobbyists. There's a financian incentive for many, thanks to people like Delay who perpetuate this system.
He's a good man. Can't blame him simplifying his day if he has some other work requiring his immediate attention.
The rats and media besmirched a good man and a great Republican. This is politics at its worst with no resemblance to reality.
Only the future will tell, but I hope DeLay comes back to politics. The reason he had been a target for so many years is because he was an effective vote counter and fundraiser. DeLay/Ascroft 08
I don't get it. We complain when Republican politicians don't fight hard enough to enlarge our majority and we complain when they fight too hard. I guess we need Goldilocks to pick our politicians so they fight just the right amount.
Livingstone stepped down when the rumors of his fooling around came out after he was named speaker of the house.
How quick they fall. And I thought only Rats ate their own while abandoning a sinking ship. Shades of Newt.
Apparently, Tom will move to Virginia to become a lobbyist. This may freak out the leftists more than before. He sat down after the bell rang - but since it's only round one, the fight isn't over...
True. Livingston had a conscience, something clinton lacked.
As I said on another thread:
I listened to his whole interview with Matthews tonight; he was so relaxed and seemed so at peace, I think the entire area inside the Beltway better be worried.
He was also a target over the Texas redistricting. The Dems never forgave him that, even though the state is no longer Democrat majority.
His demeanor was he same on Brit's show tonight. He said that he thought he'd be more effective now that he will be out of Congress. Given the present climate, I think so too. He has effectively neutalized the dems plan to make him a target. (Sometime down the road, I hope Ronnie Earle gets his comeuppance.)
Once he kicks Ronnie Earle's behind, he's free and clear to improve on the Pubbie's majority. A lightening rod? You bet. And he's ready for it...
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
There's two ways of thinging about this, if the goal is for a conservative majority, and not simply a party affiliation majority.
First, one strategy is to polorize the electorate, such that the "moderates" choose what they see as the lesser of two evils. We hope they see a conservative GOP as such. This works because it gets their votes, but deprives them of significant power.
Another way, and the more honorable one, is to convert people to conservatism. Find issues that hit close to them on a more personal/local level, and pursuade them that a change in politics can affect change in their lives. How much more this can be done, who knows? But can you honestly say that Delay made more Americans conservative? Or did he just squeeze more dollars to the right?
It is becoming apparent that the people running this party nowadays are becoming more detached, more elite, and answer to money, not as much to the people who vote them in. NOT a recipe for success, because we are too smart for that.
And yes, we do need to pick politicians that will do just the right thing. Better than getting scalded.
Nixon.
Why DeLay Quit..........?
Lobbying pays better?
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