Posted on 01/31/2004 12:41:27 PM PST by jimkress
Had dinner with an old friend last night, a long-time Republican political operative who – in 1981 – talked me into taking a sabbatical from journalism and going to Washington as a press secretary to Congressman Paul Findley.
He’s been a Republican all his life. Grew up in a GOP family. Served more than one term as a county chairman as well as a Republican National Committeeman.
So it surprised me when he opened the dinner table conversation with: “I’m not going to vote for George W. Bush in November. I may vote for John Kerry if he’s the Democratic nominee.”
Strange things can happen in this world. Joe Gibbs can come out of retirement to coach the Washington Redskins one more time. Hell, the Carolina Panthers might even win the Super Bowl. But when a lifelong Republican tells me he might vote for John Kerry, I wait for a voice to start saying “you’re entering another dimension…next stop – The Twilight Zone.”
“I’m a Republican because I believe in less government, of letting states make the decisions that affect our lives,” he said. “I believe in a balanced budget. But my party no longer believes in any of these things. I can’t be a part of what I think is destroying this country.”
His comments echo what I have been hearing after three weeks on the campaign trail. Republicans are fed up with an administration that has created the largest federal bureaucracy ever, with record deficits and with increasing federal power and control over our lives.
But they’re not just fed up with George W. Bush, they’re fed up with a Republican-controlled Congress that passed the largest, most pork-laden transportation bill in history, that abandoned its promise to impose term limits and that broke most of the promises of the 1994 “Contract With America” that gave them control of Capitol Hill in the first place.
My friend’s theory: “You know the old bromide that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely? Well, my party has taken it step further. Absolute power leads to madness. It makes me, a Republican, long for Democrats back in control. That is pure madness but I can’t help it.”
I’ve been around politics as a journalist or an operative for nearly 40 years and the dissension within the GOP is the worst I’ve ever seen. At a Republican caucus earlier this week, California Republican Congressman Chris Cox headed a group of conservative members who told Speaker of the House Denny Hastert that a GOP Congress was being undermined by Bush's actions in the White House. One member reportedly said a GOP Congress could deal more effectively with a Democrat in the White House than they can with Bush.
“At least we know what to expect from a Democratic President,” he said.
And don't forget the ones masquerading as members of the "conservative" Party.
Yes, it is. And, Bush hasn't started campaigning yet, not to mention he's sitting on more dough than the dem pretenders plus anyone else campaigning, combined, could ever hope to see.
Btw, and who has that picture of the "Oh $hit, not this crap again" guy? Mr. Thompson hasn't fared well on FR lately.
5.56mm
We were lied to and manipulated into that war. There are probably any number of reasons, but we don't know what they are. There were no WMD's no connection with bin Laden or terrorism.
Considering who flew the planes, we should have attacked Saudi Arabia, but Bush and his family have really close ties there.
Our troops should be the hell out of there tonight, and let the whole firggin' thing collapse of its own weight.
And while you're at it, bring 'em home from Korea, Germany, and every other damned place and start protectiog our own borders.
Don't worry about Iraq. No way we can get out of the swamp now. It'll be sucking the taxpayer dry for a long long time.
Richard W.
Right you are. The so-called, (self-described) "base" that's abandoning him have never really been with him or us. We're pragmatists and winners. They bitch from the sideline.
You know if I wasn't married...
;^)
5.56mm
Yes, the "war"....
But what kind of "leadership" is he displaying by knowingly undermining the morale and confidence of the troops?? And by "troops" I mean his rank and file conservative constituency...
Is there ANY excuse whatsoever for a GOP President 270 days away from an election to announce his lame-brained "plan" to award illegal invaders Amnesty, while still knowingly ignoring the security loophole breach at the Mexican border?
The good news? At least Dubya's NOT a General.
Merry Christmas to you too... It's been my experience that the overwhelming majority of grassroots Republicans ARE the conservatives, while the "moderates" tend to believe spending money and hiring slick consultants is the way to win elections.
Yall are not Republican at all, and you're not the base either.
If that is the case, then tell me why so many Republican candidates do poorly and lose elections when the conservatives feel abandoned and stay at home or vote 3rd party? (ie: Perot '92, etc.)
This election is too important for your petty grievances. Try to see the big picture: SCOTUS appointments and WOT. A democrat presidnet dooms both.
I hardly think that things like granting drivers licenses to illegal aliens and offering them an amnesty qualifies as a petty grievance. When California's finanical back is ready to break over spending on these people, it's about issue #1 on most radar screens. Yes, the Supreme Court and War on Terror are important. The Court and other judicial posts federally would be secure NOW if the Senate limp-wrists would ACT like the majority they are and tell tofu-skinned dudes like Frist and Hatch to step aside. And tell me, if Bush is serious about the War on Terror, when will bombs start falling on Riyadh and Mecca?
And then turn him (binLaden) over to the UN and onto the World Court in Belguim. Yeah, that's the number.
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