Dissension In The Ranks

American News Reel ^ | 1/31/04 | Doug Thompson

[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.

[nopardons]

Go back to your inane goldbug threads and keep posting your preposterous prognostications. You need to change your nic to SILAS MARNER or E.A.Poe. :-)

[Constantine XIII]

Yeah, but they'll FEEL good...ugh, what sort of people do we know who talk about thier feelings all the time, eh?

Bush MMIV

[Beenliedto]

the LP is considering running the man who put Bette Midler in the movie, THE ROSE , as it's presidential candidate.

Why don't you take a moment and listen to what Russo has to say before you are so judgemental.

His website, including video, is here.

[cyncooper]

You and John Kerry,Howard Dean agree... Terrorism is overblown.We should make it a criminal matter.We just need to arrest Bin Ladin.

And Kerry wants to "Renew the Community of Nations". We all know what that means...and it's not "America First".

[nopardons]

You're a Libertarian and a " FREE STATER . Go move to some deserted island off Greenland and form the " perfect " UTOPIA and leave the rest of us alone.

[raloxk]

One of the problems with Kerry winning is if they actually manage to win the war on terror, that will be it for the GOP. They will permanently be in minority status. The Dems will have overcome their 36 year disadvantage on national security issues, the impact will be absolutely devastating for the GOP's ability to ever win the White House again. Every election hence forth will have the DEM candidate getting 55-58% of the popular two party vote.

[arasina]

I found William McKinley's thread on the duplicitous Doug Thompson by searching William's blogspot archives. He also did a wonderful piece about it called "Games People Play."

Did Capitol Hill Blue Post An Article With Fabrications?

[MEG33]

Thanks, arasina.

[nopardons]

Yeah...the Illuminatti Masters are whispering in your your ear, we know, Dickie, we know. LOL

[Beenliedto]

Go move to some deserted island off Greenland and form the " perfect " UTOPIA and leave the rest of us alone.

Sorry, I've been here 23 days longer than you.

You got nothing to say.

[nopardons]

Ronald Reagan did. Guess Ronnie is just a big neo con after all. :-)

[F16Fighter]

"Kerry wants full amnesty and citizenship."

Well sure -- THIS is what happens when a conservative raises the stakes by playing the liberal policy game; Kerry sees Dubya's Amnesty policy then raises it...

By the time these two are done, the Border Patrol will be sending limos and luxury liners into Mexico to retrieve even more potential voters illegals.

[StoneColdGOP]

Kaloogian's name should be no hinderance. In fact it'll help. Armenians are kinda split Party registration wise, but they're very pro-business and love to support their kin when running for office. They're not a monolith to be sure, but they are an emerging Republican consituency.

We elected Deukmejian twice. The first time, he squeaked by liberal Tom Bradley. The second, he crushed Bradley. And Boxer is even more a Communist than Bradley.

[thegreatbeast]

There is a lot of jawing going on but I haven't seen anyone refute the basis of this statement:“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.”

I would never, ever vote for John Kerry but I don't have to vote for George Bush either.

Can anyone seriously refute the fact that it is hardly anymore difficult to jump our borders today than it was on September 10th, 2001? Are our visa and immigration policies changed to the point where you feel that they offer real security? National security on the domestic front is a mere conceit.

There have been a lot of last straws with George Bush but the NEA? The NEf*ingA? Why does the White House want to poke a stick in the eye of its base? That is inexplicable.

Just because Bush is in the White House doesn't mean I have to drink the KoolAid.

[Howlin]

THIS is what happens when a conservative raises the stakes by playing the liberal policy game

OMG, you don't really think that they came up with that plan AFTER Bush talked about his, do you?

[F16Fighter]

In the Gipper's defense, nopardons, the man was NOT fighting a WoT -- was he?

And if HE were Prez today do you really imagine RR advocating the same policy as Dubya under the circumstances?

[cyncooper]

I always am amused when you guys shoot the messenger.

Have you read the thread and the many comments pointing out Thompson's credibility problem?

Of course the messenger should be disregarded in certain cases if they've been proven to have been unreliable in the past, and the Thompson/Wilkinson saga has many layers of concern to it.

Whatever your hobby horse is, this article heading up this thread should be considered trash and unworthy of taking seriously.

Unless truth is incidental in your scheme of things, that is...

[FreeReign]

"Kerry wants full amnesty and citizenship." Well sure -- THIS is what happens when a conservative raises the stakes by playing the liberal policy game; Kerry sees Dubya's Amnesty policy then raises it...

Now Bush is to blame for Kerry wanting citizenship amnesty? This is what passes for objective criticism?

I've got to get out of here....

[nopardons]

It's against the rules here, to post what Claire and you arfe wishing for. Jim is adamently against that. You wanna get banned, just keep on with that garbage.

[Howlin]

Jingoism.