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.

[xsmommy]

“At least we know what to expect from a Democratic President,” he said.

yes, you sure do. a leftist stacked Supreme Court that will stay that way for decades or longer. you can take it to the BANK. George Bush's judicial nominees have been great. it is the lack of a filibuster-proof majority that has kept them off the bench. we need a bigger majority and GEORGE BUSH in the 2004. period.

[Beenliedto]

Do you have a problem with our foreign policy today?

In a word, yes.

[Neets]

Kudos to you Krodg.

You know exactly how the process works.

Thanks for your honesty.

[Ches]

Extremely well put. Thanks for posting this quote.

[onyx]

Here's your Fifth Column. Rave on. Nothing new: Yall never liked Bush.

[MEG33]

Think we can build a fence around America and be isolationist?

[xsmommy]

well i hope that everyone can sit nice and smug and cozy with their TRUE BELIEFS as they watch the Supreme Court taken over and immeasurable damage done. by all means, idealists, sit there and feel smug with your true beliefs.

[cake_crumb]

He talks like a democrat or libertarian operative - IMO, there's no real difference between them except the party name. He says the war in Iraq was political. And writes about how opposing viewpoints should not be met "with derision and threats". He APPEARS to be saying that if you vote for Bush you're a blind fool.

He's definitely a 5th columnist.

His website, American Newsreel

[prov1813man]

Do you really need to ask the question ?

[Neets]

But it's all about "principle" donchyano!!!

[xsmommy]

it all comes down to idealism v. pragmatism. and i have no patience with idealism. we live in a pragmatic world, not *ing xanadu!

[onyx]

Your 3rd party vote is masturbatory at best. You might feel good, but since your vote is your voice, you'll not be heard. Have fun.

[Neets]

John Effin Kerry right kiddo!!!

[Neets]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YOU are killing me today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MEG33]

I hope they don't hurt themselves or this country while in the midst of a tantrum.

[cake_crumb]

The NWO crap accusation against his father got us the REAL NWO party in office. Bill Clinton.

[ThanhPhero]

There is yet a difference. The Republicans will defend the country. You get your choice of tyrannies, one in which you are ruled by Americans that will last a while as a rich country or one ruled by Americans through the UN which will shovel out our substance to the rest of the world until we are all equal in thirdworlditry. In either event we will be ruled by rapidly increasing bureaucracies that will progressively constrict our lives and freedom. The best arrangement historically has been congress and the white house controlled by different parties. From this point on, however, that arrangement guarantees increasingly leftist judges and the actual will rapidly shift to the courts. Reagan is the only president we've had since Coolidge who did not pile on the regs and rules for business and did not extend Uncle's reach as far as he could.

[commish]

Exactly. It angers me to no end when I hear these "Repeal everything now" idiots start thier rants.

It took the Dems 50 years (WITH TOTAL CONTROL) to get this country down to where it is now, because they understood "incremental politics". They knew they couldn't do it over night, just lijke a cancer. Start the rot from within and by the time the patient realizes he is sick it is too late.

Republicans have the medicine to cure the Democratic cancer, but as with medical treatment -too much too fast and you will lose the patient. It shouldn't take 50 years to undo the Democrap stuff, but it will take at least 20.

The idiot sheeple won't stand for a fix it all now President. That is why Radical Lefties (Nadar et al) and Radical Righties (Go Pat Go) don't get elected, and never will.

Bush is getting things done. Taxes are lower, and he is pushing to make the cuts permanent. Partial Birth Abortion Ban has passed -- a perfect example of incrementalism I might say, no way would Roe v Wade be overturned right now, but it can be weakened step by step.

I have my problems with Bush, but he is making headwayon some stuff. That is his increment. Now in 2008 we look to get someone in who will move the next increment, and push the country a little furthur to the right.

No one is going to do everything any of us wants, but if the cart ios at least going in the right direction - you sure as hell don;t want to put it in reverse!

[Darlin']

Oh, good grief, little Dougie has been playing with his imaginary friends .... again.

[Squantos]

If William checks in on this will ya ping me ?......I'd like to read that.

Stay safe !