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Potential Republican Crack-Up

Posted on 07/31/2005 1:19:25 PM PDT by KMB

For the past 20 years, there's been a discussion in political circles and the media about the "fault lines" in the Republican party over the hot-button social issues such as the death penalty, abortion, affirmative action and gay rights.

The presumption has always been that these issues would ultimately cause a rift between conservatives and moderates that would split the Republican coalition. The pundits and the MSM have been expecting and predicting this split for as long as I've been watching politics and they've been puzzled by the fact that it has never occurred.

I believe that the reason that it hasn't occurred is that the underlying assumptions are wrong. There are no "moderate" Republicans. I think Republicans are almost all conservative. Today, there are no Republicans left who are philosophically in line with Nelson Rockefeller, John Anderson, Lowell Weicker or Mark Hatfield. I know that this line of reasoning may be challenged by the Maine & Rhode Island Republican senators but the Republicans in those states (who vote Republican in presidential elections) are conservatives. The New England Republican Senators get elected by appealing to Democrats in overwhelmingly Democratic states.

There were approximately 62 million people who voted for GW Bush in 2004. I believe that probably 61.5 million of those people (1) support the death penalty (2) oppose affirmative action and (3) oppose gay marriage. I also believe that an equally high percentage of Bush voters (even those who are pro-choice) believe that the Roe v. Wade case was a hideous decision.

Pro-choice Republicans also are aware of the dirty little secret of the abortion debate -- which is that even if Roe v. Wade were overturned tomorrow, there would probably be no effect... There are probably no more than 7 - 9 states where abortion would actually be outlawed and there are currently few (or no) abortion doctors practicing in those states today anyway. Overall, the number of abortions occurring in the next ten years would only be affected by 1% or less if Roe v. Wade were reversed.

So this is, I believe, why the Republican coalition never cracked or splintered. It has confounded and infuriated the opposition but the Republican coalition really never had the fault lines that so many people thought it had.

However, I now think that one may be developing. The impending divisions in the Republican party won't be "moderate" vs. "conservative". It will be "evangelical conservative" vs. "non evangelical conservative". The issues that cause the breach won't be abortion, the death penalty, gay marriage or affirmative action. Instead the divisions will be caused over: (1) stem cell research, (2) evolution and (3) the Terri Schiavo case.

I think that 25 years from now, we'll all look back on the Terri Schiavo case as a cataclysmic event in American politics. There were tens of millions of people who looked at the pictures of Terri Schiavo and thought just one thing: "My god, if that ever happens to me, pull the plug, stop the feeding or do whatever it takes to finish me off."

At the time many Republican leaders spoke of the fact that this was a unique case but the tone of the debate both in and out of the media was that this was essentially a first step.

I remember that pro-Brady Bill and pro-Assault weapons ban politicians repeatedly assured the public that this wouldn't mean banning guns while activists and media pundits indicated that this was a first step towards doing so.

With the Terri Schiavo case, activists -- evangelicals --similarly didn't view this as a unique case but as a first step towards preventing feeding tube or life support removal in any case regardless of living wills or not.

This had an effect on non-evangelical Republicans or "secular Republicans" . . . By itself, I don't think that it would be enough to cause a breach but this isn't just one issue. The other issues that are occurring at the same time are an inexplicable renewed debate over evolution and the stem cell research debate.

With regard to the former, there's no polite or nice way to put it so I'll just be direct. People who believe in evolution think that people who don't believe in evolution are idiots -- pure and simple. The perception that an evolution believer has of a non-evolution believer is of a person saying, "Duh, my grandfather wasn't no ape."

Secular Republicans look at people who publicly discuss their doubts about evolution and who don't want it taught in public schools with utter disgust.

With regard to stem cell research, secular Republicans are excited at the prospects and supportive of practically any scientific research and they simmer at the thought of obstruction of research on religious grounds.

These three issues: evolution, Terri Schiavo and stem cell research are close to causing (or may have already caused) an irrepairable breach in the Republican coalition.

I'm a conservative. I believed in a 2nd war against in Iraq to remove the regime of Saddam Hussein as early as 1998. I also believe in making the '01 & '03 tax cuts permanent; drilling in anwar; that members of al Qaeda who are captured are illegal soldiers and not entitled to due process. I believe in progressive indexing of SS benefits, support the confirmation of John Roberts, think Antonin Scalia is the ideal justice and favor ballistic missile defense.

I also support the death penalty, oppose affirmative action, oppose gay marriage and think that the Roe v. Wade decision was a farce. I could go on but the point is made -- I'm a conservative....

But, I also accept the truth that the human species has a pre-history and I support stem cell research and I think that keeping Terri Schiavo's existance without life going was cruel and sadistic. That feeding tube should've never been inserted 14 years ago.

As a result of all of this, I now find myself in a position that I would have never dreamed of 5 or 10 years ago which is that I object to Hillary Clinton far, far less than I object to Tom Delay. Or Rick Santorum. Or Sam Brownback. Or Tom Tancredi.

Hopefully, Rudy Guiliani will be the nominee in '08 and make this all a moot point but if he isn't then I'm confronted with the possibility that I'll probably vote for Hillary Clinton despite the fact that she stands against so much that I believe in.

If there are others like me out there, and I think there are, then get ready for a 2nd Clinton Administration.


TOPICS: Politics
KEYWORDS: 0wn3d; 0wn4g3; 0wned; 1dumbtroll; asphaultlikesit; clowns; dancingonkmbsgrave; darkshearesfault; deepcovertroll; duidiot; dumbassdunce; dumbassidiot; dumbassliberal; dumbasstroll; dumberthanhammers; dunce; dutroll; echoechoecho; facerules; headupass; hostiletakeover; ideservezot; ilovezot; molassesmiasma; notmyfault; own4g3; ownage; owned; ownzored; ozone; ozoneactionthread; penguinhumor; permanentminority; pwn3d; pwn4g3; pwnd; pwned; pwnz0r3d; spawnofundeadtrhread; trollishigh; trolloncrack; trollonpot; undeadroadtrip; undeadthread3; undernewmanagement; whowritesthisbs; wildturkeys; wppff; zot
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To: Darksheare

"NOTMYFAULT"?

;)

beware of rollerbladers bearing bent bats


1,421 posted on 08/08/2005 10:30:06 PM PDT by King Prout (and the Clinton Legacy continues: like Herpes, it is a gift that keeps on giving.)
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To: King Prout

LOL, I will.
Even if I may have inadvertently inspired it.


1,422 posted on 08/08/2005 10:51:02 PM PDT by Darksheare ("Just because I have a paper heart, doesn't mean tearing it is okay." -The man with the candy face)
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To: King Prout; Darksheare
Here is a polemical history of the reconquest of Spain from the Muslims, (who will always want it back!)

Essentially, the Christians learned from their tyrranical rulers to offer three choices to the Muslims:
... 1) Convert to Christianity
... 2) Move (Leave)
... 3) Face Death

Pretty effective, I would say!

1,423 posted on 08/08/2005 10:51:32 PM PDT by NicknamedBob (Mighty and enduring? They are but toys of the moment to be overturned by the flicking of a finger.)
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To: NicknamedBob; King Prout

Been in a dust fight with an old troll.


1,424 posted on 08/08/2005 11:10:28 PM PDT by Darksheare ("Just because I have a paper heart, doesn't mean tearing it is okay." -The man with the candy face)
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To: Darksheare

murrymumbler?


1,425 posted on 08/08/2005 11:13:49 PM PDT by King Prout (and the Clinton Legacy continues: like Herpes, it is a gift that keeps on giving.)
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To: Darksheare

you need to visit the "Veni Vidi Veni" threads


1,426 posted on 08/08/2005 11:14:46 PM PDT by King Prout (and the Clinton Legacy continues: like Herpes, it is a gift that keeps on giving.)
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To: King Prout

No, takenoprisoner.
He thinks that the Presidents daughters shoudl serve in uniform in Iraq.
(If captured and killed, instant policital victory for the enemy..)

He says that he knows we aren't a serfdom, and that I 'don't get it', that this not being a serfdom makes it okay to toss the Presidents children to the wolves.


1,427 posted on 08/08/2005 11:19:55 PM PDT by Darksheare ("Just because I have a paper heart, doesn't mean tearing it is okay." -The man with the candy face)
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To: Darksheare

for me, it is simpler; women don't belong in combat.

'sides - any commander who had a president's kid in his unit would have a very hard time sleeping at night.


1,428 posted on 08/08/2005 11:21:45 PM PDT by King Prout (and the Clinton Legacy continues: like Herpes, it is a gift that keeps on giving.)
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To: King Prout

I know.
Taken doesn't understand this at all.


1,429 posted on 08/08/2005 11:23:11 PM PDT by Darksheare ("Just because I have a paper heart, doesn't mean tearing it is okay." -The man with the candy face)
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To: Monkey Face
Just guessing.....probably the peace tower on Parliament Hill, right here in Ottawa.

Here it is in winter....


1,430 posted on 08/09/2005 4:41:58 AM PDT by fanfan (" The liberal party is not corrupt " Prime Minister Paul Martin)
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To: tuliptree76
Good evening, everyone.

Good morning, tuliptree.

Had an amazing day yesterday. Turns out our temporary receptionist was born and raised in the small midwestern town I grew up in. (I'm guessing she might have been born after I left.)

1,431 posted on 08/09/2005 7:25:26 AM PDT by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com† || Trad-Ang Ping: I read the dreck so you don't have to || Iran Azadi)
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To: Darksheare

Real piece of work, that one. :-)


1,432 posted on 08/09/2005 11:26:39 AM PDT by Not A Snowbird (Official RKBA Landscaper and Arborist, Duchess of Green Leafy Things)
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To: SandyInSeattle

Oh yeah.
He thinks he grew a brain after passing out at his keyboard early this morning.


1,433 posted on 08/09/2005 11:38:10 AM PDT by Darksheare ("Just because I have a paper heart, doesn't mean tearing it is okay." -The man with the candy face)
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To: fanfan

Yep, that's it! The caption on the photo was only "Canada Day Fireworks" so I figured you'd know!

Thanks!


1,434 posted on 08/09/2005 11:43:29 AM PDT by Monkey Face (Why did kamikaze pilots wear helmets?)
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To: Monkey Face

You're welcome. ;-)


1,435 posted on 08/09/2005 11:53:57 AM PDT by fanfan (" The liberal party is not corrupt " Prime Minister Paul Martin)
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To: Monkey Face; Pippin; King Prout

Pip needs some support.
The typo virus finally got her.

King also can commiserate on that, as his typing had previously been flawless.
And then teh typo virus came.


1,436 posted on 08/09/2005 1:36:48 PM PDT by Darksheare ("Just because I have a paper heart, doesn't mean tearing it is okay." -The man with the candy face)
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To: Darksheare
Add this one from Freeper Textide to the collection...


1,437 posted on 08/09/2005 2:31:30 PM PDT by Dead Corpse (Never underestimate the will of the downtrodden to lie flatter.)
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To: Dead Corpse

Willdo!


1,438 posted on 08/09/2005 2:32:23 PM PDT by Darksheare ("Just because I have a paper heart, doesn't mean tearing it is okay." -The man with the candy face)
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To: Dead Corpse; Darksheare; scott0347; timpad; Conspiracy Guy; NYC GOP Chick; MeekOneGOP; Fedora; ...

Geeez.


I take off for a little while, I'm out screwing around, brawling and smoking cigars and causing mayhem in general, and you guys go and not only move, but there's a "For Rent" sign on my room.

What are we doing HERE?

I had to track 'Face to find this place!



1,439 posted on 08/09/2005 2:35:41 PM PDT by tiamat ("If some guy named Marduk calls, tell him I'm not home! ")
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To: tiamat

Ah HA! Found it.


1,440 posted on 08/09/2005 2:37:28 PM PDT by Hi Heels (Guns kill and cause crime? Dang, mine must be malfunctioning....)
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