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.

[jimkress]

No matter whether you vote for a 'Republican' or 'Democrat' presidential candidate you will still get a Liberal in the White House. Bush has proven that with his complicity in CFR 1st Amendment destruction and associated IRS abuse, horrific entitlement spending increases (e.g Medicare), amnesty for illegals, grotesque expansion of the Federal Government, continuing assault on our right to keep and bear arms, his refusal to deal with the oligarchical behavior of the Federal Judiciary, etc.

The only difference between the Republicans and the Democrats is that the Democrats want the US ruled by a combination of national and international despots while the Republicans prefer tyranny by just national despots.

Bush is a Republican Liberal. Bush believe Government is the solution, not the problem. His only difference with Liberals in the Democrat wing of the Liberal establishment is that his priorities for Big Government are slightly different from theirs - but with the same goal, complete subservience of/dependence on Americans to their government and its associated political class.

Given the objectives of both parties are the same, how can anyone justify supporting either party?

Oh yeah, with respect to the "giving your vote to Democrats" comments - the lesser of two evils is still evil. As long as people refuse to follow (and vote) their principles, evil prospers.

Vote for FREEDOM, not Republican/Democrat hegemony. Support the Constitution Party.

[tet68]

Fifth Column bump.

[cake_crumb]

Bumping your 5th column bump...

[ambrose]

Oh yeah, with respect to the "giving your vote to Democrats" comments - the lesser of two evils is still evil. As long as people refuse to follow (and vote) their principles, evil prospers.

President Bush is evil? Who did he rape? Who did he murder? Did he allow drugs in through Mena? Does he snort cocaine on the Oval Office desk? Does he pleasure himself in the Oval Office sink? Does he give our nuclear secrets to China? Does he conspire with our enemies?

No, Sherlock, I think you've lost perspective of what it was like to have true evil in the White House.

Do I agree with W's liberal domestic policies at times? Yep. But the man is not evil.

[TheDon]

Vote for FREEDOM, not Republican/Democrat hegemony. Support the Constitution Party.

Vote for the Demorats? I think not. That being said, I guess everyone goes through a "purist" phase at some time in their political life.

[jimkress]

Anyone who supported infringement of our 1st Amendment Rights is evil - as Bush did through his refusal to perform his Constitutional duty and veto CFR.

Also, the Bush sycophants on FR (like the response from TheDon) insist he is the lesser of two evils. So, if the shoe fits, blame them.

[Neets]

Doug Thompson.

Someone i'll surely listen to.


GO CP, GO!!!

Do you see what we are in for, for the next 10 months??

Get ready folks.

[tet68]

"Republican Party divided", says Joe Conason Bump.

Doug Thompson, that name smells familiar, wasn't he a crackpot lawyer from Florida?

"Democrats united behind X and Y and Z candidates," says Joe Conason Bump.

[commish]

This is just getting funnier and funnier and scarier by the minute.

Yep lets elect John Kerry, he and Bush are the same. Yep, John Kerry will nominate Miguel Estrada and John Pickering, Kerry will make the Military strong and continue the war on terror, John Kerry will fight to make tax cuts permanent, John kerry will support a Marriage Amendment, John Kerry will fight for the Partial Birth Abortion Ban.

Yep, they are exactly the same --lets vote for John Kerry and put the Democrats in power

FRIGGIN MORONS!

[tet68]

So, if the shoe fits, blame them.

And if a democrat is elected come november.......

we will blame YOU!

[Dog]

Isn't Doug Thompson the dude from Capital Hill Blue.......who knew Wilkenson?

Hey Doug still meeting with make believe people?

[Neets]

Yes, the one in the same.

I gave up those imaginary friends when I was around 4 yrs old I believe.

[arasina]

Sounds like Doug Thompson is meeting with make-believe Republicans this time. Perhaps he should take another sabbatical from "journalism."

[Chi-townChief]

Anyone who would vote for Kerry for president has got to be a major dumbass.

[MEG33]

CUT OFF YOUR NOSE TO SPITE YOUR FACE...VOTE 3rd Party!...;)

[NittanyLion]

If you're referring to the former freeper, that was Jack Thompson. I hope he doesn't try to sue me for mentioning his name.

[Dog]

Wonder who they will complain to about the open borders and a RAT in the Oval Office and a US city in ruins from a mega-terror attack.

Bush gets my vote......based on the TERROR ISSUE!

Let them walk ......we will just have to work harder this coming year.

[Happy2BMe]

“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.”

Neither engineering NAFTA or "1,000 Points of Light" could keep Humpty-Dumpty from taking a big fall in 1992.

I believe in the balance of powers, but not absolute power of the government. The government must work for the best interest of the citizens, not the reverse.

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The last Republican to serve in the White House was this man . .

(Unfortunately, the U.S.A. is unable or unwilling to produce another leader such as Ronald Reagan.)

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This idea that government was beholden to the people, that it had no other source of power is still the newest, most unique idea in all the long history of man's relation to man. This is the issue of this election: Whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American Revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capital can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves." -- Ronald Reagan's Speech at the 1964 National Convention: A Time for Choosing

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[Neets]

Kinda makes ya wonder doesn't it?

I'll damned if I am going to sit back and let some Deomoncrat take office and chance another terrorist attack in my back yard anytime soon.

I signed up yesterday to be an active, participating member in the Bush/Cheney2004 Presidential Campaign, and am urging other Freepers to do the same.

[tet68]

I don't know jack!

Yes a case of mistaken identity although both sound like wackos.