GOP slams Bush policies at retreat

The Washington Times ^ | 2/6/04 | By Ralph Z. Hallow and James G. Lakely

[ovrtaxt]

Growing frustration over President Bush's immigration plan and lack of fiscal discipline came to a head behind closed doors at last weekend's Republican retreat in Philadelphia.

House lawmakers, stunned by the intensity of their constituents' displeasure at some of Mr. Bush's key domestic policies, gave his political strategist Karl Rove an earful behind closed doors.

[Miss Marple]

No, I am not saying dissent should be stifled. Get a grip!

It is one thing to disagree with the President's policies. That is not what I am talking about.

There are plenty of posters here who disagree with President Bush on one or more issues and are able to voice those objections with reason.

Then there are the posters who call him a socialist, threaten to go third party or vote for Kerry, and attack all who disagree with them. That is the type of large-scale vituperative disagreement I am talking about.

And Tancredo shouldn't be running to the press and airing disagreements in public. It does no good except to get Tancredo's name in the press.

[Neets]

Yup. Just for you.

[Miss Marple]

I'll take that $5 bet. Read the story again...it is all based on what Tancredo and other unnamed representatives SAID happened.

The press is never at Republican retreats. The whole point is to have an honest discussion of strategy without the press interfering.

[Neets]

I second that Jane. You never hear about party in-fighting from the Democrats...you can bet they hardly agree 100%, 100% of the time (Well except for their hatred of Bush), but they never run to the media and brag about their disagreements.

I would like to know Tancredo's real agenda in this.

He monopolizes every opportunity to pump these types of things up...and then claims to not be interested in a seat in the election....but just can't help himself in stirring the pot and attempting to make republicans look like a party in conflicted disarray.

[.30Carbine]

...it is all based on what Tancredo and other unnamed representatives SAID happened.

This is the sort of Pro-President Bush argument that doesn't make sense to me. Rather than address the fact that President Bush is losing support and that constituents are loudly voicing their displeasure with their representatives, your argument casts aspersions on the very politicians who are listening to the American People, to the Conservative Voice, and to Republicans who care about immigration and spending.

Your remark is worded in such a way so as to cast doubt on the veracity of Rep. Tancredo's comments, and Tancredo himself. How does attacking Tancredo, a patriot who has represented the people of Colorado very well in Congress, convince the disgruntled to keep voting for President Bush?

[gatorbait]

So the Gingrich Revolution happened because

It happened becasue of the public's proper revulsion with Hillary care, how it was steamrolled and revulsion with the Clintons themselve. The part all of us would like to forget is when Newt made himself too big a target for one of the best run political murder machines ever in modern public life. You do recall the 1995 shut down,with all the attendent moaning and weeping beamed into our homes nightly, right? You do recall Newt's ego becoming the focus and a hell of a lot of the good done was as rapidly undone, right? The whole concept of "we need to back to gridlock" is simple minded at best and dangerously flawed at worst. You know this. You're also frustrated and angry beyond belief, we both know this. The point is to not go with the anger, go with the goal. It surely is not to sit on a sideline and carp, is it? We can get a hell of a lot more done in control than on the edge of it.

[kristinn]

��5{��������ways leaks and reports about these retreats. Tancredo is a leader on immigration policy. He should be speaking out.

The rumbling in the party is not something stirred up by trolls on FR. It's real. To try to steamroll it into submission will lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy of voters staying home in November.

Now is the time for the party to make course corrections for November. That's what most of us are trying to do, including the congressmen so vituperatively attacked on this thread.

[ARCADIA]

Ummmm ... who do these Congress folks think make and pass these bills???

IT'S ALL BUSH'S FAULT. HE MADE US DO IT!

Congress? GW? Who cares, it all the same screwed up party. The Republicans have to decide whether they will return to conservatism, or become America's latest socialist party.

[.30Carbine]

without the press interfering

Another aspersion. The press in no way "interfered with" the conference.
They reported what happened there after it happened.

[gatorbait]

Tancredo also, in my opinion, is trying real hard to make himself look more important than he is. Shooting the messenger does not change the import of the message

The messenger shooting himself is another story, though .

[.30Carbine]

You never hear about party in-fighting from the Democrats

Where have you BEEN?

[Jorge]

One glaring omission in all of the self-righteous indignation. Where was the self criticism? Every spending bill the hate was passed by them. Bush just made an immigration proposal it is completely within their power to vote it down.

Thank you. Good point.

[kristinn]

It's your credibility. Squander it as you will.

[.30Carbine]

I would like to know Tancredo's real agenda in this.

This is just what I'm talking about. His agenda, as clearly stated in the article, is to pass along to the party leaders the concerns he is hearing from the constituents, and to do whatever he can to get reelected.

Ah yes, a suspicious agenda indeed!

[Miss Marple]

Let me try to explain. I have no doubt that there are plenty of constituents upset about the immigration bill. I think it good that Rove hear from representatives about what the constituents are saying. This is the only way policy gets changed.

But Rove has already heard the gripes from the representatives, and will take the news back to the White House. Nothing further needs to be said.

Tancredo and the others who blab to the press do nothing except let the democrats know that there is disagreement in the ranks. It may serve to let Tancredo's constituents think him more important than he is, but that is not particularly helpful to the party as a whole, nor does it further the agenda Tancredo pushes.

[Miss Marple]

No, the press didn't interfere, because THE PRESS WASN'T THERE!!!!

[Neets]

.

[Nephi]

Apparently, some Republican leaders and I share the same "plan."

[Neets]

"I just got the results of a poll in our district, and it's 2-to-1 against the president's immigration plan," a House member said confidentially.

So why the "confidentially"...????????????

[.30Carbine]

The messenger shooting himself is another story, though .

A politician shoots himself when he hears the voice of the people and refuses to respond. In political circles that's generally accepted as the way a democratic republic works.