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.

[dennisw]

That's why my uninsured motorist insurance is so high (your's too)Florida. 9 times out of 10 the uninsured driver is an illegal alien. Many times he's a legal alien who has been here just a ew years but (surprise) is living in poverty.

[Poohbah]

Excuse me - But you are dead wrong. Look at the 2002 mid term elections. The base came out and we wiped the floor with the Dems.

The GOP's real base (i.e., those who actually vote for Republicans) actually turned out.

But the self-proclaimed "base" didn't--as they've done since 1992.

In 2002, the President showed leadership and took the bull by the horns. The Medicare program was brought to the floor by him, the Immigration "proposal" by him, the other liberal garbage, bu him. He will be a one term president unless he changes things around in terms of perception.

Fine. Then you deserve what you'll get.

People have short memories, and I am TELLING YOU LOUDLY & CLEARLY, that I as well as my family members who have voted 100% GOP in all of the previous elections, are pissed off and feel betrayed.

OK, you and your kin are apparently going to vote based on your FEEEEEEEL-INGS.

In other words, y'all are a bunch of liberals.

Call me whatever name you want, say my "base" vote does not matter, but it is the fact of the matter whether you want to acknowledge it or not.

Bush is probably counting on getting more than one vote in exchange for losing yours.

Because the rest of the folks who agree with you, and think as you do, spent a decade slow-rolling the GOP...well, you're going to suffer.

Quit blaming Bush, and start blaming the folks who talked much, demanded much more, and never delivered anything in return.

[Lazamataz]

RME

?

Read My Eschoir?

Ruffle My Elephants?

Regurgitate My Eclairs?

Really Manly Elves?

[Lazamataz]

Bush is probably counting on getting more than one vote in exchange for losing yours.

Oh, I have no doubt that he's expecting to get 2 squishy moderates for every 1 conservative he loses.

Heck, I'd do the same thing, if my priority was reelection.

I just can't vote for it, is all.

[FITZ]

"He said he didn't do it for politics [but] because that's what he believes is good for the country," Mr. Duffy said, adding that Mr. Bush drove his point home by saying, "I'm from Texas and I know this issue."

If he's from Texas he should know how much federal dollars is having to pour into the southern counties of Texas -- and that Texas was right behind California in state budget deficits. Bush should know that if state and federal taxpayer money was cut off to the areas of high immigration in Texas that everything would collapse. The border area has welfare rates of 50%. Schools and hospitals have been bailed out numerous times.

[gunnedah]

I am not a cop out and I could tell you what to do with your rockin horse.
I always vote for the person I think is best. I am not a party individual and never have and never will be. I certainly refuse to march in lockstep because that is what I despise about the Democrats. I am moderate to conservative and I think you may be a puppett or an idiot,you choose whichever you like.

[chris1]

Continue to believe as you want, it is your right, but you are simply unable to see what is happening. For the what the polls are worth, admittedly not too much, Bush has not significantly increased his share of "independent voters." This will place more importance on the traditional Republicans turning out. I probably will because Kerry would be a total disaster, but that does not mean we allow Bush to give away only three quarter's of the store because Kerry would give the whole thing away. For your information, I think, believe, and know, that Bush's "proposal" is a betrayal and will be a disaster of yet to be known porportions. Comprende Amigo????

[FITZ]

Bush is probably counting on getting more than one vote in exchange for losing yours.

You honestly believe enough of the citizens of Mexico will vote for Bush because of the amnesty that losing votes of Conservatives doesn't matter?

[billbears]

And when he is re-elected I'll continue to let them know that.

And when they continue to move left, as the Republican party has done for the past three years, what are you going to do then? Stand out front of the Capitol yelling 'Neener, neener' at them?

Don't get me wrong. I've been at the letter writing stage. The calling stage. And the nice form letter from my most worthless Senatorial representation stage telling me that 'it's best for America' that we get a waste of a healthcare plan passed. The Founders of this nation of states provided us with the strongest way of voicing our support or dissent. It's built into the system and how these 'mediocre' people get to Washington every term. Yet, the only solution you provide is to reward them for doing exactly what you didn't want them to do. What kind of dissent is that?

Mind you, I'll not be casting a vote for Kerry either, I don't vote for Democrats on the national level

[Neets]

Mind you, I'll not be casting a vote for Kerry either, I don't vote for Democrats on the national level

Whatever floats your boat dude.

When your partys' candidate finally wins a Presidential election, I am sure it will be a historical moment for our grandchildren's grandchildren's, grandchildren.

[The Shrew]

Ping!

[The_Eaglet]

"I would not say we jumped all over Karl, but we did have a very pointed discussion about the concerns we are hearing from our base," said Rep. Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee Republican.

GO MARSHA! I am glad to see she took her conservative courage to the capitol.

[FITZ]

if today's MTV genereation thinks that those types of jobs are beneath them

I see the MTV generation working for minimum wage in all kinds of jobs so I don't think that's a true stereotype. Also you have to remember the children of the immigrants are part of the MTV generation --- and hispanic youth has the worst unemployment problem. White kids have better success in getting jobs but there is a growing problem with hispanic gangs --- something kids get into when there is nothing else for them to do.

[hchutch]

So, if I support the President's immigration reform plan, I'm all for undercutting market rates and squeezing Americans from the labor market? I certainly do not like the way folks who agree with his approach to this issue are, in my opinion, belittled on this forum.

Lincoln Diaz-Balart is going to get a contribution for defending Bush's plan. I'm also going to see about upping my level of political contributions to other Republicans who back Bush's plan.

I want to know if honest debate about immigration is welcome, or if the Tancredo-Malkin line on that issue is going to be for Free Republic what "abortion rights" are for Democratic Presidential candidates: A litmus test.

I'm beginning to suspect it the latter is becoming the case, and I'm not sure I like it.

[Consort]

I am not a cop out and I could tell you what to do with your rockin horse.

That's a pre-election tantrum as I mentioned.

I always vote for the person I think is best.

How can you do that by sitting it out?

I certainly refuse to march in lockstep because that is what I despise about the Democrats.

The Democrats approve of your decision.

...I think you may be a puppett or an idiot,you choose whichever you like.

Maybe you need a padded highchair.

[j_tull]

"The highway bill is going to be the first test, and we do have to control spending."

Yeah, let's get cheap on crumbling infrastructure so we can keep illegals on unemployment. Brilliant.

[FITZ]

They are not getting off scot free for the crime of washing dishes, cleaning toilets, and making beds.

Bush never got around to saying who was going to pay the health care costs or the education costs of the families the guest workers would bring over. Would those illegals who obtain jobs like you mention by presenting fraudulent documents, participating in Identity theft --- felony crimes --- be getting off with just a small fine? Will they be released from previous financial obligations like unpaid hospital bills? An illegal making $5.15 an hour bringing over 7 or 8 kids can't support that family on his own --- did Bush say who will pay if the illegal makes too little?

[The_Eaglet]

Thank God for Marsha Blackburn.

[hchutch]

The way Tancredo has acted - I just might give him about as much support as I give John Warner.

[FITZ]

please spell out the logistics and costs of rounding up 8,000,000 people.

It might be more like 20,000,000 --- but what are the logistics and costs of giving each and every one a background check and blue card, the right to travel back and forth over the border as they please, bring over any family members they haven't brought over yet?