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.

[Texasforever]

he proposals for these bills are coming from the President. He alone has the bully pulpit.

Baloney. These guys are running scared and are looking for cover. Why in the HELL didn't they get their back up 3 months ago? Why wait until the damned election year to start this crap? IF they are so damned worried and if the have the guts they can easily write new legislation to void all the spending and revise the new budget to really cut out the pork. They will never do that because all of the pork is put their by drum roll..............CONGRESS to satisfy the "folks back home".

[Cacique]

If our voices were being heard they wouldn't have proposed these assenine policies in the first place.

The people at the white house and the RNC will do what they always do best, ignore the base.

[Texasforever]

Any way, this was a closed door meeting

So, why are we hearing all the details on FR?

[ovrtaxt]

see post 20.

[ovrtaxt]

Why in the HELL didn't they get their back up 3 months ago? Why wait until the damned election year to start this crap?

Because people like me are making enough noise to shock them back to reality. The social utopia that they have been pushing is not playing well among us.

[Texasforever]

Quote: Let them piss up a rope!

I said I would tell them.

[.30Carbine]

The article clearly states, with quotes, that these concerns are being voiced by constituents, and that representatives like Tom Tancredo are listening and responding. Up until this point these R representatives have been doing everything they can to implement the President's agenda. Isn't that what you want them to do?

[.30Carbine]

I said I would tell them.

And so you have.

[Texasforever]

Because people like me are making enough noise to shock them back to reality. The social utopia that they have been pushing is not playing well among us.

Your problem, and theirs, is that the national polls are showing that people are wanting MORE spending not less. These guys know that and there is not one thing they are going to do to cut anything. They will just look at you and say "I feel your pain".

[Texasforever]

Oh for crying out loud. Since when does Tancredo need to hear from his constituents on immigration. It has been is niche position since he entered the House.

[Mo1]

They write and pass the bills .. if they don't like it .. don't make the bill

If they don't like the spending .. don't add pork onto the bills like they did with the Homeland Security Bill

[ovrtaxt]

Your problem, and theirs, is that the national polls are showing that people are wanting MORE spending not less.

That's because over 50% don't pay any income tax. These are the same people who don't usually vote, however.

Anyway, what polls are you talking about? It depends how the question is framed. If you say "Do you want free prescription drugs" you will get a huge response. If you attach reality to that statement, You get a very low response.

In any case, I will just get louder to counteract the stupidity of the people who want more spending. I'm not gonna let them just take it from me.

[.30Carbine]

...national polls are showing that people are wanting MORE spending not less.

Ergo, no matter how big the Medicare Plan is, no matter how bloated the Education Bill, no matter how much President Bush gives the NEA or the UN, the Democrats will never say it is enough. That strategy is not working to bring the Mods into the President's camp, and it is having a negative effect upon the President's base.

[ovrtaxt]

Since when does Tancredo need to hear from his constituents on immigration.

Seems he has been listening all along.

These guys are making sense for once and all you can do is shoot them down. What's up with your motives?

[.30Carbine]

They write and pass the bills .. if they don't like it .. don't make the bill

So you would be okay with Republicans in Congress refusing to draft legislation or pass into law the President's proposals?

[Mo1]

These guys are making sense for once and all you can do is shoot them down. What's up with your motives?

Because THEY make the bills and THEY pass the bills and now THEY are blaming the President for things THEY did

What part of that don't you get?????

[Texasforever]

That strategy is not working to bring the Mods into the President's camp, and it is having a negative effect upon the President's base.

Here is a news flash, the "base" cannot win an election on its own. Especially a "base" that has deserted every republican presidential candidate since 1992. The GOP has to go where the votes are instead of the unappeasable "base". That is a strategy that's been proven not to work.

[ovrtaxt]

No, I didn't read that part of the article.

They were apparently upset that the agenda, which they graciously backed with few questions, had led to an avalanche of criticism from their constituents. They were giving Rove a bit of feedback, and they were obviously alarmed that it was so hostile.

What's the problem? They were listening to us. Be happy.

[Mo1]

So you would be okay with Republicans in Congress refusing to draft legislation or pass into law the President's proposals?

That's a pretty broad question

It would depend on the bill and what the wording was .. but if it's it a bad idea .. then don't pass it

[Texasforever]

These guys are making sense for once and all you can do is shoot them down. What's up with your motives?

I am shooting them down because the point the finger at one guy for doing what they could have prevented in the first place. This is complete CYA for a bunch of gutless cowards. They couldn’t even declare war when the need arose. They dumped it right into GW's lap and now are holding "hearings" on Bush's "failures".