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.

[FreeReign]

The White House "has told us they will support a freeze if we have the votes, but some of us want the president to take the lead on this," confided a Republican House member who has been negotiating with the administration on the budget.

Why does the president have to take a lead on a spending freeze if there already is enough votes in congress?

And if there isn't enough votes in congress, then does the problem lay with the president or does the problem rest someplace else?

[Dane]

For the time being he is the voters in Mass's problem and not mine

Well I guess you are posting from Mars. If you haven't heard there is a Presidential race and Kerry is the front runner. All I am doing is bringing up Kerry's positions on the issues.

I can't help it if you don't like bringing facts into the debate and wish to ignore Kerry.

[Badray]

You may be on to something here and not even know it.

The War on Terror (No Muslim Left Behind)

Campaign Finance Reform No Free Speech Left Behind)

The Kenndey Education Bill, (No Child Left Behind)

Renewal of the Assault Weapons Ban, (No Gun Left Behind)

Medicare Prescription Drugs, (No Geezer Left Behind)

The ill-conceived Immigration Reform Bill, (No Mexican Vote Left Behind?)

Defense of Marriage, No Behind Left Behind)

Active Bush43 support of RINO Arlen Spector against Pat Toomey (No RINO Left Behind)

[Bikers4Bush]

What part of "For the tiem being" didn't you understand?

Bring all the facts into it you want it still doesn't matter because I'm not a Kerry supporter.

[Dane]

What part of "For the tiem being" didn't you understand?

Uh the time is now, but what the hey you wish to ignore Kerry, IMO, for then you can't rant.

[hchutch]

I am unaware of any litmus test on being a conservative or not. However, if you really think I don't belong here, you can always hit the abuse button and report me to the moderators.

[Sabertooth]

Disloyalty must have a price, Sabertooth. Writing in Oliver North was all I could do in 1996 and 2002 to make John Warner pay a price, although in 2002, I was hoping for a primary opponent. If you consider disloyalty in the form of indirectly electing a Democrat to be acceptable, or even understandable, then you really have no cause to complain when you find out that George W. Bush won't stick his political neck out for the issues you find important.

Or should I just pretend that John Warner's disloyalty was acceptable conduct?

I don't begrudge you any of that, I was simply applying your logic to your own conduct.

There are many things politicians might do that have price tags, and sometimes that price exceeds the value of a citizen's vote. Warner's actions against North exceeded yours. Fine.

However, now you've established the principle that there are times when it acceptable to indirectly vote for a Democrat.

[Sabertooth]

Why does the president have to take a lead on a spending freeze
if there already is enough votes in congress?

Why do generals lead armies when there are already soldiers in the field?

[Bikers4Bush]

I'm ignoring him because he would never be my candidate.

Why is that so hard for you to understand?

[AntiGuv]

My personal priorities are balancing the budgets, ending the Prohibition War, ending the silent 'open doors' policy to illegal immigration, ending the overseas transfer of the American economy, and downsizing the Federal government. I don't support either Kerry or Bush because neither supports my priorities.

In some ways, I think Bush may end up becoming a victim of his own success because now that he's presided over tax cuts, reorganizing government to focus on preventing terrorism, and conducting the Iraq War it will be difficult for him to articulate what more he has to offer in a second term. That is why they've increasingly shifted to a defensive, reactive posture ("keep" the tax cuts and the focus on terrorism - 'stay the course') rather than an offensive, proactive posture.

That will likely be all the more the case now that his key reform measure (immigration) has gone over like a lead balloon. Moreover, the need to control spending and the criticism of the Medicare expansion will likely prevent him from the usual Election Year handouts or campaigning on similar 2nd term proposals.

[WRhine]

If pointing out reality causes a flamefest, then the guys who don't like reality have a problem, not the guys pointing out reality.

The Reality Is that Bush has put his reelection in jeopardy by alienating a big chuck of the conservative vote time and time again. You talk as if conservatives have little influence in elections when the elections of 1976, 1992, and 1996 serve as stark reminders of what happens to Republican presidents and candidates that take conservatives for granted.

May I also remind you that most of the hard/tough campaign work in republican elections is done by motivated conservatives at the grassroots level—not the country club set. Truth is most RINOs are terrible at campaigning. They feel they are above knocking on doors, working the telephone banks and putting up the signs.

Lots a Luck on “getting out the vote” on Election Day if the conservative base is unmotivated.... You’ll need it.

[George W. Bush]

Wow, great thread. Someone told me about it but I couldn't find it!

"They were all over Karl on immigration and spending," said Rep. Tom Tancredo, Colorado Republican and a leading House proponent of controlling the nation's borders and curbing illegal immigration. "This is the first time I didn't even have to raise the immigration issue myself. Everyone else did."

It looks like the rest of the GOP is finally moving away from Rove and toward the positions of the Liberty Caucus.

We've got Paul, Tancredo, Toomey, Hostettler, over twenty conservative congressmen in all. We're leading the anti-aliens charge. And stand against spending. Please sign up for our email action alerts.

[jimt]

Okay, sorry. I'm just getting frustrated with the level of denial.

I find it disturbing as well.

Congress didn't pass a bill giving amnesty to 10 million illegals. President Bush suggested they do so, publicly.

[kt56]

Many House critics of the Bush immigration plan said privately that the proposal was created....to mollify Mexican President Vicente Fox. Mr. Fox has supported relaxed U.S. immigration laws as a means to alleviate economic problems in Mexico.

He should be "mollifying" us!!!! Last time I looked Mr. Fox doesn't have a vote in the US.....YET!

[Poohbah]

The Reality Is that Bush has put his reelection in jeopardy by alienating a big chuck of the conservative vote time and time again. You talk as if conservatives have little influence in elections when the elections of 1976, 1992, and 1996 serve as stark reminders of what happens to Republican presidents and candidates that take conservatives for granted.

It's not 1976, 1992, or 1996 anymore.

And y'all sat out one election too many. You ain't the base anymore. Bush isn't going to stick your neck out for him after y'all voted in smaller numbers in 2000 than you did in 1996.

May I also remind you that most of the hard/tough campaign work in republican elections is done by motivated conservatives at the grassroots level—not the country club set. Truth is most RINOs are terrible at campaigning. They feel they are above knocking on doors, working the telephone banks and putting up the signs.

Bravo Sierra.

There's a joke that's about a decade old from my time campaigning.

"Why does one super-conservative do the work of ten men in a campaign?"

Answer: "Because the other nine super-conservatives didn't f***ing show up!"

And in 1995, the "grassroots conservatives" REFUSED to join in a campaign to write in support of the budget showdown.

And then they whined about the GOP caving. Well, DUH! Refuse to give any evidence that you support their efforts, and they'll conclude that you don't support their efforts.

Lots a Luck on “getting out the vote” on Election Day if the conservative base is unmotivated.... You’ll need it.

The "base" has no-showed for so long that they aren't the base anymore. Somebody else is voting for Bush--and that means somebody else is getting what they want.

[hchutch]

Do not take my actions agaisnt Warner as an endorsement of the attempts to indirectly vote for John F. Kerry. Warner's disloyalty is one thing - and were there other ways to make him pay the price for betraying Ollie North, I would exercise THEM as opposed to the write-in.

But as it stands, that was the only course of action available. And I undertsand that there are consequences to my choosing that course of action - John Warner will feel no obligation to give me anything unless it suits his purposes.

I certainly hope that conservatives who think about staying at home or going the third-party route keep that in mind. If you want a politican to grant patronage, you have to be someone that he can count on when the chips are down. Otherwise, why should he stick his neck out for you?

[Sabertooth]

Congress didn't pass a bill giving amnesty to 10 million illegals. President Bush suggested they do so, publicly.

But...

But...

But...

It's just a PROPOSAL.

Now write your congressman, ignore Bush, shut up, show up, and vote.

[FreeReign]

Why does the president have to take a lead on a spending freeze if there already is enough votes in congress? And if there isn't enough votes in congress, then does the problem lay with the president or does the problem rest someplace else?

Why do generals lead armies when there are already soldiers in the field?

So the electorate of this country needs to be lead away from its high spending proclivities? Oh please protect me Mr. President from my own inclinations to spend. Oh please politicians, protect me from big government.

That's hardly a conservative solution -- is it.

The soldiers in the filed want to defeat the enemy. The electorate on the other hand doesn't support reduced spending because if they did, there would be enough votes in congress.

If the electorate doesn't care, then why the hell should the politician president?

The problem lies with the electorate.

[AlbionGirl]

FWIW, your style is admirable, and your message substantive.

It's my opinion that the base is not that necessary when the independents are under a party's sway, but once the independents go independent, getting the base to come out becomes imperative. It's not smart to goad and marginalize those you have a chance of reaching through reasoned, sound debate such as yours. Those who are unreasonable or unreachable are better left ignored.

As I've said many times before, I'm going to vote for Bush because I fear that if I don't an American city or two is likely to be leveled in 5 to 10 years, maybe even sooner. But I must confess to having my confidence in him shaken on several fronts, including the WOT.

I will be very surprised if he is our President next year at this time, because I fear a lot of people have lost that same sense of confidence they once had in him.

Perhaps, he can rebuild it. I'm anxious to watch Meet The Press on Sunday, as that should be a good indicator of how he plans to address the cries of his critics.

I hope he's so strong and sure that it staunches (sp?) some of this bloodletting because it's really starting to worry me.

[Consort]

But I really cant tell the difference...

And sitting or riding it out is going to do what for you and me?