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.

[F16Fighter]

"If you ask me, Bush is wasting his time fudging around with Congress. Congress just slows up the paperwork."

If a President has a "bully-pulpit," a President should use a bully-pulpit.

[BigSkyFreeper]

It's not Teddy's fault he can scare the cowardly Republicans even when he's drunk, and can form words and sentences that shake the very foundation those gutless Republicans cower over.

[inquest]

It still doesn't absolve him.

Yes, these Congressmen are behaving in a dishonorable manner. They're politicians, after all. Regardless, it's much better that they're speaking up - hypocritical as it is - than that they're keeping silent. I'd be perfectly happy if Bush shoves it back in their faces, provided he resolves to do his part to help turn the situation around.

[inquest]

IOW, the GOP would still cower in fear at the sight on the Drunken Swimmer from Massachusetts.

And that's especially true if they get elected by pretending to be liberal - because they'd know they'd have to keep pretending to be liberal in order to keep getting elected.

[BigSkyFreeper]

He's using it so well, there's not one damn principled Repuiblican in Congress who can bully him back. LIke I said, if I was Bush, I'd be thinking it's a waste of time having Congress in a gang toidy making sure they get a soundbyte for the evening news, while at the same time, not even cut "this" or "that" from the president's proposal. If they did that more, the President would be using the power of the veto more. Like I said, Bush hasn't vetoed anything because he'd be a complete idiot to veto something he sent up to the Hill for a week's worth of debate. For all intents and purposes, Congress as it stands is useless in the chain.

[BigSkyFreeper]

I'd say it more often, but too many people don't realize it's the Congress that's the problem, not the President. This whole debate seems to swirl around the fact that Bush isn't conservative enough. My beef is Congress isn't conservative enough to counter the less conservative White House.

[Poohbah]

And if we DON'T, then what??

Then you'll simply not get your way, except when the GOP is feeling charitable.

But if y'all don't learn to either (a) generate enough votes to be worth the GOP's time and effort, or (b) learn how to be gracious recipients of undeserved charity, then you're less likely to either (a) have the GOP owing you any favors, or (b) less likely to have the GOP feeling charitable towards you.

We should capitulate like Marshall Petain?? Lol --Don't think so bro...

No, you should get used to not getting your way, and being forever frustrated.

This Administration is going to KEEP ON having to listen the constant drum-beat of discontent from true conservatives.

Actually, they don't have to listen.

After all, your side didn't vote for them--and you're now threatening to withold the votes that they never got, anyway.

If you and they want to ignore the music, put on a pair of earmuffs.

They're doing just that.

It's not enough to be discontented. You need to actually generate enough votes to be worth the effort of being contented--and the GOP has had a great deal of experience with your side of the aisle being no-shows.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Too little too late. We all knew going into election day 2000 that Bush wasn't Conservative enough, but then again, that election will go down in history as the battle between the lessor of two evils.

[cricket]

"Yeah, that's it. Don't hold him accountable for his actions or anything."

Hold him accountable on his second term. . .

[inquest]

He wasn't facing the kind of music in 2000 that he's facing today. There were a lot of conservatives then who had high hopes for him (mostly because of relief of Clinton's exit) who've become quite disillusioned with him now. But they still want to believe in him, because they fear the alternative. He just needs to give them a reason.

[BigSkyFreeper]

If Democrats regain the Senate, and the White House, I'll be the first one on here to gloat in anger to the Tancredo write-in voters and say "see I told you so", and "good luck on getting your Tancredo endorsed immigration reform passed".

[inquest]

We heard that during the first election, too. "Save your criticism till after the election."

[BigSkyFreeper]

I'm not disillusioned at all by him, I'm completely miffed that there are those like you who want to rake him over the coals, while giving Congress a pass.

[F16Fighter]

"Actually, they don't have to listen.... After all, your side didn't vote for them--and you're now threatening to withold the votes that they never got, anyway."

Though plenty from our "side" voted for Dubya Bush, including myself, the affected number of no-show votes last time will be dwarfed by this election.

It is absolute folly to underestimate the number, conviction of dissent, and emotion hitting the fan.

While some will hold their nose and vote for Dubya, others will be totally de-energized, which will intangibly affect organization and morale as a whole.

[inquest]

You need to read #543 just a tad more carefully if you think I'm giving Congress a pass.

As for whether you think these are good policies to begin with, that's your business.

[NittanyLion]

Remember, people at this reatreat weren't the far out third party "so-called conservatives", but Republicans.

Perhaps the folks you've been calling third party "so-called conservatives" are in fact Republicans as well. Perhaps there's a pattern emerging here...

Apparently they don't like to have a Republican president and Republican Congress, they would like to go back to the days, when they were a minority and the Dems rolled right over them.

Yes, that must be it. It couldn't be these recent initiatives are out of step with mainstream conservatives - nope, these folks are all masochists. Stupid to boot. That's the ticket.

[WOSG]

True, but the President's men twisted alot of arms to get the Medicare bill passed, and if they didnt do it, likely the medicare bill wouldnt have come together.

Many of the flks in Congress were corralled into supporting this stuff, and are now getting sticker shock at the bill.

There's both a pro and con to President Bush's leadership ... he knows how to get things done - on taxes, on Iraq, and on medicare bill.

Here's what I'd like to see : Not a $2.399 trillion budget but a $2.100 trillion budget ... Find $200 billion to not spend.

Is that a crazy notion? Not really when you consider that FY 2002 budget was that size.