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Republicans Squandering 'Political Capital'
CHRONWATCH.COM ^ | DECEMBER 9, 2004 | CHRISTOPHER ADAMO

Posted on 12/08/2004 9:19:37 PM PST by CHARLITE

Following the Republican landslide victories of the 1994 midterm elections, conservatives watched in amazement as Republican “moderates” proceeded to completely squander the ground they had gained, culminating in the defeat of Bob Dole in ‘96. In the aftermath of this year’s elections, ominous signs point towards a repeat performance.

Apparently, Republican Party operatives didn’t really comprehend why, in the middle of Bill Clinton’s first term, they won big. And to this day, political analysts still don’t seem to grasp the situation. Among conservatives, the conventional wisdom is that the newly realigned GOP Congressional majority had wrongly presumed too much of a mandate, subsequently shocking the American people with an excessively bold agenda.

In truth however, the exact opposite took place. And if the Republican Party doesn’t quickly come to grips with this fact, it may find itself facing larger defeats in ‘06 and ‘08 than the Democrats just suffered.

By formulating the “Contract with America,” Newt Gingrich brilliantly highlighted the contrasts between the two parties. In presenting America with such a clear choice, he ensured that the liberalism of the Democrats would be on parade. The rest is history.

Yet in the aftermath of the elections, intense media pressure caused Gingrich and the Republicans to backtrack. Bob Dole’s “enough is enough” surrender to Clinton’s bloated 1995 budget sealed Dole’s fate in the following year’s presidential election. Despite Republican wins, the left still dominated.

In reality, the much-heralded “Republican Revolution” simply never happened. Where, for example, was a single bloated bureaucracy eliminated, or required to face even modest budget cuts at the hands of the Republicans?

Far from committing any conservative “excesses,” it was the abandonment of such things which disillusioned the “grassroots” and convinced them that “business as usual” still reigned supreme in Washington. Hence, they stayed home on Election Day in ‘96.

So, how have Republicans fared during the brief “lame duck” Congressional session following this year’s election? Initial signs are not encouraging. Rather than confronting the Democrats’ obstructionism, and their continued pandering to the counterculture, Republicans are once again waffling, conceding, and capitulating.

The recently passed “National Security Reform Act” is a prime example. Key to American security is regaining control of its borders. Amazingly, Congress decided to remove a provision from the security reform measure that would have clamped down on the ability of illegal aliens (such as the nineteen hijackers of 9-11) to obtain drivers’ licenses.

According to opponents of the provision, such discussion belongs in other legislation. Yet if the mass influx of undocumented foreigners isn’t relevant to the security of the nation, little else is.

Beyond all of the excuses, the reality of the situation is that the Republicans in the House and Senate have no stomach to confront the illegal alien issue, for fear of media backlash. They apparently remain clueless as to the receding relevance of the “mainstream” media, or the fact that their acquiescence to it will cause an enormous rift with the “base” from whom they so recently garnered electoral victories.

On another front, Senate Minority leader Harry Reid of Nevada highlighted the tight spot in which Senate Democrats presently find themselves. Completely abandoning any pretence of bipartisan cooperation, Reid pressed forward in the footsteps of his predecessor, the recently deposed Tom Daschle of South Dakota.

On a weekend talk show, Reid sounded like the standard, cliched, liberal Democrat of the Washington “insider” crowd, promising obstruction and rancor, but not surprisingly accompanied by the standard liberal demands that Republicans “reach across the aisle.”

If a groundswell of disapproval occurs in response to his caustic diatribe, Reid, being another partisan Democrat Senator from a “red state,” could eventually face a fate similar to that suffered by Daschle. Fortunately for Reid, Senate Republicans may well ride in to his rescue. Fearing possible negative ramifications from altering the present senate rules that allow legislation to be stalled by a forty vote filibuster, Republicans are again showing their reluctance to play “hard ball” when confronted with such obstructionism.

Presently, Democrats have been using this technique to thwart the appointment of judges who would uphold the Constitution. So, conservatives are left wondering what possible ramifications could be worse than a continued decimation of the Constitution.

John Kerry’s liberalism, when viewed against the backdrop of the War on Terror, provided the contrast that yielded significant Republican Congressional gains, and a victory for President Bush. If Republicans continue to erase that contrast, they will eventually erase their victory.

About the Writer: Christopher Adamo is a freelance writer from southeastern Wyoming, where he has been involved in grassroots political activites for several years. He maintains a website at http://www.chrisadamo.com Christopher receives e-mail at adamo.chronwatch@lycos.com


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: agenda; bunchofbaloney; conservative; contractwamerica; democrats; elections04; ftaa; gop; harryreid; loadofbs; nevada; newtgingrich; politicalcapital; presidentbush; republican; sdakota; tomdaschle; whatever; yapyapyapyapyap
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To: CHARLITE
"Key to American security is regaining control of its borders. Amazingly, Congress decided to remove a provision from the security reform measure that would have clamped down on the ability of illegal aliens (such as the nineteen hijackers of 9-11) to obtain drivers’ licenses. "

"Control of our borders" has nothing to do with "illegals getting drivers licenses".

Illegals get licenses only AFTER they've breached the border.

Or is this another one of those illegal immigration phrases such as "open borders" which don't really mean what they mean. (another way of excusing a lie after being caught)

21 posted on 12/08/2004 10:00:34 PM PST by bayourod (Bush said. "Let's see if I can say it as plainly as I can: I am for the intelligence bill.")
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To: Dolphy
Rome was not built in a day.
22 posted on 12/08/2004 10:04:41 PM PST by DaveTesla (You can fool some of the people some of the time......)
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To: rmmcdaniell
The Democrats were the majority prior to the '04 elections? Thats news to me.

Well perhaps you better pay closer attention.

Republicans did not have a strong enough majority to force anybody's hand. Even with the new congress, things are dicy.

23 posted on 12/08/2004 10:04:49 PM PST by konaice
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To: claudiustg
We might want to inaugurate the President before dissecting his failure.

So that means Al Gore will no longer be president come January?

24 posted on 12/08/2004 10:05:10 PM PST by rmmcdaniell
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To: nj26
When we embrace conservative principles, we reinforce the political capital that we have earned. When we betray them, we squander our political capital.

It's too bad the republicRat "party-bots" place party over all of the wisdom of your post. When one concedes conservative principles, then what is the difference between a republicRat and a democRat? Nothing.

25 posted on 12/08/2004 10:05:17 PM PST by Indie (Ignorance of the truth is no excuse for stupidity.)
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To: CHARLITE

Following the Republican landslide victories of the 1994 midterm elections, conservatives watched in amazement as Republican “moderates” proceeded to completely squander the ground they had gained, culminating in the defeat of Bob Dole in ‘96.

>>>

That was fun! /XXXsarcasm


26 posted on 12/08/2004 10:05:41 PM PST by ApesForEvolution (You will NEVER convince me that Muhammadanism isn't a death cult that must end. Save your time...)
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To: Indie

BTTT

The GOP's incremental Compromisism destroys America...


27 posted on 12/08/2004 10:07:08 PM PST by ApesForEvolution (You will NEVER convince me that Muhammadanism isn't a death cult that must end. Save your time...)
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To: CHARLITE

"Where, for example, was a single bloated bureaucracy eliminated, or required to face even modest budget cuts at the hands of the Republicans?"

How about welfare reform? An entitlement was ended -- or at least, it couldn't permanently be claimed. That's pretty good.


28 posted on 12/08/2004 10:07:37 PM PST by BackInBlack
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To: Indie

BTTT

The GOP's incremental Compromisism destroys America...


29 posted on 12/08/2004 10:08:10 PM PST by ApesForEvolution (You will NEVER convince me that Muhammadanism isn't a death cult that must end. Save your time...)
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To: konaice
Republicans did not have a strong enough majority to force anybody's hand. Even with the new congress, things are dicy.

Some weak-kneed Republican Congressmen who initially opposed the massive new prescription drug entitlement program were strong-armed into voting for it. The white house’s rino-allies also managed to break the resistance to removing the illegal alien provisions from the Security Reform act. The Stupid party sure knows how to force things when it benefits liberalism.

30 posted on 12/08/2004 10:13:37 PM PST by rmmcdaniell
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To: rmmcdaniell

Ain't that the truth...


31 posted on 12/08/2004 10:16:07 PM PST by ApesForEvolution (You will NEVER convince me that Muhammadanism isn't a death cult that must end. Save your time...)
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To: ApesForEvolution

"Following the Republican landslide victories of the 1994 midterm elections, conservatives watched in amazement as Republican “moderates” proceeded to completely squander the ground they had gained, culminating in the defeat of Bob Dole in ‘96. >>> That was fun! /XXXsarcasm"




It all began going downhill when Gingrich caved to Clinton when we had the government shut down. After that, the Pubbies looked like a bunch of weak pukes.

If we had the Internet of today, maybe they wouldn't have caved. We must press the advantage at every opportunity.


32 posted on 12/08/2004 10:16:16 PM PST by Eccl 10:2 (Pray, pray, pray that we as a people are deserving of godly leaders.)
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To: konaice

BTTT!


33 posted on 12/08/2004 10:17:01 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (A Proud member of Free Republic ~~The New Face of the Fourth Estate since 1996.)
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To: Eccl 10:2

I remember Newt giving the now ex-TRIMPOTUS the nod-nod, wink-wink to raid the slush fund to bail out Mexico...remember that?


34 posted on 12/08/2004 10:18:11 PM PST by ApesForEvolution (You will NEVER convince me that Muhammadanism isn't a death cult that must end. Save your time...)
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To: CHARLITE
They didn't squander it. They just don't represent the citizens, and so they didn't defend or enact things the citizen would think was important.

They did allow Clinton's environmental justice EO to pass. The did allow the telecommunications act of 1996 to pass. They did allow NAFTA then GATT and then pushed for the creation of the WTO, abdicating their congressional duty to control trade. They did allow the massive consolidation of power in the federal government, including the creation of armed federal agents in many heretofore nonexistent agencies, like the BLM, Park service, NOAA and other groups. Instead of reforming the National Security Agency when Bush got into office, they created the Dept of Homeland Security and now the federal Intelligence czar.

If you don't see the trend, it is to consolidate power in the executive, to deputize agents in the many federal agencies for law enforcement and to utterly ignore the will of the people in favor of public/private partnerships with corporation that will push their agenda overseas.
35 posted on 12/08/2004 10:26:48 PM PST by hedgetrimmer
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To: CHARLITE
bump for later read. It is late. This needs to be posted again no one will see it tomorrow.
36 posted on 12/08/2004 10:29:19 PM PST by Mark in the Old South (Note to GOP "Deliver or perish" Re: Specter I guess the GOP "chooses" to perish)
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To: jveritas

You know what...


37 posted on 12/08/2004 10:29:59 PM PST by COEXERJ145
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To: technomage
Gee did you expect anything less from the group that gave us CFR and ted the swimmer's school bill?
38 posted on 12/08/2004 10:32:03 PM PST by dts32041 ("If this country is good enough to live in, it's good enough to fight for." EB Sledge)
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To: bayourod
"Control of our borders" has nothing to do with "illegals getting drivers licenses".

Illegals get licenses only AFTER they've breached the border.

My observation over the past few days would tend to indicate that your claim, while accurate, is far too abstruse for most people here to comprehend.

39 posted on 12/08/2004 11:28:29 PM PST by fire_eye (Socialism is the opiate of academia.)
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To: konaice
This sort of reminds me of the press screaming Quagmire

That was done from a pessimistic attitude of a disloyal opposition. That was done to provide aid and comfort to our enemies in time of war and with firefights in progress.

These criticisms are very different. They come not from an almost treasonous opposition to the nation, but from profound disappointment that the 'better angels' did not prevail in the GOP. From the ill-conceived Gonzales appointment, to apparently asking for Ashcroft's resignation, to Bush's 'open-borders' policy, to his support for Spectre in the campaign against a conservative (which story became well-known after the election) and his seeming support for Spectre as committee chairman, and whatever else, including overspending at the national level, it does appear that the GOP has said to its core voters - where else ya gonna go?

Now you may disagree. But if that's actually true, then as the writer points out - staying home is place to go.

40 posted on 12/08/2004 11:58:47 PM PST by sevry
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