Republicans have way to protest party's takeover by religious right

Omaha World Herald/Omaha.com ^ | 3-27-05 | Harold Andersen

[stan_sipple]

the (relatively silent) majority of Americans feel(s) that the most compassionate treatment for Terri Schiavo - as well as the proper legal course of action - is to let her vegetative existence end, as advocated by her legal guardian, her husband.

For Republicans who consider their party a captive of the religious right on matters like medical research and right-to-die legislation and now legislative intrusion into the judicial system, there is a way to at least feel more comfortable with their political consciences.

That way is to leave a party whose leadership is currently attempting to leave behind in the dust of American constitutional history the principle of separation of powers that has served this country well for more than 200 years.

the religious conservatives deeply involved in the case believe in an afterlife - eternal life in circumstances considerably more appealing than lying in a hospital bed in a vegetative state for 15 years, being kept alive by food and liquids fed into your body through a hole in your abdomen.

Wouldn't the more compassionate course be to release Terri from a vegetative existence in the belief you are sending her on to a better life after death?

[Kretek]

if the religious right owned the party, Terri wouldn't be in trouble.. nor would the country.

Everything will be fine once the Talibornagain take over...

[jla]

I've a question for you.
Can you envision a time in the not-too-distant future where the Christian Right takes leave for more amicable and hospitable political environs?
One expects the ignoble Left to malign & defame them, but that's now carried over to elements within the G.O.P. itself.

I think the G.O.P. should develop a presentation showing the Party as it was pre-Reagan and post-Reagan. Then those not familiar with events that propelled the G.O.P. to majority status might actually begin to think before casting aspersions speaking.

[Liz]

The left is really panicked by the emergence of the majority conservative force.

Even Hillary is slithering to the right. Here's why:

Conservative pro-life Christian voters made monumental contributions to GWB's 2004 vote totals. Pres Bush won with 63 Million Votes (13 million more than 2000).

The map, though impressive, conveys the misleading impression that blue state Catholics voted for Kerry (a CINO).

According to EWTN "The World Over Live" analysts, with the exception of VA, where Catholics spit 70/30 in favor of Bush, the majority of Catholic voters split 55/45 for Bush.....a whopping number of votes since Catholics number about 52 million Americans.

According to CNN exit polls, Bush voters included 38% of union members, 40% of those with union members in their households, 42% of those earning $15,000-$30,000, 44% of those who earn under $50,000 and 44% of Latinos, 45% of youth (aged 18-29), 13% of liberals—even 11% of Democrats voted for Bush.

2004 Election polls indicated 34% called themselves conservative, 21% liberal.

If you look closely, the map appears to place the insignificant "Other Voters" in the ocean.....that's accurate, because "Other Voters--RINO Republicans" were on cruise ships.

(MAP UPDATE Bush won Ohio, Iowa and New Mexico later.)

[Kretek]

There is no reason for me to leave the party when we have a difference of opinion, especially when it's possible that my opinion may be wrong.

Ahh, but you, as long as you don't agree with them 100%, are a death merchant murderer etc. and don't deserve to breathe the same air as them let alone be in the same Party. Or, at least, that's what I've learnt reading FR these last few weeks.

[mugs99]

Patrick Henry

Patrick Henry introduced legislation to make Episcopalian the official state religion. That legislation was soundly defeated, and the Deists demanded separation of church and state.
You can thank the Deists for our religious freedom.
...

[jpsb]

If Deists why

to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them,

that they are endowed by their Creator with

Done in convention by the unanimous consent of the states present the seventeenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven

[LanaTurnerOverdrive]

The Pope is now on a feed tube and unable to speak or swallow foods......so by their standards, he should be starved to death too. According to their standards, he is now "sub-human"

Quite possibly the dumbest comparison I've seen all day. Next, of course, to the multiple FReepers comparing Terri to Jesus. Maybe when the pope has suffered severe brain damage, (which he hasn't) is unable to communicate, (which he can) has been racked out in a hospital bed for 15 YEARS (instead of 15 hours) you can make a similar comparison. Also, no one has claimed that Terri is "sub-human." Terri's husband argued successfully that she would not want to live this way....not that she is "sub-human."

[jpsb]

take a wack at 89.

[Liz]

On November 20, 1798, in his Last Will and Testament, Patrick Henry wrote: "This is all the inheritance I give to my dear family. The religion of Christ will give them one which will make them rich indeed."

While Patrick Henry was dying, he spoke: "Doctor, I wish you to observe how real and beneficial the religion of Christ is to a man about to die... I am, however, much consoled by reflecting that the religion of Christ, has from its first appearance in the world, been attacked in vain by all wits, philosophers, and wise ones, aided by every powers of man, and its triumphs have been complete."

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

A Continental Congress ratified the Articles of Confederation. Problems arose and they decided to call a Convention to address them. Congress asked the states to send representatives to this Convention and these representatives formed a Constitutional Convention. I believe the Congress that approved the Constitution and sent it to the states to be ratified was called a Confederate Congress (or it was called a Confederate Congress perhaps at some earlier date ...no matter). This is how it all came about.

The Constitution can be amended by a 2/3 approval of Congress OR by 2/3 of the states calling for a Convention. Either way the Amendments must be ratified by 3/4 of the states.

[LS]

No, I cannot foresee such a time. The only existing "major" party on the right is the Libertarian Party, which is clearly an anti-life party. I think what has happened is that, naturally, as the GOP has become more popular and attracted more people, it has brought in more of every type---more conservatives and more liberals. It would be more likely that the "social liberals" who merely want "to be left alone" would leave for the Libertarian Party.

[Skooz]

Sure. I am sure the old line, anti-religious RINOs would love to go back to the days of permanent minority status in both houses of Congress.

[Uncle Vlad]

As a native Omahan, I always make it a point to read Mr. Anderson's column. In general, while time has certainly dulled his faculties, it should cheer one to see that by reading his editorials, it is obvious for all to see that his excretory functions are still in perfect working condition.

[MEGoody]

Good grief.

You got Rinos like this who say "leave the party. . .its been taken over by right-wing Christian fundamentalists."

Then you got some right-wing Christian fundamentalists saying "leave the party. . .Bush isn't doing enough about X."

I think I'll stay, thank you.

[Vicomte13]

The point of the Christian Pro-Life Party would not be to win the White House or anything that grand.

Discouraged Christian pro-lifers might join a real, honest to God NO COMPROMISE EVER pro-life party, though, if the option were there. And there are enough millions of Christians that such a party, with low overhead and not a lot of advertising, could pick up some seats. That would be a new breed.

Imagine a Senate with 49 Democrats, 49 Republicans, and 2 Christian Pro-Lifers.
Neither major party has a majority to form a caucus and take the leadership. The Christian Pro-Lifers can join one caucus or the other, and make that caucus the majority party in the Senate, with all that comes from that. BUT, the Christians can walk and end the majority if the majority does NOT give them their single issue: judges.

That actually is tremendous power, and quite concentrated. The Christians are not really committed to most other issues. Christians don't agree on the death penalty, for instance, and many are indifferent to finance.

Therefore, the issue is simple: you get control of the Senate and all of your agenda IF you press through the conservative judges.

That's it. That's all.

I am not really advocating forming a third party.

What I am advocating is that the Republicans pull their heads out of their asses and realize that they are about to lose their majority, when all they need to do to keep it is to move RIGHT NOW on the Nuclear Option.

IF they will not, pro-lifers cannot support them anymore, because they get zero from them, just as they do from the Democrats. Democrats don't lie about being pro-death.
But Republicans have promised the pro-lifers for years. Now they have the power, and they ARE NOT DOING IT. They're backing away. This makes them LIARS, and people hate liars more than they even do honest enemies.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Unfortunately they are right. This three-ringed circus in Florida is a disaster for the GOP and conservatives.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Can't help distorting? The Pope is conscious and moving around though I'll guess you'll be claiming TS can sing and dance.

[Protagoras]

Um, the paleocons and the libertarians really need to get out and show some political drive. If they don't they need to just stop their bitching.

LOL, most of the Republicans on this board hate libertarians, but now it's up to the libertarians to carry the water for the "big tent" people. That's hilarious.

[MEGoody]

"Ahh, but you, as long as you don't agree with them 100%, are a death merchant murderer etc. and don't deserve to breathe the same air as them let alone be in the same Party. Or, at least, that's what I've learnt reading FR these last few weeks."

It's not like both sides aren't making wild, hyperbolic statements (i.e. talibornagain).

[justshutupandtakeit]

They are going to pull her Drinkin' Tube.