Posted on 04/25/2005 12:07:45 PM PDT by Choose Ye This Day
ANGER ON THE RIGHT
There is an undeniable fury building among Republican voters coast to coast. It has now been almost six months since that euphoric day last year -- November 2nd -- when Republicans stunned Democrats across the board. Not only did President Bush handily beat John Kerry, but the GOP did what few predicted -- it managed to pick up four seats in the Senate. John Thune's victory over Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle in South Dakota was extra sweet.
That seems like six years ago, not six months ago. Talk to your average Republican voter today and you will find a mood that ranges from anxious/concerned to enraged/frustrated. Yes, the Iraqi elections were amazing. Yes, the President's commitment to the spread of liberty is stalwart. Yes, his European "Unplugged" tour was a necessary step. The focus here is not President Bush (although in an ideal world he would be stronger on the stump on issues beyond social security reform). After the mid-term elections, President Bush will be on his way out, a "short-timer." The future of the Republican Party depends more on what happens now in Congress.
So what has our Republican majority in both houses of Congress gotten us lately? Well, the Terri Schiavo bill-regardless of what you think about its merits -- was at least bold. Then there was the bankruptcy bill. Good stuff, though hardly the legislation that will get voters running to the polls next election.
Of course being in the majority sometimes requires deal-making. Sometimes it requires delaying victory on one issue in order to win support on another more important issue. But sometimes being in the majority just requires that you act like you are in the majority.
This year, with a Republican majority in Congress, we have watched as 20 percent of the President's appellate court nominees are left twisting in the wind. With a Republican majority presiding, we have watched as John Bolton, the President's nominee for U.N. ambassador, has been personally and professionally maligned. With a Republican majority, we have seen spending skyrocket to obscene levels. With a Republican majority, we have seen the Democrats out-maneuver Republicans in the public-relations game with lame lines and gross misrepresentations.
Okay, the Senate did pass tort reform.
But a bill here or a bill there is simply not going to be enough to stem the tide of Republican voters' righteous anger about what many are calling "Creeping Wimpiness." Did thousands of volunteers work tirelessly to give the GOP this majority only to allow the minority to roll them on judges, policy, and other nominations? Did millions of generously open their wallets to the RNC only to see John McCain, Chuck Hagel, Lincoln Chafee, and George Voinovich help the Democrats when we needed them most?
Now is not the time for Republican Senators to cling to niceties. It is not the time to call for more discussions or negotiations. Now is the time for action. Allowing the Bolton nomination to be delayed was unforgivable. (Chairman Richard Lugar was caught totally off-guard by Voinovich's joining the Dems push to delay the Bolton vote.) Allowing Chuck Schumer and Barbara Boxer to brand nominees such as Janice Rogers Brown (an African American California Supreme Court justice) "extreme", was a colossal mistake. Most of the country still does not know that never before in the history of this country has the filibuster been used to block a vote of an appeals court nominee!
The frustration felt by many GOP voters has created a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for conservative politicians. For the first time in decades, we have no clear front-runner for the next GOP nomination. For the first time since George W. started his presidential campaign in the late 1990s, there is no clear standard-bearer for conservatives to rally round.
If a senator or governor can seize this moment, and create the type of bond with conservatives that Bush created during his nomination battle with McCain, that person could be on his way to the White House. If no one steps forward, and conservative voters increasingly watch their party kowtow to the McCains, Hagels, and Chafees of the mushy middle, then those voters will disengage from this party, meaning that the mainstream press will enjoy covering the elections of 2006 and 2008 a lot more than they enjoyed the election 2004.
You have been added!
Frist reminds me of an undertaker.
Actually you can ... it's called cash.
With regard to the bankruptcy reform questions, you are right. With regard to all transactions, if you did the necessary due diligence to bullet proof yourself during the purchase process, then little would get transacted. Insuarnce matters, investment matters, housing transactions, even food purchases.
How would you extend credit to poor and dumb people?
If you give them credit, you know that most of them will default. So you charge a higher interest rate. Or would you just lend them money and lose your own money year after year?
The people you mentioned have two options, high rates or no credit at all.
My sister recently paid off some huge credit bills and she was persuaded by folks (Liberals bielieve it or not.) to declare bankruptcy. She did not and paid them all off. You can get balance transfers you know. I myself am in a bind due to bad business decisions I made earlier in the year. It IS stressing me out and I have bitched about certain policies of my creditors.
So enact all of the policies you want, the bottom line is that you would not loan money to a bad risk demographic without a high interest rate as you would lose money.
Aw hell. I am not making much sense but at least see the other side's view and if you honestly hate them, you have at least taken an honest look at the Credit companies.
Arioch7 out!
A three-toed Sloth could ambush Ol' Dick Lugar
Perhaps not in this article...but there has been NO SHORTAGE of borders and illegal immigration on her show. She and Rush seem to be the only ones really talking about it.
Think about this: the GOP is spending the country into deficits, yet signed a bill punishing citizens who want to file bankruptcy.
Have you heard, Laura is having surgery for breast cancer? JD Hayworth is filling in for her, and she called in on her way to surgery.
WANTS EVERYONE'S PRAYERS
ME, ME, ME!!!!
I don't expect Bill "Grapeless" Frist to do anything unless there is LEADERSHIP from 1600.
It's well past time people for the majority party to start acting like it, and I am sick of democrat party acting like they are owed anything.
LEADERSHIP! Now.
Oh, is THAT what was going on? I only caught a few minutes of the show, I heard JD Heayworth, and I heard something about prayers for Laura's recovery, but I never heard what was going on. Thanks.
I will have her in my prayers.
You wish!
Of course, I'm a mite more silly.
Laura is right. We are damn angry with these jellyfish republicans who only care about themselves rather than the people that elected them.
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