Posted on 08/25/2005 9:53:40 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
Republican senators with White House ambitions have begun to break with President Bush on a variety of issues to prove their independence from the second-term president.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee staked out his own ground on the issue of stem-cell research. Sen. George Allen of Virginia publicly disagreed with Mr. Bush's refusal to meet a second time with anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan.
Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska compared the war in Iraq to the Vietnam War, an analogy that is anathema to Mr. Bush. Sen. John McCain of Arizona has long disagreed with the president's tax cuts and confidence in Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld.
"As the incumbent president gets into his second term, a lot of people who lust after his job are trying to differentiate themselves -- not so much from him as from each other," said David Keene, chairman of the American Conservative Union.
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
May they rot in He**; traitors all of them
Oh yeah? Well what about the fear they should have of ticking US off, huh? They aren't making many friends among the people that will stand in judgement over their sorry butts for breaking on the war, Judiciary stem cells or Cindy.
Yet none of these senators has positioned himself as more conservative than the president, a move that might appeal to disaffected sectors of the Republican base.
Shock! You think? How about someone that doesn't reek of disrespect to conservatives at the very least, and focus grouping.
"It's a real dilemma for these Republican senators," said Democratic strategist Mary Anne Marsh. "They're trying to differentiate themselves from Bush on certain issues. And yet the Republican activists who dominate the nominating process are sticking with Bush on those issues."
Seems to me they are making their own damn dilemma then, aren't they? If the base agrees with Bush on those issues, they should be lining up to flank him instead of cowering in the bushes leaving the president and us to make up the difference in the battle with the Dems & MSM.
Analysts from both parties said Republicans would do well to tap into the biggest sources of discontent among conservative Republicans -- lax immigration laws and excessive federal spending.
well, now, this is where it gets interesting. They can't do this! Because most of them are big spenders afraid of enforcing immigration law. They'd be knocked down as panderers that can talk but won't do a damn thing about either one of them.
See, here's the difference between the President and most of these sorry wannabes. Even when I disagree with him, he has the guts to get out in front and fight for what he believes. These other contenders only want to fight him on the issues we happen to SUPPORT, and are afraid to stand up on issues like immigration or spending that we would also support reform because the President isn't there to lead the way and they'll get flack from the MSM.
If they truly wanted to be front runner for the nod, they'd be willing to risk leading the way on an issue the President isn't that the MSM will attempt to decapitate them over.
"I'm pretty sure he would revise his position"
On one of the Sunday screaming head shows he did.
I agree... McCain is no master politician, he's simply a media whore who likes being labeled a "Maverick", and I also believe that he would never want to play the roll of the spoiler, like Ross Perot did in 1992 and 1996
Pretty much.
They are cowards.
I don't want a yellow Republican as my President. In the Good and in the bad, G.W.B. will actually take the hits and lead in what he believes is the right thing to do. Reagan did the same.
This current field for '08 is acting more like Bill Clinton. Checking their focus polling for every position and every word. Choosing to take a stand against the President only on issues the MSM will support and the base does not, cowering at the idea of taking a stand on something the President doesn't support and the MSM doesn't support but the base does and why? Because the President won't be there to take the major arrows from the press. They actually rely on this President to take the heat for THEM because they haven't the courage to take it themselves.
I'm with you on that. W is a socialist. But he is doing the right thing in defending the USA.
Spoiler is a better than fly in the ointment, as far as descriptions go.
I frankly haven't been able to conjure up any realistic scenario for Shrillary to win. If anybody needs to move to the center to win, it's the Democrats, not us.
I complain about Bush and the border problem, but he is a man of great character who does take the slings and arrows on issues he believes in. Now if we could just take care of this little border thing...
And that is what is missing.
Strength of Character. Not ONE of these contenders for '08 has yet displayed they have it. Some of them are conservative. Some of them are good people. That isn't good enough for a President of the United States.
The first conservative, and doesn't even have to be "right" on all issues, Reagan wasn't..G.W.B. hasn't been...but the first resonably conservative man or woman that draws a marker in the sand, fires his or her polling agency and takes a stand on what they believe in the face of a MSM tidal wave for doing so will become the frontrunner. Simple as that.
I agree that the only way she wins is if Republicans split their vote. I just don't see that happening, especially is Shrillary if their nominee. She's absolutely the most polarizing figure in politics.
is Shrillary if - I'm a victim of FR I tell ya - if Shrillary is!
They'll be begging for his coattails in 2008. Mark my words!!
None are proposing cutting spending. They are all drunken sailors now.
All this speculation about U.S. Senators is silly.They get nominated,but they don't win.
I hope you're right. He's the best of a bad lot, so far.
Love the picture!
Never. The way to victory is always to stand for conservative principals. Republicans never get elected by morphing into RINOS.
My pick broke with President Bush also. But that is a good thing. J.D Hayworth broke on border security. J.D. and Condi '08
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