Posted on 10/01/2005 9:15:13 PM PDT by alessandrofiaschi
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 - After a brutal political month, Republicans are scrambling both to reassure their conservative base and to send a broader message to the American public - that they are, in fact, confronting the real-world issues of soaring gas prices, Hurricane Katrina relief, Iraq and immigration, while the Democrats are consumed with partisan warfare.
In a range of interviews on Friday, Republicans acknowledged the shock waves of the last few weeks, capped by the indictment of Representative Tom DeLay of Texas, the House majority leader, which forced the reorganization of the Republican House leadership even as it struggled to deal with the fallout from Hurricane Katrina.
"It's been a difficult week, I'm not going to sugarcoat it," said Representative David Dreier, the chairman of the Rules Committee, who has assumed new duties in the reshuffling. "We know we've got a big challenge ahead, but we've got an agenda."
Representative Peter T. King, Republican of New York and chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, agreed. "You get your job done," he said. "You can't panic. Even though our poll numbers are going down, there's no great love for the Democrats, no great support."
There have rarely been more troubled times for the Republican governing majority. The DeLay indictment and President Bush's second-term slump in the polls come amid a host of challenges and problems in domestic and foreign policy, including rising gas prices, the furor over the government's response to Hurricane Katrina, and public discontent with the war in Iraq.
(...)
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
The New York Times always says that people it hates are "embattled." Since that dunce rag just laid off 500 employees, sounds to me like it is the one that's embattled.
Yep...16% fewer slimers.
These men are not representative of the base, sorry.
But some Republicans argued that the party needed to recover more of its old aggressiveness. Mr. King said it was an "absolute disgrace" that the Republicans let Mr. Bush take so much criticism - undefended - after Hurricane Katrina. "You've got to fight back," he said.... Mr. King warns that the party's base becomes "very disillusioned" when they see Republicans not fighting back.
It's official. I heart King. Telling it straight. This has been my biggest complaint. They are spineless. Weak. Let the President bear the brunt and scurry for the Hills then return when he's up to act as leeches. Sweep aside the issues and this is the underlaying issue we're most upset about. That they won't be assertive, unless it involves trashing the President which wins NO points with the majority of the base. What Republicans/Conservatives want MOST are Republicans to FIGHT back against the Dems & MSM. Rather than making us feel embarrassed we support such wimps.
In fact, Mr. DeLay's indictment this week - and his combative response to it as pure politics - may have done more to galvanize conservatives than to demoralize them.
Imagine that. Combat the vultures immdiately with facts and they don't have days-weeks-months to define the issue unimpeded. Whomever would have thought that would be successful!
Soon after hearing the news of the indictment, Gary Bauer, president of the conservative group American Values, called Mr. DeLay's office to assure him of the robust support that awaited him at a planned speech to evangelical supporters of Israel that night. Mr. DeLay showed up, testifying that "I fear no evil," and was roundly cheered.
And Republicans had better take note! We want people with guts that will stand up and defend what they promised in their elections. It's pure embarrassment to hire people that cower from what we believe. If the base resembled moveon.org, okay, understandable. Except we're not like them at all.
Me too but I'd like a wall and the President to use the bully pulpit.
"The DeLay indictment and President Bush's second-term slump in the polls come amid a host of challenges and problems in domestic and foreign policy, including rising gas prices, the furor over the government's response to Hurricane Katrina, and public discontent with the war in Iraq."
And the NYT gleefully runs every negative tidbit they can find to keep that perception in each of the above stories!
I completely agree with your post:
Old Media Seeks to Regain Control of Agenda
Just shows that the Slimes are in a parallel universe with their ilk and, as Rush says, always trying to manufacture their own reality. Doom and gloom is their existence.
The Dems don't have one single idea or plan to help America - they are Losers in Loserville.
If our biggest problem is to kick some spine into our jellyfish Congresspeople, I will take our side.
"Embattled New York Times Seeks to Regain credibility"
A truer headline.
I, for one, am greatful this is happening now and not a year from now.
I don't think any of us are really surprised by this- The Democrats are doing their best to go after all of the leaders of the Republican party.
They have already eliminated Gingrich and Lott- now they are going after DeLay and Frist.
But this is not the old days- the Republicans will fight back.
There are a lot of unprincipled RINOs, Republican-Lites in Congress, and Republicans who lack the courage of their convictions.
However, the President sets the tone. He endorsed Arlen Specter last year, instead of a true conservative. He lends legitimacy to Bill Clinton, who should be in seclusion and disgrace---or in prison. When the left misrepresent conservative Bill Bennett and pile up on him, the President contributes a slapdown on Bennett. Nobody hears the President sticking up for Tom DeLay or Trent Lott. The President does not stick up for himself when slimed by moral lepers like Ted Kennedy and Jesse Jackson.
It's the "New Tone." Some politicians interpret it to be the "Anti-Loyalty Tone," since it nullifies the rewards of defending conservatives against liberals.
A few years back we would have called it the "Kinder Gentler Tone."
Don't see any left bias in this one!!!
King it totally right. I have been complaining about this since the Spring, when the democrat attacks started. Despite a few wins here and there, this has been a near grade "F" for Republicans.
Hey Soul,
Did anyone post this?
http://www.theconservativevoice.com/articles/article.html?id=8650
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.