Rebel,With Cause

NY Post ^ | 10-26-05 | Ryan Sagar

[Gipper08]

.

Pence and the RSC quickly launched Operation Offset, aimed at cutting spending to make up for the cost of Katrina cleanup. More broadly, Pence jumpstarted a debate about the future of the Republican Party.

"I think 2006 will be the most difficult year for the Republican majority since it was minted in 1994," Pence told me last week. "If those who care most about a Republican majority perceive that we are walking away from our principles, then there could be a very disappointing outcome for many members of the House and Senate come Election Day."

What's more, he says: "I don't know what our rationale for retaining the presidency in 2008 is if we are what the Democrats will do minus 10 percent."

The GOP Congress is a long way from restoring any such rationale. This week's knock-down-drag-out House fight is over cutting roughly $15 billion over the next five years — one-tenth of 1 percent of projected spending over that period. It's just the first muscle-movement of the first step toward offsetting what could end up being well over $200 billion spent on Katrina.

By week's end, we should know whether House Republicans are capable of making this feeble feint toward coming to their fiscal senses.

"I believe in picking my shots, picking my fights," Pence told me. And he's certainly picked a heck of a fight here.

What if Pence and his rebels lose? RSC members make up roughly half of the GOP majority. If they feel the party's weakened leadership is refusing to make a real course correction, they could back serious challenge leadership of the House next year.

Given how far the party has drifted, that could be exactly what's needed heading into 2006 and 2008.

Maybe Minuteman Pence got to Washington just in time.

[Gipper08]

Having lost two runs for the House in 1988 and 1990, Pence finally got to Washington, D.C., in 2001 — a moment when the possibilities for conservative Republicans seemed limitless.

President Reagan had been thwarted by a Democratic Congress; Newt Gingrich had been outmaneuvered by Bill Clinton. But now, with Congress and the White House under Republican control, conservative dreams of cutting government could finally come true.

Pence describes his feeling of the time: "Here I am, I'm finally all suited up. Gen. Washington, I'm here!"

But instead of the end of the Department of Education — a Republican goal since the Reagan years — the first piece of legislation he was handed was No Child Left Behind, the largest expansion of the federal government's role in education since the Carter years.

"They tell me: Don't worry about it, it's an anomaly," he recalls.

But after being re-elected in 2002, the next top-priority bill he got handed was the $1.2 trillion Medicare prescription-drug giveaway.

"That's when I began to speak publicly about these matters," Pence recalled. "I don't try to be all holier-than-thou . . . But you want to create a new entitlement, you want the federal government to do national testing in my local school? Wrong answer. Not what I came here to do."

[Gipper08]

"REP. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), who came to Congress six years after the 1994 Repub lican takeover, says he feels like a Minuteman who showed up late for the revolution."

[jla]

But instead of the end of the Department of Education — a Republican goal since the Reagan years — the first piece of legislation he was handed was No Child Left Behind, the largest expansion of the federal government's role in education since the Carter years.

"They tell me: Don't worry about it, it's an anomaly," he recalls.

But after being re-elected in 2002, the next top-priority bill he got handed was the $1.2 trillion Medicare prescription-drug giveaway.

"That's when I began to speak publicly about these matters," Pence recalled. "I don't try to be all holier-than-thou . . . But you want to create a new entitlement, you want the federal government to do national testing in my local school? Wrong answer. Not what I came here to do."

"Take that!...you fence-straddling moderates!"

[Stellar Dendrite]

pence bump!

[jla]

By the way, what a coincidence that RR was once a radio broadcaster as was Mike Pence.

[jla]

Our next President and his family at the grave of our greatest-ever President

[demkicker]

I hate to sound pessimistic, but after seeing Ted Stevens (R), Alaska, throw his hissy fit on the Senate floor threatening to quit the Senate if anyone dared touch his enormous pork, spending hundreds of millions on two bridges to nowhere, then it looks pretty grim.

I know there are great conservative Republicans in congress. Trouble is, they're too few and grossly outnumbered by the free wheeling spenders. There needs to be a HUGE overhaul in Washington.

[hosepipe]

[ "REP. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), who came to Congress six years after the 1994 Republican takeover, says he feels like a Minuteman who showed up late for the revolution." ]

The revolution got Bork'ed.. by RINOs..
Or is that "Gingrich'ed"... no matter the result is the same..

Evidently republicans did not take over, RINOs did.. And republicans have been in disgusting denial ever since.. You can't win something you will not face/own.. Republicans have met the enemy and the enemy is THEM.. Even FR is crawling with em' too.. Can you smell them.. they smell like democrats.. and use terms like "social conservative" or "fiscal conservative".. like there is a difference..

Thank God for the leanest meanest RINO exposer of all time..
Ann Coulter.. they just cannot help themselves.. Ann has a ring thru their noses.. She pulls and they EXPOSE THEMSELVES.. for all to see.. The girl is a genius..

[kublia khan]

What we need to hear is Mike Pence get up and say I don't care who quits or who stays but I'm going to work for and with anyone else who will work for the good of this country and that goes for Republicans, Democrats or Independants.

[Reaganghost]

"..says he feels like a Minuteman who showed up late for the revolution."

Maybe he is just at the leading edge of the second 'Republican Revolution'. And just maybe, he will be the one leading the "Second Republican Revolution".

It makes sense to me. If at first you don't succeed, try and try again.

[Badray]

bttt

[Gipper08]

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