Posted on 11/16/2005 10:08:12 AM PST by GeneD
New Hampshire Republican Rep. Charles Bass says GOP leaders in the House are ignoring the party’s "fundamental principles” and he’s calling for new elections to replace them next year.
The five-term congressman, co-chair of a group of about 35 moderate House Republicans called the "Tuesday Group,” aired his opinions in interviews with the New Hampshire Union Leader and Boston radio station WBUR.
He said the House Republican conference "would be healthier and more unified if we had real elections and if [former House Majority Leader] Tom DeLay would step aside for the good of the conference.”
DeLay has kept his office at the Capitol and "is still very much around,” said Bass, who wants new elections for leadership "so we have a fresh slate of officers outside of the speaker for the next session of Congress.
"I think that obviously, with the party’s fortunes down, with the message clearly that most Americans would rather see a more moderate form of leadership in the country right now, then it’s time to govern from the middle.”
He said Democrats refuse to compromise, according to the Union Leader, so "in order for us to pass a difficult bill and take hard votes, for better or for worse, we have to do it within our own party.
"Leadership is going to have to accommodate the most moderate and the most conservative members, and both sides have to be willing to give a little.”
With president Bush’s approval ratings reaching an all-time low, and GOP leadership in the House unstable, Republicans are increasingly worried about next year’s congressional elections, the Union Leader noted.
Said Bass: "There are plenty of members of Congress who are concerned about the fact that a lot of their own party, Republicans, are complaining that we seem to be more concerned with the bridge to nowhere in Alaska and earmarks in appropriations than we are about what our fundamental principles are, which is less government, lower taxes and a strong national security.
"So people like me ... are sending a message to our leadership that we want them to shape up and stop thinking about what they can do for themselves and start thinking about the country and what our agenda is and what our priorities are.”
He added: "When we have our majority leader being indicted and a bridge to nowhere, then it’s time for us to reflect upon the Republican Party.”
Though i agree with much of their "Conservative" criterea, I think that Index would be best described as Libertarian.
The Republicans have been given a majority in all three executive branches.
Why aren't they doing some things that are expected of them?
How many more freaking elections do we have to have them win before they finally get it?
Must be that some Republicans are not what they pretend to be.
Former Massachusetts residents who went over the line in order to get away from the taxes.
The Onion? Scrappleface?
Har! No way does a sick scumbag such as this "Rep. Charles Bass" really exist!
This one had me going for a second, though!
There are many Rural GOP-Conservative Representitives from his district, however the city of Keene, NH brings his district back to the Left signifigantly, and thus the district is competitive. Kicking Charlie out would get you a Howard Dean from NH (keene types)
Then if that is the case, based on GWBs performance with respect to conservatism, who needs GWB?
One doesn't have a chance to exercise doctrine unless one is in power, is the answer.
Talk about getting it completely bass-ackwards!
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