GOP Irritation At Bush Was Long Brewing

Washington Post ^ | Friday, March 17, 2006 | Jim VandeHei

[EternalVigilance]

President Bush's troubles with congressional Republicans, which erupted during the backlash to the Dubai seaport deal, are rooted in policy frustrations and personal resentments that GOP lawmakers say stretch back to the opening days of the administration.

For years, the Bush White House and its allies on Capitol Hill seemed like one of the most unified teams Washington had ever seen, passing most of Bush's agenda with little dissent. Privately, however, many lawmakers felt underappreciated, ignored and sometimes bullied by what they regarded as a White House intent on running government with little input from them.

Often it was to pass items -- an expanded federal role in education under the No Child Left Behind law and an expensive prescription drug benefit under Medicare -- that left conservatives deeply uneasy. What Bush is facing now, beyond just election-year jitters by legislators eyeing his depressed approval ratings, is a rebellion that has been brewing since the days when he looked invincible, say many lawmakers and strategists.

Newly unleashed grievances could signal even bigger problems for Bush's last two years in office, as he would be forced to abandon a governing strategy that until recently counted on solid support from congressional Republicans.

*snip*

[Torie]

I guess you didn't spend enough time in beautiful South Orange County. Without illegals, among other things, the construction industry would shut down, almost literally. Many factories would shut down - overnight. It isn't all about strawberries, maids, and well cut lawns. And if the two million or so illegals in SoCal were booted out, real estate prices would go into a tailspin. Yes, I know, some folks think the shock therapy would do a body good, but not a majority of voters, when the rubber meets the road. They rather desperately want to seek a middle ground, and have their cake and eat it too. That simply might not be available.

I might add, that many are impressed with the Hispanic work ethic, in general. They work their butts off, and do it cheerfully. Amazxing really. That matters to some folks.

[EternalVigilance]

What happens if you deport every illegal immigrant who currently works in this country?

The first thing that happens is that the rule of law is respected and reinstated.

[onyx]

ROTFLMAO too.
It's like stopping to look at a traffic accident --- sometimes, you just can;t help it.

[Wombat101]

While I'm at it about COnservative control over the party apparatus, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Would GHW Bush ever gotten the nod as Reagan's VP had he not backtracked (as Gore would say, "his opinion evolved") on his pro-choice stance?

2. Would GW Bush had ever gotten the nomination had he not been given $100 million in campaign funds by conservative groups and mentioned Jesus as his "favorite political philosopher"?

3. Could Rudy Guiliani ever get a nomination for President when he's pro-choice, pro-gun control and..gasp!..an "adulterer", to boot?

The answer to all of these questions should be painfully obvious to even Chuckie Schumer.

[Howlin]

What happens if you deport every illegal immigrant who currently works in this country?

Of course, you both have noticed that the very same people who want every illegal deported are the very same ones who want ALL foreign trade stopped AND foreign companies thrown out of the country.

That's a staggering concept, isn't it?

[EternalVigilance]

I might add, that many are impressed with the Hispanic work ethic, in general. They work their butts off, and do it cheerfully. Amazxing really. That matters to some folks.

I agree. It's too bad they're being used as slave labor and helping in the breakdown of the rule of law and our national sovereignty.

[Dolphy]

The question was in reference to your claim regarding the economy?

[Wombat101]

"What happens if you deport every illegal immigrant who currently works in this country?"

Somehow the unemployment rate stays at 4.7%. Tell me how that happens? Either the government is no good at counting or someone's lying through their teeth.

[EternalVigilance]

Amazing isn't it, that some of these same spinners are now advising this President that he should fire all of his staff, and hire them? LOL!

Why do you have to make stuff up? Is it because that's all you've got?

[EternalVigilance]

The economy will survive without opening our borders up to the whole world.

[Howlin]

Why do you have to make stuff up? Is it because that's all you've got?

Relax, relax; she posted it IN CONTEXT.

[onyx]

Huh? That;s a non answer --- all illegals have never been deported.
Your premise is faulty.

[Wombat101]

"The economy will survive without opening our borders up to the whole world."

Great. And you'll be taking that day laborer job that comes with below-minimum wage payscale and no dental plan excatly when?

[Dolphy]

Yes, it's a staggering concept...on more than one level.

[COEXERJ145]

Just a few examples from the SOTU Address live thread showing that the Bush haters were distorting what he said even then.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1569002/posts?q=1&&page=2501#2527

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1569002/posts?q=1&&page=2501#2545

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1569002/posts?page=2597#2597

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1569002/posts?page=2562#2562

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1569002/posts?page=2900#2900

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1569002/posts?page=2801#2801

[EternalVigilance]

I'd like to see you back that up with some numbers contrasting with the immigration levels of the 1850-1880's in proportion to the population.

You can do the numbers yourself vis a vis population proportionality.

[daybreakcoming]

Why are you whining?" was how one person familiar with the session paraphrased

When did "unnamed source", "one person familiar", "a person close to", "an official who asked not to be named" ETC become the basis for entire msm reports? Ever so often, yeah, I can see it. And "paraphrased"?? What ever happened to real reporting?

Speaking of rumor(?), Thune spokesman said that Thune would vote against Bolton if the closing of Ellsworth went forward. Thune later denied it saying that Bolton was just the man to shake the UN up.

All that said, I donated to Thune and would have voted for him had I lived in his state.

[Torie]

Ambivalence creeping into the psych there a bit EV? Gosh I wish I knew the perfect wise answer about how to handle the working 10 million or so illegal population, on whom the economy has grown dependent. I really wish I did. I have searched for one. I just haven't found it, unlike on some issues, where I think I have. Awareness of ignorance is what really does a body good. It makes one cautious, about precipitous actions.

One other little detail. Without hard working young immigrants, a lot of them, the US would go the way of Germany, with aging greedy geezers suffocating the economy. Which brings up the issue, as to whether the offspring of all these illegals will on balance make good American citizens. I say yes, but then I am not the Rock of Gilbralter, and can't issue an insurance policy quaranteeing it, and indemnifying the losses if the thing goes south. The human experience is an exercise in risk taking. It always has been, always will be.

[onyx]

Thank you!

BOOKMARKED!

[Once-Ler]

I defended Bush throughout his first term, always with the hope that he would start to reduce spending, limit the growth and the size/scope of the federal bureaucarcy and support real immigration reform.

I hope you were as disgusted with our Senate, who threw out all of Dubya's proposed spending caps in the latest budget, as I was.