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2 authors explore the GOP's distress
Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | May 7, 2006 | Thomas Lipscomb

Posted on 05/07/2006 2:27:02 PM PDT by WaterDragon

The Republican Party is uneasy as it shambles toward the crucial 2006 congressional elections. Many of its supporters claim to feel demoralized, if not seduced and abandoned, by the conservative president they thought they elected in 2004. With President Bush's Nixonian economic policies and unwillingness to curtail federal spending, and the Republican faithful as confused as everyone else about the Iraq War, this is a good time to gain some political perspective from two veteran architects of the Reagan Revolution.

In the midst of another difficult political predicament, Germany's Iron Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, once said he had finally found two experts who clearly understood the problem. Unfortunately, they disagreed with one another on the solution. So do Bruce Bartlett and Kevin Phillips. But with the GOP political-direction-finder whirling like a compass needle in a magnetic storm, perhaps they can at least help illustrate its different aspects.

(Excerpt) Read more at philly.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: authors; bookreview; books; brucebartlett; bushattack; farleftlooney; gop; kevinphillips; lipscombtheidiot; thomaslipscomb
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To: JCEccles

I hope so....I hope so....I hope so.....


161 posted on 05/07/2006 5:38:52 PM PDT by 308MBR (The GOP should remember the fate of the Whigs as they run away from their base.)
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To: sinkspur
Coming from a person who is more than willing to allow the Democrats to take over in the fall?

Once again: who the hell do you think you are? You don't know who I'm voting for. Hell, I haven't even said one thing in this thread that insinuates that I'd vote Democrat this fall.

Stop making stupid unwarranted assumptions in your pathetic quest to smear those who you disagree with. The Democrats don't deserve to take over this fall, but I'll tell you one thing: jackasses like you only help Democrats make their case about how Bushbots can't handle dissent.

Seriously, just keep your mouth shut. At least off of this board. That in itself should guarantee a couple extra Republican votes this fall.

162 posted on 05/07/2006 5:39:19 PM PDT by SunnyD1182
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To: jospehm20

Does it smell icky with your head up there?


163 posted on 05/07/2006 5:41:12 PM PDT by lawdude (Liberalism is a mental illness!)
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To: 308MBR

Just remember the GOP base, has two wings in tension with one another. Both must be given something, or the GOP will do a Whig. But the current malaise is about events, more than anything else, as well as the second term off year election itch. It would be wrong to suggest it is mostly about "conservatives" being mad. Most voters cohorts, even in this strong economy, are bored, and irritated, and wish for what I have previously suggested, is the impossible dream, about how it could all be somehow better, with some new ideas, and new leadership. If it does become better, or worse, it will be at the margins. In general, America works, and works well, absent grave errors, on auto pilot.


164 posted on 05/07/2006 5:41:34 PM PDT by Torie
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To: SunnyD1182

"George Bush is not infallible, and does deserve criticism from the right."

You are right. BUT, the Republican Party does NOT deserve criticism to the point of abandonment and turning the country over to a bunch of commies. Is that your goal?


165 posted on 05/07/2006 5:44:08 PM PDT by lawdude (Liberalism is a mental illness!)
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To: lawdude
You are right. BUT, the Republican Party does NOT deserve criticism to the point of abandonment and turning the country over to a bunch of commies. Is that your goal?

Unlike some people would like to insinuate, it is not my goal to hand power over to the Democrats. But that doesn't mean I can't say that Bush is making it tougher for the GOP to win elections, and that his administration needs to clean things up. The same can be said of GOP leadership in the Senate or House.

For the record, I've never voted Democratic in my life, and I usually just check straight down the "R" column come election time. Once in a while I'll go with the Libertarian candidate, but that's about it.

166 posted on 05/07/2006 5:47:33 PM PDT by SunnyD1182
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To: SunnyD1182
He is becoming a cancer on this party.

Sounds like you want to hamstring Bush to me. Calling the President a "cancer" is the kind of crap expected out of Democrats.

167 posted on 05/07/2006 5:48:22 PM PDT by sinkspur ( I didn't know until just now that it was Barzini all along.)
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To: Conservativegreatgrandma
"What are you going to do about incumbent Republicans?"

We don't have any here in the the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. On the other hand, I did vote for "W" twice. I won't be voting for him again.

LoL!

Seriously, someday I'll move out of this zany place.

168 posted on 05/07/2006 5:49:09 PM PDT by Radix (Stop domestic violence. Beat abroad.)
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To: SunnyD1182

I think you struck a nerve. Let's put it this way. The ship of state ship is taking on water, the GOP is rearranging the deck chairs and singing Nearer My God to Thee and the Democrats are pulling away in lifeboats. The President better plug the holes [Nixon's plumber type operation to plug leaks won't help].


169 posted on 05/07/2006 5:56:02 PM PDT by ex-snook ("But above all things, truth beareth away the victory.")
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To: True Republican Patriot

You don't think there's anything the Republican party can do to improve?


170 posted on 05/07/2006 5:59:56 PM PDT by stands2reason ("Patriotism is the highest form of dissent." - Mark Steyn)
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To: Radix
Seriously, someday I'll move out of this zany place.

Massachusettes? ....or FreeRepublic?

171 posted on 05/07/2006 6:05:05 PM PDT by FreeReign
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To: FreeReign

Jim or the Mods will boot me out kicking and screaming before I ever leave this web site of my own volition.

Hopefully, I'll leave Massachusetts before that happens, because FR helps keep me sane.


172 posted on 05/07/2006 6:13:42 PM PDT by Radix (Stop domestic violence. Beat abroad.)
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To: Radix
Hopefully, I'll leave Massachusetts before that happens, because FR helps keep me sane.

Yes. There's no place like FR.

173 posted on 05/07/2006 6:21:38 PM PDT by FreeReign
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To: sinkspur

Its getting higher in Western Washington. George W. "Jimmy Carter" Bush's statement that he can't do anything isn't good enough. He's the President and the buck stops with him. Time to start leaning on our brain dead GOP congress to drill in ANWR and elsewhere in the US to cut our dependence on arab oil.


174 posted on 05/07/2006 7:28:58 PM PDT by Astronaut
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To: sinkspur

The most common thing I hear from folks on this site when they chastise me for supporting the Constitution Party is that the CP hasn't won anything and, for all intents and purposes, that's true. Some have explained to me it's because their platform is alike to the GOP so there isn't any difference. That is untrue. To this point I've not seen anyone related to the CP advocate out of control government spending, allowing the borders to be wide open to illegals, and the selling out of the morality in this country. However I can't say the same of the GOP as a whole. There are some fine candidates working for the GOP and they should be supported and advocated wholeheartedly. IMO, the GOP has become too satisfied with its successes in recent elections and has ceased to work for its conservative base. So, where does one who feels like I do go? Well, you know the answer to that.

Let me pose this of you: What is it that you're afraid of in supporting the Constitution Party and why the venom toward those who advocate it? Is it because the 'Rats might win both houses in Congress and the White House in '06 or '08 (respectively) due to divide allegience? It could happen. I certainly hope it won't but I can't see supporting a GOP candidate only because they're GOP. I was taught in Civics class freshman year in high school that the power to vote gave you the right to support the person/ideology that best suited your own perspective. Frankly the GOP doesn't fulfill that requirement anymore. I'll admit that garnering support long-term for the CP will be an uphill climb but that doesn't mean it isn't worth fighting for, especially since I don't believe the GOP really cares if we feel alienated or not(pun intended).

I appreciate your question regardless of the sarcasm attached to it. At least in America (for now) we can have this discussion without fear of retribution which still makes this the very best country in the world. May God bless America!


175 posted on 05/07/2006 7:34:21 PM PDT by kpbruinfan (www.constitutionparty.com)
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To: kpbruinfan
Let me pose this of you: What is it that you're afraid of in supporting the Constitution Party and why the venom toward those who advocate it?

The Constipation Party is completely opposed to the War on Terror, just as the Libertarian Party is.

That won't cut it with most Americans. I'm surprised you'd support a party that would rather fight the terrorists here, rather than where they live.

176 posted on 05/07/2006 7:37:34 PM PDT by sinkspur ( I didn't know until just now that it was Barzini all along.)
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To: Astronaut
We are going to lose the Congress in 2006

We are NOT going to lose Congress in 2006. Bank on it.

177 posted on 05/07/2006 7:55:48 PM PDT by jerry639
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To: kjo
Still, I'm leaning toward the Constitutional Party in November. Throwing my vote away? What difference does it really make?

Don't consider it a thrown away vote. That's a phrase the party faithful from either side would consider it. And frankly they would like it to be continued to be considered that way. Rather, look to the Framers to see if you can find direction to vote for party over principle. Since you will not be able to, you are voting as they intended. For the person who you believe will represent your views regardless of party affiliation.

178 posted on 05/07/2006 7:59:50 PM PDT by billbears (Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it. --Santayana)
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To: kjo
Still, I'm leaning toward the Constitutional Party in November. Throwing my vote away? What difference does it really make?

Just be honest and vote for the demRats - for that's where it will go....and that means a vote for the UN, the terrorists, the socialists....etc

it's also called cutting off you nose to spite your face - most people learn about this lesson before they get out of diapers

179 posted on 05/07/2006 8:05:16 PM PDT by maine-iac7 ("...but you can't fool all of the people all of the time." LINCOLN)
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To: TheCrusader
don't let the door hit you on ----ahhh forget it, not worth the time it takes
180 posted on 05/07/2006 8:09:58 PM PDT by maine-iac7 ("...but you can't fool all of the people all of the time." LINCOLN)
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