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Hard Core Republicans Are Fleeing President
The Washington Post ^ | May 11, 2006 | JIm VandeHei and Peter Baker

Posted on 05/10/2006 7:15:13 PM PDT by Dems_R_Losers

Disaffection over spending and immigration have caused conservatives to take flight from President Bush and the Republican Congress at a rapid pace in recent weeks, sending Bush's approval ratings to record lows and presenting a new threat to the GOP's 12-year reign on Capitol Hill, according to White House officials, lawmakers and new polling data.

Bush and Congress have suffered a decline in support from almost every part of the conservative coalition over the past year, a trend that has accelerated with alarming implications for Bush's governing strategy.

The Gallup polling organization recorded a 13-percentage-point drop in Republican support for Bush in the past couple weeks. These usually reliable voters are telling pollsters and lawmakers they are fed up with what they see as out-of-control spending by Washington and an abandonment of core conservative principles more generally.

There are also significant pockets of conservatives turning on Bush and Congress over the their failure to tighten immigration laws, restrict gay marriage and to put an end to the Iraq war and the rash of political scandals, according to lawmakers and pollsters.

Bush won two presidential elections by pursuing a political and governing model that was predicated on winning and sustaining the loyal backing of social, economic and foreign policy conservatives. The strategy was based on the belief that conservatives, who are often more politically active than the general public, could be inspired to vote in larger numbers and would serve as a reliable foundation for his presidency. The theory, as explained by Bush strategists, is that the president would enjoy a floor below which his support would never fall.

It is now apparent that this floor has weakened dramatically and collapsed in places.

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


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: adolescents; borderlist; bush; bushbots; conservatives; gopcheerleader; sickofrinos; wetoleratenodissent
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To: Peach
The border trolls who go thread to thread are already visiting this one, I see.

Ayuh.

makes me puke

161 posted on 05/10/2006 7:57:45 PM PDT by maine-iac7 ("...but you can't fool all of the people all of the time." LINCOLN)
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To: ghostrider

Name me one figure in public office who has a chance at the presidency who is willing to tackle immigration in the way YOU want.

I'll make it even easier. Name anyone who has EVER run for the presidency who will tackle this problem in the way you want who RAN on this issue. Just one will do.

And don't bother naming Tancredo. He has NO chance of winning the presidency.

So just one name will do.


162 posted on 05/10/2006 7:57:52 PM PDT by Peach
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To: WOSG

There is a leadership void in the house (after Delay stepped down) and in the Senate (Limp Frist) which is part of the reason the "gang" was able to soak up some media attention for awhile.


163 posted on 05/10/2006 7:58:25 PM PDT by RasterMaster (NO MORE "BIG TENTS" - ALL YOU GET ARE CLOWNS AND CIRCUS FREAKS!)
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To: Dems_R_Losers

If the Republicans hold the House, or better yet gain seats in Nov., it will be a great defeat for the drive-by media.
Even if your holding your breath until you turn blue to show those "Rinos" wouldn't that alone be worth your vote?


164 posted on 05/10/2006 7:58:27 PM PDT by willk
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To: ghostrider

Lets have the President personally visit each business and ask for proof of work permits or citiznership. Enforcement of businesses has to be done by local law enforcement. There are laws in place that are supposed to adddress this.
When you have a state like California, that probably has the largest amount of illegals, and the MAJORITY state legislature takes the day off to support illegals, how do you plan on tackling the problem in that state??? What do you envision the president doing?


165 posted on 05/10/2006 7:59:00 PM PDT by bushsupporter30
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To: org.whodat

Who is spewing hate. I'm telling you that your cut and run philosophy, regardless of your family's military backround, isn't appreciated by me. If you consider that hateful, too darn bad.

I have family who served in Iraq, so you don't own the issue and the honor conferred on vets.


166 posted on 05/10/2006 7:59:13 PM PDT by Peach
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To: Cringing Negativism Network

"Stated another way:

Does EVERY GOP "leader" in Washington DC have to be a spineless wuss?"

Not every leader *is* and it is annoying to see Freeper as uninformed a a Jay Leno man-on-street on things like this.

Ever hear of Mike Pence? He's a Republican leader and he is far from spineless.


167 posted on 05/10/2006 7:59:32 PM PDT by WOSG (Do your duty, be a patriot, support our Troops - VOTE!)
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To: Chena

I like how you stated that; it's a twist on how I usually say it.


168 posted on 05/10/2006 7:59:38 PM PDT by Peach
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To: mystery-ak

Wow, file that under, "You Think You Have It Bad NOW?!" category. If that pictoral doesn't scare the bejeezers out of some folks, they still aren't paying attention to details...those pesky details.


169 posted on 05/10/2006 7:59:45 PM PDT by Chena (I'm not young enough to know everything.)
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To: KJC1

Great tagline, if only.


170 posted on 05/10/2006 7:59:53 PM PDT by BlueAngel
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To: Peach
I can't take another night of these friggin people who think our immigration problems were born on January 20th, 2001
171 posted on 05/10/2006 8:00:26 PM PDT by MJY1288 (THE DEMOCRATS OFFER NOTHING FOR THE FUTURE AND THEY LIE ABOUT THE PAST)
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To: You Dirty Rats
The President's position on immigration reform was spelled out BEFORE the 2004 election. People who voted for him then and are now complaining that he hasn't changed his position on that issue in the past 18 months are like newbie wives upset that their hubbies haven't changed into what they wanted.

And we are still being told to swallow that one issue and vote GOP as we did the last election. And you have the nerve to say to us that you knew his policy when you elected him before. Yeah, but for what we thought was for the good of this Country we elected him despite his stand on illegals... I won't be bushwinked again.

172 posted on 05/10/2006 8:00:33 PM PDT by SouthernFreebird
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To: steve1848
"...warnings of how a Democratic Congress would govern..."

The fearmongering doesn't work with me anymore. I demand RESULTS, measureable progress on conservative agenda items, not empty promises or fear mongering.

They just don't get it. We've now realize that we've been lied to, empty promises made...not kept...and sorry, nothing but action will persuade me now.
173 posted on 05/10/2006 8:00:38 PM PDT by Conservative Goddess (Politiae legibus, non leges politiis, adaptandae)
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To: SouthernFreebird
You no doubt would be one of the loudest to start sniveling and crying like a baby if they did manage to get control again.

Don't worry, I have an above average memory and I'll be certain to remind you that you were one of the ones that shot your own foot off and because of the likes of you we all have to suffer.
174 posted on 05/10/2006 8:00:40 PM PDT by AmeriBrit (ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IS A WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION, IT INCLUDES TERRORIST SLEEPER CELLS!!)
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To: Dems_R_Losers

wow. he's definitely on to something good, this president. rats abandon ship. losers criticize. this man is a part of something a lot bigger than an eight year administration, I think.


175 posted on 05/10/2006 8:01:02 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (It takes courage to live. Hence, the "culture of death...")
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To: mystery-ak

That could motivate of few ship jumpers to change your mind. Of course we need to admit, the GOP has been "infiltrated", hence RINOS.


176 posted on 05/10/2006 8:01:26 PM PDT by del4hope (Do not covet thy neighbors' country)
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To: Texasforever
OOOOH I'm askared.

I understand...

177 posted on 05/10/2006 8:01:32 PM PDT by Randy Larsen (THE MUSIC CANTEEN ROCKS MY WEEKENDS!)
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To: MJY1288

I know it. Each day I say I'll ignore them, but they're taking over the forum. They are letting the MSM drive the agenda; never a good idea.


178 posted on 05/10/2006 8:01:35 PM PDT by Peach
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To: SouthernFreebird

President Bush can't run again, in case you haven't noticed.


179 posted on 05/10/2006 8:01:46 PM PDT by ilovew (Democrat enablers are not conservatives.)
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Comment #180 Removed by Moderator


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