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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: SouthernFreebird
then it's on them if Kerry or Clinton walks away with it.

Take some responsibility. It will be on you and those like you if Kerry or Clinton walks away with it.

281 posted on 05/10/2006 8:24:44 PM PDT by Melas (What!? Read or learn something? Why would anyone do that, when they can just go on being stupid)
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To: listenhillary

I agree. My Dad (hard-core conservative repub) is loosing faith, as am I. I am honestly afraid that we are loosing our base. People on this forum can defend and call us whatever they want, but I fear that the "loyals" are leaving.


282 posted on 05/10/2006 8:24:49 PM PDT by biss5577
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To: You Dirty Rats

They all manage to find the immigration threads. They're like roaches...you have to hit em a couple times to kill em ;)


283 posted on 05/10/2006 8:25:10 PM PDT by ilovew (Democrat enablers are not conservatives.)
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To: KJC1

Uncontrolled illegal immigration is not just one issue. It impacts so much. If not checked long-term it will utterly change this nation into another version of Mexico. Then where will Mexico's poor go?


284 posted on 05/10/2006 8:25:16 PM PDT by luvbach1 (More true now than ever: Near the belly of the beast in San Diego)
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To: Dems_R_Losers
There are also significant pockets of conservatives turning on Bush and Congress over the their failure to tighten immigration laws, restrict gay marriage...

It is fairly obvious that Bush used conservative Christian's concern over homosexual marriage to win a few million extra votes. That single issue is one of the biggest reasons that he is still President. Some people voted for him on that issue alone, their concern for the family was so great.

But I guess it was all about politics with him. That makes me sad to have to say it. I was one of those conservative Christians. I was so relieved at getting him re-elected, and look what has happened now.

285 posted on 05/10/2006 8:25:18 PM PDT by Zack Nguyen
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To: Cringing Negativism Network
He obviously is in a political bubble, and doesn't get it.

Actually, single-issue immigration people are in a bubble. You seem to forget there is a HELL of lot going on out there in the big world.

286 posted on 05/10/2006 8:25:44 PM PDT by KJC1 (A 3 strikes you're out policy for hijacking non-immigration threads would be great)
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To: MJY1288
Your name calling towards me has nothing to do with the way we all, have been treated by this Republican congress and executive branch...Don't whine to me about how I should vote when the leaders of the party have not done close to half of what was promised.

You get what you pay for....

The last straw for me is when somr think I have to be told to vote for someone, because the alternative is unthinkable, rather than what they have achieved in their term(s) in office!

I'm sacred to death of the dems taking over control of congress, but I'm not going to reward a bunch of lieing AHoles who have had disappointed me time after time!....sorry you don't agree.

287 posted on 05/10/2006 8:25:45 PM PDT by Randy Larsen (THE MUSIC CANTEEN ROCKS MY WEEKENDS!)
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To: Peach
We will start suspending anybody and everybody who addresses Illegal Immigration where it is irrelevant. Keep On Topic!

that was posted by Admin Moderator April 25...

Admin Mod - Where are you :o(

288 posted on 05/10/2006 8:26:09 PM PDT by maine-iac7 ("...but you can't fool all of the people all of the time." LINCOLN)
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To: KJC1

then you'll be blaming the wrong person. Bush is the one to blame if the repubs flame out over the immigration issue. Not sure why that is so hard for so many on this thread to understand.


289 posted on 05/10/2006 8:26:17 PM PDT by steel_resolve (Illegal aliens don’t take jobs Americans won’t; they take wages Americans won’t)
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To: Randy Larsen
Your name calling towards me has nothing to do with the way we all, have been treated by this Republican congress and executive branch...

Poor baby.

290 posted on 05/10/2006 8:26:19 PM PDT by Texasforever (I have neither been there nor done that.)
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To: philoso12
Actually we need to start on the last 30years of bad regulations that do nothing but stifle free enterprise. They won't do this cause they got socialism in their hearts.

Explain how dumping Republicans for 'Rats will roll back socialism.

291 posted on 05/10/2006 8:26:28 PM PDT by You Dirty Rats (I Love Free Republic!!!)
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To: KJC1
Yeah because Hillary/Kerry/etc would be so much better. Brilliant.

Apparently, fear of the Dems is not enough to get people to vote Republican anymore. And really, the GOP is a pretty weak party if that's all they've got.
292 posted on 05/10/2006 8:27:06 PM PDT by Antoninus (I will not vote for a liberal, regardless of party.)
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To: sinkspur
"Globalist" is Bircher language, kookball language.

If you think the term "globalist" is kookball language, you are awesomely deluded.

293 posted on 05/10/2006 8:27:08 PM PDT by Junior_G
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To: KJC1

They are letting the MSM drive the agenda.

But the good news is.... Tony Snow started this week. I see some changes coming. When the MSM blantantly plays with the facts, they are going to be called out on it. Already the media rates below car salesmen and lawyers. How low can they go?


294 posted on 05/10/2006 8:27:11 PM PDT by maxter (To our elected leaders: It's all about spending and securing our borders.)
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To: ilovew

No, I mean like the fundamental tax reform we were promised in the second term....and the privatization of socialist insecurity. There has been zero, zip, nada, none, no progress on those issues whatsoever. But we do have a new entitlement program in the medicare prescription drug bill....a boondoggle that my 16 and 18 year old kids will pay for...for the rest of their lives.


295 posted on 05/10/2006 8:27:11 PM PDT by Conservative Goddess (Politiae legibus, non leges politiis, adaptandae)
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To: Texasforever
Well I'm glad that the fact my neighborhood has become another extension of mexico amuses you.

I think it is hilarious.

Well those of us affected don't and you won't be laughing as hard come elections when you see for yourself how important an issue this is.

296 posted on 05/10/2006 8:27:12 PM PDT by SouthernFreebird
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To: SouthernFreebird

LOL!


297 posted on 05/10/2006 8:27:41 PM PDT by antceecee (Hey AG Gonzales! ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAWS NOW!!!)
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To: Zack Nguyen

Remind me again who it is that passes legislation. Cuz I'm pretty sure it's not the President...


298 posted on 05/10/2006 8:27:45 PM PDT by ilovew (Democrat enablers are not conservatives.)
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To: SouthernFreebird
Well those of us affected don't and you won't be laughing as hard come elections when you see for yourself how important an issue this is.

What chickens in your yard?

299 posted on 05/10/2006 8:28:07 PM PDT by Texasforever (I have neither been there nor done that.)
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To: mystery-ak

I love that Picture of Teddy K. perfect!!


300 posted on 05/10/2006 8:28:09 PM PDT by Gimme
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