GOP Gloom

The Washington Times ^ | 18 May 2006 | Gary Andres

[maica]

Conservative columnists have a case of congressional crankiness. Take Peggy Noonan at the Wall Street Journal, for example. She wrote last week that Republicans on the Hill are so far off track it might take losing in November to unlearn the lessons of power. Media critic Howard Kurtz of The Washington Post found her mood so foreboding he suggested only Prozac might lift conservatives' gathering gloom. Frustration among conservatives is both palpable and understandable. Many believe -- accurately, I might add -- their pens played a role in promoting the emergence of the Republican majority in Congress.

---snip---

Frustrated conservatives should aim their fury at the real culprit -- the 45 Democratic senators who have the means and motive to block most conservative initiatives. Consider what the House, where "majority" really means 50 percent plus one, has passed in the last several years: permanent tax cuts, death tax elimination, medical malpractice reform, creating opportunity zones in urban areas, welfare reform, child interstate abortion notification and Head Start reform, to name a few. The House could have also adopted some version of Social Security reform with personal accounts and tax simplification had Senate prospects not been so bleak. ---snip--- Instead of wallowing in frustration, conservatives need a new mantra: There's more work to do. They should begin by painting a more realistic picture of the meaning of "controlling" the Senate for conservative voters and then promote the creation of a real majority by trying to elect five to seven more Republican senators. Prozac cannot lift the collective spirits of conservatives, but neither will "Speaker" Pelosi.

[SoFloFreeper]

Frustrated conservatives should aim their fury at the real culprit -- the 45 Democratic senators who have the means and motive to block most conservative initiatives.

Right on.

[angkor]

Come on, Senate Republicans should have rolled over these guys. The real problem is the rinos on our side, we already have the majority.

There is a cabal of true believers here on FR, who believe the Republican Senatorial mission is hopeless until that mythical day when there is a 60-seat majority with no Chafees or Snows.

They have not once responded to my suggestion that the existing Republican majority force the Rats to a filibuster every time they threaten one.

This would not go over well with the American people, and the Rats would not look good after the second or third filibuster of the month.

[maica]

I believe that our country is conservative outside of major blue cities. and if we stay true to our large tent, we can continue to become more conservative. If we fracture into disaffecteds and dispiriteds we cannot stay in control of anything.

I naively thought that what we experienced when dems were in charge would continue as a mirror image when the GOP took over, only to realize that dems do not play by any rules but theirs. Remember Torricelli and the suddenly discovered way that New Jersey could change candidates when Torricelli was tanking in the polls?

We have to recognize and deal with the fact that present day dems, if given the majority, will cripple any efforts at "bipartisanship". Our disappointment with our feckless Senators will pale before the total hobbling of Any conservative issue in the future if the dems regain the majority

[mjolnir]

Peggy Noonan can only write editorials, not pass laws.

Of course you're right--- she can't. However, my point is is that I would take any criticism from her with huge grain of salt, as I would any article that identifies her as representative of conservativism. Peggy Noonan has never been shy about making clear that she believes in FDR style liberalism and came to support Republicans merely because of Democrat Party excesses.

[Antoninus]

I don't need a pep talk. I need leadership. If the GOP can't give us that, it's time for a house-cleaning.

Step one: Conservatives should make it a rule not to vote for a liberal--even if he's running as a Republican.

We will make no progress in this country until the RINOs are replaced by Conservatives.

Linc Chafee, this means you.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

They are in control and are giving the entire issue to the democrats, lock, stock and barrel.
Sounds incompetent to me.

Not really. The RINOs ARE Democrats who registered as Republicans. If they are replaced by Democrats, they still get what they always wanted politically and they get multi-million dollar payoffs (sorry, I meant lucrative jobs as lobbyists.)

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

a need for a 60 seat majority in the Senate.

We need a 75-seat majority to pass some long-needed constitutional amendments with enough margin to overcome the RINOs.

[from occupied ga]

Tell me again why we should vote for them, and "the Democrats are even worse" is not a good enough reason.

[maica]

We have to recognize and deal with the fact that present day dems, if given the majority, will cripple any efforts at "bipartisanship". Our disappointment with our feckless Senators will pale before the total hobbling of Any conservative issue in the future if the dems regain the majority

[LS]

Do you walk precincts? Did you walk for Bush? I did, in some of the most "swing" districts in OH, THE swing state. I just did so again, for Blackwell, in the primaries, and here's what I found.

The so-called "disenfranchised voters" that you identify with are in a very, very small minority. I didn't just hand out material---I talked to people. I found very little disappointment with Bush. And remember, these are pre-identified CONSERVATIVES and ACTIVISTS who voted before. We didn't go to all houses, just "loyal" Republicans. And I'm here to tell you that they will NOT stay home (they didn't in our primaries) and they absolutely will not vote Dem.

[AmericanMade1776]

Democrats will do anything, say anything, promise anything, be anything, until they are elected...Then they will tax and spend, promote abortion, promote welfare, promote the homosexual lifestyle and try to grab your guns. Let us not forget the Jesse Jackson factor, and the NAACP, who go to prisons to register voters.

[griswold3]

I'm mad as hell. Just watched DeWine and Voinivich support Kennedy's amnesty amendment. (Letting the "guest worker" apply for a green card on his "word".
Cornyn said they only needed 6 days per year of verifiable work. (4 years)
I wish I had an independent candidate for Senate in 2006. Voinivich is in trouble in 2010.

[Preachin']

"Not really. The RINOs ARE Democrats who registered as Republicans."

Add the title of Speaker of the House, House Majority Leader, and chairmanships of all committess to the democrat side of the house, and tell if it's all the same to you.

[maica]

Thanks for the testimonial.


I attended an event last Saturday where Michael Steele was a surprise guest. He was treated like a Rock Star. (Granted it was a Republican gathering.) I dream of seeing him walking up to the microphones in media alley at the Capitol after he is elected from Maryland. A real possibility. A lot of traditional Maryland dems are so disgusted with what their party has become, they might just send a charismatic Republican to DC.

[Preachin']

"We didn't go to all houses, just "loyal" Republicans."

That's the difference, isn't it?

Loyal means just that. I am loyal. I will vote no matter what.

How about the people in the middle and right of center who will be greatly turned off by this lack of guts?

It was the people in the middle that voted to the right in 94 when the GOP ran on the Contract With America.

Not to be rude, but you lost this debate when you said that turnout will not decide the election. It always has.

[LS]

Not to be rude, but since you don't walk the streets, you don't really know what "turnout" is. Turnout does not mean unidentified voters. It means precisely the "loyal" voters, and the numbers are on my side. Post-primary analysis shows that there was no "stay-at-home" factor. Turnout was about what it always is.

Now, let's see if you have any real EVIDENCE that the GOP is experiencing any negative effects at the polls. I don't see it, anywhere, and I'm in the trenches. Are you?

[Owen]

Folks,

This thread contains the list of winnable seats. This is where to contribute your time and money.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1631282/posts?page=15

The article's list is greatly enhanced by . . . I believe it it is post 49 within

[gidget7]

"It means to let Reid, Kennedy, Feingold, and Feinstein spend their hours, days, and even weeks doing nothing for their constituents while exposing in full public view the reprehensible values they stand for."


I would love to see that! Like Kennedy and (forgot who else, but he is leading it) tying up in committee the bill that would impose mandatory sentencing for Sexual Predators, and keep our kids safe, until or unless he gets his clause for GLBT people in it. That he should even be allowed to do that, without the Republicans blasting it loudly though the homes of Americans, is criminal. People on both sides need to know why that bill is not being voted on, and who is standing in the way of protecting the nations children.

[Preachin']

Not to be rude, but since you don't walk the streets, you don't really know what "turnout" is.

Likewise, not to be rude.... but walking the streets is not all there is to getting involved with America.

I am at church a minimum of four times per week. I look after my kids every weekday from 4:30 PM- 7:30 PM.

I look after my three on Saturday in addition to an orphaned girl I keep every Saturday from 9 AM to 7 PM.

You walking the streets doesn't make you any more involved in America or more in the know about what turnout is.

People who turnout to vote are the ones who decide who wins. No new math or redefinition can change that.

[gidget7]

More yes, but also it includes having the party put up some conservative people to run against the RINOs, and get the RINOs out of office.

In fact, in 3 or 4 states, that is exactly what is happening. Unfortunately, some states have been written off by Republicans, and that is sad.