Posted on 06/24/2006 2:52:11 PM PDT by Oshkalaboomboom
With elections barely four months away and their majorities at risk, Republicans on Capitol Hill say they are making calculations based on survival, not loyalty. President Bush has convinced them that sticking with him on Iraq and casting critics as soft on terrorism is a winning strategy despite public unease. But he has failed to convince them that his approach to immigration is good politics.
The result may be a third election campaign in a row focused on national security, yet it also may mean a second year in a row for the president without a signature victory in domestic policy. Just as Bush invested much of 2005 in pushing a Social Security plan that went nowhere, he has thrown his weight in 2006 behind an immigration proposal that increasingly appears doomed for the year.
The president's failure to bring along conservative allies on immigration tracks his continued weakness in opinion polls. Despite a modest rebound in approval ratings in recent weeks, many in his party see Bush as a drag in their districts, particularly on the border issue. At the same time, they agree with White House strategists that distancing themselves from Bush on the war would throw away a proven trump card -- the argument that the GOP is strong on security and Democrats are not -- just as U.S. forces have killed al-Qaeda's leader in Iraq.
"Republicans feel politically that we have a window of opportunity to reestablish support for the war, or at least reduce the opposition," said Rep. Peter T. King (R-N.Y.). "Democrats are going to throw it at us anyway, so at least now we can fight it on our terms." As for immigration, "our polling shows that it's definitely to our advantage to oppose" the bill favored by Bush.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Interesting posts for someone who hasn't been here for a month yet.
"they are making calculations based on survival, not loyalty"
I'd feel a lot better if they were "making calculations" based on principle, rather than survival.
That said, whatever keeps the Republican Congress from following the President's sillier liberal inclinations is a plus.
"Interesting posts for someone who hasn't been here for a month yet."
Regarding whether time in position, so to speak, is a relaible indicator of either insight or wisdom, I give you - - - the faculty at your nearest institute of higher learning. Betcha Ward Churchhill isn't the only one proving that many faculty resemble fish in that they rot from the head down.
'Twas an interesting post, newbie or not.
A pity President Bush doesn't read it; as he is now trying to "lead" the Pubbies into the 'quagmire' which the Democraps said he would. It just turned out they had the wrong quagmire and it was here rather than in Iraq.
Don't know what happened to W after the election but he has been wrong on almost every issue besides the war. If not for Coulter and Limbaigh we would have had an unknown on the SC and amnesty will kill the future of the GOP.
Headline should read: CONSERVATIVES DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM RINOs...
I mean we are talking about the guy I voted for twice and gave money to twice who just recently, in his 6th year in office said, "Our southern border is not secure!"
Another one of his backers recently said of that statement:
"But I'm sitting there listening to a president halfway through the sixth year of his term of office, into the second term, he's been reelected and everything, and he's sitting there looking at us and saying we're not in full control of our borders--read between the lines, "I have not done my job for the last six years"--and then announcing, as if we're supposed to be enthusiastic about this, "Now I'm going to do it!""
So, being just a newbie myself also I think I agree with the post made by Oshkalaboomboom.
Just as Bush invested much of 2005 in pushing a Social Security plan that went nowhere, he has thrown his weight in 2006 behind an immigration proposal that increasingly appears doomed for the year."
This is the second piece of good news that you've posted (unless I've missed others)!
I'm not sure what I'm supposed of make of that but if you point me to the section of FR that gives posting guidlines based on time in site I'll be happy to read it over.
Do NOT change the headline from that found at the source.
I wonder if they a loosening their ties to the 120 million he has raised for them this year?
Analysis In Election Year, GOP Lawmakers Loosen Link to President By Peter Baker Washington Post Staff Writer Sunday, June 25, 2006; Page A08
Looks pretty close to me.
Kudos for the Washington Post to report news unlike the NYTimes Rove press release posing as an article.
That is why I questioned the timing of the post
< /smiling sheepishly>
I resemble the latter.
Well I am not going to be responsible for John Conyers becoming the head of the judiciary committee and John Murtha as head of the intelligence committee.
Oh, I blame the Republicans way more than I blame the President. Darned few of them have stood firmly beside him since Iraq, or even since 9-11. When they should be out there standing firm against the RATS and their treasonous speech and actions (Kennedy, Turdbin, Biden, Schmuckie Schumer etc, etc, etc) they've been quiet as mice about defending our troops, our intelligence and OIF itself. It's almost as disgusting as the Democrat behavior.
Self-righteous, scared pigs. That's what they've acted like.
And I'd hardly lable the President a lame duck. The situation in Iraq is much better than the media would like us to believe and AQ is hurting and hurting a LOT. Decimated is the word I've read to describe them.
The President has nominated what appear to be 2 solid SCOTUS justices. He lowered taxes, wants to keep those tax cuts in place. He has John Bolton at the UN who is kicking butt. And the economy just keeps humming along....after the worst attack on American soil and a set of hurricanes that would bring the rest of the western world to it's knees crying like babies.
Nope, if anything it's congress at large and Republicans specifically that are the lame ones.
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