Posted on 11/18/2006 4:14:49 PM PST by advance_copy
While political observers see the retention of two Republican leaders in the House of Representatives as an affirmation of status quo, Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Springfield, views the move as a new beginning.
"As a party, we learned some hard lessons last week," Blunt said in a news release. "But our ideas didn’t lose - we did. Today begins the rebirth of House Republicans’ common-sense agenda with a leadership team that is more unified than ever, ready to regain the trust of the American people and ready to restore faith in our ideals."
Blunt fended off Rep. John Sheddeg, R-Ariz., to keep his position as Republican whip, while Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, defeated Rep. Mike Pence, R-Indiana, for House minority leader. Both men won their positions back by significant margins.
(Excerpt) Read more at showmenews.com ...
If it's between Hillary Rotten Clinton and Rudy, it really doesn't matter.
"Moderates" are the idiots that surf the net looking for those little polls so they can check the "I Don't Know" blocks. That freaky 4 to 5 percent.
I don't kill babies, and I don't compromise on RKBA, fuggedaboutit, Nooyawk!
Our problem in 2006 is that we lost the Reagan Democrats. Corruption didn't help and they have lost confidence in Bush, as have many conservatives.
One of the last Republicans I would look to for leadership would be Roy Blunt.
Hey, this is a COLUMNIST at the University of Missouri's COLLEGE NEWSPAPER!! How is his opinion more valuable than an average Freeper!
IMO the continued encouragement for illegal aliens to enter and sap the taxpayers along with the farce called "homeland security" lost for the Republicans. The WOT began with good performance, but now having lapsed into mostly going thru the motions of nation-building in Iraq while catering to both sunni and shia calls forth legitimate questions such as "is Iraq REALLY "WOT Central"?
What important, I think, is a combination of image and how they 'govern'. The Dims portrayed themselves as 'moderate' but will surely govern from the left. That way, they kept their base and captured the independent. The Republicans (and especially W) portrayed themselves (or were portrayed by MSM) 'conservatives' but govern from the middle. As a result, they lost the base AND the independent at the same time. So, IMO, what we need is a 'moderate' image, but vote and govern from the right. That way, we don't lose our base, but at the same time can attract more independent.
I don't see Blunt as any more moderate than most House Republicans. What I saw of him on C-SPAN last night (it was a panel of conservative activists) didn't raise any red flags either. Let's give him a chance. Boehner too.
I also don't see Shadegg and Pence as either giants or miracle workers. They're promising, sure. But if they're really as promising as some people think, they can exercise leadership without the official leadership positions almost as easily, perhaps more easily, than with them.
"As a party, we learned some hard lessons last week," Blunt said in a news release. "But our ideas didn’t lose - we did. Today begins the rebirth of House Republicans’ common-sense agenda with a leadership team that is more unified than ever, ready to regain the trust of the American people and ready to restore faith in our ideals."
The new Minority Leader John Boehner is a conservative who helped Newt write the Contract with America so they are not moving to the middle but what they are doing is getting back to what got them elected -- values, ethics, less government, tax cuts, strong defense. Some of you are going to have to realize that the reason the people are elected to Congress is not social issues -- it is to run the Government in an efficient manner and you handle social issues in your own communities/states. They lost their way on spending too much money and growing government.
Yes, we have to reach out to moderates because one-issue conservatives cannot be counted on to vote if they get mad at someone. Pres Reagan was a conservative, but knew how to reach out to other groups to get elected. With a Presidential election upon us we need to get back to basics of what a conservative is and lose some of the titles. And those groups that threaten they won't vote because, will lose their voice because they cannot be counted upon to vote.
The journalism school at Missouri is known as one of the more liberals ones in the Big 12!
Bush, the leader of the Republican party is a moderate with leanings to the left as of late, so what do we expect?
Roy and his son the governor both need to hit the road.
Judging by GOP performance in Congress, those ideals are squandering our earnings, leaving our southern border unprotected and rewarding the felons who enter our country illegally.
You got that right... two liberal New York lawyers with fancy Madison Avenue designer labels...
The Bob Michels approach to perpetual minority status.
"Just throw us the bones and we're happy."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.