Posted on 03/16/2007 6:21:30 AM PDT by seanmerc
President Bush, standing in front of a banner that read "Rebuilding Our Republican Majority" and flanked by two giant puzzle pieces, last night pledged to House Republicans that the GOP will retake both congressional chambers and "hold the White House in 2008." Attending the first National Republican Congressional Committee dinner in Washington since the party lost control of the House and the Senate in November, the president fed hundreds of Republican lawmakers red meat, lambasted Democrats for trying to "micromanage" the war in Iraq and vowed to continue to appoint conservative judges. "We've got a strong record to run on," Mr. Bush said as members of Congress dined on beef tenderloin and jumbo shrimp. "The key is to learn from every election and to come back stronger. And with your help, that's exactly what we're going to do in 2008." Looking fresh after a five-country trip south of the border, the president reviewed Republican accomplishments during his administration: the largest tax cuts since Ronald Reagan, a booming economy that has created 7.5 million jobs in less than four years, and a newly revamped education system in which "minority students are beginning to close the achievement gap." "Ours is an optimistic agenda and ours is a realistic agenda. And by pushing good ideas and standing strong for what's right, I believe that we can retake the Senate and the House and hold the White House in 2008," Mr. Bush said to cheers from the party faithful. More than 1,200 people attended the annual Washington Hilton dinner, which raised more $6.2 million for congressional candidates. The president was greeted by a lengthy and hearty applause, a far cry from what he got in South America and Mexico.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Shortly after the announcement, President Bush held a press conference to apologize for it.
So he's gonna end the Iraq war AND catch Osama??
He's always been good with the photo ops.
On actual policy, on follow-through, he's been terrible. A real disappointment.
No thanks, W. We'll handle this on our own, without any help from Party leadership in Washington.
GWB is destroying the party.
he is part of the problem and not the solution.
Like DeLay said...he has too much compassion and not enough conservatism.
No, he is not. However, poster #2 nailed it.
The problem is that he is not making people proud of it.
So President Bush is now going to come out against amnesty for illegal alien lawbreakers?
This guy is smoking some seriously bad crack. What the hell is he going to take back Washington with? A bunch of "blue dog republicans"? This guy is so out of touch with conservatives that he's on the other side.
This Conservative Independent Libertarian has had it with this BS they call a democracy. Our country is supposed to be a REPUBLIC. Look the definition of the word up republicans and get an Effin' clue.
The Rep. party of today is selling out our country just like the libs are, only they're doing it under the guise of "conservatism". Anyone who believes that BS come see me, I have ocean front property to sell you in the Mojave Desert.
I'm fed up.
Two? That's gonna take some doin'. It took six years to destroy it.
So why is he supporting comprehensive immigration reform [read amnesty] against the overwhelming majority of his own party. Bush is splitting the GOP, not uniting it.
Right.
If the last few months is any indication, the GOP is going to just get whacked in the next election.
A complete spine transplant is needed.
You're right. The party AND the conservative movement. The Party is going to be rebuilt with his help? I wonder what strategy. These two won't work any more:
1. "Vote for this Republican liberal because he/she is better than the Democrat liberal, and they are different, they really, really are", and
2. "This is the most important election of our lifetime."
Without those two canards, what does Bush have to contribute?
So far the big tent philosophy of Bush/Rove just doesn't cut it. Reagan "with a backbone" conservatism does. And Bush ain't no Reagan. Bush has been a major disappointment on so many areas. So many opportunities for conservative policy, so much wasted.
That is such garbage. The reality is the RNC candidates ran away from GWB in 2006 and they lost. They were suckered into the MSM BS of "don't run with the President" and they didn't...and they lost.
In 2000, GWB won. In 2002, the RNC ran completely behind him (bringing him into every state with close races)...we won back the Senate and expanded in the House. In 2004, he won reelection with the most votes in history (the party ran behind him again...and picked up seats in both chambers).
In 2006 the RNC foolishly ran away from the President and they lost!...
It is the RNC not standing up firm and tall behind this President on the WOT/Iraq that have cost them big time. On issue after issue the RNC has cried and whined that the WH isn't doing enough. The RNC hasn't once taken the fight to the DEMs....constantly expecting the WH to do it all themselves (taking on the DEMs, MSM, 527s, etc, etc).
No, the RNC not standing up behind this CINC is what cost them in 2006. That and allowing a few differences on domestic issues to give an edge to DEMs.
GWB is a hell of a good man. An incredible CINC and a guy at times that only wants to see the best in other people and not think the worst (which costs him at times).
GWB destroying the GOP? Not by a long shot. If only any others in the GOP had the backbone and resolve of this man it would be a much better party.
First step is to take the cowards in Congress shopping down at Spines-R-US.
It would help if he resigned. Now.
The best thing you can say about the Republicans in Washington is that THE DEMOCRATS ARE INFINITELY WORSE! (And note tagline, keeping in mind that the Democrat Party is the Political Machine of the anti-American Left.)
But see, he's going to do it by failing to actually build any fence and the passage of a comprehensive dare not call it amnesty.
"You made me... promises, promises... You knew you'd never keep..."
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.