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Allowed to Break Ranks This Year, Some in GOP Vote Like Democrats
Washington Post ^ | 4/20/2007 | Jonathan Weisman

Posted on 04/20/2007 9:18:00 AM PDT by youthgonewild

When his party controlled Congress, Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) was a mannered backbencher, seemingly in no rush to fill the shoes of one of his predecessors in a suburban Atlanta district, the firebrand Newt Gingrich.

But in the minority, the bookish physician has transformed himself into a Republican guerrilla warrior, a near-constant presence on the House floor, gumming up the works with parliamentary objections, verbal volleys and partisan maneuvering.

On the flip side, Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-N.J.) built his reputation as an uncompromising social conservative over 12 years of GOP rule. But since Democrats took control in November, he has been more with them than against, voting with the majority more often than any other Republican.

The GOP is not about to concede long-term minority status, but for Smith, Price and many others, Democratic control has offered an unexpected sort of freedom, an avenue for junior conservatives to build up their profiles and for endangered swing-state lawmakers to dust off their independent credentials. Republican leaders, stung by their defeats in November, have been willing to let members go their own way on politically sensitive votes. And they have encouraged a new generation of conservatives to emerge as the face of partisan combat.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: chrissmith; congress; jameswalsh; rino
I posted a thematically similar article a few days ago that mentioned Mike Ferguson, another NJ RINO. The GOP is reverting to its "comfortable minority" status it had during the Bob Michel era where they were resigned to vote along with the majority Democrats.
1 posted on 04/20/2007 9:18:03 AM PDT by youthgonewild
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To: youthgonewild
The RINOs are showing their true colors and are basking in the Drive By/MSM chorus of praise.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

2 posted on 04/20/2007 9:20:09 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: youthgonewild

I blame the WH for letting the RINOS know there are no consequences for leaving the reservation.


3 posted on 04/20/2007 9:21:17 AM PDT by AU72
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To: youthgonewild

Being in the minority is so much easier for wimps. All you have to do is gripe and complain. You can hold your breath until you are blue in the face and then pat yourself on the back for standing on your principles. But at the end of the day, you’ve still accomplished nothing except indulged your own selfish feelings.


4 posted on 04/20/2007 9:22:09 AM PDT by rhombus
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To: goldstategop
The RINOs are showing their true colors and are basking in the Drive By/MSM chorus of praise.

Exactly.

Reading a WaPost article on renegade Republicans breaking ranks is like reading a Pravda article on Capitalists railing against Capitalism.

5 posted on 04/20/2007 9:29:19 AM PDT by A message (Liberalism does not breed survivors.)
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To: youthgonewild

This is only giving permission for Harry Reid to behave in even more outrageous fashion, already declaring the war on terror “lost”, because he has so little faith in the capabilities of the United States. Now some RINOs are encouraged to believe we are now losing capabilities here at home. But to be replaced with.... what?

What is the other side doing, that anybody thinks they are “winning”? This goes for Dem’crats, as much as it does for the Islamic jihadists.


6 posted on 04/20/2007 9:33:14 AM PDT by alloysteel (For those who cannot turn back time, there is always the option of re-writing history.)
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To: alloysteel

Rhetorical questions. Has the GOP and the conservative philosophy it is supposed to represent actually lost the minds and hearts of a majority of the electorate in America?

Are we seeing an actual shift to the left of the middle
in political thought? Will Rino’s become the norm in
terms of electability? I am afraid the answers are yes
given demographic changes due to an aging population
coulped with illegal immigration.


7 posted on 04/20/2007 11:07:01 AM PDT by buckalfa
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To: youthgonewild

WHAT ARE THE RHINOS TRYING TO DO TO THE ‘CONSERVATIVE’ PARTY?


8 posted on 04/22/2007 10:12:48 PM PDT by joydoc
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To: youthgonewild

WHY ARE THE RINOS ACTING LIKE DEMOCRATS/LIBERALS/SOCIALISTS/COMMUNISTS/PROGRESSIVES? (RHINO-—REPUBLICANS IN NAME ONLY)


9 posted on 04/22/2007 10:21:13 PM PDT by joydoc
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To: youthgonewild

the gop is imploding.

conservatives are not going to like the fallout.


10 posted on 04/22/2007 10:22:22 PM PDT by ken21 (it takes a village to brainwash your child + to steal your property! /s)
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