As I recall it, the GOP's unfortunate and unseemly retreat from the Clinton-produced Guv'mentShutdown cannot be blamed on the principled RightWing as much as the weak-kneed RINOs in both the Senate and House. If you are specifically referring to Gingrich and his inner circle, I would submit that Newt's less a principled conservative--a "true conservative", if you will--than a political opportunist.
"The Dems went after them hammer and tongs--and the "true conservatives" and "grassroots activists" didn't march to the sound of the guns, they ran in the opposite direction as fast as their feet could carry them."
This is revisionist history, Poohbah, the fact is we just didn't have enough principled conservatives to withstand a DemonRAT Presidential veto and the defections of the RINO branch of our Party!! Sure, I believe the Republican Party was right in shutting down government and shouldda stood their ground until the RATS broke, but to blame this failure on the RightWing base of the GOP is disingenuous at best.
FReegards...MUD
You recall most incorrectly.
If you are specifically referring to Gingrich and his inner circle, I would submit that Newt's less a principled conservative--a "true conservative", if you will--than a political opportunist.
I was not referring to Gingrich--or any other elected official. I was referring to the "true conservative" and "grass-roots" activist groups.
You whine about the GOP being "weak-kneed."
You know WHY they were weak-kneed?
Because their mail--their snail mail, the stuff that matters--ran 10-1 against their effort.
"True conservatives" were contacted in a well-nigh desperate effort to counter the steamroller.
They were no-shows.
This is revisionist history, Poohbah, the fact is we just didn't have enough principled conservatives to withstand a DemonRAT Presidential veto and the defections of the RINO branch of our Party!!
I was there, trying to organize a letter-writing campaign. The "true conservatives" flat-out refused to send any letters supporting the shutdown unless every jot and tittle of their demands was complied with immediately--and some of their demands were ludicrous, and would have required Democrat participation (removing Clinton and Gore from office being the most noteworthy of these).
The "RINO branch" of the GOP was able to argue that the hang-tough strategy was a sure-fire loser--and the mail bags supported their argument, thanks to the "true conservatives" stabbing them in the back.
Sure, I believe the Republican Party was right in shutting down government and shouldda stood their ground until the RATS broke, but to blame this failure on the RightWing base of the GOP is disingenuous at best.
In other words, you were perfectly content to simply hang the GOP out there to do your bidding without any support. You wanted the goodies, but didn't want to do the frickin' work.
There's a technical term for that
Parasite.