Posted on 04/07/2005 9:10:02 AM PDT by LouAvul
Well, this explains why Jeb and W pulled back on the plans they had.
Sounds like they knew it was real.
They probably knew the memo was real, but the point is that the memo was RIGHT.
The author of the memo correctly observed that the pro-life movement would become mobilized, excited and agitated about the case of poor Terri Schiavo.
The problem came when the Republicans, including the Bush boys, misunderstood the depth of commitment and sincerity of the pro-lifers. This was no political game for the benefit of the Republican Party here. The Martinez memo was about political gamesmanship. The pro-lifers were there about euthanasia.
So, Jeb and George, and the Republican House and Senate, did indeed get all of that mileage and good press among pro-lifers by taking a stand.
But then they lost all of it, and critically damaged themselves, but washing their hands of it all and walking away.
"I did my best" didn't fly, and still doesn't fly, when speaking of life and death issues to pro-lifers.
Once the Bushes committed to action, they had to use executive force to win the battle, or else they were going to end up seriously damaged. In Jeb Bush's case, the damage is politically fatal. Pro-lifers will not support him for high office again.
The damage continues too.
Having issued the subpoenas, which were disregarded, the failure of Congress to ENFORCE them damages the credibility of Congress with pro-lifers.
And finally, the failure to pass the Nuclear Option will be fatal to the Republican Party. Millions of pro-lifers are going to walk away, betrayed, if the Republicans don't come through on that.
I don't get the sense, at all, that the Republican leadership comprehends that they are standing at the edge of an open grave, and that the pro-lifer movement is going to push them into it if they don't come through on the Nuclear Option.
We also elect our representatives to challenge their political opponents on these vital issues that shape and change our lives and futures.
And, no one tell me that democrats don't do the same.
Too many times republicans give up fighting for our interests and cave in to the stupid morons in the left wing media.
Give 'em hell first. Then think maybe about resigning.
Whether it's completely justifiable or not, this stupidity hurt the Republican Party a lot. The socialist Dem. media will bring this memo up forever with the frenzy that they now go after Tom DeLay. This was REAL dumb.
agreed
Of course there is a double standard.... the double standard of media coverage of events. Everyone knows Republicans are treated differently than Democrats. Get serious. Look at Sandy Berger. Clinton and all the rest of his party were allowed to make"oh he's just sloppy" jokes about Berger's crimes! What would have happened if Condi Rice had done that?
Good luck finding them as the political system is now.
What we really need is the public to storm D.C. ;-)
Not necessarily. They should have still gone ahead anyhow, even if they knew about the foolish memo. Right is right.
"Says he pulled it out of his pocket and handed it to Harking. So the guy was walking around with memo in his pocket that he had never seen?
No surprise there. He's a politician, a Senator at that.
They're trained to pick the wrong pockets, and then give the contents to the wrong people. o)
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