Posted on 11/10/2005 9:40:22 PM PST by Crackingham
House Republican leaders were forced to abruptly pull their $54 billion budget-cutting bill off the House floor yesterday, amid growing dissension in Republican ranks over spending priorities, taxes, oil exploration and the reach of government. A battle between House Republican conservatives and moderates over energy policy and federal anti-poverty and education programs left GOP leaders without enough votes to pass a budget measure they had framed as one of the most important pieces of legislation in years. Across the Capitol, a moderate GOP revolt in the Senate Finance Committee forced Republicans to postpone action on a bill to extend some of President Bush's most contentious tax cuts.
The twin setbacks added to signs that the Republican Party's discipline is cracking under the weight of Bush's plummeting approval ratings, Tuesday's electoral defeats and the discontent of the American electorate. After five years of remarkable unity under Bush's gaze, divisions between Republican moderates and conservatives are threatening to paralyze the party.
"The fractures were always there. The difference was the White House was always able to hold them in line because of perceived power," said Republican pollster Tony Fabrizio. "After Tuesday's election, it's 'Why are we following these guys? They're taking us off the cliff.' "
SNIP
The House budget vote was supposed to reestablish the Republican commitment to a smaller government that would change the federal approach to Medicaid, food stamps, agriculture subsidies, student loans and a host of other programs. But moderate Republicans made it clear that was not the way they wanted the party defined.
SNIP
"I've told the leadership they're asking for the dismantling of the Republican conference" with this budget, said Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-N.Y.), a leading moderate. "The clear evidence from Tuesday's election results is that Americans are moderate. They need to start listening to us."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
The GOP is suppose to represent conservatism in American politics. There is nothing conservative about more and more spending, while expanding the federal bureaucracy to levels like never before. Big government Republicanism is nothing to be proud of.
AMEN!
I have been watching Specter for a long, long time. Don't worry about him. I know it is not conventional wisdom around here, and I know Specter is indeed a pain in the posterior way too often, but when Bush really needs him, he WILL be there for him, I guarantee it.
I seriously think FR should consider getting more directly active in shaping the GOP. JimRob should consider 527 status and leverage the large user and donor base to support conservatives against RINOs in congressional primaries.
The sad truth is that the alternative is a party that will be proposing bills that increases spending by 500B. This fact is not lost on the RINOs and so called moderates. They know that when push comes to shove, voters will go for them instead of the real liberals.
Oh well....we are screwed.
There is no majority in the Congress for spending cuts, tax cuts, energy production, free trade, conservative jurists, tort reform, malpractice abuse prevention, etc....
There is a majority for transportation security agency, medicare prescription, Katrina spending, conservation as energy policy, subsidies after subsidies, so called torture amendments etc....
Wow, I did not know that GOP rule meant this fate.
I made the conclusion years ago that there really isn't a dime's bit of difference between the two parties. The last straw came when Trent Lott smiled that smarmy little smile and told us they wouldn't convict Clinton in the impeachment trial, no matter what evidence the managers had. I changed my registration to Libertarian.
Now, before you all start tuning up, the Libertarians have some good ideas, but the party has too many flakes who are more interested in "being right than being elected."
So now what do we all do? Where do we go?
You're right! And what I don't understand, is that they KNOW how they got elected...They didn't go "liberal" to try to sway Dems their way....they sought MORE voters and got out the vote and stuck to the message.
I'm afraid part of this capitulation to the RINOs has to do with the Supreme Court nominees, at least in the Senate. They don't want to alienate the RINOs too much or they won't fight all the way for Alito..all the more reason that this delay on the hearings stink to high heaven..thanks to the chief RINO, Arlen Specter.
It may be birthing time for the Conservative Party. Republicans just don't get it. The political tide in this country is not toward the mushy middle but polar opposites, both Left and Right. The best thing that happened to the Republican Party was Jimmah Carter, because it made Ronald Reagan possible. We are at that point again, when Republicans need to lose in order for conservatism to win. Only this time, we will need to leave behind the RINOs who are never going to agree with the conservative cause.
So? Bush, himself, is turning into a moderate. What does that provide us?
>>>I'll tell you this, the RNC better be awfully careful about how they disburse my donations
Solution to that: Not one damn dime to the RNC.
You still give them your money?
"The fractures were always there. The difference was the White House was always able to hold them in line because of perceived power," said Republican pollster Tony Fabrizio. "After Tuesday's election, it's 'Why are we following these guys? They're taking us off the cliff.' "
Tony Fabrizio is the MSM's favorite "Republican" pollster, he always preaches gloom and doom for our side, a sort of David Gergen. If my memory serves me correctly Fabrizio had Kerry leading Bush by 4-5% near the end of the race last year, and he predicted a Kerry win.
There is no Democrat sect or faction with similar fears about the left.
Even after 9/11, which was the President's finest hour, the White House was very active in exhorting the people not to profile or stigmatize Muslims (as opposed to what, exactly?).
The party of the elites has very different views on some subjects than the party of the people.
Our elected officials, of both parties, go to the same schools, have the same pre-elective careers, marry the same women, have the same mistresses, and share the elite's disdain for certainty, for entrepreneurship, and for orthodox Christianity.
The Congress is deeply, passionately socialist.
After 1994, the socialists were weakest, but they have become much stronger in the interim. The President is an interesting figure, in that he has been able to attract the loyalty of the right while accomplishing little to reverse the downward slide of the nation towards socialism and internationalism.
When Mrs. Clinton is elected, you will see how a powerful Chief Executive deals with the opposition.
Here's a hint: She won't be asking Senator Coburn to write the education bill. She won't have Ron Paul over for popcorn and a movie. She won't be dedicating any public monuments to Tom Delay. She won't be asking Newt Gingrich to represent her as a fundraiser or goodwill ambassador.
And, most of all, Associate Justice Gorelick will not have to conceal her views on the important issues of the day.
Hellooooo! The RNC is not averse to supporting liberal-leaning, or even liberal Republicans. It's a natural party function to do so. The RNC supported the Specter campaign, for example, as well as McCain, Snowe, Collins and today, Chaffee.
Giving to the RNC is not for everybody. If the kind of support listed above bugs you, you can give to individual campaigns or to interest groups. Last year, my donations were most to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, but I also donated to conservative individual candidates.
I think President Bush's move to use Kennedy for that was in complete harmony with (or shows) President Bush's desire for strong federal control of public education. "Choice with control" if you will.
Check also the background of the Margaret Spellings, the current Secretary of the Federal Department of Education.
So this means that dropping the ANWR drilling proposal is tabled for now? A bit of a silver lining there.
I have not yet seen an authoritative list. But it is rumored that most of the signatories to the letter are members of the Republican Main Street Partnership.
That's why the p**sies won't do it.
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