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House Budget Measure Is Pulled: Moderates Buck GOP Leadership In Both Chambers
Washington Post ^ | 11/11/5 | Jonathan Weisman and Shailagh Murray

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 ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 109th; anwr; budget; congress; federalbudget; federalspending; gop; republicans; spending
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To: Cboldt
I found at least a partial list and have posted it here.

 
41 posted on 11/11/2005 4:44:20 AM PST by counterpunch (~ Let O'Connor Go Home! ~)
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To: Soul Seeker
Going silent and going Liberal is what has killed them.

The silent part peels off the masses, the going liberal part peels off those who watch issues and do more that absorb the MSM news reports.

42 posted on 11/11/2005 4:44:34 AM PST by Cboldt
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To: Mad_Tom_Rackham
Nowadays, I toss every GOP fundraising letter in the garbage.

I send them back, with notes expressing why there is no donation. I think the party deserves honest feedback.

43 posted on 11/11/2005 4:45:31 AM PST by Cboldt
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To: John Robertson
Toomey would have lost if he'd run unopposed ...

And Kyle would be chair of the Judiciary Committee.

44 posted on 11/11/2005 4:46:09 AM PST by Cboldt
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To: counterpunch
I seriously think FR should consider getting more directly active in shaping the GOP.

I disagree. FR would become an arm of the the more monied side. There are already active groups that operate to pull the GOP in a conservative direction, i.e., counterforce to the Republican Main Street Partnership. FR is good as a more or less neutral battleground for those opposing forces to vent and hone their arguments.

45 posted on 11/11/2005 4:50:22 AM PST by Cboldt
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To: raybbr
So? Bush, himself, is turning into a moderate. What does that provide us?

He's always been one, and open about it. That's what "Compassionate conservative" means.

46 posted on 11/11/2005 4:52:18 AM PST by Cboldt
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To: Cboldt
He's always been one, and open about it. That's what "Compassionate conservative" means.

Then it was a lie. Bush should have called himself a "compassionate moderate".

47 posted on 11/11/2005 5:35:29 AM PST by raybbr
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To: raybbr
Then it was a lie. Bush should have called himself a "compassionate moderate".

Heheheh. Labels have whatever meaning the listener attaches to them. It takes a bit more effort to find out what the speaker really means.

It happens on FR all the time, arguments about who is a member of the base, who is a conservative, and so forth. "Compassionate conservative" is just a two word flavor of the same thing - like "strict constructionist" is for judicial nominations.

48 posted on 11/11/2005 5:47:01 AM PST by Cboldt
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To: Cboldt
It takes a bit more effort to find out what the speaker really means.

I knew what Bush meant. I didn't like it but the prospect of a Kerry/Edwards administration made my insides crawl. However, I didn't think Bush would be this bad.

49 posted on 11/11/2005 5:59:01 AM PST by raybbr
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To: Carling
"I'm almost to the point of saying screw 'em, I'm done. "

I reached that point yesterday. Why bother?

Carolyn

50 posted on 11/11/2005 6:01:15 AM PST by CDHart (The world has become a lunatic asylum and the lunatics are in charge.)
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To: Cboldt; Jim Noble
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.

From a previous post of mine:

In 1990 the appropriations for the U.S. Dept. of Education was $25,345,321,000. It is now $71,477,945,000. In fifteen years is has almost tripled in size. Is there anyone out there who thinks its money well spent.

Remember this is federal money. It doesn't include what we pay locally.

By the way, Clinton's last year in (2000) office the budget was $38,447,366,000 and has grown to $71,477,945,000 in just five years.

51 posted on 11/11/2005 6:24:57 AM PST by raybbr
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To: Crackingham
It must be Tom DeLay is down in Texas trying to defend himself from false charges and not in Washington cracking Moderate skulls. It's obvious he is not in charge.

Meanwhile, the GOP continues to immolate itself - as planned by the Libs and Moderates (but, I repeat myself).

52 posted on 11/11/2005 6:39:15 AM PST by Gritty ("America's root problem is the political game remains geared toward bread and circuses -Union-Leader)
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To: Jim Noble
Jim...

Sadly the lockstep republicans here on FR will not read your views.

We often disagree on other issues but your salient points made here are straight on and damning, that will not be acceptable to most.

There is a reason that Ross Perot in 1992 garnered 20 million votes, half as many as the sitting president George Bush.

What is the reason? American conservatives are looking for a voice, an AMERICAN voice, to lead this country, not a republican, not a democrat.

The ruling elite that control both parties are one and the same, internationalists all.

53 posted on 11/11/2005 7:18:56 AM PST by cynicom
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To: John Robertson
Get over it. Toomey would have lost if he'd run unopposed, that's what a rotten candidate he is. Toomey, Toomey, Toomey. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Your post has nothing to do with the substance of my statement on how Bush actually helped out the same people stabbing him in the back.

I couldn't care less about Toomey.

54 posted on 11/11/2005 7:36:44 AM PST by Carling (http://www.marriedadults.com/howarddeanscreamaudio141jq.mp3)
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To: Carling

Oh. My bad.
Sorry.
But just because I was rude is no excuse for you to be rude too! (Just kidding: Every once in a while I like to think like a liberal, just to remind myself why I would never be one.)
Have a nice weekend. And, go: Steelers, Notre Dame, and whoever your team is.


55 posted on 11/11/2005 8:37:24 AM PST by John Robertson ( Safe Travel)
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To: Lancey Howard
If I see these scumbag moderates getting help from the RNC, the RNC won't be getting any more help from me.

Your best bet is to donate to the Club for Growth instead of the RNC. They distributre donations only to conservatives.

56 posted on 11/11/2005 10:25:08 AM PST by jmc813 (Compassionate Conservatism is Gay)
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To: counterpunch; All


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57 posted on 11/11/2005 11:51:18 AM PST by Nobel_1 (energy security 4 economic security)
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To: Crackingham

Moderates funded, in part, by George Soros


Republican Main Street Partnership
Congressional Members
109th Congress

Sen. Lincoln Chafee, Rhode Island
Sen. Norm Coleman, Minnesota
Sen. Susan Collins, Maine
Sen. Johnny Isakson, Georgia
Sen. John McCain, Arizona
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Alaska
Sen. Gordon Smith, Oregon
Sen. Olympia Snowe, Maine
Sen. Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania
Sen. Ted Stevens, Alaska


Our Mission

The Republican Main Street Partnership was founded in 1998 to promote thoughtful leadership in the Republican Party, and to partner with individuals, organizations and institutions that share centrist values.


58 posted on 11/11/2005 11:53:53 AM PST by kcvl
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To: Crackingham
House Republican leaders were forced to abruptly pull their $54 billion budget-cutting bill off the House floor yesterday...

Not exactly sure yet but this may be the bill that the Senate's version contained massive increases in H1-b visas. If so this is good news for American workers, without enough votes from conservatives the chances have improved that provision will get stripped in conference if and when it comes back up for a vote.

59 posted on 11/11/2005 6:23:56 PM PST by Reaganwuzthebest
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To: Crackingham

Scum!


60 posted on 11/11/2005 7:04:30 PM PST by dr_who_2
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