GOP Irritation At Bush Was Long Brewing

Washington Post ^ | Friday, March 17, 2006 | Jim VandeHei

[EternalVigilance]

President Bush's troubles with congressional Republicans, which erupted during the backlash to the Dubai seaport deal, are rooted in policy frustrations and personal resentments that GOP lawmakers say stretch back to the opening days of the administration.

For years, the Bush White House and its allies on Capitol Hill seemed like one of the most unified teams Washington had ever seen, passing most of Bush's agenda with little dissent. Privately, however, many lawmakers felt underappreciated, ignored and sometimes bullied by what they regarded as a White House intent on running government with little input from them.

Often it was to pass items -- an expanded federal role in education under the No Child Left Behind law and an expensive prescription drug benefit under Medicare -- that left conservatives deeply uneasy. What Bush is facing now, beyond just election-year jitters by legislators eyeing his depressed approval ratings, is a rebellion that has been brewing since the days when he looked invincible, say many lawmakers and strategists.

Newly unleashed grievances could signal even bigger problems for Bush's last two years in office, as he would be forced to abandon a governing strategy that until recently counted on solid support from congressional Republicans.

*snip*

[KyleM]

Akin
Paul
Feeney
Flake
Coburn
DeMint
Hensarling
King
Foxx
Musgrave
Tancredo
Franks
Shadegg
Ryun
Hostettler
garret Chabot Are the only ones even close to Pence's league Only Paul and Flake could you say for certain is to the right of Pence fiscally.(maybe Akin

[Old_Mil]

Name calling?

Well, there was that whole business about the Minutemen being vigilantes. More recently the business about the people who opposed the Dubai port deal being racist xenophobes.

You criticize the critics of Bush by saying that we never supported him - but you'll find that the majority of us voted for the man once or twice.

I honestly don't understand the "thou shalt not criticize the president" sentiment. I don't know if this arises from Christians who think that Bush cuts a David-like figure and believe that they should not grumble against the Lord's anointed, or what. If that is the underlying reason, I would just remind everyone that David was a King...and Bush is a Methodist.

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

Thanks.

We gain more traction for the conservative cause by being honest (and showing outrage), as the Harriet Miers episode proved.

Will the cheerleaders here ever understand that? Maybe not. But, at least we have a small percent of true conservatives here fighting for the principles the the GOP has abandoned.

[Old_Mil]

If you weren't a demagogue, and understood a bit about economics, you might understand that it's not a bad thing.

You do realize, of course, that there are many social issues that go along with making labor fungible that screw up people's lives. Perhaps not, if you only see labor as an input to be obtained for the lost per unit cost.

[Old_Mil]

Chalk up another straw man and demagogic argument for you.

It is quite interesting that those who vociferously oppose minimum wage laws based on free market principles do not hesitate to turn around and undermine this same market by the unrestricted dumping of foreign workers therein.

[JLO]

I'm not a victim of yours truly.

[Howlin]

You're not a victim of yourself?

[NeoCaveman]

Right, and Pence is no fiscal Conservative, no matter how many times you decide to repeat it in this thread.

Funniest comment I have read on FR in years.

Thank you.

He voted against the pill bill and NCLB, that puts him in top 10% of the House. The fact that he actually negotiates with the Leadership to get a better budget instead of just voting no like Ron Paul should not be held against him.

[Wombat101]

"Gingrich turned me off by hanging around with Shrillary too damn long."

So I guess the sight of the majority of the Congressional GOP standing in ranks with her, Chuckie, Teddy, and Nancy over the Dubai Ports deal must have REALLY turned you off, huh?

[JLO]

I'm not a victim of yours, Howlin. Truly. Oops sorry - diction don't count with DUnnies. Go to bed, Howlin.

[Once-Ler]

Very interesting, thank you for pointing this out.

[Once-Ler]

Once -ler, this is the last time I am going to explain this to you.

Thank God for that. I'm getting really tired of your excuses. Your tale of Pence limiting the Bush administration to a paltry $2.7 trillion as a heroic example of leadership is getting worn out. Come up with a new fantasy Gipper08.

[Once-Ler]

Could you tell me again how Pence nearly stood up to his party over the budget, almost engaged in fierce battle over the prescription drug bill, and personally scared himself silly in the tunnels below Pegasus’ castle.

(sigh) my hero.

[Once-Ler]

It seems some you you want to call Pence a hypocrite(for being a team player) and the same time a "keyes extremist" for not being a team player.

He is not a hypocrite for being a team player. If he came out and said "my votes were logical and necessary to expand the economy," that would be consistent with reality. When Pence minimizes his own vote and blames others for his culpability...that is hypocritical. And it sure isn't leadership.

[KyleM]

You are the biggest joke I have ever encountered anywhere.

[KyleM]

You are a lonely old women aren't you? I know your type.What a joke.

[onyx]

Anderson Cooper, is that you?

[Once-Ler]

You are the biggest joke I have ever encountered anywhere.

Check your shorts kid.

[Once-Ler]

You are a lonely old women aren't you? I know your type.

Yep, you got me pegged. And what a wonderful job refuting my posts...I'm looking forward to your next monosyllabic insult.

[onyx]

Read this and choke, KyleM. Miss Marple resides in Indiana.

To: Once-Ler; onyx; Howlin; A Citizen Reporter
Here is Congressman Pence's testimony in support of his bill, before the Senate Judiciary Committee:
Testimony of Congressman Mike Pence

Here is a quote from his testimony:

As politicians engage in a very familiar clash along the fault lines of the politics of personal destruction, a much greater scandal languishes in a quiet prison cell in suburban Washington, D.C. in the sad image of an American journalist behind bars, who’s only crime was standing up for the public’s right to know.

And Judith Miller is not alone.

Here's another:

Compelling reporters to testify, and in particular compelling reporters to reveal the identity of their confidential sources, intrudes on the newsgathering process and hurts the public interest.

Without the assurance of confidentiality, many whistle-blowers will simply refuse to come forward, and reporters will be unable to provide the American public with information they need to make decisions as an informed electorate.

It is obvious to me that Pence is naive and still doesn't understand how the press actually works. He may be quite conservative in other matters, but if you ask me this bill is enough to make me withdraw my interest in his being nominated, even as a VP candidate.


466 posted on 03/18/2006 7:32:05 AM CST by Miss Marple (Lord, please look after Mozart Lover's and Jemian's sons and keep them strong.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 465 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]