The coming GOP supermajority in the US Senate; how Bush will completely reshape the Supreme Court

[ken5050]

Like many here on FR, I've spent the last week knashing my teeth over Daschle's tactics in the Senate...blocking Judge Pickering's confirmation, blocking drilling in Alaska, and now this inane effort to make the Homeland Security director testify in Congress. And I've been hoping, like many of you, that Sen Miller would cross the aisle to the GOP side. Well, consider this scenario.....

[BlackElk]

Run Kirby Wilbur, the Seattle talk show host. Run Alan Gottlieb from the Citizens Committee for the Right to Bear Arms. Wire the entire state ahead of time by solid organizational work. Dumb as a bag of hammers is a perfect description for Murray and Cantwell and RINO Slade Gorton as well.

[D. Miles]

You left out the retirement of Fred Thompson, a seat that we are SURE will go dem if Lamar Alexander gets the primary vote in TN! Lamar has the blessings of the Whitehouse, and the endorsement of Taxquist! WE in TN are assured a loss of this seat if he gets voters nod on August 1st!

[fogarty]

Nice way to debate - using insults. Let me see - I've served over a decade in the US Marine Corps. I support and defend the US Constitution with my life, not just my talk. According to you, I am "fringe" material?

Seems to me you have drifted far left indeed if you think that supporting the HUMAN rights of the unborn is a "fringe" position, or that demanding the government abolish non-constitutional entities and cut back to a level supported by the Constitution is a "radical" position.

May I remind you that the GOP just 20 years ago supported as an official plank eliminating the Dept of Education? May I remind you that the GOP not long ago forcefully pushed for a defense of the unborn baby? And at one time the GOP even supported an effort to CUT BACK waste in government.

If these are 'fringe' positions to you, then so be it. But as for me, you can take your soft squishy moderate beliefs and go pound sand. I will support candidates who are willing to stand up for principles - and the GOP is failing miserably at that right now.

[fogarty]

How much better would a Republican moderate majority be? May I remind you that it was a Republican majority that let Clinton off without so much as a slap on the wrist. May I remind you it was a Republican majority that recently voted last year for automatic pay raises for all Congressmen - a slap in the face to all taxpaying Americans now out of work from the recession.

A Republican majority of the kind we have seen would not help matters much. A Constitutionally-minded, conservative Republican majority is another story.

[ken5050]

Allow me to give you something to ponder, and alternative rtationale, if you will....I'll accept as valid the vast majority of the points your've made, and surely there's much that the GOP in congress has done that displeases most of us...however remember that the dems controlled Congress for most of the cold war era....I mean, Bob Michel was the House minority leader for pete's sake..that's what we had to work with, so when the GOP captured Congress in 94, they really weren't ready to govern...you've got to raise and develop a new generation of leaders....Gingrich was a magnificient political waretime congsigliere, but as a governing Speaker of the House....nope..yes, the Dems did demonize him, but he didn't help himself, and his cause, much either....it took two to four years for the GOP to actually realize that they were in charge, then just a s they were starting to feel their oats, the Clinton mess hit...and though I for one do agree that he should have been convicted, and that Lott laid down in not allowing witnesses and a full blown trial, I'd also like to point out that if the Senate had convicted Bibba, Al Gore would be President TODAY, and we, and the country would be in a far worse predicament. So there is a God, he's looking out for America, though he's also testing us, and the Dems got exactly what they deserved for following Clinton over the edge......

[ken5050]

Here ya go, ML....

[MozartLover]

"Feingold....Wisconsin is less liberal, the possibility of picking off a seat exists... "

From your mouth to God's ear.

But who to run??? Our congressman Mark Green would be a formidable opponent. But I'd hate to lose him from our district.

[fogarty]

You make some good points.

I understand there is a point where we have to look at reality and understand when compromise is necessary. However, and this is a big however, I firmly believe the Republican party has gone too far - they have compromised their core values, and surrendered on issues which should not have been surrendered.

Even now, with a Republican in the White House and the House wholly under Republican control, the waste and lack of effort to clear away corruption boggles my mind. The Dept of Education has been given BILLIONS more of our money to continue to prove that it is an abject failure. Millions of illegals are likely to now be given amnesty, sucking away more of our tax dollars. John Ashcroft has not made an attempt (even a symbolic one) to clean up the pit of corruption from his predecessor. That FBI agent who recently shot the boy scout has not been punished, and in all likelihood, will not be. The excuses are the same as during Clinton - "The investigation is pending, and we cannot say anything."

And most infuriating, the GOP congressmen voted themselves an automatic pay raise - oblivious to the fact that the country was in recession and taxypayers without jobs were funding their congressional excesses.

If Republicans were sincere about their core values, then dam*it, heads would be rolling over the ineptitude and corruption in government, and we'd see high-paid federal bureaucrats lining up for the unemployment line. BTW those INS agents who screwed up so badly in sending the terrorists their approved visas - they haven't been fired yet either.

[lodwick]

Good job Ken. bttt

[ken5050]

Again, I'm not arguing with your points...I'll accept them all at face value, but you haven't said what solution you propose, and that's where your thesis fails.

There are only two options:

Conservatives run away en masse from the current GOP party, form a new political movement, and attempt to reach majority status. In theory, it could happen, especially in a three way race..just look at 92..but more likely it would guarantee Dem control of Congress AND the WH....and that'sa scay thought.....or..

Conservatives work to elect a dominant GOP majority, to the extent that the "threats" of GOP moderates, who now, as you so accurately depict, pull the party to the center/left. They can do they, because they know they control the balance of power. If they can't do that, they have no impact, and they'll go along, because it's no fun being on the outside looking in.....That's why Chaffee has clout now, but if the Senate is 53-46-1 GOP..who cares if he goes over to the Dems...and that's precisely why he won't go.... And once we have control, we can begin to work to elect more representatives that accurately reflect the values you espouse...

I prefer the second alternative....

[Lorena]

Good post, Ken! Thanks for your fine analysis (which I hope and pray happens). I like this quote of yours...
"I'd also like to point out that if the Senate had convicted Bibba, Al Gore would be President TODAY, and we, and the country would be in a far worse predicament. So there is a God, he's looking out for America, though he's also testing us, and the Dems got exactly what they deserved for following Clinton over the edge..."

[ken5050]

FYI....We think alike..I enjoyed your analysis of the 2002 senate races, and I'm thinking TWO years ahead....LOL.let me know your thoughts, and maybe we should collaborate on a piece.......regards

[ken5050]

Thanks for your kind words....People don't realize that if the Dem leadership had told Bubba to quit, if Gore had called for Clinton to quit because of his moral and ethical lapses....Gore would have been the hero on the white horse, he'd have won easily in 2000 from his position as an incumbent, and we'd all be in a bad fix....The Dems sold their sould to Clinton, and they paid, and will continue to pay, the price........Really does reaffirm your faith in God, doesn't it?

[ken5050]

I'm already working on the 2004 race....I saw your comments on the other thread..though you might enjoy this......regards

[d14truth]

Thank you for the 'ping' to this thread. Hopeful signs if we keep on doing what is 'right'.

[Rate_Determining_Step]

Run Kirby Wilbur, the Seattle talk show host. Run Alan Gottlieb from the Citizens Committee for the Right to Bear Arms. Wire the entire state ahead of time by solid organizational work. Dumb as a bag of hammers is a perfect description for Murray and Cantwell and RINO Slade Gorton as well.

Well, remember when Carlson ran? He got murdered by that chump, Locke. Why? Did he drop the ball or did the State GOP? I don't think he ever came clean on that.

It appears the litmus test is south Puget Sound. King County is lost forever. The rest of the state is solidly GOP. It's Tacoma/So King County that decides elections.