Their Own Worst Enemies - A bad midterm outlook for the GOP

Why should Republicans bother to vote GOP next November 5? Inexplicably, President Bush and congressional Republicans are giving their party base myriad reasons to go fishing on Election Day.

Republicans and Democrats have proven to be pigs in a bipartisan pen on pork-barrel spending. While some Republicans still treat taxpayers' dollars with reverence, too many more stand gleefully at the trough, snout-by-snout, with their Democratic colleagues.

This Congress is set to hike federal spending by 15 percent over just two years, more than quadruple the inflation rate. Most of this does nothing to fight terrorism.

On May 13, Bush signed a $191 billion farm bill that boosts agriculture subsidies by 80 percent. Congress even included $100 million to provide rural consumers "high-speed, high-quality broadband service." The Heritage Foundation estimates that this 10-year bill will cost the average U.S. household $180 in new taxes annually.

Bush's education department budget grows from $35.75 billion in 2001 (when he arrived) to a projected $57 billion in 2005. That is a four-year, 59.5 percent increase in federal school outlays. Bush's Leave No Child Behind initiative promotes testing and higher standards, but does little to advance school choice.

Bush signed the McCain-Feingold campaign-finance-reform law. It treats the disease of legal bribery with a prescribed overdose. As if there were no First Amendment, it will restrict political activists from purchasing ads critical of political incumbents within 60 days of elections.

Bush dropped an anvil on free-marketeers this spring when he imposed 30 percent tariffs on imported steel and a 27 percent tax on Canadian softwood lumber. This has created throbbing headaches among world leaders who have grown weary of Bush's self-mocking free-trade rhetoric.

Bush has applauded a Senate bill by liberal Republican Pete Domenici of New Mexico and arch-liberal Democrat Paul Wellstone of Minnesota that would force company health plans to insure mental illness and physical ailments equally. Costs will soar as employers underwrite medical care for anxiety atop angina.

A popular conservative president should steer Congress starboard. A May 14 - 15 Fox News poll of 900 adults found Bush's job approval at 77 percent (+/- 3 percent). Alas, like his father (who achieved 90 percent favorability after the Persian Gulf War), G. W. Bush guards his political capital like an heirloom rather than invest it for even greater gains.

When Democrats smeared appellate-court nominee Charles Pickering as a racist, Bush, for instance, should have held a press conference with Pickering and his prominent black supporters from Mississippi. As Charles Evers, the brother of slain civil-rights activist Medgar Evers, said: Pickering "was standing up for blacks in Mississippi when no other white man would." Bush avoided such bold action. A thousand cuts later, Pickering's nomination fatally hemorrhaged in the Senate Judiciary Committee last March.

Bush could have enhanced the prospects for petroleum exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He could have invited local Eskimos to the Rose Garden and let them explain how oil development would lift them from poverty. Better yet, Bush could have taken the White House press corps to ANWR to unmask its potential oil acreage as a barren mosquito farm. Bush avoided the ANWR fray, thus clinching that proposal's Senate demise.

Beyond speaking softly in his bully pulpit, Bush never has touched his veto pen. Had he threatened to reject some of this absurd legislation, fence-sitting GOP congressmen would have yielded and defeated (or at least improved) these bills. Absent Bush's leadership, they climbed atop the gilded bandwagon rather than fall on their laissez-faire swords. Republicans should worry that their demoralized stalwarts will do what they did in the last midterm election: Stay home.

The proportion of self-described conservatives at the polls fell from 37 percent in 1994 to 31 percent in 1998, Voter News Service reports. Frustrated with a "Republican Revolution" turned free-spending self-parody, the party faithful sat on their hands just enough to cost Republicans five House seats.

If they don't reverse this parade of white flags, Washington Republicans similarly may shrink or lose their House majority and dash their plans to capture the Senate — not because they advanced their free-market principles but because they betrayed them and thus surrendered their claim to power.

What alternative is there?

How about insist that Bush uphold his oath of office and his duty in the Constitution to FAITHFULLY EXECUTE the laws of this land.

The democRATS clearly committed many serious crimes the last 9 years. So far, Bush and Ashcroft haven't even seen fit to INVESTIGATE those credible allegations. And unless they do, I will be one of those sitting out the next election (and I'm a life long Republican). There are NO EXCUSES for not investigating matters as serious as election tampering, blackmail of Republicans, treason, murder and mass murder. NONE. Investigate or I walk.

And, by the way, if they do investigate, they won't have to fight to win the Senate or keep the House. The voters (including many democRATS) will be so appalled by what happened that they will overwhelmingly toss the democRATS out of office. That's because this isn't about sex. This is about collusion with our enemies to subvert our election process. This is about massive voter fraud. This is about invasion of privacy inorder to blackmail members of the other party and perhaps even members of their own party. This is about selling US secrets and technology for campaign cash and to enrich themselves. This is about murdering high level government employees to keep them quiet. This is about abusing the IRS, the FBI, the military and just about every other government entity you can name. This is about using the liberal media to cover up their crimes.

As far as I'm concerned, if they don't investigate, then all they are doing is sending a message to the democRATS that they can steal future elections and the GOP hasn't the spine to stop them. If they don't investigate, then they are telling me that the democRATS have something over them that is WORSE than the crimes the democRATS committed.

NO EXCUSES. I don't expect Republicans to be perfect saints. I don't expect Republicans to push every social issue I like. I don't even expect Republicans to do much in the way of making government smaller. But I do expect them to uphold the laws and make sure that the elite and parties are not above the laws. And they don't appear to be doing that. And if any of you think they are ... then PROVE IT.

"I actually agree with the too much spending and acquescing(sp?).. but politics is many times about timing, and W can't let the media and dems brand him as hard line right wing right now.. someone else said, we're only a couple of votes away in the senate.. I was really responding to a stay away attitude, or worse voting away the power of the bully pulpit."

Politics is about timing and possibilities. Bush may be missing both - if he truly is a conservative. When his support is this high, he should be trumpeting his philosphy, but he is not. Why not? Those high ratings can disappear overnight and then Bush has no capital to spend.

Using the bully pulpit example, here is where I think that W is missing out. He certainly gets more camera time or can, anytime he wants it. He can use that time to point out why he does what he does - he can educate the voter. He has done that a few times, but not enough. Just as a personal example, I worked the polls for the primaries. I always engage people in discussion when I can. I'll throw out a comment to get a reaction - usually to a dem poll worker - and they do react. Then I take a minute or two and give them some real life examples of why their thinking is wrong and almost invariably they will agree with me. No, they don't fall to their knees and convert, but they start to see past their preconceived notions - especially about guns. I call it 'getting past the sound bite'. Involve them in your examples and they pay more attention and they start to learn. I try to do that everyday, one on one. Think of the possibilities of the POTUS speaking to millions. First, he can (and must) control the sound bite. Then he has to get past it and win people over. Now is the time for him to do it while his ratings are high.

"What alternative is there?"

This is the catch 22 of the entire game.

Our government is dragging us slowly toward socialism. The taxes that we producers are paying, is at or over 50%. Our basic freedoms are being eroded away inch by inch and every election is won or lost over a new costly government program.

If the gop as a party ran for offices with promises of a tax overhaul, repeal of useless regulations, and an end to wasteful spending, I'd be in your camp today.

The gop isn't even paying lip service to conservative issues anymore, let alone makeing any efforts to enact change.

The really bad thing about it is that the gop knows that the choices are limited and is more than willing to take advantage.

I want more than anything to see the slime in prison, where he belongs, along with his band of thugs. Maybe before September there were investigations, maybe there still are. It's going to take a lot of time and a lot of concrete proof to nail clinton.

But the issue is gaining control of the senate and keeping control of congress, and severing any power the liberals have. I want more than anything to have all politicians abide by the constitutional oath they took. Until we have the liberals out of power, we will never be able to create any change, we will never be able to uphold the constitution, because the liberals want us to be socialist/communist nation. They will fight with every dirty trick to make it happen. We can not let it happen.

The major goal politically is to regain the Senate, so that we can get those judges and also get some decent legislation, like further tax cuts and social security reform and vouchers.

Those are good things, but I would add to them a ban on partial-birth abortion, passage of nation-wide parental notification, and the adding of a few staunch pro-life judges on the SC and circuit courts. I would also add an across-the-board reduction in federal spending. (But that will never happen as the parties are presently constructed, no matter how many Republicans there are in the House and Senate.)

Therefore, hold your nose and vote Republican, even if it is Arlen Specter or Olympia Snowe.

Never under any circumstances would my conscience allow me to vote for those two. They are viciously pro-abortion, and Specter voted against Clinton's conviction. (Snowe may have too, I am not sure.) I have my doubts as to whether either of them would vote for a pro-life SC appointment.

I am blessed, I think, to live in a state (Texas) where I only occasionally have a conflict between my conscience and political expediency. If I lived in the Northeast I would probably never vote Republican for federal offices. I would almost be a man without a party.

YOU are so correct, WIMom.....liberals want ONE thing - strife and divisiveness......they create programs that don't work and then complain they need more money....then blame conservatives too.....it's their little "round robin" trick....and I'm sick of it, and I believe a lot of other people are waking up to the "trick." I'm praying Pres. Bush is successful breaking their cycle, even though right now it's hard to watch the domestic spending....but I have no other choice than to follow his lead at this time - otherwise we end up down the road with ANOTHER Clinton in the future.....the HOUSE and SENATE are KEY! And the FIRST things we need to ADDRESS! It's hard for some to believe we are not just drinking "kool-aid" but I believe we are creating a NEW Recipe of COOL-AID for the DEMS to Drink!

"How is this Conservatism?"

It isn't.

"Are you saying after we pick up 53-55 seats in the Senate and an extra 10 seats in Congress we are gonna drop Federal Education spending from $57 Billion to $40 Billion in 2005?"

Nope.

"Or decreasing the Farm Bill from $191 Billion to $100 Billion?"

Nope...never said that, either.

"We're going the wrong direction..."

Yup.

"...and I don't see that Dubyuh even recognizes that it's wrong..."

I've absolutely no idea -- whatsoever -- what is going through the man's head; so, why-oh-why would you be asking me?
That'd be especially true of some of the things this POTUS has done, recently; but, then again?
He didn't ask or tell me what he's up to nor why.

You must understand, he didn't need to tell me anything, a'tall.
He's the POTUS, see?
I'm just a schmuck Mud, who pays his taxes & prays to God they don't take even more when all's said & done.

Lookit; when I (& millions of other Americans) voted for the guy?
I'm sure he took that to mean, "Do whatever you feel is right for the nation."
As POTUS then, what he's done -- apparently -- is what he thinks is in fact, right for the country.

"...so what am I being patient for...more of the same?!!"

I dunno, Mud; you tell me what you're waiting for.
Lunch? Vacation? The weekend? {g}
Can only speak for myself, Mud; and, I'm being patient 'lest I blow a mainspring.
Blowing my top over things I've absolutely no control over -- for me -- sours even the things I can control.
Crazy decisions & events I'm quickly finding out I can only at best, bear witness to; & pray I'm seeing what's really in front of my eyes.

That's simply a fundamental coping mechanism for life in these days, my friend.

Nevertheless, the 'Rats are simply waiting to scream "FIRE" in a packed theater over whatever he does, or doesn't do.

...& that's just a fact we all should know, by now.

LOL! Hi There! That's what happens when I read too many anti-Republican, anti-Bush comments! And too many comments about why people are going to stay home from voting!

This is the real me that has had it with whiners and naysayers! Not to mention RATS pretending to be Conservatives!

Moderate the Bush/Cheney Yahoo Group (formerly eGroup) and we have had so many virus', negative comments, porn, etc., sent to our group by people pretending to be conservative and Republican, it has made me decide to fight back. Can only read so many moronic comments in one day, and I have seen a lot since we went to new posters being moderated. Some of the comments on here resemble comments I am seeing in emails to the Group.

I am still the regular person that is just fed up! I want to TAKE BACK the SENATE and KEEP the HOUSE and as my Dad taught me -- If you don't vote, then you should keep your mouth shut because you have lost the right to complain! That is not his exact words but you get the point!

Have a good one!

"The major goal politically is to regain the Senate, so that we can get those judges and also get some decent legislation, like further tax cuts and social security reform and vouchers. Staying home will not help get the Senate and will endanger President Bush's second term,"

I won't be staying home, and I don't think many others will be either. I don't agree with the strategy of giving the Dems everything they want as the way to get more Republicans in congress but I could be wrong. So as you say, I will hold my nose and vote a republican ticket, this time.

If the Rebublicans don't get a majority in the Senate, quit spending money, and quit kissing the Dems butts after this fall, then they have no one to blame but themselves if they lose in 2004. Myself, I will vote Libertarian.

PS. I'll never stay home. Always vote.

" If you actually believe you'll have any chance in hell of defeating the military of the U. S. government when you become an enemy of the state, you must have the loopy optimism of James Smith in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.""

Allow me to address a few of your assumptions and assertions:

1] Who says that I am not already 'an enemy of the state'?

2] Who says that the 'military of the U.S. Government' will be fighting on the side of the U.S. Government should the fecal matter impact the oscillating device?

3] If it gets to that point, I'd rather die fighting for our freedom than live in slavery.

4] What's wrong with optimism? If I wasn't an optimist, I wouldn't be spending my time typing and talking.

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