Clashes Growing Between Bush and GOP Moderates

[Arkana]

Clashes Growing Between Bush and GOP Moderates

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/latimests/20050426/ts_latimes/clashesgrowingbetweenbushandgopmoderates

WASHINGTON — Conflicts are multiplying between congressional Republican moderates and the White House as President Bush pursues his aggressively conservative second-term agenda.

The unexpected resistance to Bush's nomination of John R. Bolton as U.N. ambassador from several Senate Republicans marks the latest, and potentially most intense, clash. But battles over Social Security, Bush's budget proposal and ending the filibuster for judicial nominations also are raising tensions inside the party.

The divisions do not appear as pronounced as the ideological divides among Democrats during Bill Clinton's presidency. But GOP moderates, especially in the Senate, seem more willing to challenge the administration than during Bush's first term, which was characterized by historic levels of party unity.

"A lot of the moderates were willing to give the president the benefit of the doubt prior to the election, but now that he's no longer going to be on the ballot, they are putting their own interest somewhat before the White House's," said Marshall Wittmann, a former GOP Senate aide who is an official at the Democratic Leadership Council, a centrist party group.

[RandomKoolzip]

1. The cult deprogramming begins.

[rodeodance]

3. I love to see headlines like this one--rate it up

[Barrett808]

5. Done: 3.98 with 497 votes n/t

[Pithy Cherub]

2. WOW! The republicans are choosing who gets to be a Gladiator

and who gets to be a lion. In the historical parallel it ended so badly... :popcorn:

[rodeodance]

4. Its current average rating is 3.98 with 495 vote(s).

[applegrove]

6. Now is the time where they begin to go - "oh my god - what have I

done to innocent Americans by getting with these creeps". I hope they learn it well and stop the culture of attack.

That only benefits elites and tribal elders. Not the democracy.

[Just Me]

19. Naw! More like, "these freaks are ruining my political career!!!"

Yup. :7

[applegrove]

23. I'm sure some of the heartless were fooled into 'following the leader'.

That is what always happens when the sociopaths and the 'reality' makers spin one reality after another. It served their baser needs and they followed it (like a tight little bundle of fascist wood). Now they see the constitution and all parts of the Republic being pissed on and they say:" I didn't sign up for that!".

Welcome to reality. Hate begets hate. Coercion is the tool of sociopaths. You either follow like a good little soldier or you get out and be a dam adult.

[DavidDvorkin]

7. Both of them?

How many moderates are left in the GOP?

And why the hell were they willing to give the benefit of the doubt before the election? He revealed his true nature long ago. If they supported that fascist, placing loyalty to party above loyalty to country and to the Constitution, then they can't be considered moderates.

[anitar1]

13. Sorry, My Cynical Self Says

They are worried about the 06 election. Caught between a rock and a hard place. Only the raving fundies among them will follow their fool.

[DavidDvorkin]

15. I think you're right

It's a version of running to the center.

[MaineDem]

17. Exactly! Olympia Snowe, for example.

Unfortunately, too many people in Maine think she really is a moderate. She's working on the '06 election and I foresee her being more "moderate" on many issues from now on.

However, she's really pissing off the right wing around here. They're looking for primary challengers or third party candidates.

[CO Liberal]

8. I Know How Those Moderates Can Teach Bush a Lesson

Switch parties. Declare themselves as Democrats. All of them. Make Harry Reid Majority leader and stop Bush dead in his tracks.

:kick:

[katsy]

9. Thank you Mr. DLC Centrist!!!!!

The clash couldn't POSSIBLY be because bush and the gop are off the richter scale of corruption and policies DELIBERATELY designed to DESTROY the very fabric of our Constitution, social safety nets and environment. :sarcasm:

Oh no no no no! Please don't point out that some gop may be growing a conscience (even if may only for their own benefit in 2006)! :sarcasm:

Let's not take this PERFECT FUCKING OPPORTUNITY to point out the REALITY and costs of bush's bad policies to EVERY THINKING PERSON out their in VOTERLAND! :sarcasm:

Don't even THINK about elevating YOUR STATURE by passing on cheap shots in order to make the audience of your public statement THINK about issues and policies rather than their party affiliation! Why take the opportunity to reach out to centrist gop voters! :sarcasm:

Thanks Marshall for being an asshole.

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[Zorra]

10. That article is a propaganda response to today's Buzzflash, please read:

The Myth of the Three Northeast Republican Moderates: They're Republicans, Stupid!

A BUZZFLASH EDITORIAL

Lincoln Chafee, Susan Collins, and Olympia Snowe like to cultivate the perception that they are Republican "moderates" with their Rhode Island and Maine constituents, reluctantly being pulled along by a right wing jihad. They kind of pretend that they are Quakers kidnapped by the marauding troops of Genghis Khan.

How the "down east" common sense plain folk of Maine and the Democrats of Rhode Island can fall for this charade is beyond BuzzFlash.

Oh, yeah, Chafee, Collins and Snowe, it appears to us from a distance (we have never met any of them), don't seem to be your rabid, psychotic Tom DeLay or Rick Santorum type of Republican. They actually seem like people who might be nice neighbors.

But they made two big mistakes. First, they are Republicans, which means they give three votes to the Republican majority, which helps allow the Republicans to control the Senate, under the guidance of Bill "Cat Killer" Frist, which means the Republicans chair the committees, advance Bush's destructive legislation, and stop the investigations of any Republican wrongdoing, which is like trying to seal a crack in the Hoover Dam with super glue.
(more)
http://www.buzzflash.com/

The "unexpected resistance to Bush's nomination of John R. Bolton as U.N. ambassador from several Senate Republicans" mentioned in the subject post is nothing but smoke up the public's collective ass. The republican plan is to destroy democracy and institute totalitarian fascism, and they are united with Bush in this plan.

I hope I am wrong, but I am batting a thousand when it comes to calling the republicans - but it's easy to predict them, they always do the most corrupt thing possible.

Never, ever trust a republican.

[Just Me]

18. Fine. I hope they stick together as they sink together!!!!

The numbers of citizen awareness and opposition and disgust and dismay are growing. Word's gettin' out and about with respect to the true intentions of the lying sacks-o'-crap neoCONs! They'll take the whole dang party down with them.

Once the elephant trunks tank,...we'll NEED another several decades to put this country and the world back together again!!!

[Zorra]

20. Yep. The words REPUBLICAN and CORRUPTION have become synonymous. n/t

[Prodemsouth]

24. Its about time someone started saying this aloud. Blue State

Democrats NEED TO DO to Northern Republicans what Southern Republicans DID to Southern Democrats. Hang Frist and Delay around Snowe, Chafee, etc, necks so tight it hurts. Republicans in the south would mention Kennedy or any other Liberal senator when talking about their Democratic opponents. Even though these Democrats were conservative- Repugs still made significant gains- only 4 Dem Senators left in the south. The same goes for Houses races. So called moderate Republicans need to be chased out of these seats too.
A couple of months back someone posted that the Dems should endorse Chafee for Senate! Left leaning Americans seem to be happy when Chafee or Snowe tosses a bone or two out and votes for a hate crimes bill or say they are pro choice and they just forget what they are doing for the Rich and to the poor. Everyone bitches about Lieberman, both Chafee and Snowe have much more Conservative voting records than Lieberman's. Look up Americans for Democratic Action for the scores on these guys and compare.

[deadparrot]

11. I know it would never happen in a million years,

but my dream would be, in the next few months, to have this surprise "Defection <insert day of the week here>," in which six or seven GOP moderates would leave the party and become independents.

[faithnotgreed]

12. arkana - speaking as someone who loves God i really have to say

i ADORE your various messages placed on the first baptist church sign

they make me laugh every time

[Arkana]

16. *takes a bow*

Thank you--thank you. I'll be here all week.

Seriously, thanks. The sign will change periodically. :7

[faithnotgreed]

22. awright - something to look forward to!

[iconoclastic cat]

14. How are we going to keep from doing this to ourselves when we're back?

Or, is it going to be a neverending cycle of suicide kings?

[tabasco]

21. Anyone who still calls themself a republican ...

after the outright criminal gangsterism of this administration is a goddam traitor.

The word "conservative" no longer applies to republicans. They have spent this Nation into wretched debt and turned us into a pariah state with their radical acts.

Any republican who loves his country should leave the GOP now.

[w4rma]

25. moderates? There are no GOP moderates. They are opportunists. (nt)

[Kimber Scott]

26. When they put the country's interest above their own,then they'll be on to

something.

[roguevalley]

27. I personally don't believe they are moderate. I think they whine as

moderate and then vote for satan. A true moderate would have guts and stand by their principles but you have to first have them to defend them and no repug 'moderate' has them.

[dbt]

28. Kick!

A headline like this belongs on the Front Page.

:evilgrin: