Posted on 03/29/2005 6:40:35 AM PST by Conservative Goddess
Some very smart people believe that U.S. Senator Rick Santorum is poised to become ex- Senator Santorum, a casualty of his scheduled re-election contest next year with State Treasurer Bob Casey.
....
In fact, a close look at the record suggests that his confrontational style and conservative rhetoric conceals more than it reveals. Too much attention has been spent on Santorum the cultural ideologue and not enough on his pragmatism and political opportunism; inside this raging bull of a conservative is a pragmatist for whom getting re-elected always trumps ideology, which may not make him any different than other politicians.
....
The independent and much respected National Journal’s rating system cited here is probably the most highly regarded measure of its kind. What its analysis reveals is that Pennsylvania’s junior senator consistently shifts toward the center in those years just before his reelection. Santorum may continue to talk like a conservative, but he’s voting like a pragmatist. Last year, for example, according to the Journal, Santorum was actually narrowly left of the Republican center, with his votes placing him closer to Arlen Specter than to his more conservative colleagues.
Last year was not the only year he moved left. He did the same in the run up to his 2000 re-election. The year before the election, he supported a decidedly un-conservative sales tax hike in 11 western Pennsylvania counties to build new sport stadiums in Pittsburgh, campaigned for pro choice Christy Todd Whitman, and supported increasing the minimum wage. In 2000, he supported federal funding for several Pennsylvania projects, including money for aquatic habitat. He also fought to save the health care benefits of 560, 000 Pennsylvanians who participated in the Medicare+Choice program. Most revealing of all, he backed off his commitment for the 1997-balanced budget act.
Similarly, this election cycle, Santorum is showing renewed interest in transportation and other Pennsylvania pork barrel appropriations. Indeed, he has now become a key player in bringing the bacon back home. He has also held high profile press conferences with John Kerry promoting a measure that would accommodate workers’ religious practices and with Hillary Clinton for money to study the effects of TV viewing, Internet and other media on children. And he is now rethinking his position in favor of capital punishment.
Santorum even now supports Clinton’s Americorps program that he once ridiculed as a colossal waste of taxpayer’s money for kids to sit around campfires singing kum ba yah.
His conservative talk and moderate walk were on display recently in key congressional budget votes. Initially, the “conservative” Santorum voted against a variety of Senate initiatives to restore budget cuts by the House--from Medicaid to Homeland Security grants, to education, and even Amtrak funding. But then on cue, the “moderate” Santorum, voted with the majority, 51 to 49, on final passage to restore the cuts to education, Medicaid, and the other domestic programs he had previously not supported.
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But this focus on Santorum’s high profile rhetoric has been myopic, causing his adversaries to miss much that is important. In particular, insufficient attention has been paid to Santorum’s unflagging work at his party’s grass roots; how he’s established comprehensive constituency services; how he’s worked tirelessly for Republicans--ask Arlen Specter about this--and how he has joined Specter in the Pennsylvania pork brigade. And far too little notice has been given to how he has blended his conservative zealotry with political pragmatism.
Maybe Democrats will learn the lesson taught here. Maybe they will learn not to underestimate Santorum. Maybe they will learn to watch what he does more closely than what he says. Maybe they will learn to take him less seriously as an ideologue and more seriously as a politician. And maybe they will finally defeat him next year. Maybe!
Look, you have a completely different view of what representative government is supposed to look like, and I don't have time to educate you from the ground up.
Here's the deal:
Representatives are elected by and accountable to the people who bothered to work for them, went to the polls and cast their ballots for them. If we have a bunch of politicians who are simply beholden to one another, we have nothing more than an echo chamber, not representative government. WAKE UP!
Santorum's Ratings from the ACU
He's been a solid supporter of conservative causes. You are absolutely delusional to think that better could be done in a partially liberal state like Pennsylvania.
Ivan
Quit being the ass that you are.
Not everyone who disagrees with you is a troll.
Posting information that is contrary to your preconceived notion of who someone is, doesn't mean that it's not true.
You practice shooting the messenger, rather than seeing the truth in the message. You represent a bigger threat to a good discussion with your attacks, than the news articles posted.
LOL. Yeah, I'm factoring this little thing called "reality" into the picture. I'm sorry to have intruded into your world.
I see you can't answer my question, cause you have let your wishes and desires trump the cold hard facts of life. I was operating under the assumption that we both desired good outcomes from our government. I didn't realize you were substituting political orthodoxy and wishful thinking for a results-oriented outlook.
Of course, if it does not matter who wins or loses, or what real life is like, let's punish Santorum for the heresy of supporting members of his own party. Let's.
SD
He's studiously ignoring my posts pointing out that the "record" he is complaining about is largely election-year political posturing.
SD
Based on the efforts they put into this stuff it's clear that the 'rats understand the importance of FR.
It sure does indicate the importance. Now we are being called names because we talk about trolls. Interesting don't you think.
Why, because I dare to question Republican orthodoxy? Political speech is part of the "animating contest of FReedom" (Samuel Adams). I thought that is what this board is all about......the free exchange of political ideas. Perhaps I'm mistaken. Seems it's just an echo chamber for those incapable of independent thought; for those who will support the party even when it exalts the likes of Arlen Specter. If that is the case, We're doomed.
Seems we have an outbreak of "moderation."
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1373293/posts
If we tolerate it, we'll see more of it.
Expose your head to sunlight and you'll be able to tell that she isn't a troll.
Would you be as forgiving of your wife if you found her to be unfaithful? Why not?
Actually, it's just a word to the wise that if you don't want Ricky to lose, you'll pay more attention to his votes and work to make sure that he doesn't alienate more voters. Why would you want to ignore that?
You don't have a clue.
If I told you that your house was on fire, would you:
A] Call the fire department?
B] Check to see if there was a fire?
C] Call me names and ignore my warning and go back to what you were doing?
From your reaction here, I hope that you have home owner's insurance.
See no evil. Hear no evil.
Does that mean that there is no evil?
Why, if his votes are not what he claims and what you thought that they were, would you not want to at least know?
Is ignorance really that blissful?
When politicians piss on your leg and tell you that it's just rain, do you believe them?
The writer is an idiot?
What in the facts (Santorum's recorded votes) is wrong?
You may disagree as to whether he is right or wrong in his conclusion, but how can you ignore the facts?
Is Santorum better than Casey? In a one to one comparison, sure. Is Santorum the conservative that he claims? NO!
Why does hearing that upset you so? Is it that you don't want to admit that you too were fooled by his act? Don't be afraid. Most of us were fooled. Why not deal in truth?
( o )
I signed up in 2000, but I was at the March For Justice in October 1998. In fact, I took a busload of people with me. I was at the House Manager's Dinner and several other DC FReeps. I organized the area rallies for Bush after the 2000 election fiasco. I'm on the Board of Directors of a gun rights group and support replacement of the income tax with the FairTax. I posted the original thread on the Success 2001 seminars that led to protests around the country including one here in Pittsburgh. As a result of those rallies, the 'Success' program was a failure for the first time ever. Why the opposition? Clinton was a featured example of 'success.'
Am I a troll?
I agree with CG completely.
Am I still a troll?
Do you always react so badly when you get information that doesn't fit your preconceived notions? Santorum is better than Casey. Is Santorum who he portrays himself to be? NO!
We both are sending a warning that his actions have caused a falloff in support. Ignore the warning if you want. By why do you want to shoot the messenger? What are you afraid of?
Besides, calling someone a troll isn't any kind of intellectual argument. What facts in the article are wrong?
Well, you are certainly qualified to spot BS.
You obviously prefer to surround yourself with it.
IS THERE A SINGLE FALSEHOOD IN THE ARTICLE REGARDING HIS VOTES?
Instead of attacking a poster, try to discuss the issue.
Is Rick who he says he is, based on his recorded votes?
Are his votes consistent with what you expect from someone known as a staunch conservative?
NO ONE told you not to vote for him. WE said WE will not. We are telling you that you aren't voting for who you think you are. Why can't you handle that? Are you that fragile?
I hope that you are real soothed by the fact that you just admitted that Ricky's political career was more important to him than the principles that he pretended to champion.
Your own words will tell you that he sold out. What will he sell out next to advance his career?
Then you go on to say on a public forum that his plan to treat the voters that he is pandering to for votes is just a lie to 'blue collar idiots.'
I don't know who has less integrity -- you or him?
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