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Well, some Republicans have a lot more to lose via a Kerry win than others.

Social conservatives are the ones with the most at risk here – rally-the-troops rhetoric aside they are fighting rear-guard actions on most issues, their hopes really hinge on two or three friendly SC appointments which would clear the way (perhaps via vouchers) for Federal and state funding of religious elementary and secondary education - which would make it much easier to raise their children according to their values.

The economic elite have the least at risk – over the last decade they have already received substantial tax relief (reduced dividend taxation, lower long they capital gains rates and the like) - in a high deficit environment all they forgo is the elimination of the estate tax.

"Pragmantic" Republician politicians have long courted the former - while delivering the goods for the latter.

So it does not strike me as surprising that the political priorities and tactical decisions of the congressional Republican leadership (who can expect to be there long after the Current administration has departed) might be at odds with those of an Administration that looks only as far as the next election in shaping it's appeal to these two very different groups of voters.