Republicans Squandering 'Political Capital'

CHRONWATCH.COM ^ | DECEMBER 9, 2004 | CHRISTOPHER ADAMO

[bayourod]

"Key to American security is regaining control of its borders. Amazingly, Congress decided to remove a provision from the security reform measure that would have clamped down on the ability of illegal aliens (such as the nineteen hijackers of 9-11) to obtain drivers’ licenses. "

"Control of our borders" has nothing to do with "illegals getting drivers licenses".

Illegals get licenses only AFTER they've breached the border.

Or is this another one of those illegal immigration phrases such as "open borders" which don't really mean what they mean. (another way of excusing a lie after being caught)

[DaveTesla]

Rome was not built in a day.

[konaice]

The Democrats were the majority prior to the '04 elections? Thats news to me.

Well perhaps you better pay closer attention.

Republicans did not have a strong enough majority to force anybody's hand. Even with the new congress, things are dicy.

[rmmcdaniell]

We might want to inaugurate the President before dissecting his failure.

So that means Al Gore will no longer be president come January?

[Indie]

When we embrace conservative principles, we reinforce the political capital that we have earned. When we betray them, we squander our political capital.

It's too bad the republicRat "party-bots" place party over all of the wisdom of your post. When one concedes conservative principles, then what is the difference between a republicRat and a democRat? Nothing.

[ApesForEvolution]

Following the Republican landslide victories of the 1994 midterm elections, conservatives watched in amazement as Republican “moderates” proceeded to completely squander the ground they had gained, culminating in the defeat of Bob Dole in ‘96.

>>>

That was fun! /XXXsarcasm

[ApesForEvolution]

BTTT

The GOP's incremental Compromisism destroys America...

[BackInBlack]

"Where, for example, was a single bloated bureaucracy eliminated, or required to face even modest budget cuts at the hands of the Republicans?"

How about welfare reform? An entitlement was ended -- or at least, it couldn't permanently be claimed. That's pretty good.

[ApesForEvolution]

BTTT

The GOP's incremental Compromisism destroys America...

[rmmcdaniell]

Republicans did not have a strong enough majority to force anybody's hand. Even with the new congress, things are dicy.

Some weak-kneed Republican Congressmen who initially opposed the massive new prescription drug entitlement program were strong-armed into voting for it. The white house’s rino-allies also managed to break the resistance to removing the illegal alien provisions from the Security Reform act. The Stupid party sure knows how to force things when it benefits liberalism.

[ApesForEvolution]

Ain't that the truth...

[Eccl 10:2]

"Following the Republican landslide victories of the 1994 midterm elections, conservatives watched in amazement as Republican “moderates” proceeded to completely squander the ground they had gained, culminating in the defeat of Bob Dole in ‘96. >>> That was fun! /XXXsarcasm"

---

It all began going downhill when Gingrich caved to Clinton when we had the government shut down. After that, the Pubbies looked like a bunch of weak pukes.

If we had the Internet of today, maybe they wouldn't have caved. We must press the advantage at every opportunity.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

BTTT!

[ApesForEvolution]

I remember Newt giving the now ex-TRIMPOTUS the nod-nod, wink-wink to raid the slush fund to bail out Mexico...remember that?

[hedgetrimmer]

They didn't squander it. They just don't represent the citizens, and so they didn't defend or enact things the citizen would think was important.

They did allow Clinton's environmental justice EO to pass. The did allow the telecommunications act of 1996 to pass. They did allow NAFTA then GATT and then pushed for the creation of the WTO, abdicating their congressional duty to control trade. They did allow the massive consolidation of power in the federal government, including the creation of armed federal agents in many heretofore nonexistent agencies, like the BLM, Park service, NOAA and other groups. Instead of reforming the National Security Agency when Bush got into office, they created the Dept of Homeland Security and now the federal Intelligence czar.

If you don't see the trend, it is to consolidate power in the executive, to deputize agents in the many federal agencies for law enforcement and to utterly ignore the will of the people in favor of public/private partnerships with corporation that will push their agenda overseas.

[Mark in the Old South]

bump for later read. It is late. This needs to be posted again no one will see it tomorrow.

[COEXERJ145]

You know what...

[dts32041]

Gee did you expect anything less from the group that gave us CFR and ted the swimmer's school bill?

[fire_eye]

"Control of our borders" has nothing to do with "illegals getting drivers licenses".

Illegals get licenses only AFTER they've breached the border.

My observation over the past few days would tend to indicate that your claim, while accurate, is far too abstruse for most people here to comprehend.

[sevry]

This sort of reminds me of the press screaming Quagmire

That was done from a pessimistic attitude of a disloyal opposition. That was done to provide aid and comfort to our enemies in time of war and with firefights in progress.

These criticisms are very different. They come not from an almost treasonous opposition to the nation, but from profound disappointment that the 'better angels' did not prevail in the GOP. From the ill-conceived Gonzales appointment, to apparently asking for Ashcroft's resignation, to Bush's 'open-borders' policy, to his support for Spectre in the campaign against a conservative (which story became well-known after the election) and his seeming support for Spectre as committee chairman, and whatever else, including overspending at the national level, it does appear that the GOP has said to its core voters - where else ya gonna go?

Now you may disagree. But if that's actually true, then as the writer points out - staying home is place to go.