Posted on 12/18/2004 8:52:57 PM PST by 26lemoncharlie
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. In the aftermath of this year’s elections, ominous signs point towards a repeat performance.
Apparently, Republican Party operatives didn’t really comprehend why, in the middle of Bill Clinton’s first term, they won big. And to this day, political analysts still don’t seem to grasp the situation. Among conservatives, the conventional wisdom is that the newly realigned GOP Congressional majority had wrongly presumed too much of a mandate, subsequently shocking the American people with an excessively bold agenda.
In truth however, the exact opposite took place. And if the Republican Party doesn’t quickly come to grips with this fact, it may find itself facing larger defeats in ‘06 and ‘08 than the Democrats just received.
By formulating the “Contract with America,” Newt Gingrich brilliantly highlighted the contrasts between the two parties. In presenting America with such a clear choice, he ensured that the liberalism of the Democrats would be on parade. The rest is history.
Yet in the aftermath of the elections, intense media pressure caused Gingrich and the Republicans to backtrack. Bob Dole’s “enough is enough” surrender to Clinton’s bloated 1995 budget sealed Dole’s fate in the following year’s presidential election. Despite Republican wins, the left still dominated.
In reality, the much-heralded “Republican Revolution” simply never happened. Where, for example, was a single bloated bureaucracy eliminated, or required to face even modest budget cuts at the hands of the Republicans?
Far from committing any conservative “excesses,” it was the abandonment of such things which disillusioned the “grassroots” and convinced them that “business as usual” still reigned supreme in Washington. Hence, they stayed home on Election Day in ‘96.
So, how have Republicans fared during the brief “lame duck” Congressional session following this year’s election? Initial signs are not encouraging. Rather than confronting the Democrats’ obstructionism, and their continued pandering to the counterculture, Republicans are once again waffling, conceding, and capitulating.
The recently passed “National Security Reform Act” is a prime example. 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.
According to opponents of the provision, such discussion belongs in other legislation. Yet if the mass influx of undocumented foreigners isn’t relevant to the security of the nation, little else is.
Beyond all of the excuses, the reality of the situation is that the Republicans in the House and Senate have no stomach to confront the illegal alien issue, for fear of media backlash. They apparently remain clueless as to the receding relevance of the “mainstream” media, or the fact that their acquiescence to it will cause an enormous rift with the “base” from whom they so recently garnered electoral victories.
On another front, Senate Minority leader Harry Reid of Nevada highlighted the tight spot in which Senate Democrats presently find themselves. Completely abandoning any pretence of bipartisan cooperation, Reid pressed forward in the footsteps of his predecessor, the recently deposed Tom Daschle of South Dakota.
On a weekend talk show, Reid sounded like the standard, cliched, liberal Democrat of the Washington “insider” crowd, promising obstruction and rancor, but not surprisingly accompanied by the standard liberal demands that Republicans “reach across the aisle.”
If a groundswell of disapproval occurs in response to his caustic diatribe, Reid, being another partisan Democrat Senator from a “red state,” could eventually face a fate similar to that suffered by Daschle. Fortunately for Reid, Senate Republicans may well ride in to his rescue. Fearing possible negative ramifications from altering the present senate rules that allow legislation to be stalled by a forty vote filibuster, Republicans are again showing their reluctance to play “hard ball” when confronted with such obstructionism.
Presently, Democrats have been using this technique to thwart the appointment of judges who would uphold the Constitution. So, conservatives are left wondering what possible ramifications could be worse than a continued decimation of the Constitution.
John Kerry’s liberalism, when viewed against the backdrop of the War on Terror, provided the contrast that yielded significant Republican Congressional gains, and a victory for President Bush. If Republicans continue to erase that contrast, they will eventually erase the victory.
Comments
This article is about as true as any I have ever read about GOP timidity, even cowardice, in the face of battle.
Well, in 95/96 the Left controlled the Presidency, the courts, and the MSM.
The MSM is greatly weakened. And the Republicans had better began truly resolving the problem with the courts.
I don't see the Reps making the same mistakes.
The true lesson of 95/96, IMO, is that there is not much of a constituency for real spending cuts. But there is one for conservative social policy.
I fully expect the latter to be enacted by the Reps. As for the former, I sadly do not expect, but understand, there will be little, if any, cuts in spending.
This is, BTW, where the Libertarian party could have a real effect, trying to educate the public on the benefits and need for real spending cuts - but the LP is apparently to busy trying to help the Democrats reachieve political power apparently.
An awful lot of the people who voted for Ross Perot did so because they were disappointed with the Republicans' failure to do anything about the budget.
As it turned out, voting for Perot was a gigantic mistake. But Perot saw the opening, and he sure took it.
On the other hand, Newt Gingrich was too loud and too abrasive. That was OK when he was in the opposition, but it didn't play well after he got his majority. In the end, Newt let his supporters down as much as anyone else did.
Columnist Tony Blankley (former aide to N. Gingrich) and others have said that if the GOP dodges immigration, defeat will loom in 2008. Why? because Mrs. H. Clinton, a born-again immigration reformer, will seize the mantle needed to win the election. If not on immigration, she will seize any issue where she can mine votes from the Republican base. The GOP may not figure out what happened until Nov. 5, 2008.
Gingrich also seemed to lack the courage of his proclaimed convictions just as his own personal life was also falling apart. What a disappointment! He is a good commentator with some original ideas, but he is no leader.
When Gingrich said that he often "melted" in the presence of Bill Clinton, Republicans should have immediately removed him as Speaker! Failure to do so: four more years of Clinton, and four more such years could well begin on Jan. 20, 2009.
Newt didn't let his supporters down the fanatics in the GOP chased him out.
But there is one for conservative social policy.
So who are the Republican "leaders" speaking out on cultural issue? I hear the oxymoron of a "deafening silence."
Though he lost the election, Daschle leaves town as a tactical winner. He stopped most of what he wanted to stop between 2001 and 2004. And Reid expects to do the same from 2005-2008, I would imagine. Why the pitiful NV GOP wouldn't even seriously contest Reid's reelection.
I'll tell you this right now. If Hillary Clinton will stop illegal immigration, I'LL VOTE FOR THE B***, and I despise her with every fiber of my conservative being. The destruction of my country proceeds unchecked through illegal immigration.
Well, I certainly have heard them speak, starting with the President.
Of course, we do all realize the new Senate, the one where was have a real majority, has yet to be sworn in yet, right?
According to opponents of the provision, such discussion belongs in other legislation. Yet if the mass influx of undocumented foreigners isn’t relevant to the security of the nation, little else is.
Beyond all of the excuses, the reality of the situation is that the Republicans in the House and Senate have no stomach to confront the illegal alien issue, for fear of media backlash. They apparently remain clueless as to the receding relevance of the “mainstream” media, or the fact that their acquiescence to it will cause an enormous rift with the “base” from whom they so recently garnered electoral victories.
Our RINOOBLs (Republican In Name Only, Open Borders Lobbyists) are totally clueless.
McCain is completely out to lunch, and doesn't understand that "guest worker" is translated as "amnistia" in Mexico.
The almost-DHS boss Kerik had an illegal alien nanny in his house!
Schwarzenneger is just "fine-tuning" illegal alien driver's licenses for a new bill, when illegal alien driver's licenses was why we booted out Gray Davis!
The RINOOBLs are totally clueless.
You would be surprised how many times I have been rediculed by so called Republicans here on FR for opposing globalism.
C-14
I know how everyone feels about third parties, especially after the Perot fiasco and we wound up with CLinton. This article certainly spells out where we are at now.
The question is how do we tie a 2x4 to backs of these wimpy Senator's like Orin Hatch, Bill Friest and a few other's that act like spineless little twits that wear hats with Propellers on them!
We may have to all go to the Capitol with clubs and beat them into standing up and being in charge and being a MAJORITY!
I have been criticized and called a Troll on FR by some of my Critiques when I suggest that a MASS transfer of Registered Republican Voters, Re-register into say the Constitutional Party to show our disaproval. I know they will see this because both parties are Keenly aware of their registered base. We can always move back to the R party at any time, even in the following weeks, to the best of my knowledge. I guess a check on registering would be a good idea before you transfer.
I am frustrated, especially after the National Security Act and the deletion of the Drivers License clause that prevented Illegal ALieans from getting driver's Licenses!
Personnaly, I'm an American first, and a Couple of lost seats especially Dimmocrat Seats to a third party candidate would be great!
Gingrich was the best leader the GOP has had in my lifetime. If not for the Contract with America the GOP might still be in the minority, the current crop of republicans will blow it by spending like Democrats.
The single most important domestic issue, *judicial nominees*.
But don't they have a right to a good job and free welfare here in America? How elitist of you to demand they do it legally. Why in this age of anything goes and to hell with rules, you are an antiquated dinasaur. Instead of closing the border, we should listen to the UN and set up water and aid stations along the route. /sarcasm
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.