GOP slams Bush policies at retreat

The Washington Times ^ | 2/6/04 | By Ralph Z. Hallow and James G. Lakely

[ovrtaxt]

Growing frustration over President Bush's immigration plan and lack of fiscal discipline came to a head behind closed doors at last weekend's Republican retreat in Philadelphia.

House lawmakers, stunned by the intensity of their constituents' displeasure at some of Mr. Bush's key domestic policies, gave his political strategist Karl Rove an earful behind closed doors.

[Happy2BMe]

You're still refusing to admit the migrant invasion.

[sully777]

"Right! You're right! I'm lying! I voted for Buchanan in Florida and Gore in Washington. I sat out the election in Peru and I built fairy houses in Scandinavia! Me and the other 20% of the voting public who appeared magically to vote for Perot while we were voting for Bush and drinking ambrosia on the slopes of Olympus.

And I was talking about myself, too! Yes, that's what I meant when I said "20% of the electorate" and "every lifelong Republican voter on FR". I am the only lifelong Republican voter on FR! I am 20% of the electorate! "

FOFLOL! Priceless. I'm still laughing at "building fairy houses in Scandanavia."

[gatorbait]

You're still refusing to admit the migrant invasion.

No,I'm relegating it to its proper place. You want to rant about that and look for ravenening Mexican hordes, go for it. By the way, what exactly is St Tancredo doing about it?

[gatorbait]

ravenening=ravening Not enough coffee.

[George W. Bush]

I'm still laughing at "building fairy houses in Scandinavia."

Given how liberal the GOP has become in spending and policy, we need to get seamole to build more houses in Scandinavia so we will have a last bastion of conservatism to flee to.

Scandinavia or bust!

[NittanyLion]

We'll have to agree to disagree, then. I'm still of the belief that the majority of Perot voters would otherwise have gone to Clinton, although I understand good people are split on the issue.

[NittanyLion]

They both share in the blame equally

Therefore,so do we.

Not sure I follow...

[Happy2BMe]

"No,I'm relegating it to its proper place."

Tancredo. You can forget about Tancredo. The firestorm Bush has caused is way, way past Tancredo now.

Pass this on to all your friends: Wake Up And Smell The Coffee - THE GOP IS MAD AS HELL OVER THE MIGRANT INVASION!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Growing frustration over President Bush's immigration plan and lack of fiscal discipline came to a head behind closed doors at last weekend's Republican retreat in Philadelphia.
    House lawmakers, stunned by the intensity of their constituents' displeasure at some of Mr. Bush's key domestic policies, gave his political strategist Karl Rove an earful behind closed doors.
    "It was intense, but I was not surprised at the tone of questioning during Rove's session," said Rep. Tom Feeney, Florida Republican. "But then this was supposed to be a no-holds-barred discussion, and our constituents are upset."
    "They were all over Karl on immigration and spending," said Rep. Tom Tancredo, Colorado Republican and a leading House proponent of controlling the nation's borders and curbing illegal immigration. "This is the first time I didn't even have to raise the immigration issue myself. Everyone else did."

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I don't think complaining about President Bush 24/7, stubbornly refusing to give him credit for any good he's done, and urging others to vote against him is a good thing. So if inviting people who, in that regard, sound like they came straight from DU to leave is "bloodletting" in your mind, then yeah. I think it is.

I'm not saying people should never complain about him, but advocating his defeat stupid, dangerous, and destructive.

[international american]

If anything will stop this policy at the top, it was this meeting with Rove will do it. However, Gallegly said this amnesty is DOA. Check with Tancredo on Gallegly if you want to. He will verify this.
best, IA

[sauropod]

Then don't lump me and other folks who have publically stated they would vote for him while holding their collective nose with those that would "advocating his defeat stupid, dangerous, and destructive."

I have stated same on this very thread. It's a bit disingenuous to label me a "complainer."

[kristinn]

It's sad to see you have such a low opinion of FReepers, but not surprising. If we don't have the impact you say we don't, could it be because those who took it upon themselves to harness the energy of FR have squandered whatever momentum we had like the Deaniacs you so artfully compare us too?

As far as you're concerned, we have no role to play in these elections, other than to meekly pull the R lever. If we are so ineffective and not listened to, why do you bother with FRN? The GOP doesn't pay any attention to FR, according to you, we're just a bunch of "nuts." Thanks for making that clear.

I have a higher opinion of FReepers. I've seen us in action many times over the years and witnessed our successes. I've seen for myself and been told of our impact. To dismiss us as the irrelevant right-wing equivalant of Deaniacs is insulting.

If, as you say, we don't matter, then who cares if we vote third party? Or are we just trying to protect our invitations to Important Conservative Republican Meetings?

P.S. I have seen numerous posts on this thread so far alleging widespread dissatisfaction with the direction the Republican Party has been taking in recent years. Earth to Freepers: the market is signalling the Republicans that they are doing everything right.

The article which these comments are based on states that the Republican Caucus is responding to market forces telling them of widespread dissatisfaction with the direction the party is taking.

P.P.S. I read the Deaniac article. Liberals falling for a fantasy is nothing new. The Deaniacs were just the last ones to figure out Howard Dean was not presidential material.

[WOSG]

"The Senate is darn near impossible at this stage. Maybe after Nov?"

Perhaps. The real problem is that griping in an election year and dissenting etc. may have the effect of simply helping the Democrats win. That would be a disaster.

We have the opportunity to do several things by Nov:
1. Replace RINO Specter with Conservative Pat Toomey.
2. Gain 5 Republican seats in the Senate, making Democrat judicial filibusters more difficult to practically impossible.
3. Increase conservatives in the House, tipping the balance in favor of conservative policies.
This will be enough IMHO to make the Congress a measurably improved institution in 2005.

At the same time, the rabid Liberal Democrats are painting Bush as an AWOL Liar who's destroying America. I kid you not how awful they paint the picture: Krugman rants in our local paper this morning.

Frankly, if conservatives just snipe this year WE WILL LOSE.

We have to stand on our principles AND HELP THE REPUBLICAN TEAM WIN. If we dont do that, our "principles" will lose. Socialism will win.

[gatorbait]

- THE GOP IS MAD AS HELL OVER THE MIGRANT INVASION!

You're right, this is the most important thing impacting our lives right now. Hold on,I have to make sure they have not triped the bouncing betties around my fortress.That'll hold 'em back

The reality is simple, they're here .Want the Military to guard the borders? Okay, pay for it. Ever think about how large a commitment of resouces that truly is? Probably not, because you don't think, you react.Like the Military's use to stem the drug flow? That's what some of you are asking for. Push the President out of office for some third party no load,who will assure something far worse than you can imagine? Great strategy.

Want to to do something about it? Then go to those congressional cowards and ask them why they've done nothing about any of it. I realize the Birch publications don't mention that basic part of the civics lesson, but try it.Secondly, remember that this nation may trend conservative viscerally but still gets its news from lefty sources. So, if the President , tomorrow ,issued and executive order deporting every last one of these people, you and I would be marginalized as haters and kooks. You are so wrapped up in this that you cannot even see that this is the first real attempt to address this since 1965.You are too blinkered to even look past your own prejudices and fears to add anything constructive except insult the President and provide fodder for a lunatic like Clark,who, til someone tipped him to this non starter, never gave it any consideration. Now, try thinking instead of reacting. You, we, can and we must. If you and some of your adherants truly want real live reform ,then don't put your heads and hearts into ensuring a Democrat finds its way into office. Do you not believe that whomever they'd put in would simply do whatever they wanted with an executive order? Or has your rage bilnded you to that very circumstance? I give up, you're never going to ever get it. You'll never ever concede that maybe this subject is being addressed seriously for the first time in forty years. Fine, enjoy, don't bother me further with your single minded zeal to get something worse shoved up our noses because you can't do anything but emote.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I don't want to disappoint you, 'pod, but I don't read all your posts - so I honestly don't know what you've "publicly stated" about much of anything. (I know that will come as a shock.) I don't read every post on every thread I open, either, unless it's short.

Don't take it personally.

I said carry on with your complaining, because you were complaining about Tex. No need to read anything else into it.

[gatorbait]

Not sure I follow

Sure you do, just think about it for a little .You'll pick it up ,because you think rationally.

[applemac_g4]

I'm not certain that our voices are being heard. What I got out of that article was that though the White House is getting an earful, but is unmoved:

-----

"Mr. Duffy said the president delivered a passionate defense of his immigration plan, telling the Republican caucus that his policy is not a political ploy.

'He said he didn't do it for politics [but] because that's what he believes is good for the country," Mr. Duffy said, adding that Mr. Bush drove his point home by saying, "I'm from Texas and I know this issue.'"

-----

No, Mr. President. You're from Washington and you don't even begin to understand this issue.

[gatorbait]

I'm still of the belief that the majority of Perot voters would otherwise have gone to Clinton, although I understand good people are split on the issue.

You're right, we shall continue to disagree on this subject .I can say I still despise that little gnome for his overt support for William Jefferson Blythe Clinton and I likely always shall.

[NittanyLion]

Presumably you feel that, since Congress and the President share the blame on this issue, folks who completely blame Congress and folks who completely blame the President are both partially wrong. On that, I agree.

You'll notice, however, that there are folks here who have admitted up front that neither group is pure (I'm one of them). On that, we're completely right.

[gatorbait]

Well, we are in agreement there, man . Glad to be, too.