Posted on 12/22/2002 5:30:04 AM PST by GailA
Frist, healthcare are on rise Expertise is better fit with Bush, GOP
By Ronald Brownstein Los Angeles Times December 22, 2002
WASHINGTON - The emergence of Tennessee Republican Bill Frist as the incoming Senate majority leader marks another milestone in President Bush's efforts to reshape the face of the Republican Party.
Although the White House insisted it did not engineer Frist's rise, or the fall of Mississippi Sen. Trent Lott after making racially insensitive comments, one of Frist's principal assets in his sudden ascent was the widespread sense among Republicans that Bush preferred him for the job over Lott.
Frist, whose selection is expected to be finalized Monday, will align the image of Senate Republicans more closely with the White House because he is a better political fit with Bush than Lott.
Like Bush, Frist is conservative on most issues. But while Lott rarely ventured beyond a conventional conservative skepticism toward government, Frist is more in tune with Bush's idea of a reforming conservatism that looks to increase reliance on the private market to achieve social goals, but generally doesn't demonize government.
The change might be most vivid in health care, likely to be a major focus in the coming Congress and the 2004 presidential race. Over the past few years, Frist has been a leader in developing a conservative health care agenda, which has included proposals to use tax credits to cover the uninsured and a plan to fundamentally restructure Medicare.
With the White House embracing those ideas, Frist's rise is likely to give that agenda a new push. As a result, some Republicans think Frist could help the party close the historic Democratic advantage on health care issues much the way Bush's education initiatives - such as the education reform law of 2001 - have narrowed the gap between the parties on that front.
For Democrats, Frist presents a challenge much like House Speaker Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), the mild-mannered insider who succeeded former speaker Newt Gingrich, and Bush himself: All present largely conservative policies in a moderate tone much more acceptable to swing voters than the harder-edged voices who dominated the GOP in the immediate aftermath of their 1994 congressional takeover.
(Excerpt) Read more at gomemphis.com ...
Not to mention all the pseudo conservatives who are really here from DU.
Frist is a fine mamn, but these two groups will trash him just the same. I myself am quite proud of Dr. Frist as our new majority leader.
Of course, Rove is arguably more conservative than the President, but that doesn't matter to any of you constant Bush-bashers. I am SO glad to see in the two months you have been here that you have gotten up to speed on all the anti-Bush lingo.
Pbbbttt!!
"As a result, some Republicans(code word for liberal RINOS) think Frist could help the party (become identical to the liberals) close the historic Democratic advantage on health care issues much the way Bush's (throwing his education plan overboard and stuffing Teddie's toe in his mouth) education initiatives - such as the education reform law of 2001 - have narrowed the gap between the parties on that front. (Yeah, gotta narrow that gap until the party is fully as socialist as the Democrats and makes itself unneccessary)
See how fun that is?
Of course you did. Doesn't matter that we have a real man in the White House. A man with dignity, honor, integrity. A man who lives his Christian faith and does not care who knows or likes it.
Doesn't matter that we had this great man who chose to put in place a top class support team to lead us after 9/11. A man who did not brush the attack under the rug like all others but one who decided to go after the terrorists and rout them out for future generations. Doesn't matter that we have a man that fights for the U.S. against the U.N. controllers and the enviros. Doesn't matter that we have a president that firmly believes we are taxed too much.
What matters to you is that you think he failed on the voucher issue with Ted Kennedy.
Maybe you will find another president that won't fail you on the voucher issue.
Unsupported useless statement -- yours!
Frist has now served several terms as senator. What is in the Frist voting record that would support your statement?
Did you ever vote for Bush? Did you ever vote for a Republican? Are you sorry you "didn't" vote for Gore? Did you vote for Gore? Do you have a screen name on DU or Salon.com?
Partial innocense -- what? Why don't you just come out and say Frist is guilty or innocent of your charges?
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