posted on November 12, 2005 04:41:19 PM new
GOP's Legislative Agenda Losing Steam
Updated 5:33 PM ET November 12, 2005
By DAVID ESPO
WASHINGTON (AP) - A year's work hangs in the balance for the Republican-controlled Congress, its conservative agenda sketched confidently last winter: cut taxes, open wildlife refuge in Alaska to oil drilling, and hold down the cost of health, education and nutrition programs that serve millions.
The agenda is the same. But the confidence is shaken by President Bush's sagging poll numbers, an unstable leadership lineup in the House and growing concern about congressional elections less than a year away.
"Where you stand depends on where you sit," says GOP Rep. Rob Simmons. In his case, it's a district in Connecticut that Democrat John Kerry captured handily in the 2004 presidential race.
Simmons, in his third term, also is unhappy with the deficit-cutting bill ardently sought by the conservatives who hold sway in his party.
Across the Capitol, moderate Sen. Olympia Snowe balks at extending reduced rates on income from investments, leaving Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee without a majority to advance $64 billion in tax cuts.
"We're in a different economic environment," said the Maine Republican, who so far has no Democratic challenger in her 2006 race. "We've had three back-to-back hurricanes" that have cost billions.
The Finance Committee chairman, Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, said: "If I move one way, I lose a couple votes. If I move another way, I lose a couple votes."
The same predicament applies in the House, where the leadership is short of the votes needed to cut projected deficits by $50 billion or more over the next decade.
The original target was $35 billion. But that was before conservatives intervened this fall with a demand for deeper reductions to offset at some of the billions spent on cleanup and reconstruction from Hurricane Katrina and other storms.
Rep. Tom DeLay, the one-time majority leader, stepped in to champion their cause at the same time he was working to hold his support among the rank and file. The Texan faces an indictment in his home state on campaign finance charges.
DeLay's legal difficulties complicate the pursuit of a GOP agenda in another way.
Some House Republicans favor new leadership elections in January, a year ahead of schedule. Their hope is to end an awkward situation in which the GOP whip, Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri, also is acting as majority leader while DeLay tries to triumph in court.
Faced with a moderates' revolt on the deficit-cutting bill, Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., agreed to jettison from that bill the proposal to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. That move netted several votes, but not enough to assure passage.
Moderates are the main holdouts.
"I remain opposed to changes the bill would make to food stamps, Medicaid, student loan programs and payments to help states enforce child support agreements," Simmons said in a written statement.
There were other problems.
The oil concession offended conservatives who long have advocated oil exploration in the refuge. "Right now, how I vote on final passage is between me and my maker," said Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, a supporter of the drilling provision.
The overall agenda was conceived nearly a year ago, when Republicans basked in the glow of Bush's re-election and their own increased majorities in the House and Senate.
Now, the president's polling is lower than at any point in his administration, and GOP concern was deepened by off-year elections that included defeat in last Tuesday's Virginia gubernatorial election.
In the Senate, Republicans hold 55 seats but""...but...but....ssssss
posted on November 12, 2005 06:47:07 PM new
Speaking of not replying dingo:
you're just jealous of Monica
Why? Are you volunteering to come over & show me how she did it?
Sheepa for dictator......
I gave my liberal neighbors son a book for his birthday. He went crazy trying to find where to put the batteries.
[ edited by Bear1949 on Nov 12, 2005 06:48 PM ]
posted on November 13, 2005 05:43:27 AM new
mingo,
Both LIAR-LINDA and Bear are at a loss. They really have nothing left to say.
The Con-servative law makers that voted with Bush for 5 years are running scared.
The Iraq War and commander and chief thing isn't working for Bush any longer.
The federal abortion issue is settled with new Supreme Court Judges.
Bush almost gets thrown out of South America.
The national debt is high,trade imbalance is bad,fuel,heating oil and natural gas prices are high.
America owes Billions upon Billions to China.
The drug and health insurance companies are being allowed to rape America.
CON-servatives like LIAR-LINDA_K,Bear and defogger can copy and paste,change the subject or make stupid remarks all they want. The truth is they have no place to run no place to hide and nothing left to say.
posted on November 13, 2005 07:21:21 AM new
More burble and slobber from one who can't discuss anything especially the OP
""Oh, if that isnt good for a laugh, I dont know what is.
yea, peepa, mingotree is like the new mother teresa of the internet!
LOL!!! """
MY, my, brble, you sure have a problem reading way too much into everything ...why don't you calm down a little and maybe take a reading course and learn comprehension skills...because right now you just sound rambling and stupid...just friendly advice
posted on November 13, 2005 07:32:29 AM new
Oh Ron you posted:
""WashingtoneBayer
posted on November 12, 2005 07:24:46 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exactly what did the democrats gain Tuesday mingotree?
Did those two governors replace GOP governors? ""
And you asked about why it's a big deal that two Democrat governors won ....
posted on November 13, 2005 07:38:49 AM new
defogger,
Yes, mingo's work is important. Its important to expose the CON-servative liars.
Its important to strip power away from phonies that use religion to cover up GREED.
defogger I am sorry to tell you. I believe that CON-servatives like you don't qualify or come close to having the moral privilege to use mother Teresa's name in your post.
posted on November 13, 2005 07:43:42 AM new
Don't worry, Bigpeepa, brble is just bored and likes to use silly, meaningless phrases like "flaming queen" and rubber manure hats....intelligent comment is waaaayyyy beyond her...that's why she gets along so well with lindaKKK.
But she helps keep my posts at the top so she has some use.
posted on November 13, 2005 07:52:43 AM new
Politics is like pendulum, it does swing back and forth. Unfortunately it won't stay long enough in the middle to straighten things out.
So the GOP having problems is not a surprise, yet I cannot see one democrat that is even remotely ready to step foward in 2008.
Many things can happen in a year, counting wins in 2006 is silly.
posted on November 13, 2005 07:54:16 AM new
Mingotree, you are pretty desperate to be hooking onto posts with bibbles and ka-bits, beepa, here!! wtf is having moral privilege?? Do you have to be asP*fixated* on your own sputum to qualify? ::Wagging finger:: "You dont have the moral privilege to say such things!!"
(yeah, ok)
... oh brother,..
...keep MY posts at the top...
- Always about you isnt it, queenie android? The main DIS-attraction of any subject rounds out to about zero on you!! ..ewwww!!
Why dont you go burn up your broiler pan and have to buy another one? lol!!!
posted on November 13, 2005 08:32:11 AM new
And, besides the elections, Ron, there's STILL Iraq, the treason in the White House, the Delay investigation(and ARREST), the Frist investigation...see, it isn't just ONE thing..it's so many things
posted on November 13, 2005 08:46:27 AM new
Yeah....so like Ron said before....nobody will vote for him again in 2008.
And for all you poll readers it should be quite clear....crystal clear as a matter-of-fact...that the dems ARE NOT gaining from voter dis-satification with this administration....not ONE bit. The voters don't like their 'no platform - no policies - just complaining' either.
"Whenever the nation is under attack, from within or without, liberals side with the enemy. This is their essence." --Ann Coulter
And why the American Voters chose to RE-elect President Bush to four more years. YES!!!
posted on November 13, 2005 09:58:51 AM new
Hey, LIAR-LINDA_K,
One step at a time. You need to focus.
The first step to a better America. A better America for the middle and working class happens in 2006. By voting the CONS in conservative out of power.
Sure LIAR-LINDA_K your form of RIGHT WING CON-SERVATIVE government isn't loosing a beat. Ha Ha. They are just getting ready to loose their power. YES!!!
Where are ya going to run to Liar-Linda_K,where are ya going to hide?
posted on November 13, 2005 10:08:40 AM new
""Yeah....so like Ron said before....nobody will vote for him again in 2008."""
Uh, yoo hoo linda...OTHER Republicans WILL be running in 2006, 2008 and, like in last Tuesday's elections, voter dissatisfaction is starting to show
See, linda, in this country we don't just vote for the president every four years...at least every two years we vote for things like Senators, governors, representatives and many others...I'm surprised you weren't aware of this !
Not too politicallly savvy are you?
""that the dems ARE NOT gaining from voter dis-satification with this administration....not ONE bit."""
And neither are the Republicans ....where are the voters going to go with their dissatisfaction with the Republicans...only one direction...to the LEFT
""The Republicans can only hope THIS is the bottom""
posted on November 14, 2005 07:07:10 AM new
At least I understand business and labor, not just posting socialist bullsh!t.
What have you done?
Here is labor for you peepa, teachers in Oregon are on strike have been for 3 weeks now. Who is paying for all that extra day care? Parents.
Those teachers are on strike for a 1% across the board increase. Board has explained there is no more money. Those teachers that you seem to favor are hurting the very families you claim to support. I will tell you this 90% of the families do not support the teachers.
So keep on posting your socialist B.S. people here know it for what it is.
