I've been hearing for a while that President Bush might face a challenge from his right. According to this story, Bush might face a strong contender from the Libertarian Party because of his policy that has eroded liberties and balloned deficits. However, what was was very interesting is this quote from conservative columnist Bob Novak:
"“Everybody believes if Bush loses, the Republican Party will move to the left in ’08, to the Schwarzenegger and Giuliani strain..."
Hmmm. So Bush's defeat could usher in a new era of Rockfeller Republicanism. I tend to think this could be true. The New Deal coalition in the Democratic Party fell apart because of overreach, especially with Vietnam. The Neocon movement is showing the same signs of overeach and this could well be where it all falls down. It will be interesting to see what happens, if Bush loses in November.
Posted by Dennis at May 25, 2004 12:28 AMThere will be three televised debates this fall, and right now only
Bush and Kerry will be allowed to participate. Without Ralph Nader's
inclusion, the critical issues facing our country - including the war
in Iraq - will not be fully discussed.
50% of Americans have stopped voting because “slash and burn” politics has completely taken over. The major parties have made it clear that their primary commitment is to themselves and doing whatever it takes to win. It's clear that if there's going to be any change, ordinary citizens are going to have to take back control of our electoral process.
A new campaign www.letnaderdebate.org has formed to insist that Nader be allowed to debate. Democrats, Republicans and Independents who favor democracy over partisanship are signing an open letter to President Bush asking him to use his political clout to ensure that Nader is included. Please sign the letter today at www.letnaderdebate.org and send an email to everyone you know asking
them to do the same!
Thanks.
Gwen
The problem with the scenario of the moderates regaining control of the party if/when Bush loses to Kerry is that the neocons and the social conservatives are still the ones with the organization and the money to control the party's destiny. Even if Kerry wins by 80 percent and gets every state except Texas, the far right will not take the hint that their message is off-key with the country (they'll scream conspiracy and betrayal, they'll never admit they were wrong) and will merely repackage their crap and try to promote one of their own for the next election (by then Quayle will tanned, rested...insert scream here).
The only way to take the party back isn't if Bush loses, but if the entire neocon/social conservative leadership loses (DeLay, Inhofe, those type of guys) while the moderates stay in, giving them a chance to restructure the RNC and block some of those lobby groups (Club for Growth comes to mind) from nominating/pushing 'their' candidates onto the electorate. Odds are, given the number of them, there'll be enough far righters staying in office to prevent that from happening...depressed sigh...
Well, if you asked me a couple of years ago what I thought about moderate Republicans like Guiliani, Schwarzenegger (and to a lesser degree McCain) I would have said they strike a good balance of conservatism and liberalism and is where the majority of Americans are politicially. However, the fact that both Guiliani and Schwarzenegger are such big Bush supporters and have yet to criticize the direction Bush and his Neo-Cons cronies have taken this country (and the Republican party) says something about their beliefs.
I respect McCain more than those two for critcizing Bush on a number of issues. His most recent criticism against the Bush administration was about the wisdom of massive tax-cuts during a time of war.
Pat Buchanan is another one of the few who I can still listen to. I really don't understand this blind party allegiance?! Even Tony Blair gets hell from his own party! I shutter to think I used to call myself a moderate Republican.
For me, the Bush administration has exposed many so-called moderate Republicans as just smart campaigners who package themselves as moderates to win elections. But when sh*t hit the fan, they sided with the Neo-Cons rather than parting ways.
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
-Martin Luther King Jr. "Strength in Love" (1963)
http://www.alliance04.com
Posted by: Alex at May 25, 2004 01:13 AM