Booman Tribune

Christian Conservatives to Focus on Congress

by BooMan
Thu Mar 1st, 2007 at 11:43:53 AM EST

Holy Shit, Democrats like to curse a lot. Maybe it's because we're all kind of pissed off? Nah. It couldn't be that. It looks like a lot Republicans are kind of pissed off, too. They're not happy with the Republicans candidates for President. Guiliani is pro-choice, pro-gay rights, and, heaven fordid, he's been married three times. Newt Gingrich has his checkered history with the ladies (see: cancer ward, abandonment, girl Friday). Huckabee raised taxes on cigarettes. Brownback doesn't hate him enough furrenners (also, I am sensing a lack of resolve in the war on terror). And there is good old John McCain. Remember when he denounced 'Jerry Falwell, along with Pat Robertson, Louis Farrakhan and Al Sharpton, as "agents of intolerance" who were "corrupting influences" in American politics'? The Christian conservatives sure do. And even if McCain has tried to do his kissy-and-make-up with Falwell, a lot of people aren't buying it. It isn't helping him mend fences that:

Sen. John McCain is the only major Republican presidential candidate who will not address the nation's premier gathering of conservatives this year.

Sponsors of the Conservative Political Action Conference, which begins today in Washington and brings together thousands of conservative leaders and grass-roots activists, say the Arizona Republican has "dissed" organizers by attempting to schedule a private reception for attendees after rejecting invitations to speak at the event.

"It was a classical McCain move, dissing us by going behind our backs," said William J. Lauderback, executive vice president of the American Conservative Union.

It all adds up to a discontented right-wing of the Republican Party that is going to focus on the House and Senate:

-- Conservative activists are shifting their 2008 focus to recapturing the House and Senate, hoping that GOP control of at least one chamber of Congress would thwart liberal policies that could come either from a Democratic or moderate Republican White House.

Conservative leaders, who are gathering in Washington today for the first Conservative Political Action Conference meeting since the Republican Party's electoral defeat last year, acknowledged in interviews that it will be difficult to reclaim control of Congress. But faced with a pack of GOP presidential contenders with spotty conservative credentials, the party's fiscal and social conservatives say they are making a special effort to reclaim power on Capitol Hill to hold the next White House in line.

"For years, the party was completely president-centric, and put all their efforts into keeping the presidency," said Grover Norquist , president of Americans for Tax Reform. "But going into 2008, it's going to be equally important to pick up the House and Senate. Now, people recognize you can govern from either body," not just the White House, Norquist said.

Paul Weyrich , president of the Free Congress Foundation, said the party's top-tier presidential candidates -- including Arizona Senator John McCain, former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani , and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney -- are too liberal for many conservatives.

"If we can't play a role in the presidential [election] , then at least let's elect some senators and congressmen. Maybe we can play a role in Congress," Weyrich said.

Funny thing is, this is exactly what I advocated that Progressives do, just yesterday. We don't have a presidential candidate, so let's make sure we are ready to go toe to toe with Weyrich and Norquist.



Display:
I'm astonished that Guliani is even considered.  Doesn't anyone remember that video clip of him blaming the troops for Iraq?  Are the strategists saving that for later?
by Tehanu on Thu Mar 1st, 2007 at 11:10:00 AM EST
Not to mention the photos of him in drag.

Fear will keep the local systems in line. -Grand Moff Tarkin Survivor Left Blogistan
by boran2 (blogistan@yahoo.com) on Thu Mar 1st, 2007 at 11:21:10 AM EST
[ Parent ]
by BooMan on Thu Mar 1st, 2007 at 11:27:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Just like the period before Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson.

She who wins control of local party units and crafts policies at the state and local levels on healthcare, transit, energy and global warming will control the political debate over the next quarter century.  

Perhaps even the next half a century.

by northcountry on Thu Mar 1st, 2007 at 11:36:41 AM EST
Good thinkin' Boo.  The presidential race is just the show they put in the center ring to keep us distracted from the prop shuffling going on in the other two.

It would be wise to change our focus once in a while.  I will avoid all thought or conversation about the 2008 pres. election until 2008.  

Yes, Rudy is funny and despicable, but we've got other jobs to do before investing attention in him.

by Alice on Thu Mar 1st, 2007 at 11:39:26 AM EST
This is what I've been trying to tell people.  A moderate republican ticket WILL NOT CAUSE SOME SPLIT in the GOP, with the Religious Right jumping off the ship.

They are going to bite their tongue and go along with whoever the GOP guy is, and focus on other things to stir up the base.  Those state level, congressional issues that bring the base to the polls in November will still cause that person to vote GOP for president.

"There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible. But in the end they always fall. Think of it. Always." -- Mahatma Gandhi

by duha on Thu Mar 1st, 2007 at 12:43:09 PM EST


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