- Sep 26, 2000
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060812/ap_...24cA;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE-
Conservative group sets sights on Chafee
Fresh off their first victory over a Republican incumbent, GOP conservatives seeking party purity on taxes and spending are focused on ousting moderate Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee (news, bio, voting record) of Rhode Island.
The Club for Growth and its 36,000 members spent around $1 million to help challenger Tim Walberg unseat first-term Rep. Joe Schwarz in Michigan's Republican primary on Tuesday. The win came despite Schwarz's support from President Bush and the National Rifle Association.
This year, the group's top priority is defeating Chafee, who angered many Republicans by voting against President Bush's tax cuts and then casting a write-in vote for the president's father in the last election. The Club has helped Cranston, R.I., Mayor Stephen Laffey raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to unseat Chafee, and polls show the two Republicans running even a month before the Sept. 12 primary.
The prospect of a Laffey win worries national Republicans, who consider Chafee the party's best bet for holding the seat in a heavily Democratic state. Polls show Laffey trailing far behind the leading Democratic candidate, former Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse.
Both parties are in the midst of ideological purity campaigns.
It started back in Bushes first year in office when a Republican Senator, Jim Jeffords DARED to oppose Bush on his tax cuts. The Rove led party told Jeffords to his face he would not get a bill passed nor have an ounce of influence unless he toed the party line.
Jeffords then switched parties and never ran for Senator again.
The Republicans self proclaimed "majority of the majority" decision making process has also contributed to this. The Republicans have decided that with almost pure party unity that whichever group can muster 51 percent of support of the 55 Republican Senators will get their way. EVEN if, say, 27 Republicans and 45 Democrats are opposed to the wishes of these 28 Republicans.
In effect it is Senate rule by a small minority.
THIS is what is wrong with the Congress and specifically the Senate.
It has forced the Democrats to turn against any Senator who supports the Republicans on any issue. Say, Bye-Bye, Joe Lieberman.
IN fact, if Republican Senators McCain and Collins (of Maine) weren't so undefeatable in their home states they too would be on the hit list.
This is good for the Democrats, by the way. The 28 Senators ruling the Republican party are the extreme right wing and their policies are killing the Republicans who are more middle of the road.
Conservative group sets sights on Chafee
Fresh off their first victory over a Republican incumbent, GOP conservatives seeking party purity on taxes and spending are focused on ousting moderate Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee (news, bio, voting record) of Rhode Island.
The Club for Growth and its 36,000 members spent around $1 million to help challenger Tim Walberg unseat first-term Rep. Joe Schwarz in Michigan's Republican primary on Tuesday. The win came despite Schwarz's support from President Bush and the National Rifle Association.
This year, the group's top priority is defeating Chafee, who angered many Republicans by voting against President Bush's tax cuts and then casting a write-in vote for the president's father in the last election. The Club has helped Cranston, R.I., Mayor Stephen Laffey raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to unseat Chafee, and polls show the two Republicans running even a month before the Sept. 12 primary.
The prospect of a Laffey win worries national Republicans, who consider Chafee the party's best bet for holding the seat in a heavily Democratic state. Polls show Laffey trailing far behind the leading Democratic candidate, former Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse.
Both parties are in the midst of ideological purity campaigns.
It started back in Bushes first year in office when a Republican Senator, Jim Jeffords DARED to oppose Bush on his tax cuts. The Rove led party told Jeffords to his face he would not get a bill passed nor have an ounce of influence unless he toed the party line.
Jeffords then switched parties and never ran for Senator again.
The Republicans self proclaimed "majority of the majority" decision making process has also contributed to this. The Republicans have decided that with almost pure party unity that whichever group can muster 51 percent of support of the 55 Republican Senators will get their way. EVEN if, say, 27 Republicans and 45 Democrats are opposed to the wishes of these 28 Republicans.
In effect it is Senate rule by a small minority.
THIS is what is wrong with the Congress and specifically the Senate.
It has forced the Democrats to turn against any Senator who supports the Republicans on any issue. Say, Bye-Bye, Joe Lieberman.
IN fact, if Republican Senators McCain and Collins (of Maine) weren't so undefeatable in their home states they too would be on the hit list.
This is good for the Democrats, by the way. The 28 Senators ruling the Republican party are the extreme right wing and their policies are killing the Republicans who are more middle of the road.