GOP lawmakers see more openings to buck their leadership

[Thom Little]

By Gail Russell Chaddock
The Christian Science Monitor
Monday, November 21, 2005


With the White House embattled over the war in Iraq, staff legal woes, and slumping approval ratings, Republicans in Congress are struggling to hold their ranks - and to shape an identity apart from the president.

After a bitter debate on the war on the House side, lawmakers recessed Friday with key tax and spending bills still pending - a setup for more drama when legislators return to complete work in December.

These factors are already changing the dynamics in both parties. Both conservatives and moderates in GOP ranks are taking stronger stands on issues ranging from social spending to the environment. And Democrats are exhibiting a disciplined opposition more solid than at any time in the Bush presidency.

"Clearly the Party doesn't have the lock-step discipline today that had over the last 10 years," says Chris Edwards, an economist at the Cato Institute in Washington and author of a new book, "Downsizing the Federal Government." "With the elections 2006 coming into people's minds, there are different views on how individuals guarantee their seats and the majority keeps the majority."




http://csmonitor.com/2005/1121/p03s02-uspo.html

[Erika]

1. Their is nothing to show the GOP will gain

Nothing at all.

[OKDem08]

2. You don't have to be a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowing

Privately, you know they are demanding a rational re-evaluation of Iraq.

[Buns_of_Fire]

3. But they stuck around long enough to take care of IMPORTANT stuff...

(GOP controlled) Congress Boosts Pay, Postpones Other Work

[leesa]

4. This is where marching in lock-step like mindless robots really comes

back to bit ya in the butt. You agreed with everything your leadership said and did, remember??? You wholeheartedly supported der fuhrer 100%, remember?