NYT: G.O.P. Agenda in House Has Moderates Unhappy

[kskiska]

WASHINGTON, July 7 — Moderate Republicans say a planned summer push by the House leadership on conservative causes like gun rights and new abortion restrictions threatens the re-election prospects of embattled centrists, who are key to the party's drive to hold Congress.

Frustrated and angry, they say the leadership's new American Values Agenda, a list of initiatives heavy on ideological themes, seems short-sighted and ill-timed considering that few conservatives are at serious risk in November.

"It was stupid and gross," said Representative Christopher Shays, Republican of Connecticut. "They have this obsession to satisfy conservative Republicans who will probably be re-elected no matter what happens. They get job satisfaction, but they are making it more difficult for me to win my race."

Mr. Shays and others said the announcement of the agenda took them by surprise, particularly after House Republicans seemed to be back on track after a few strong weeks of emphasizing new fiscal controls and a push on national security issues. House moderates have also been supportive of the leadership's hard line against the idea of potential citizenship for illegal immigrants, saying that reflects public sentiment.

more…
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/08/washington/08elect.html

[Cha]

1. Where's that tiny

violin? :nopity:

He could always run as an Independent:)

[BillZBubb]

2. GOP moderates: LOL.

There is no such thing. They are all right wing buffoons. They claim moderation every election cycle, but when they vote it is with the far right. Maybe the sheeple will finally figure this out.

[cantstandbush]

3. The real mods should change party affiliation and run as Independents

or Dems.

[w4rma]

5. There are none left. They already have.

Any Repug politicians that join Dems now will have switched because they change their own views about some things.

[Va Lefty]

4. GOP Moderates??

You live with vipers, you become a viper!!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. Aw, cry me a river, dumbass "moderates."

If you lie down with dogs you get up with fleas. (No offense to dogs...)

[kurth]

7. They all can go to hell

to visit Lee Atwater and Ken Lay.

[Daylin Byak]

8. Shays is probally saying this stuff...

To try to distance himself from the hardcore conservative wing of the GOP cause he knows his district isn't that republican friendly and he faces a very tough election come november.

He's a weasel fightning for his political life.

[rocktivity]

9. Candidate for this month's "You Call This NEWS?" award

It's all about job security--in the House, at least. And if they're serious about separating themselves from Bush, some of them will simply have to join the Dems in presenting articles of impeachment. How many of them would the Dems need?

:headbang:
rocknation

[alcibiades_mystery]

10. Rubberstampers one and all

There is no such animal as a moderate republican in Bush's America.

[Monkeyman]

11. J Dennis Hastert claims this Agenda will go to the floor

Good for us bad for them. TO late to cry babies Rove has spoke

[struggle4progress]

12. There's an old saying in Texas: ride with outlaws, hang with outlaws.

[pinto]

13. I'm looking forward to November....

:kick:

[ixion]

14. did he vote for the invasion of Iraq? the unPATRIOTic Act?

if so, he is no moderate, IMO.

[annabanana]

15. Are the "moderate republicans" finally going to realize

that they too are "the enemy" to this insular, reactionary, fundamentalist insane bunch of crooks and cronies?

Do they think that they are "special" just because they have an (R) after their names?

[Daylin Byak]

16. Yes...

They think because they have a (R) next to there names that there gods that can do anything they want when they want.

All they have to do is scream "terrorists"