It's no secret that conservatives are unhappy with Bush and the Senate Republicans. The list of grievances is long and familiar, viz. grotesque spending, a seemingly pointless war, failure to confirm appellate judges, no immigration enforcement or border security, big government approach to homeland security and education, no action on social conservatives agenda and now the ultimate insult, amnesty for illegals.
It's also no secret that the Republicans would be a small minority party if the religious right and the low tax/opportunity society republicans left the party. Both groups are appalled by how far off course the party has drifted and by how little attention they get from the party regulars and the administration. The party bosses have reasoned that these groups could be given lip service because, like the hapless blacks who dutifully support the Democrats, where else can they go?
I think that question might become more than rhetorical. If some combination of John McCain and Rudy Guliani are the nominees for president/vice president, a lot of these formerly loyal foot soldiers may simply stay home or support what seems inevitable, a third party candidate. In fact, it would not surprise me if there are four credible candidates, two from the major parties, an anti-war left wing candidate and a conservative candidate. Such an election could well fail to produce a definitive result and force matters into the congress for resolution.
Here things could get very sticky for the Republicans. Unless things turn around over the summer, they stand a very good chance of taking a shellacking from the voters this fall.
As things stand now, I see very little reason for conservatives to stay in a party that supports big government, foreign adventures and wants to turn our country into Mexico north. If the country is going to be screwed up, let the Democrats get the blame for it. How could things be that much worse? We lived through Bill, could Hillary be that much more awful? At some point you have to draw a line and say enough. I'm very close to that point and if Bush gives one more speech on immigration, I guarantee that I'll be over it.
It's also no secret that the Republicans would be a small minority party if the religious right and the low tax/opportunity society republicans left the party. Both groups are appalled by how far off course the party has drifted and by how little attention they get from the party regulars and the administration. The party bosses have reasoned that these groups could be given lip service because, like the hapless blacks who dutifully support the Democrats, where else can they go?
I think that question might become more than rhetorical. If some combination of John McCain and Rudy Guliani are the nominees for president/vice president, a lot of these formerly loyal foot soldiers may simply stay home or support what seems inevitable, a third party candidate. In fact, it would not surprise me if there are four credible candidates, two from the major parties, an anti-war left wing candidate and a conservative candidate. Such an election could well fail to produce a definitive result and force matters into the congress for resolution.
Here things could get very sticky for the Republicans. Unless things turn around over the summer, they stand a very good chance of taking a shellacking from the voters this fall.
As things stand now, I see very little reason for conservatives to stay in a party that supports big government, foreign adventures and wants to turn our country into Mexico north. If the country is going to be screwed up, let the Democrats get the blame for it. How could things be that much worse? We lived through Bill, could Hillary be that much more awful? At some point you have to draw a line and say enough. I'm very close to that point and if Bush gives one more speech on immigration, I guarantee that I'll be over it.
