Why Can't Republicans Learn From Experience?

While the issues of Iraq and Immigration are far from the same and ambivalence around the war may give enough cover to Lugar and Warner for drafting a surrender strategy, if anything should have told these too long inside the Beltway Republicans their political judgment is gone, it was the recent Immigration debacle. It clearly displayed how far out of touch with the base is the current Republican leadership in Congress. But they seem to have learned nothing.

There is absolutely no reason for them to do anything as regards Iraq right now, except wait for the September progress report. Instead, like Democrats, they are most likely seizing upon polling data instead of principles in hopes of getting in front of what they anticipate to be a breaking wave. It will not help them at all, particularly with the most informed, most faithful and most important Republican constituency, their base.

For all of Bush's problems, a new poll out today still has his popularity above that of the Congress. And they think they are going to gain points by abandoning him?

WASHINGTON -- In the eyes of the public, Congress is doing even worse than the president.

Ultimately, I can only conclude that the answer to this foolishness rests deep within the Washington Zoo. It would appear that when you house an elephant in the DC zoo too long, they invariably and irrevocably turn into RINO's. I think it's time to start focusing on the primaries in hopes that we might eventually sweep out a cage or two and clean up this current mess.

Comments

[Byron]

Absolutely correct. The only solution to this is term limits. The Founders never imagined such a thing would be necessary, as public service was onerous and costly to those engaged in it. That men were not saints was not a problem, because their own self interest would cause them not to seek to make a career of holding office. But no longer, thus the development of an elite political class with its own interests, all of which depend on continuing to hold office. Such a system is unavoidably corrupting in multiple ways. Since men are still not saints, the rest follows as the night the day.

[Purple Avenger]

Familiarity breeds contempt.

[joe]

I think they don't give a hoot what the Republican base thinks. I keep hearing "but the democrats are so much worse you wouldn't want them in office" from Republican party solicitors. The senators really think they can do whatever they want to buy favor with the media and fall back on that old argument for the base come election time. Plus the advantages of incumbency in safe districts is so strong now many politicians don't feel obligated to satisfy the voters.

[Hugh Beaumont]

Term Limits should be the #1 priority for the electorate as of now.

We must end the idea of career politicians. I can think of no more urgent priority.

[Purple Avenger]

"I keep hearing "but the democrats are so much worse you wouldn't want them in office" from Republican party solicitors."

My response: "I'll accept a few years of that pain to deliver the message which you appear incapable of hearing."

Tough love time.

[Scrapiron]

I will not vote for the enemies (democrats) of the state but I will not vote for people like Warner either. I've sent him several EMails about his traitorous actions and he always reply with the same BS. He thinks because I live in a different district from him that I'll have no effect on his election. Bad news for him, I lived in his area for years and most of my friends still live there and hate the SOB as bad as I do. Met him and Liz at the state convention in the 70's and he was a pompus ass then, and still is, no wonder she dumped his worthless a**.

[Purple Avenger]

"I will not vote for the enemies (democrats) of the state"

I would, but only the most outlandish of them. A congress full of Pelosi clones would effectively destroy the democrat party for many decades.

Its not really the politicians that need this reality check, its the public. The public isn't really all that smart - a 100 average IQ, by definition. So it takes memorable lessons to get something to sink it -- its going to have to hurt them.

This country would survive a decade of ultra-liberal rule. I believe we are that resilient. I also believe the public would tire of it fairly quickly.

[mjs]

Absolutely correct. The only solution to this is term limits. The Founders never imagined such a thing would be necessary, as public service was onerous and costly to those engaged in it. That men were not saints was not a problem, because their own self interest would cause them not to seek to make a career of holding office. But no longer, thus the development of an elite political class with its own interests, all of which depend on continuing to hold office. Such a system is unavoidably corrupting in multiple ways. Since men are still not saints, the rest follows as the night the day.

Posted by: Byron | Friday, July 13, 2007 at 07:44 PM
Term Limits should be the #1 priority for the electorate as of now.

We must end the idea of career politicians. I can think of no more urgent priority.

Posted by: Hugh Beaumont | Friday, July 13, 2007 at 09:55 PM

The reservations in theory I have had about term limits are gone. These guys need to be focused on representing the good of the country, not the good of their careers.

[Michael McNeil (Impearls)]

Byron wrote:
"The only solution to this is term limits. The Founders never imagined such a thing would be necessary, as public service was onerous and costly to those engaged in it. That men were not saints was not a problem, because their own self interest would cause them not to seek to make a career of holding office."

Actually, the Founders did envisage and allow for the fact that men aren't saints, and the "Virginia Plan" -- the first draft at a Constitution, composed by James Madison and submitted to the Constitutional Convention by the Virginia delegation thereto -- did include provisions for term limits for both bodies of the proposed national Legislature, as well as the ability to recall members of the lower house (which elected the upper, according to this draft). See resolutions 4 and 5 of the Virginia Plan: http://www.usconstitution.net/plan_va.html

[rgaye]

Not a McCain supporter but maybe they do see what happens to those who 'stick' to their guns. I'd agree that term limits would solve some of the problems we see and it would create others. They'd just find some way to pass their crown... uhmmm... seat to a 'chosen' successor and turn to lobbying. Very few who go to DC for any length of time come home. They stay and feed the monster.

[Tennwriter]

I've got a theory.

Back in the day, the Republicans lost with RINO's in charge. But it was a RINO party.

Now, with Socons and Libertarians, the Republicans win, but its not a fully RINO party.

The aristoi would rather be number two than have to "those people" at their party.

So...time to kick the RINO's out to form their own party. Call it the Totally Irrelevant Country Klub or TICK. The Socons and the Tarians need to make a deal. The Tarians are clearly second place in this deal, but still they will gain vastly more power than they do now. The Socons, as befits their power, numbers, and energy will run the R party.

[Phoenix]

Scrapiron,

"...he was a pompus ass then, and still is,...

I was a free lance photographer and did work for our two local papers. I got sent out to cover a political event where John Warner was present and was told to be sure and get a photograph of him talking to ..... I can't remember the names but do remember having to ask people who others were. I staked myself out amongst the most august crowd of rich people in my town (near Charlottesville) and started taking pictures. Everyone was drinking, of course, and everytime I clicked my shutter, I caught Warner taking a drink. I didn't mean to, but to him I was looking for trouble as he suddenly separated himself from the two men he was talking to and stormed towards me to 'yell' quietly and threateningly in my face, "Young lady, if you do anything with those pictures....." and I can't remember the rest. Maybe there was no overt final threat, but his menacing look and demeanor scared me. I was very young and used to these kinds of assignments, but usually I was the 'star' as everyone tried to get into a shot. Not with Warner. What a jerk.

I know why he dumped Liz. They showed up at one of the big annual horse races here and Liz sat up on a car and people thronged her. - in a very nice way, and she was nice, too. Old John was ignored. He couldn't abide that, I'm sure.

Just for fun, I printed out all the photograhs of him, and my editor almost died laughing. There was the required shot and no drink, but in the rest of them, there was a drink - on the way to his lips or touching his lips. Very funny as there must have been about fifteen of them, and I never tried for a drink shot.