Bush agenda faces some GOP resistance

[paineinthearse]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/01/18/bush_agenda_faces_some_gop_resistance/

Bush agenda faces some GOP resistance
By Rick Klein, Globe Staff | January 18, 2005

WASHINGTON -- Republicans in Congress are growing increasingly vocal in their opposition to major items on President Bush's agenda, calling into question the likelihood of Bush's ambitious second-term program passing, even as he prepares to take the oath of office with an expanded majority of his own party. At least four elements of Bush's plans are drawing reactions from Republicans ranging from outright opposition to quiet discomfort. The cracks in party unity are appearing at a time when the White House needs to move quickly to implement new policies before the momentum coming out of the November elections fades.

Some fiscal conservatives are balking at the price tag and political wisdom of Bush's plan to create personal retirement accounts for part of Social Security, with the federal budget deficit already at a record level and Democrats ready to demonize Republicans as hurting retirees. A coalition that includes some of the House's most powerful Republican members is seeking to tighten the nation's borders and crack down on illegal immigration, even as Bush seeks to grant some illegal immigrants special permits to allow them to work legally in the United States.

A group of conservative House members is threatening to try to roll back portions of the Medicare prescription drug benefit before it takes effect in 2006, setting up an intra-party fight over one of Bush's signature accomplishments. Bush's proposal to extend the testing provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act to cover high schools, which the White House unveiled last Wednesday, is getting a cool reception from some GOP members of Congress, who don't want further federal involvement in local schools or the vast increases in education spending the president is calling for.

Representative Tom Tancredo, a Colorado Republican, said many Republicans in Congress were hesitant to criticize the president during his reelection campaign, for fear of hurting the party's chances in the election. But members of what he called the "bite-your-lip caucus" now have no reason to hold back their reservations, he said, and they don't owe the administration blind loyalty. "As of Nov. 2, that caucus is dissolved," said Tancredo, who is leading Republican efforts to crack down on illegal immigration. "Second-term presidents don't have a terribly impressive success rate. . . . I don't know where he's going to get the votes to do some of these things."

more.....

[mark414]

1. these guys BETTER keep the heat up

at this point they're our only hope

[coloradodem2005]

2. Bring on the division.

They crack and we can stomp on the pieces.

[GRLMGC]

5. That's what we should be doing

Taking advantage of their divisions just like they take advantage of ours. This is a prime opportunity.

[unblock]

3. i am becoming optimistic that shrub will be the lamest lame duck ever

i think he's quickly becoming irrelevant, as his own party is already jockeying for position in 2008 and also realizing that they're probably on their own in 2006 because shrub's agenda isn't going to help them.

let just hope that the bfee propaganda nightmare doesn't just transfer to frist or whoever the next heir apparent is....

[quinnox]

4. wow, so some republicans actually don't want the country to collapse?

I'm sure Delay will whip them into shape in notime, the rich still aren't rich enough!

[Wapsie B]

6. But.........sputter sputter...........

how could this happen to a man chosen by God to lead us? Why do they hate America?

[Pam-Moby]

7. "bite-your-lip caucus"

Well its time to hit the repubs with emails urging them to not support the SS issue and invading Iran. The time is now.

[Goldeneye]

8. I love a good brawl.

I hope we see some GOP wrestlin'.

[AmandaRuth]

9. hmmm....I predict boosh will push his agenda through

with the slimmest of margins, with the most vocal opposition coming from those repukes up for election in 2006, Like this hasn't already been plotted out.

My belief is that all repukes want the destruction of any and all socialist programs because that is what make them repukes in the first place. I am not at all sure that the American people will know what hit 'em, when the reality of everything sinks in, but hey, at least those gays can't get married.