Iraq last straw for GOP rebels

[paulk]

I just thought I'd post this as a counter to some of the more pessimistic "sky is falling" crap posted on DU the last few weeks. The Republican Party is showing some cracks over GW Bush's presidency, as this article points out. I've talked to several Republicans who have expressed exactly the same sentiments as those here - we're going to win this thing, people and this article shows why...


Republican roots run deep in Colorado, a state that with few exceptions could be counted on to deliver its electoral votes to the Republican ticket. So it's unusual six weeks before the election for the race here to be a dead heat.

Mary Lou Halliburton thinks she knows why.

Halliburton, a tax lawyer and a lifelong Republican, served on the White House staff during the Nixon administration and was appointed by Reagan-era Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger to the Defense Advisory Committee on Women and the Services.

But now she's organizing Colorado Republicans who are disenchanted with the party.

"We're looking for a way to form a group to take back our party," Halliburton said in between phone calls with prospective members. "We are obviously not going to be supporting Bush."

snip


Abortion was "the original wedge issue" that alienated many, Halliburton said. The appointment of "ideological" judges to the federal bench, and Republican support for the anti-gay-marriage amendment drove them further away. And the party's opposition to stem-cell research finally infuriated them.

snip

But nothing gets their blood boiling like the war in Iraq. They keep coming back to that.


The pre-emptive war was an act of "hubris," Halliburton said, a mistake that has made us weaker abroad and is destroying our economy.

"My loyalty is to America," Meiklejohn said. "The Republican Party I joined, well, that's just gone.

"I don't mean to be dramatic," he added. "I'm too old for that. But we have to make the government, the people wake up."

Diane Carman's column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. She can be reached at 303-820-1489 or [e-mail] .


http://www.denverpost.257E2409837,00.html
com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E115%

[AlCzervik]

1. the ironically named Mary Lou Halliburton

[WilliamPitt]

2. Busted link

[sniffa]

3. is haLLiburton upset with haLLiburton too?

[rogerashton]

4. I've posted this before --

It's time for a Reformed Grand Old Party.

In fact it's late, since it is too late for them to do anything about '04.

[paulk]

10. this has been bubbling under the surface for a long time

here in Colorado. The state republican party apparatus got taken over about 10 years ago by the religious whacko wing and there are a lot of old line Republicans who are upset about it. They're upset not only by Bush, but by the representatives they've had forced on them - people like Tom Tancredo, Scott McGinnes and Marylin Musgrave - people more interested in making waves on a national scene than actually representing their districts. That's why we have a shot a picking up some seats in the House this year, also.

[Just Me]

5. I have complete confidence - Kerry by a landslide!

In addition to the division within the Republican party, there are a helluva lot more undecideds than is being reported. Historically speaking, undecideds tend to go with the challenger. With the war in Iraq spiralling out of control, a net job loss, medicare screwed all to crap, social security being threatened, and a secretive/deceptive administration,....I have complete confidence that Kerry is gonna take this election,...short of martial law being declared by the incumbent!!!

[libhill]

6. And

we have to take into consideration, that younger voters, especially draft age males, will vote which side their bread is buttered on - a better chance of ending the war and avoiding a draft with Kerry, than with Bush. Time will tell.

[paulk]

11. When I sit down and look at it -

The only way Bush can win is by cheating. By any measure his term in office has been a failure - and I know a lot of Republicans and independents who recognize this. It's a hard thing for these people to admit - that's why it's up to us to help push them over the edge. This election is going to be won one vote at a time - and it's our job as DUers to get those votes.

I personally know 6 people who voted for Nader who are voting for Kerry this time. I know 3 Republicans, two who are voting for Kerry and one who is voting third party. I know a few more on the fence that I'm nursing along... I don't know a SINGLE PERSON who voted for Gore that is voting for Bush.

We will win this November. There is no alternative.

[Roland99]

7. Your link is FUBAR

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E115%257e2409837,00.html

[paulk]

8. fixed link

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E115%257E2409837,00.html

[yardwork]

9. Check out my thread on Rove as a miserable failure

So far all I get is backtalk.