In the Senate, Raising a (Quiet) Republican Voice Against the Administrati

[kskiska]

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 - One day after the Supreme Court sealed the 2000 election for George W. Bush, his running mate, Dick Cheney, went to the Capitol for a private lunch with five moderate Republican senators. The agenda he laid out that day in December 2000 stunned Senator Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, sending Mr. Chafee on a painful journey of political conscience that, he said in an interview last week, has culminated with his decision not to vote for Mr. Bush in November.

"I literally was close to falling off my chair," Mr. Chafee said, recounting the vice president's proposals for steep tax cuts, missile defense programs and abandoning the Kyoto environmental accords. "It was no room for discussion. I said, 'Well, you're going to need us; it's a 50-50 Senate, you're going to need us moderates.' He said, 'Well, we need everybody.' ''

For Mr. Chafee, who was a prep school buddy of the president's brother Jeb and whose father, the late Senator John Chafee, was close to the first President Bush, that day was the beginning of an estrangement with the president, whom he had worked to elect. In the months since, he has opposed Mr. Bush on everything from tax cuts to gay marriage and the war in Iraq. Now, this life-long Republican has concluded that he cannot cast his ballot for the leader of his party.

"I'll vote Republican," he said, explaining that he would choose a write-in candidate, perhaps George Bush the elder, as a symbolic act of protest. Asked if he wanted Senator John Kerry to be president, Mr. Chafee shook his head sadly, as if to say he could not entertain the question. "I've been disloyal enough," he said.

more…
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/04/politics/04chafee.html?oref=login

[msanthrope]

1. Come over to this side of the caucus, Senator, the water's fine...n/t

[Carla in Ca]

14. He could still change his mind.

Lets ask him again after the next debate.

[Infomaniac]

2. Come on over, Lincoln.

C'mon on over Lincoln. You didn't leave the Republican party; it left you.

[Lefta Dissenter]

3. WOW

that's sobering.

[bluestateguy]

4. If Bush wins, he'll get pissed enough to switch in a year or two

Jim Jeffords said that the Republican Party was also his lifelong party too.

Party switching can be a very emotional act, requiring many years before people can own up to doing it. There are still thousands of registered Democrats in the South, who have not actually voted Democratic in 30 years.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

5. Don't switch your Party Senator, just switch your caucus.

You are a Liberal/Eisehower Republican which is in today's terms a Democrat.

[Rose Siding]

8. The few with consciences must not believe it yet or something

snip>
"I said, 'I'm a pro-choice, antiwar, antideficit Republican,' " he recalled. "And Judd Gregg said, 'The key word there is: Republican.' ''
----------------

The word alone is meaningless.

[sonicx]

6. contact him here...

http://chafee.senate.gov/webform.htm

tell him to hop on over.

[Rose Siding]

7. LOOK AT THEM accuse him of being a "counterpart to Zell Miller"!!!

He is quietly CONVICTED. NOT braying malicious venom as the KEYNOTE speaker. They have NO sense of proportion. NONE. :grr:

snip>
On Capitol Hill, some regard Mr. Chafee, a soft-spoken, gentle man who once shoed horses for a living, as the Republican counterpart to Senator Zell Miller, the fiery Georgia Democrat who is campaigning for Mr. Bush
.............

And look at Jeffords! With style and sensitivity, he doesn't want to talk to the press about it at all.

snip>
"I understand the feelings that he has," Mr. Jeffords said. "I'm going to be talking to him, so I'm not going to say any more. I probably shouldn't have even told you that."
...............

OKAY, personal reality check, but I just feel very protective of people whose journey isn't complete, but they are headed in the right direction. That's worthy of some respect and the repubs will just try to crush them.

[bluedeminredstate]

9. You're right.

He's at least admitting to being conflicted which in this party of DeLay and Frist is the same as spitting on Bush's royal cowboy boots.
I respect him and his honesty which he's shown for the last few years. He's voted with his conscience on important votes many times, and I think he really is more of a Dem than a repug. I bet he's voting for Kerry...

[fearnobush]

10. Come on over, the water is fine. Your old Party is no longer Republican.

Its now the imperial party. Come on over, the constitution needs you more than ever.

[Amigust]

11. He'll waste his vote rather than vote to get Caligula out of office.

In so doing, by example he is encouraging others who are discontent with Bush to waste their votes also.

On the plus side, it's good to hear him speaking up, and I appreciate his fighting Bush in Congress.

[David__77]

17. Actually, he made the argument that it didn't matter since RI is for Kerry

He said that it was OK for him to vote in protest since RI will clearly go for Kerry by a large margin. Sounds to me that if it were close, he'd go for Kerry.

[Amigust]

20. Chomsky said he would throw away his vote too because MA is a safe state.

However, the "safe state" argument has never washed with me because the message is nevertheless out there that it is ok to throw away your vote.

The problem is, far too many voters are lucky if they even know who the Dem candidate is, let alone know whether their state is a "safe state". We're NOT dealing with a completely educated electorate here, not by a long shot, and every vote cast does count in EVERY state.

There's just too much riding on this election to risk a single vote by being an "individualist" or "making a statement."

[dansolo]

21. Republicans wasting their votes are a good thing

Ideally they will be voting for Kerry, but don't underestimate the value of getting them to not vote for Bush. If a vote for Nader is considered a vote for Bush, then a Republican not voting for Bush is a vote for Kerry.

[Amigust]

27. You're right about the arithmetic, of course.

I'll think some more about my argument in Sen. Chafee's case.

[Leilani]

12. I really admire Linc Chafee...

he voted against the Iraq War...said he had questions & went out the the CIA to talk to the analysts. What they showed him did not equal a danger from Saddam Hussein.

Just think if a few Dem Senators had thought of doing the same thing.

This guy has integrity. It must be harder for him to stay a Republican & deal with their crap, than joining the Dems.

[calimary]

22. I called his office (using that TOLL FREE CAPITOL HILL SWITCHBOARD

number - 1 800 839 - 5276) and told the staffer who answered that I appreciated his courage, and that he was welcome to come on over any time, and that we won't bite. Then I said he might want to consider at least doing what Jim Jeffords did, and switching to Independent, since the republi-CONS in power now not only don't reflect what he believes in (and what I believe in), but are making him look bad by being connected to them. Then I told him that since that other party makes people like him sit at the kiddie table, he could sit with the grown-ups if he came over to OURS. The staffer was very friendly and thanked me, and promised to pass it on.

[koopie57]

13. I'm glad he is saying these things but

I'm troubled about something .. I don't know if I can clearly put my finger on it. It has something to do with his use of the word disloyal. I don't like it that being disloyal to * is bad, but being disloyal to himself is okay. I know he voted in opposition to *, but something doesn't sit right with me here. I don't know, I guess I should get some sleep.

[greenman3610]

15. These madmen are destroying this country.

How about loyalty to America, Fuckhead?

[belle]

36. Well, I took it to mean that being R was a big part of his identity...

I actually didn't read it as "disloyal to *," but "disloyal to his long-held beliefs" or something.

[Zynx]

16. Lincoln Chafee is my kind of Republican.

The liberal kind.

[napi21]

18. He's done a lot by openly stating his position!

There are quite a few Pubs who would NEVER renounce their Party, but are very disenchanted with shrub! I think he does more good by explaining why he can't support shrub than he would do by changing Party. If he, or any of them, change Party, they just pi** off other pubs, that same as Zell did with the Dems. By stating his position, it "allows" other strong Pubs to do the same, and still believe in their Party. I would love to see a lot of true pubs write in a candidate of thier choice! That would leave the neocons wriging their hands trying to figure out how to demonize someone when you have no idea who the opposition is? Heck, they could write in a dead man like Nixon!

[m_welby]

19. Thats my senator

and like his dad before him (who had his senate seat for many years) he is a real republican, he doesn't want to abandon his party - he wants to fight for it. He has (again like his dad before him) stood up for his beliefs and what he feels his party stands for. I have no problem with Lincoln,; in fact I admire and respect his stand. For him to 'cross over' to our side as some of you have suggested would be a betrayal of his beliefs and do not expect that to happen.

I would also advise that before anyone here attempts to make light of his positions (or make light of our little state), that they take a look at their own Representatives in Washington. From Rhode Island, besides Lincoln, we have Sen. Jack Reed (D) - which some of you might remember from his traveling to Iraq with Hillary, Rep. Jim Langevin (D) who you may remember from his speech at the Convention, and Patrick Kennedy (Ted's son).

I am very pleased with my representatives in congress, and their records. How about you ?

[calimary]

23. Welcome, m_welby! I'm from Southern California, and I'm a

Henry Waxman Woman. Seldom has there been a better representative! We've also got Barbara Boxer (whom I love) and Dianne Feinstein, about whom I'm so-so. You SHOULD be pleased with Lincoln Chafee. He's one of the good guys. I understand it may be shriekingly hard to change parties. I know it'd be difficult for me. That's why I suggested he consider being an independent. At least he's brave enough, and principled enough, to speak out.

[m_welby]

29. if the senate doesn't change

he just might go independant. I urge him to.

Thanks for the welcome, just another long time lurker here finally putting my 2 cents.

[calimary]

40. Looking forward to hearing more from you.

I wonder sometimes how many "newbies" are actually more like you - having been here a long time, just not yet weighing in more overtly for whatever reason. Glad you did.

They can't build enough Gitmos to hold us all.

[Norbert]

34. Don't remind me m_welby

My representatives in Washington are Sen. Mike DeWine (R), a shrub poodle dog, Sen. George Voinovich (R), who talks like a maverick at times but toes the line like a whipped puppy when crucial votes come up ,and Rep. Steve Chabot, who calls himself a fiscal conservative but voted to put us in deficit heaven. And to think 14 years ago I had Sens. Glenn and Metzenbaum plus Rep. Tom Luken.

Be thankful for what you have. I would gladly trade all three of my current representatives for one Lincoln Chaffee.

[missjudy6]

35. Well I'm from Louisiana

and we all know what "representation" means here.
Sen John Breaux (D) is retiring, the field of potentials includes: David Vitter (R) who while in the house had inserted in "no child left behind" a clause wherein military recruiters get the name and address of high school students
Chris John (D) who actively supports cockfighting.
Those are the front runners.

[Gregorian]

24. Disloyal. Disloyal to Bush. Disloyal to his own conscience.

But mostly, disloyal to America.
I'll never ever understand these pathetic beings called Republicans. It IS genetic. Mark my word. I have declared my stance as official- It IS genetic. They would rather see America die a horrible death than vote for Kerry. Kerry, who after all has a magnitude of loyalty, knowledge, honesty, above and beyond Bush. But then, so does that rock over there.

Don't forget to turn out the light, BOZO!

[MADem]

25. It's all about influence

If he makes a huge stink, he loses committee seats, and gets shunned as a pariah and becomes ineffectual. He needs GOP votes to get goodies for his state. I think he's done a good thing--he made his sentiments clear, but he didn't shoot himself in the foot or head while so doing. He also quietly suggests that it is ok to deprive the weecowboy of a vote.

[m_welby]

28. he is being loyal to himself

and his constituents (of which i am one). his vote is PERSONAL and unless im mistaken, everyone has a right to vote their concience in america (at least my america).

the most telling thing he said is that he is in a safe kerry state (which he is), and that his vote will not go to *.

how many sitting Republican senators are there that have said publically they are NOT voting for *?

Do you know if your representatives are not voting for bush?

[Gregorian]

32. I should be more optimistic.

I was about to post that very thing. But I just lazed out. You're right. And it's something I should celebrate. It's a very good sign. The reality of it is that noone can tolerate this kind of behavior in the White House. I focused on the negative. But then I want a perfect world. One where there is a president who is at least as intelligent as most of us on this forum.

[wildeyed]

26. Recovering Republicans.

The first step is admitting there is a problem.......

[chrislrob]

30. He knows what he OUGHT to do...

"Asked if he wanted Senator John Kerry to be president, Mr. Chafee shook his head sadly, as if to say he could not entertain the question. "I've been disloyal enough," he said."

There is something SO goddamned sad in that statement...

Hey, Linc, if Rhode Island is so safe, how about making an appeal to a swing state? We NEED people like you!!

[newyawker99]

31. Hi chrislrob!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[kwolf68]

33. This is important

To point how how valuable Dem wins in Oklahoma, Colorado and Alaska could be.

[w4rma]

37. "Disloyal" What about loyalty to your country, rather than your party?

He sees the damage they are trying to do to this country. He has seen their agenda for this country, and yet he, as a sitting Senator, will barely lift a finger to stop them. He is being a wimp, without any backbone. And as far as I'm concerned he should stay in the Chickenhawk party until he gets a backbone and does his own fighting.

In fact, if he didn't sound so believably wimpy I'd think that he was only saying this for his own reelection.

[m_welby]

38. barely lift a finger?

you mean like being one of the only repub senators to vote agains the IWR?

you mean voting against the patriot act?

I can go on and on. Sen Chafee has been fighting against the neo cons since they came to power at the expense of his own standing in the party.

Wimpy is not how I would describe Sen. Chafee's senate record. Many Democrats (including Sen Kerry) didn't stand up to the neocons on IWR. Linolcn has stood up to them every step of the way.

What he means when he talks about being disloyal isn't just his party; it's what his party used to stand for.

Lincoln Chafee now sits in the seat of his father; Sen. John Chafee - a lifelong republican who believed in small government, balanced budgets and was instrumental in passing the clean air act and the formingation of the EPA. Lincoln isn't going to abandon his republican ideals because a bunch of nuts have taken over his party. It would be disloyal to himself, his party, and the memory of his father.

When your senator has as good a voting record for our side as Sen. Chafee does, you can disparage his loyalty, otherwise...

[mike_c]

39. "I've been disloyal enough," he said....

Mr. Chafee needs to take a good long look at where his loyalties really lie-- with the U.S. constitution and the interests of its citizens, or with the fascists who are running his party to the detriment of both.