E.J. Dionne: More losses for moderate Republicans

[question everything]

So will moderate Republicans stand up? Or will the Republican right render them even more impotent than they were before Nov. 2?

With our nation's capital now under even firmer Republican domination, conservatives are claiming a mandate for everything from the partial privatization of Social Security to a transformation of the American judiciary. The moderates have a choice of going along with a swing to the right or fighting for the power to influence policies in their direction.

Moderate Republicans win in the blue states by saying they are different from Tom DeLay and other Republican right-wingers. But in Washington, they are punished if they act on what they tell the voters.

(snip)

Query: Which party is really open on the abortion issue?

Republicans are fine with their members being for abortion rights if that's what they have to tell voters to hold their seats. But such Republicans can expect only resistance if they dare to rise to the top and expect any meaningful influence on the issue.

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http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20041116/news_lz1e16dionne.html


Dionne can be reached via e-mail at [e-mail].

[struggle4progress]

1. Republicanism: endorsed by extremists everywhere!