Invoking Lincoln, Republicans gather here (Pittsburgh)

[RamboLiberal]

The designated theme of the summer meeting is "Give Us A Chance, We'll Give You A Choice: Strengthening Lincoln's Legacy."

<snip>

The meeting comes after a congressional session in which GOP majorities pushed through legislation embodying Bush administration priorities on an array of issues, from the Central American Free Trade Agreement to renewal of the Patriot Act. At the same time, however, the president's central domestic priority, an overhaul of the Social Security system, shows no signs of gaining legislative momentum.

The glass-half-full/half-empty analysis applies to the president as well. Less than a year ago, he won re-election with a record popular vote total, but he headed to his Texas ranch after the congressional recess with approval ratings noticeably eroded.

Better news from Iraq could change those numbers quickly. Administration officials in Washington and Baghdad are hoping that success in crafting a new constitution could set the stage for political stability and a reduction in American troop levels. For the present, however, there are no signs of an end to the insurgency, whose resolution, one way or another, will help write the Bush page in history.

With political antennae already sensitive to portents for the next presidential election, an unstated part of the agendas of the formal and informal gatherings in the Omni William Penn Hotel will involve handicapping the prospects of the party's would-be successors to Bush. More overtly, the GOP hierarchy will be focused on preserving its majorities in next year's midterm elections.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05216/548525.stm

Yuck - thought I smelt a stench this morning.

[spinbaby]

1. Certainly explains a lot

I wondered where that ugly haze over the city came from this morning.

[livetohike]

2. "Give us a chance, We'll give you a choice" ??

A choice!! Santorum for example?

I wonder if there is a large protest planned?

[zbdent]

6. We gave them a chance

and they want to eliminate "Choice" - at least for half the population . . .

[JohnnyBoots]

3. It explains all the 104.7 Hannity and Coors Light billboards......

[durutti]

4. Pitt basketball is also on 104.7.

I've long wanted to start some kind of campaign to get it off...

[JohnnyBoots]

5. Would be nice if Scaife didn't own mellon arena too, even

though I'm a Flyers fan it would be nice to go see Crosby live without giving that scumbag any $. I think the GOP is slowly trying to convert Pittsburgh to the darkside...maybe I'm just paranoid or a realist these days who knows.

[second edition]

7. Scaife is a sad excuse for a human being!

A no clue, rich guy, with no true concept of what it means to struggle or work really hard to achieve anything. He owns an extremely right wing, poor excuse for a newspaper, where he soap boxes and distorts issues presented to the masses who don't know any different or who have no other choice but to read his dribble in order to obtain local news and events.

[JohnnyBoots]

8. He also is a big time $$$ backer for the PNAC, so he is

even more vile than your average delusional rich republican.

[jonkronz2003]

9. Was Lincoln a role model?

From Abe's 1st inaugural address...
"I declare that I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so. "

GW said (paraphrased)-I'm not here to engage in nation building...

So, the repug party stand for "flip flopping"

[grumpy old fart]

10. hmmm, Lincoln was gay, or at least bi, and his wife insane....perfect.....

eom