Retiring GOPers to party leaders: We’re not taking orders anymore

[babylonsister]

Retiring GOPers to party leaders: We’re not taking orders anymore
Posted June 24th, 2008 at 4:20 pm



With a couple dozen House Republicans retiring this year, GOP leaders are counting on them to cast cost-free, party-line votes this election year. It’s not working out the way the leadership hoped.

As far as Boehner & Co. are concerned, they can understand when a vulnerable incumbent in a competitive district breaks party ranks. Plenty of Republican lawmakers have to run to the middle to avoid defeat in November. But for those who are retiring, they have nothing to worry about — no matter how far to the right they go, these retiring members can’t (and won’t) get punished by voters. Why not give the party a hand?

These lawmakers clearly don’t see things that way. In fact, now that they finally feel liberated to vote how they please, they’re breaking party ranks quite a bit.

Republican Reps. Vito J. Fossella of New York, Ray LaHood of Illinois, Jim Ramstad of Minnesota, Ralph Regula of Ohio and Jim Walsh of New York all crossed party lines recently to join with Democrats on a tight vote to extend unemployment insurance — even though they won’t be around to suffer the potential political consequences of voting no. After two contentious votes in which key retiring Republicans defected, the plan ultimately passed the following week in a lesser form as a bipartisan compromise attached to the war funding bill.

Retiring Republicans crossed over to vote with Democrats last week on federal parental leave and in previous weeks on union authority, expanded children’s health insurance, women’s rights and an expansive new GI Bill. Outgoing Republican Reps. Dave Hobson and Deborah Pryce of Ohio, Rick Renzi of Arizona, Tom Davis of Virginia and Wayne Gilchrest of Maryland have all bucked the party on key votes.

“It’s not helpful,” said a frustrated Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), “and you can use that quote.”

:D


more...

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/15985.html

[MichiganVote]

1. Cue the violins..........

[Eric J in MN]

2. Jim Ramstad (R-MN) voted for the FISA bill.

He's my Congressman.

Apparently, my email before the vote was unpersuasive.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

3. Now, when it's safe.

I'm glad the legislation passed, but when it mattered for the past 6-8 years, they were afraid to break with bush for fear of being cast from the party of Loyalty First, America second.

[Old and In the Way]

4. Party before country.

Mao had nothing on today's Republican Party.

[lonestarnot]

5. How 'bout those pugs!

:puke: