THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Volume VII, Issue # 123, June 3, 2005
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
Government Committed to & Acting in Accord with Conservative Principles
Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity
MCCAIN'S DELUSION: THE REBIRTH OF "MODERATE" DOMINANCE
By Christopher G. Adamo
THE SELF-SEEKING PRAGMATISM, UNPRINCIPLED POLITICAL OPPORTUNISM, & UTTER TREACHERY OF "REPUBLICANS" CALLING
THEMSELVES "MODERATES" & "CENTRISTS" -- THE GRANDIOSE PLAN OF JOHN MCCAIN & OTHER SOCALLED "REPUBLICAN
MODERATES" IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE TO "RULE FROM THE CENTER": HOW THE "MODERATES" HOPE TO GAIN
DOMINANT POLITICAL POWER BY COLLABORATING WITH THE DEMOCRATS, BETRAYING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY & ITS
LEADERSHIP, & UNDERMINING THE POSITION OF THE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN THE SENATE
FULL STORY:
Despite continuing outrage among Conservatives over last week's sellout of
U.S. Senate Republicans by seven "Moderates" in their midst, it is clear that
Arizona Senator John McCain, the apparent leader of the effort, presumes
himself to be a big winner.
While McCain has been positively deferential towards Senate Majority Leader
Bill Frist when questioned directly, his actions dealt a severe setback to
Frist's efforts to solidify Republican Senate clout. Appearing widely in
front of network cameras (a place he clearly relishes), McCain nevertheless
pronounced that the compromise had been undertaken "in the finest traditions
of the Senate."
However, any presumed victories resulting from last week's treacherous act
will be short-lived indeed. McCain's deal which, not surprisingly, mirrors
the original plan presented by Minority Leader Harry Reid and the Democrats,
exemplifies the classic format of political strategizing by "Moderates."
Riding to power on the coattails of Conservatism, they occasionally find
themselves in a position to tip the scales on critical issues. Invariably,
they do so in favor of the political Left.
In 2001, Vermont Senator Jim Jeffords briefly gained a place in the
spotlight by renouncing his Republican affiliation. With the Senate evenly
divided, Jeffords officially switched to being an "Independent" and vowed to
support Democrats for Senate leadership, thereby negating the slight
majority Republicans had held after the 2000 elections.
Thus Tom Daschle (D.-SD) ascended as Senate Majority leader, remaining in that position until the 2002
elections reduced his party, once again, to the minority status.
But, while Jeffords forfeited any trust he had shared with Republican
colleagues, he eventually learned that he had never gained the respect of
the Democrats. They had merely exploited his willingness to sell out his
party.
Contrary to the misguided hopes of John McCain, such behavior does not
constitute a significant force of "Centrism" that might seize the reins of
power based on the superiority of its ideas. Rather, it indicates the worst
sort of capricious opportunism, proving its adherents to be nothing more
than self-seeking pragmatists.
Devoid of any loyalty, these socalled "Centrists" are only able to appear
relevant on the political scene by virtue of their duplicity to the
Republican leadership. Moreover, they have little influence on the
Democrats, since they are unable to affect the makeup of legislation
originated from that camp. Thus, their ability to betray and sell out is one
sided. In the long run, all of this will redound to McCain as neither
principle nor leadership.
Some have claimed that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee has
been politically wounded by McCain's treachery. But, while it is true that
Frist's clout in the Senate isn't what it was presumed to be prior to the
betrayal, the blame will only be fixed on Frist to any degree that he
acquiesces to the move.
Worse still for McCain, his grandiose plan of "ruling from the center" is
already coming unraveled. Before the week's end, Democrats had discredited
the insipid promises of the seven turncoats that the Senate could "get back
to business."
Debate over the nomination of John Bolton as UN Ambassador has now been
stalled in the same manner as were the judicial nominees. In truth, McCain's
only real accomplishment was to revert the Senate back to a place where
Democrats could assume control. Such is hardly a principled or heroic feat.
Furthermore, public outrage has scared two of the seven, Mike Dewine of Ohio
and Lindsay Graham of South Carolina, into backtracking. Both are now
attempting to deflect anger from the Conservative grassroots with
conciliatory, albeit empty, rhetoric. The notion that America could be
inspired by such unprincipled and unstable characters now seems grimly
comical.
In recent years, the federal courts have become smug in their knowledge that the
public has no redress to their activist decisions. But now Conservatives
have a target, which they can hold accountable to such anger. With each
ensuing bad decision, Republican and Conservative anger will be rekindled
against the seven who perpetuated the outrage.
Conservative Republicans are often warned that inflexibility on their part
towards the Party's "Moderate" wing might eventually alienate such noted
individuals as Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine. On the other hand, the Party's
adherence to principle has historically attracted Conservative Democrats,
who will cross party lines if the GOP aspires to something higher, and not
merely cheaper, than that peddled by the Democrats.
Former Georgia Senator (and Governor) Zell Miller is a good example. And to
Conservatives, that would be an excellent trade.
LINKS TO RELATED TOPICS:
American Politics & Political Competition
American Government & the U.S. Congress
Liberalism Versus Conservatism in American Politics
Christopher G. Adamo is a freelance writer who lives in southeastern Wyoming and works in the field of industrial instrumentation.
He is actively involved in Wyoming's political process, serving as a delegate to successive Wyoming State Republican Conventions
and as a member of the Wyoming State Republican Central Committee. He has assisted Republican candidates for local and state
legislatures and for the United States Congress. His articles, which appear regularly in The Progressive Conservative, U.S.A.,
and on a number of other websites, reflect a major concern with the damage being done to Conservatism and Conservative causes by
the Liberal Leftist faction in the Republican Party as well as by the much larger and more powerful Liberal Leftist faction in the
Democratic Party. During the early and middle 1990s, Adamo was Editor of the Wyoming Christian Coalition's official news organ,
The Wyoming Christian. Adamo maintains his own Internet website, which is located at
www.chrisadamo.com.
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