Is It Miller Time Yet?
Or Are We Waiting For Hell to Freeze Over?
by Glenn R. Jackson
Last week the Senate Republicans were unable to break the Daschale 60 vote rule in order to make ANWR drilling a reality. Republicans could not muster enough public outcry, or enough votes to break America’s foreign oil dependency. This despite the fact that no reasonable person believed drilling on the “dark side of the moon” would harm a living thing.
ANWR went down to defeat with scarcely a peep out of the White House. Engaged as the Administration was in fronting the President’s speaking engagements against the “evil-doers”, and mounting Colin Powell’s Mideast road show, it is not surprising that little time was left for ANWR.
Unfortunately little time has been left for much of value in actually implementing a Republican agenda. No wonder the Democrats look like world-beaters. The President leads the world in the Terror War, but refuses to lead his Party against the insanity of the Democratic Party. Senator Zell Miller (D) of Georgia has done more to oppose his own Democratic Party then have the Republicans.
The President has signed two major Big Government bills into law, creating a more bloated Department of Education and empowering the Federal Aviation Administration with responsibility for Airport “Security”. Also signed into law by President Bush was a campaign finance law that he had promised NOT to sign when he was on the campaign trail.
Well before the 2000 Presidential campaign Republican leaders were saying that all they needed to implement a Republican agenda was to have a Republican President. Conservative voters were led to believe that a Republican President would mean the rollback of big government intrusions into their lives and wallets.
Instead we see from this Republican President a budget to make the Clinton year’s blush, and that before September 11th. On top of that add the monstrous Education bill and a new $600 million IRS budget increase and hope has dimmed for conservative dreams.
Since President Bush’s election a defection in the Senate has cost the Republicans control of that body. Now voters are told all that is needed is to elect Republicans to the Senate, and a conservative agenda is a slam-dunk.
It is time to realize a major truth in Washington D.C., hell will freeze over before the Republican Party has everything it needs to stand its ground.
Republican leaders need to stop trying to recruit Senator Miller to their side of the aisle; he will never switch anyway, instead they should just try to emulate his stand for principles. In Senator Miller they will see a man who remembers who elected him to represent them, and what those people expect him to do. Senator Miller is so serious about standing for his constituents, even against his own Party, that many in the punditry assume he will switch to the Republican side. Of course the Senator will not switch, but what if he did? Apparently the Republican leadership believes they will again control the Senate and hence the “agenda” for America.
Sure they will.
Republicans are once again showing what they are made of as they talk of refusing to go on CNN’s “Crossfire.” It seems that the hosts of the show from the Left, Paul Begala and James Carville, have been just too mean to the Republicans.
If you cannot handle two Democrats, what are you going to do with 49 in the Senate? No, the solution for the Republicans has nothing to do with numbers and everything to do with anatomy. If you ever want men like Senator Miller to want to join your team you need to show you are worthy of their support.
It is time to grow a backbone and stand up for your Republican principles.
Glenn R. Jackson is Chairman of the American Reformation Project, former State Chairman for Buchanan Reform and former state Chairman of the Georgia Freedom Party. Glenn also served on the Executive Committee of the Reform Party USA. Glenn holds an MA in Philosophy from Georgia State University in Atlanta.
© Glenn R. Jackson