NYT tries to divide GOP

NYT reports Squabbles Under the Big Tent

Republicans and conservatives are quarreling over Congress's intervention in the Terri Schiavo case, and the rising influence of Christian conservatives. Some Republicans in Washington and statehouses are balking at federal tax cuts in the face of deficits or spending cuts, while a few are worried that the war in Iraq will lead to more foreign entanglements. Republicans are beginning to whisper in the past tense as they discuss Mr. Bush's signature second-term measure, the revamping of Social Security.

Conservative commentators and blogs are even warning that Republican divisions could turn into turmoil once President Bush begins his fade from power. "The American right is splintering," the sometimes-conservative commentator Andrew Sullivan wrote in a column for The Sunday Times of London headlined, "Bush's Triumph Conceals the Great Conservative Crack-Up."

In truth, a lot of this talk seems overstated. Even Democrats say that Republicans are in a more commanding position than any major party has been in at least a generation

They are right. It is overstated. So why did they wait until the third paragraph to admit it. They really want to divide the GOP. They presented a graphic with a bunch of overlapping images of elephants trying to show that there are only certain places where interests overlap in the Big Tent GOP.



Ann Althouse blogged The sizes of the various elephants are supposed to represent their "relative dominance," and I'm not sure if that's a reference to the numbers of voters or some other aspect of political power. The Times invites arguments over the accuracy of this representation, and I'm sure they will get it. The graphic seems designed to make people like me -- who identify only with the "Security Coalition" group -- feel we should distance ourselves from a party that has very little to do with what we care about..... And here's a companion piece about the power groups within the Democratic Party. Neither party is very appealing. I'm keeping my distance from both.

There is really not a third alternative, unless when the Democratic party hits the ground completely it breaks into two parties - a centrist one and the far left extremists.

Cori Dauber blogged I noticed this by accident, but take a look at this article, look at the accompanying graphic and the blurb describing Lincoln Chafee. That's a big one

The quote she referred to about Lincoln Chafee is: Old Guard Coalition Republicans like Senator Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island who inherited their politics. A small, shrinking block that is pro-abortion, pro-environment, and often at war with tax cutters.

In other words, a RINO (Republican in Name Only)