http://www.thefeeherytheory.com/2008/06/17/the-squishes-the-right-wing-wackos-and-the-republican-majority/ Theories on all kinds of things, but mostly politics. Sat, 04 Feb 2012 03:16:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://www.thefeeherytheory.com/2008/06/17/the-squishes-the-right-wing-wackos-and-the-republican-majority/comment-page-1/#comment-8 ZupWitDat Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:56:28 +0000 http://thefeeherytheory.com/?p=69#comment-8 This is an interesting post. I happened to observed Bob Michel and House Republicans over many years. From my perspective, the most conservative member of the Michel office was Bill Gavin. Bill, a speechwriter for Nixon along with Bill Safire and Pat Buchanan, wrote the now out-of-print tome, "Street Corner Conservative," which embraces in many ways much of the thinking of, "The Feehery Theory." President Reagan read the book and publicly admitted to having done so. Michel carried the water for House Republicans building their numbers from the low after Watergate (144) to 192 in 1980. The minority suffered from there as they became too much the "handmaiden" of President Reagan and then Bush 41. They still accomplished much with Reagan, winning his budget cuts and tax cut packages putting together a working majority with the "Blue Dogs" of that era. Michel also single-handedly kept the Contras alive until Ollie North went too far. Michel's career closed with the most underated ending, by helping Clinton pass Nafta and at the same time establishing an effective coordinated effort against "Hillary Health care." In his book, David Broder acknowledges Michel's prominent role with the regular meetings and House/Senate war room that helped coordinate the attack and develop the Mike Bilerakis alternative that business and members could support. But what has gone largely unnoticed was that this was done with Michel and Gingrich working together as partners. Those two by their work together, built the template of a strong Republican team-demonstrating skilled legislative craftsmanship combined with visionary ideas. A potential path for the future by showing the ability to govern with a new approach to government. When Michel stepped down, Newt as Speaker lost his legislative partner. When he stepped down, Hastert had the legislative skill but the party had lost its visionary genius. When the Republicans gained power in 1994 it was a team effort with Gingrich the hard charger, backed by a skilled craftsman. It will take the current Republican minority to understand how to work together as a broader thinking team to repeat that feat. The American people want a government that works, and Republicans must show that they can govern for all of America. This is an interesting post. I happened to observed Bob Michel and House Republicans over many years. From my perspective, the most conservative member of the Michel office was Bill Gavin. Bill, a speechwriter for Nixon along with Bill Safire and Pat Buchanan, wrote the now out-of-print tome, “Street Corner Conservative,” which embraces in many ways much of the thinking of, “The Feehery Theory.” President Reagan read the book and publicly admitted to having done so. Michel carried the water for House Republicans building their numbers from the low after Watergate (144) to 192 in 1980. The minority suffered from there as they became too much the “handmaiden” of President Reagan and then Bush 41. They still accomplished much with Reagan, winning his budget cuts and tax cut packages putting together a working majority with the “Blue Dogs” of that era. Michel also single-handedly kept the Contras alive until Ollie North went too far. Michel’s career closed with the most underated ending, by helping Clinton pass Nafta and at the same time establishing an effective coordinated effort against “Hillary Health care.” In his book, David Broder acknowledges Michel’s prominent role with the regular meetings and House/Senate war room that helped coordinate the attack and develop the Mike Bilerakis alternative that business and members could support. But what has gone largely unnoticed was that this was done with Michel and Gingrich working together as partners. Those two by their work together, built the template of a strong Republican team-demonstrating skilled legislative craftsmanship combined with visionary ideas. A potential path for the future by showing the ability to govern with a new approach to government. When Michel stepped down, Newt as Speaker lost his legislative partner. When he stepped down, Hastert had the legislative skill but the party had lost its visionary genius. When the Republicans gained power in 1994 it was a team effort with Gingrich the hard charger, backed by a skilled craftsman. It will take the current Republican minority to understand how to work together as a broader thinking team to repeat that feat. The American people want a government that works, and Republicans must show that they can govern for all of America.

]]>