How useless are the "moderate" Republicans, Chap. 57

George Packer reports in The Fall of Conservatism The New Yorker 05/26/08 (accessed 05/25/08):

The phrase that signalled Bush’s approach [in the 2000 campaign] was "compassionate conservatism," but it never amounted to a policy program. Within hours of the Supreme Court decision that ended the disputed Florida recount, Dick Cheney met with a group of moderate Republican senators, including Lincoln Chafee, of Rhode Island. According to Chafee’s new book, "Against the Tide: How a Compliant Congress Empowered a Reckless President" (Thomas Dunne), the Vice-President-elect gave the new order of battle: "We would seek confrontation on every front. ... The new Administration would divide Americans into red and blue, and divide nations into those who stand with us or against us." Cheney’s combative instincts and belief in an unfettered and secretive executive proved far more influential at the White House than Bush's campaign promise to be "a uniter, not a divider." Cheney behaved as if, notwithstanding the loss of the popular vote, conservative Republican domination could continue by sheer force of will. On domestic policy, the Administration made tax cuts and privatization its highest priority; and its conduct of the war on terror broke with sixty years of relatively bipartisan and multilateralist foreign policy. (my emphasis)

This might have had some constructive practical effect if this had become public, say, around the time it happened. But, so far as I'm aware, this is the first we've heard of that particular statement of Cheney's before he even took office, from "moderate" Republican Lincoln Chafee or any of the rest.

Tags: dick cheney, republican party, republicans