The Revolt of the Clerics

Bull Moose discusses the revolt of the House Republicans. He points out that it was the Democrats that were supposed to fall apart but that it's not too surprising it's the Republicans. The first of many contentious issues is the intelligence Reform Bill. A majority of the House support it and the President supports it but it can't even get a hearing.

The Moose wonders whether the President will be forced to call in the 82nd Airborne to quell a rebellion in a nation's capital.

This time, the site of these disturbances is not Baghdad but rather D.C. Several rebellious congressional clerics are apparently challenging the Grand Ayatollah's authority in Washington over the intelligence bill. The first graph in the lead story in yesterday's New York Times told the entire story,

"President Bush sought to stem a near-rebellion by members of his own party in Congress yesterday by describing a sweeping intelligence-overhaul bill they oppose as an effort "to do everything necessary to confront and defeat the terrorist threat" and calling for its passage during a brief Congressional session this week."

Renegade clerics Hunter and Sensenbrenner are leading the insurgency. Hunter objects to the invasion of sacred congressional ground, otherwise known as turf. Sensenbrenner wants to crack down on infidels receiving driver's licenses. Both perhaps worthy objectives - but they do call into question who is in charge in the G.O.P.

Who is in charge of the Republican Party? Apparently not the "lame duck" President.

This probably is indicative of what the future holds for the G.O.P. as long suppressed tensions in the party come to the surface and their leader is increasingly viewed as a lame duck. Social moderates vs. the religious right, neo-cons vs. the foreign policy traditionalists and fiscal hawks vs. supply siders all may be feuding in the coming months and years.

We can only hope this infighting will neuter much of their agenda. This is one of those times when nothing is probably the best we can hope for.