An Opportunity Squandered
Despite the fact that Rhode Island moderate Senator Lincoln Chafee voted against the Iraq war resolution, he became a casualties of the anti-Bush voting that swept the country. He is well liked by many Democrats, but his reelection would have given the Republicans a majority in the Senate and they would have continued their unwavering support for Bush.
In December 2000, after one of the closest elections in our nation’s history, Vice President-elect Dick Cheney met with a small group of moderate Republicans on the eve of a session of Congress in which the Senate was evenly divided.
Chafee was surprised to hear Cheney dismiss suggestions of compromise and instead emphasize an aggressively partisan agenda that included significant tax cuts, the abandonment of international agreements and an aggressive unilateral foreign policy.
Chafee has written: “Instead of a new atmosphere of cooperation and civility which, after all, had been the promise of the Bush-Cheney campaign, we seemed ready to return to the poisonous partisanship that marked the Republican Congress during the Clinton White House years.”
Like many Americans, Chafee had believed one of the most popular refrains expressed by Governor Bush during the presidential campaign was, “I am a uniter, not a divider.” Moderate congressional Republicans believed they could help the new Bush administration develop a unifying agenda in Congress. They believed in maintaining discipline both in discretionary spending and in proposals for significant tax cuts. Republican moderates in Congress hoped to continue a period of relative prosperity and peace. Chafee foresaw an important opportunity for our country to stay on a firm pathway toward elimination of debt.
Early in 2001, there seemed to be areas of great promise for early bipartisan cooperation. Chafee believed progress on environmental issues could do much to enhance the Bush administration’s program. He had hoped that Bush would be open to proposals to reduce the country’s reliance on foreign oil through energy conservation and greater investments in mass transit.
Lincoln Chafee’s suggestions were not heeded. However, he continues to hope the new Congress and the Bush administration can find common ground for the common good.
In December 2000, after one of the closest elections in our nation’s history, Vice President-elect Dick Cheney met with a small group of moderate Republicans on the eve of a session of Congress in which the Senate was evenly divided.
Chafee was surprised to hear Cheney dismiss suggestions of compromise and instead emphasize an aggressively partisan agenda that included significant tax cuts, the abandonment of international agreements and an aggressive unilateral foreign policy.
Chafee has written: “Instead of a new atmosphere of cooperation and civility which, after all, had been the promise of the Bush-Cheney campaign, we seemed ready to return to the poisonous partisanship that marked the Republican Congress during the Clinton White House years.”
Like many Americans, Chafee had believed one of the most popular refrains expressed by Governor Bush during the presidential campaign was, “I am a uniter, not a divider.” Moderate congressional Republicans believed they could help the new Bush administration develop a unifying agenda in Congress. They believed in maintaining discipline both in discretionary spending and in proposals for significant tax cuts. Republican moderates in Congress hoped to continue a period of relative prosperity and peace. Chafee foresaw an important opportunity for our country to stay on a firm pathway toward elimination of debt.
Early in 2001, there seemed to be areas of great promise for early bipartisan cooperation. Chafee believed progress on environmental issues could do much to enhance the Bush administration’s program. He had hoped that Bush would be open to proposals to reduce the country’s reliance on foreign oil through energy conservation and greater investments in mass transit.
Lincoln Chafee’s suggestions were not heeded. However, he continues to hope the new Congress and the Bush administration can find common ground for the common good.
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