It has become ever more clear of late that the unholy coalition of social conservatives and business interests is starting to unravel. Reuters has an article about it today:
Senate Battle Over Judges Concerns Business
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Paul Miller and other business lobbyists are worried that a battle over President Bush's judicial nominees may tie the Senate into knots, endangering legislation they want turned into law.
Rest of article.
More of the article and my thoughts on the flip.
''We are alarmed,'' said Miller, a lobbyist on Capitol Hill since 1996 who has headed the 700-member American League of Lobbyists since January.
``If things break down and nothing gets done, we and others will tell them, 'Enough is enough' ... 'Get things done or else you won't be back.'''
The business community helped Republicans expand their majorities in Congress in last year's elections and now wants them to pass a crush of legislation.
A major energy bill and transportation measure are on its wish list, along with a proposed trade agreement with Central American nations, tax relief and legislation to revamp medical malpractice laws.
Since the article only quotes two people by name - Miller and someone from the chamber of commerce - plus paraphrasing lots of unnamed politicians, it's tough to say how much of this is actually happening. If true, it will make the GOP's job much more difficult, as some pro-business Senators will refuse to engage in the debate.
What would be best for the DEMs, though, would be a long, drawnout fight on the judicial nominations that will paralyze the Senate and keep further bad laws like the bankruptcy bill from being passed.
What this will require is a) the DEMs sticking together and b) a leadership that can use the Senate rules to their advantage. Recent history has shown both of these to be the case.
Hopefully the views expressed in this article will become conventional wisdom, and the giant crack within the Republican party will grow and catapult the worst offenders out of office next year. If that's not mixing metaphors.
(One thing that struck me on re-reading what I posted: Why is the American League of Lobbyists automatically seen as a pro-business group? There're lots of environmental lobby groups, too, aren't there? Either the ALL is mis-named, or Reuters is missing the boat)