We have seen today the Great Retreat of our conservative (?) Republican leaders in the Senate. According to an AP story March 15, 01, Republican Senator Pete Domenici, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee (from New Mexico), said he didn't know if he could hold the Senate to a 4% increase in spending instead of the 8% increase that Clinton signed onto last year. At the same time Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee held a news conference at which he said that while he thought 4% would be enough, "I'm not sure the Senate will vote that way".The Senate majority leader, Trent Lott (R-Mississippi) has expressed similar misgivings.

These opinions are express4ed publicly, and have a very negative effect on the administration's plans. These comments reinforce the suspicion that these politicians want to keep spending as much as they can and to heck with the taxpayer. These politicians represent the same old same old, and they really don't want Bush's plans to succeed. They are encouraging the 'moderates' and liberals, both of whom follow the Socialist (Commonest!) theories of Big Government which ends with the State directing our lives. 1984? The word that describes this sort of two-faced support is a word that was popular during the Civil War. These men are Copperheads!

It seems that electing a conservative president wasn't enough. We are going to have to elect a whole new Senate (in increments, of course). For at least five years these faint-hearted Republicans (?) have been telling us that "If we only had a Republican president, we could get things done". Well boys, where is the action? We have a president who is Republican and conservative, and you guys are still shuffling your feet and waving white surrender flags.

If this country is really turning to the Right, your days are numbered. Imagine! Republican leaders using the Democratic mantra even before the Democrats start using it themselves! What is so hard to live with on a 4% increase in your budget? 4% is necessary to President Bush's budget. Stop looking for excuses to spend more (Pork!) and go to work on trimming government program expansions beyond that 4% mark.