GOP Wrestles with Where to Go from Here: Confrontation or Cooperation?

Hallow, Ralph Z., The Washington Times (Washington, DC)

Republicans seem more tentative than they have in years about who they are and where they want to go after being hit with bad news and good news on Tuesday.

They have lost two presidential elections back-to-back for the first time since 1964 but have won two consecutive majorities in both houses of Congress for the first time since 1928. The question they now face is: Should they become a big-tentcoalition or maintain themselves as a moderate-conservative alliance that speaks in softer, non-threatening rhetoric?

"We have to decide if we are a congressional majority party that responds to Democratic presidential initiatives or a national party that initiates major legislation and prepares to retake the White House," says Don Fierce, until recently a political strategist for the Republican National Committee.

The temptation for Republicans to stay in their foxholes and wait out history's unfolding is strong.

For one thing, Republicans in Congress believe they have President Clinton …

Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information: Article title: GOP Wrestles with Where to Go from Here: Confrontation or Cooperation?. Contributors: Hallow, Ralph Z. - Author. Newspaper title: The Washington Times (Washington, DC). Publication date: November 10, 1996. Page number: 1. © 2009 The Washington Times LLC. COPYRIGHT 1996 Gale Group.

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