Providence Journal:
Lincoln D. Chafee, who lost his Senate seat in the wave of anti-Republican sentiment in last November's election, said yesterday that he has left the party.
Chafee said he disaffiliated with the party he had helped lead, and his father had led before him, because the national Republican Party has gone too far away from his stance on too many critical issues, from war to economics to the environment.
"It's not my party any more," he said.
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I must admit that on election night last year I was at the Jim Webb party at the Sheraton in Tysons Corner. I was the only person booing when CNN called the Rhode Island senate race for Sheldon Whitehouse. I was really pulling for Chafee. I really liked him and thought he was not just one of the most reasonable Republicans in Washington, but one of the most reasonable politicians in all of Washington. As much as having great voices on our side of the aisle speaking up for what's important is great, Chafee symbolized that voice within his own party, the Republican Party. In the end though, it all came down to the (R) that was next to his name.
I hope we all look at former Sen. Chafee's service to this country with respect and for trying to elevate our public dialogue to have a more reasonable tone to it.
That being said, this move does not surprise me. Many moderate Republicans have been feeling left out when you have a national leadership comprised of far right wing idealogues like Sen. McConnell (R-KY) and Rep. John Boehner (R-OH). The left's leadership is much more diverse with the leadership combonation of Spkr. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Harry Reid. After seeing the Bush administration's post 9/11 foreign policy, Sen. Webb didn't just leave the Republican party, he began to affilliate himself with the Democrats. Mike Bloomberg, Sen. James Jeffords, and now former Sen. Chafee are showing the country that the GOP isn't as grand as it used to be.
Chafee's father was a bona fide war hero (Korea) and a conservative giant.
Lincoln Chafee, though not a colossus like his father, was a good man with solid values.
The Republican party is diminished.
Everyday in every way the GOP of today becomes less and less relevant. No loss.
GOP how small can you go?
you'll find out in November 08.
It was a bad day for our beloved Republic when an excellent Senator like Lincoln D. Chafee lost his election.
His leaving the GOP shows he's all American and a person of integrity.
Not so sad as he was replaced by a Democrat. The truly sad part was he stuck with the Republican Party which has pulled so far to the right over the years there were calls to throw Chafee out all together. What kind of people run that party when they can afford to lose a respected Senator? They are paying for it now and the entire country is paying for their incredible fuck up in Iraq.
Had he done it prior to the election he'd still have been the senator from RI. I want to hear the Zell Miller speech - "I didn't leave the Republican Party - the Republican Party left me."
So another one has decided to quit drinking the kool-aid. What they are all discovering is what the GOPERS are all about. They pass their moral judgement on everyone else, but please don't' say anything about what they are doing.
They have bankrupt our country, trashed our Constitution, ruined our standing throughout the world, invaded another country for oil, resulting in the deaths and destructions of so many lives, and left their own country men to drown and go without rescue, all because THEY ARE THE REPUBLICONS! I say they cannot fall off the Earth fast enough. Then maybe we can start taking our country back. Hopefully, people will remember these past eight years and learn, that just because some idiot says Oh, yea that guy is the kind I could have a beer with, he must be Presidential material, no matter he's stupid, uncaring, arrogant, cocky, rude, and generally a pathetic Mommy's boy, who cannot walk and chew gum at the same time.
The Democrats have several in their party too that need to be gone. If everyone registered as an Independent, then both parties would have to talk to everyone, because they wouldn't know which way you were leaning. Think about it. People who continually support a party even when they are responsible for illegal, and despicable acts, must need therapy.
The Dems politcal ad coffers are quickly filling up
with the BEST material ever to be aired during a presidential
race. All thanks to members of the Republican
Party, current and former. Love it!
Chafee is the best . . . he was the only GOP Senator to vote with Ted Kennedy and others AGAINST the invasion of Iraq; he refused to back the thug Bolton for the UN . . . he didn't vote for the chimp in 2004 . . . he is a man of great moral integrity . . . and he was my senator . . . I would love to see him back in DC . . . we need more people like him.
Only if he comes back as a Democrat!
Wilbur
I completely agree with you Macready, Lincoln D. Chafee is a good man, no doubt about it.
Chafee was the best Republican in NE. Now the paryt is totally run by the neocons and their new policy of alienating the entire world. God we need Dennis Kucinich but the establishment ignores or ridiclues him. Maybe he is more of a threat to them than they let on.
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Too bad about Chaffe. I mean I am glad he lost because that gave the Dems a majority in the Senate. He was one of the few GOP senators I actually thought was a decent human being.
Best of luck to Lincoln Chaffe.
The correct day to switch parties would have been October 1, 2006. That was the first day the voter registration office was open after it became clear that the Republican Party was actively harboring and abetting a known pedophile by the name of Mark Foley.
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First Posted: 09-16-07 01:22 PM | Updated: 03-28-08 02:45 AM