<quote> Those feigning a difference between Republicans (Rs) and Democrats (Ds) might find the grading efforts of the New American (12 July 2004) entitled Conservative Index
http://www.thenewamerican.com/tna/2004/07-12-2004/108-3.pdf
It is well past time to consider ACTION instead of empty rhetoric when considering the Parties of Democrat and Republican.
According to The New American:
The Conservative Index rates congressmen based
on their adherence to constitutional principles
of limited government, to fiscal responsibility,
to national sovereignty, and to a traditional
foreign policy of avoiding foreign entanglements.
Preserving our Constitution, the freedoms it
guarantees, and the moral bedrock on which it
is based is what the word 'conservatism' once
meant -- and how it is being applied here.
To learn how any representative or senator voted
on the key measures described herein, look him up
in the tables on pages 26-31. The scores are
derived by dividing a congressman's conservative
votes (pluses) by the total number he cast
(pluses and minuses) and multiplying by 100.
(A "?" indicates that a congressman did not vote,
and a "P" indicates that he voted 'Present'. If
a congressman cast fewer than five votes in this
index, a score is not assigned.
The average House score for this index is 46%; the
average Senate score is 41 percent. Representative
Ron Paul (R-Texas) had the top score for the House
at 100 percent. Senator John Ensign (R-Nev.) had the
highest score in the Senate at 80 percent.
We encourage readers to examine how their own
congressman voted on each of the 10 key measures
in this index as well as overall. Our first index
for the 108th Congress (votes 1-10) appeared in our
July 14, 2003 issue, and our second index (votes
11-20) appeared in our December 29, 2003 issue.
We also encourage readers to commend legislators for
their conservative votes and to urge improvement
where needed. For congressional contact information
go to www.thenewamerican.com/congress/.
[I lumped those 'calling' themselves 'Independent' as Democrats ... splitting the Survey into Ds and Rs]
108th Congress HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Republicans 40.6123% 'Conservative' ... OR ... 59.3877% 'Liberal' Grades A -- 1, B -- 3, C -- 3, D -- 8, F -- 212 F of less than 50% ... 184 (or 81%)
Democrats 40.4175% 'Conservative' ... OR ... 59.5825% 'Liberal' Grades A -- 0, B -- 0, C -- 0, D -- 3, F -- 203 F of less than 50% ... 180 (or 87%)
Democrats plus Republicans 40.5196% Conservative ... OR ... 59.4804% 'Liberal' A -- 1, B -- 3, C -- 3, D -- 11, F -- 415 F of less than 50% ... 364 (or 84%)
US SENATE
Republicans 46.0196% 'Conservative' ... OR ... 53.9804% 'Liberal' Grades A -- 0, B -- 0, C -- 0, D -- 2, F -- 49 F of less than 50% ... 32 (or 63%)
Democrats 33.8163% 'Conservative' ... OR ... 66.1837% 'Liberal' Grades A -- 0, B -- 0, C -- 0, D -- 0, F -- 49 F of less than 50% ... 48 (or 98%)
Democrats plus Republicans 40.04% Conservative ... OR ... 59.96% 'Liberal' A -- 0, B -- 0, C -- 0, D -- 2, F -- 98 F of less than 50% ... 80 (or 80%)
In the House, Republicans are voting 60% in FAVOR of 'Liberal' policies ... right along with their Democrat opposition. Where's the difference?
84% of Rs and Ds in the House had a Failure Grade of LESS than 50%. Where's the difference?
The Senate is not much different ... with Republicans voting 54% in FAVOR of 'Liberal' policies. Where's the difference?
80% of Rs and Ds in the Senate had a Failure Grade of LESS than 50%. Where's the difference?
One can only GUESS what rating the Republican President might attain -- not having vetoed a single legislative effort.
What a sad state of affairs.
<name redacted>
</quote>
"We're in a fucking stagmire."
--Little Carmine, 'The Sopranos'