So far this is a lose-lose issue for the Republican Party. It has both alienated their base and many in the Latino community.
Because of the relatively narrow margins that divide the parties, moderates can still broker deals that have a great moderating influence on issues form tax cuts to judicial fights.
The overall problem the Republican Party has is it is increasingly looking like Tammany Hall, ... An odor of sleaziness is enveloping the Republicans and seeping into the administration.
Privatization is at best in hibernation, and at worst awaiting a second Bush term, if there is one. But it's just not going to happen during 2002, which is an election year, and while we may be recovering from a recession, or still in one.
The moderate instinct is that the country is in crisis, and we have to find some degree of reconciliation and unity in the interests of the nation.
It's like an arms race. Once it's engaged, you have to match the other side.
The last thing you needed was a Martha Stewart problem. He doesn't even have a good clothing line or a popular television show.
The major impact of Sept. 11 on privatization is the disappearance of the Social Security surplus, ... Before the attacks, it was questionable whether we had enough money available to pay for the transition to privatization. This makes the issue even more difficult.