February 17, 2009 04:11 PM UTC

Moderate Republicans vs. Militant Conservatives

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• by: Go Blue

(Governor’s don’t get to “pass the buck.” They actually have to lead. – promoted by Colorado Pols)

The New York Times breaks it down, Obama Gains G.O.P Support from Governors

President Obama must wish governors could vote in Congress: While just three of the 219 Republican lawmakers backed the $787 billion economic recovery plan that he is signing into law on Tuesday, that trifling total would have been several times greater if support among the 22 Republican state executives counted.

The contrast reflects the two faces of the Republican Party these days.

Leaderless after losing the White House, the party is mostly defined by its Congressional wing, which flaunted its anti-spending ideology in opposing the stimulus package. That militancy drew the mockery of late-night television comics, but the praise of conservative talk-show stars and the party faithful.

In the states, meanwhile, many Republican governors are practicing a pragmatic – their Congressional counterparts would say less-principled – conservatism.

While the Congressional Conservatives take their direction from talk radio hosts like Rush Limbaugh, Republican Governors use a pragmatic approach to work with the administration. It’s as if the Republicans in DC are completely cut off from reality; something that explains their campaign strategy to brag about accomplishing absolutely nothing. Rep Cantor might be as tone deaf as John McCain, which will not end well for any of them.