Trouble In River City

Sounds like the honeymoon is over. NY Times (March 23):

"The vote by Congress to allow the federal courts to take over the Terri Schiavo case has created distress among some conservatives who say that lawmakers violated a cornerstone of conservative philosophy by intervening in the ruling of a state court. The emerging debate, carried out against a rush of court decisions and Congressional action, has highlighted a conflict of priorities among conservatives and signals tensions that Republicans are likely to face as Congressional leaders and President Bush push social issues over the next two years, party leaders say." G.O.P. Right Is Splintered on Schiavo Intervention

This would be a succinct summation: "'This is a clash between the social conservatives and the process conservatives, and I would count myself a process conservative,' said David Davenport of the Hoover Institute, a conservative research organization. 'When a case like this has been heard by 19 judges in six courts and it's been appealed to the Supreme Court three times, the process has worked - even if it hasn't given the result that the social conservatives want. For Congress to step in really is a violation of federalism.'" QOTD: Senator John W. Warner (R - VA): "'It looks as if it's a wholly Republican exercise, but in the ranks of the Republican Party, there is not a unanimous view that Congress should be taking this step.'" Representative Christopher Shays (R - CT4): "'This Republican Party of Lincoln has become a party of theocracy. There are going to be repercussions from this vote. There are a number of people who feel that the government is getting involved in their personal lives in a way that scares them." AP hits it (03.23.05):

"Not all conservatives are happy with the decision by Congress and President Bush to intervene in the Terri Schiavo case. Some leaders said Tuesday the new law allowing a federal court review of the case is an example of the big government they have always opposed. 'To simply say that the 'culture of life,' or whatever you call it means that we don't have to pay attention to the principles of federalism or separation of powers is certainly not a conservative viewpoint,' said former Rep. Bob Barr (R - GA7)." Some Conservatives Bothered by Role of Bush, Congress in Schiavo Case