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Show DAILY HERALD Sunday, August 24, 2008 Charles Babinqton among Democratic voters and donors than among Republicans. For the Republicans, it's going to : get worse before it gets better," said Richard Armey, a former GOP House majority leader from Texas. I think they will take a pretty severe beating in this election," said Armey, who helped engineer the 1994 "Republican Revolution that gave the party control of the House after 40 yean in the minority. Of course, much of the will stop if McCain manages to beat Obama, Top Republicans see that as their best short-terhope, noting that polls show McCain running well ahead of "generic matchups between unnamed Republicans and Demo- - . crats, ; Even a McCain presidency, however, would not entirely heal the deep, systemic problems afflicting their party, leading Republicans say. In interviews, many of these Republicans said the party has lost its bearings. But they were nowhere near a consensus on what to do about it. : I think the Republican Party is in the midst of a wrenching but imporT tant transition from the Reagan-Bus- h era into whatever comes next," said ; TH ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON The Republican Party that strode confidently into New York City to nominate President Bush for a second term in 2004 would hardy recognize the one that opens its national convention Sept. 1 in St. PauL . Bush won rejection by defeating John Kerry, Republicans expanded their House and Senate majorities, and demoralized Democrats wondered aloud how many elections it would take to regain control of Congress. Republican leaders championed deep tax cuts, partial privatization of Social Security and aggressive actions at home and abroad in the name of fighting terrorism. Democrats seemed unsure what they stood for.: ; Now Republicans appear to have lost their identity, wondering when the bleeding will stop. After losing 30 House seats and control of both, congressional chambers in 2006, they are anticipating even more House and Senate losses this fall. Most polls find GOP presidential candidate John McCain trailing Democrat Barack Obama, and far more enthusiasm; hand-wringi- . . : . : A9 Ralph Reed, a GOP strategist and former director of the Christian Coalition. "Whatever comes next, indeed, is a question that win hang over the ' Xcel Energy Center as Republicans meet for four days. Even if solutions seems elusive, top Republicans find some unity on what has gone wrong. Most start with financial issues. Voters are well aware, they say, that the party that long touted itself as a champion of frugal budgets and limited government has presided over an explosion in federal spending and deficits. "When it comes to the issue of fiscal responsibility, I'd be the first to admit that I think some of my colleagues lost their way, said House Minority Leader John Boehner, He said GOP lawmakers must resist attractive but costly proposals to solve many of societys problems, even if Democrats portray them as heartless.. Getting our party to stand on principle is a critical part of what we have to do in order to earn our way back. Boehner said after he and most other House Republicans opposed a massive housing rescue bill that Congress . . far agencies, lenders and borrowers who made foolish decisions. House ReAnother publican, David Dreier of California, agreed that voters have punished his party because they believe it has become profligate and undisciplined. But in a sign of the party's divisions and uncertainty, he joined Bush in supporting the housing bill that Boehner condemned. "I hated it, Dreier said. "It was bad, it was terrible." But with the housing market in serious trouble and quasipublic agencies such as Fannie Mae teetering, he said, trying to do something was better than doing nothing. Republicans are at a crossroads. The tough choices they face include, balancing Dreiers form of political pragmatism against Boehner'S appeal for dogged adherence to principles. "The Republicans difficulty is they, have a small-go- v eminent philosophy and they use the rhetoric of limited government, but when they become,, the majority party, it's very difficult to hold to that philosophy, said Emory University political scientist Merle Black, who has written extensively on the party, Republicans face philosophical well-regard- . support. . . . . dilemmas elsewhere, too. For years, social conservatives provided a bulwark of votes and energy, driving the partys opposition to abortion, gay marriage and flag desecration. But many moderate voters felt the party went too far, especially when GOP leaders tried to prevent the husband of Terri Schiavo, a Florida woman in a persistent vegetative state, from allowing her to die in 2005. Social conservatives are still impor--. tant to the GOP, but "those coalitions dont deliver majorities any more," a respectsaid Rep. Tom Davis, ed political strategist. "They have been too intolerant of other groups. For now, the Republican Party t seems tom from familiar moorings of fiscal prudence, social conservatism d and national security policies. Few think the journey bade to prosperity will be easy, "The Republican Party is going to undergo a fairly extended fight for its new identity, said GOP pollster Whit Ayres. "There are going to be contentions between the social conservatives and the libertarian wings of the party. And between the fiscal conservative and economic growth wings of the parly." sure-foote- . . at&t iMftr&iLJ SjLftlgg ! : PAT SUUVANAssociated Press at her home Thursday in Houston. Mohamed graduated from Eisenhower Ninth Grade School in the spring. She said it provided for her the personal attention she wanted.. Tasnim Mohamad poses with her school boohs Elizabeth White r : can very clearly predict whos eventually going to drop out," said Kemple, director of the Ninth SAN ANTONIO group's 2 education policy area. grade, often the first year of There are more .high school, is a critical time in U.S. high schools than when many students sink or swim while coping with new any other class. That's because academic responsibilities and many students either aren't ; promoted to 10th grade or learning the social hierarcly, , .. drop out before they get there, Tn 20034)4, there were Some educators are turning .. to ninthgradeonly schools to . nearly 4.2 million ' ' nationwide. But lSyear-okby the next Separate from older kids and make the year, just 3.75 million were in the 10th grade, according to . transition easier. the Washington, People just really value National High School Center. having our ninth-gradeschools have a chance to develop inmake some sense, said Joseph tellectually, emotionally and Harris, director of the center. socially outside of the context of a large comprehensive high But simply moving students to another campus, building or school setting, said Kenneth - Graham, superintendent of wingisnt enough. It 'isnt replicating the pracCentral School tices of a large comprehensjve District near Rochester, N.Y. high school in a stand-alon- e "They don't have upperclassninth grade, Harris said. "The men in the halls picking on them and teasing them." key there is making sure that There were 127 you're facilitating the commupublic schools in the 1999-- . nication between teachers and 2000 schoolyear. By the 2005-0administrators in ninth grade Who are preparing students for school year, that number eventual promotion." .had jumped to 165, according Some districts, like Madison to the US. Department of Education's National Center for County Schools in Huntsville, Education Statistics. Ala., and West Fargo Public Schools in North Dakota, In San Antonio, the South-sid-e centers to opened ninth-grad- e Independent School Disrelieve oyercrowding in high trict is opening a ninthgrade schools. school this month. Another started school with an district plans to open one next its ninth-grad- e enrollment of 500, for the same year. I think that most of us in reason in 2000 and has kept it ever since. the state have always been. From all quarters it was a looking for ways of addressing the dropout issue and ... keep--. resounding success, Graham said Were delighted with it, ing our students engaged, it's worked out really well." ' said Juan Antonio Jasso, su"It Southside. Aldine Independent School of perintendent !. didnt take a great deal rf con- District in the Houston area ., centers has four ninth-grad- e vincing that this was a most ' positive approach to take with with enrollments of about 900 each. the student population." "The whole philosophy . The ninthgrade year is crubehind it was to separate the cial to success in high schooL If students don't get the credits younger kids from the older kids. To give an opportunity to needed to move on to 10th insurfall can work with them one more year they grade, . as opposed to cutting than mountably behind. In Texas in loose in high school said suthe 200506 school year, 16.5 the perintendent Wanda Bamberg. percent of Tasnim Mohamed graduhighest rate of any grade ated from Aldines Eisenhower didnt complete requirements Ninth Grade School in the to advance, according to a Texas Education Agency respring. She said it provided her the personal attention she . port. wanted At the same time, Ninth grade is also when most problems start to appear, extracurricular activities said James Kemple of MDRG, a helped her become familiar with Eisenhower Senior High social policy New York-baseSchooL where shell start 10th research organization. grade this month. Its the point where you ; TH ASSOCIATE, . PRESS. - K-1- ninth-grade- rs 'Yrt;' . ninth-grade- 14-an- d r rs b D.G-base- . d y - y . Ninth-grade-onl- y . Rush-Henriet- ninth-grade-on- ly 6 Half the price.: Twice as fast. . Rush-Henriet- ta iPhone 3G. On the nation's fastest 3G network. Now just $199. . , . ninth-grade- 1.S66.MOBIUTY rs . d MtaiM TteMMdMKlWNHOttMMfela - ATT.COMWIRELESS Omm Q142tSft2) ' Mai 3?S f L'wwly AJ! - VISIT - STORE A tOpvn Sunday ' to first generation Phone. See contract I me plan brochure lor debts. Subscriber must fw I law mailing addr. within ATIPs owned iMhs 30 Ays thereafter up to SITS. 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