Interesting Little Tap Dance
It's kind of funny to watch the latest tap dancing going on in the wonderful world of politics right now. Yesterday, Pelosi publicly started counting chickens and by today it's all Rove's fault, according to the New York Times. As I noted in the previous post, it is exceedingly difficult to unseat an incumbent. The best chance happens if you can suppress the other person voters by discouraging them while simultaneously energizing your own. Both parties know that quite well.
The media's bias is revealed in how they cover the two sides. Pelosi's chicken counting was pretty much covered as straight news. Rove is painted as a cynical manipulator, operating in the background. Rubbish. It is exactly business as usual for both sides.
But White House and Republican officials, trying to turn vulnerability to advantage, say conservatives could be united and re-energized by the possibility that Democrats could put Mr. Bush and his policies on political trial by winning control of even one chamber of Congress.
Senate Republicans sent out a fund-raising letter this week seeking to use that possibility to fire up the base, warning that a Democratic majority would put fighting terrorism "on the back burner" and that "our worst fears" could be realized.
The appeal is just one indication of how hard the White House and its Republican allies are likely to fight from now through Nov. 7 and of the challenge Mr. Rove faces in what could be the last campaign he orchestrates with the party.
At stake is not just what remains of Mr. Bush's hopes of making a permanent imprint on policy, but also whether Democrats will have a platform to define his presidency for history.
I noted yesterday (as did a number of other bloggers) that I thought Pelosi's strategy was dangerous and likely counterproductive. If Rove turns it into an advantage, then it was a bad move, indeed.
By Black Jack, May 8, 2006 @ 9:20 am
If the GOP wants victory in November, here’s the surefire plan:
First, GWB should veto the emergency spending bill. He asked for $92 billion to support the troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. The House passed the necessary legislation, but the Senate loaded it up with porky earmarks, and boosted the price tag to $109 billion. That’s unacceptable.
If GWB shows some backbone and demonstrates a willingness to restrain gratuitous spending, the Conservatives will stand up and cheer.
Next, GWB should announce that he supports a fence along the border with Mexico. He should explain that once the flood of illegals has been halted, we can then consider other measures. Opinions differ, and we need a national debate before we can reach a consensus, and we can’t have real debate while millions of illegals march in the streets and mock our laws as thousands more invade our nation every day.
If GWB would do those two things, the GOP would win the midterms in November and the general election in 2008. Victory is knocking on the GOP’s door, and all that needs to be done is what any Administration worth it’s salt would do anyway. It’s a no-brainer.
By Gaius, May 8, 2006 @ 9:34 am
I agree, Black Jack. I’ve been saying all along that the fence is priority one for the Republicans. Between that and some actual fiscal restraint, the poll numbers would likely jump up quickly.