The Republicans are running scared. They are terrified that the 2006 midterm elections will turn into a referendum on the Bush administration and they know that will put them at a severe disadvantage. Their party strategists are putting their heads together in an effort to move the debate from an up or down vote of confidence in Bush, to a series of one-on-one confrontations between candidates. Fred Barnes explains the Republican strategy.
Just last week, House Majority Leader John Boehner and Whip Roy Blunt met with leaders of conservative groups to talk about these issues.
House Republicans, for their part, intend to seek votes on measures such as the Bush-backed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, a bill allowing more public expression of religion, another requiring parental consent for women under 18 to get an abortion, legislation to bar all federal courts except the Supreme Court from ruling on the constitutionality of the Pledge of Allegiance, a bill to outlaw human cloning, and another that would require doctors to consider fetal pain before performing an abortion.
I’m sorry, but I don’t see anything in there about ending the war in Iraq, bringing down the federal defecit, creating good jobs, extending health care coverage, providing better education, protecting the environment, or cleaning up the corruption in Washington. All I see is an agenda pulled straight out of James Dobson’s playbook.
The Republicans have concluded that they will not help themselves by distancing themselves from Bush. So, they have decided to go straight for the fundamentalist vote by painting the Democrats as opposed to religion, opposed to protecting the flag, inclined to surrender to the terrorists, and as babykillers. But, even born wingnuts like Fred Barnes are not very confident in the strategy:
Mehlman’s confidence notwithstanding, will Republican efforts to keep the election debate from focusing on Bush really work? The media undoubtedly won’t play along. Some Republicans are bound to trash Bush, figuring that it will give them the best chance of winning. Worse, if Bush falters badly, a referendum on him may be unavoidable. Still, is there a better strategy for Republicans in what looks like an unfriendly year for them? If there is, I haven’t heard of it.
A better strategy? Fred Barnes wants a better strategy than ignoring all the kitchen table issues Americans care about in favor of more of the same? How about you impeach and convict the President and his quail-hunting sidekick. That’s a strategy.
Anything that they can remotely attach to religion will do fine for them. If they could attach our outhouse to it, they would be in favor of it too. :o) They know they are in trouble…They will go for broke. They are only there to push the radical and fanitical ideas anyhow. As I see it, they can not think on their own anyhow. They need marching orders to function. Just my humble opinion, only!
Of course, the Republicans will trot out the gay marriage amendment vote, and the Ten Commandments in the courthouse vote, and the parental notification vote, and any “vote” they can think of to get the fruitcake Christian base to keep the infidels out of office. Can anyone remember the name of the Republican operative who trashed the religious right as the lunatics that Republicans trot out every election by focusing on just the issues Barnes mentions to get elected and then ignore until the next election? Democrats need to start every discussion with that guy’s statement.
That was former DeLay aide Mike Scanlon.
Let ’em go right ahead continuing to “out themselves” as the rabid religious bigots they are..(or want to appear to be, to hang onto their teensy little base) The more they pound the pulpit and froth at the mouth the better off we are, I am thinking.
Not sure I agree about impeachment. I think that this would motivate the repukes.
IMHO, Dems would do better looking sensible and running the issues of offshoring, job loss, health care and corruption.
It’s a strategy of desperation but one that could work. Next time you hear a Republican complain, ask them specifically if they would consider voting for “x” democrat in the next election (not a presidential candidate, a specific senate or house candidate who is actually running). So far, the answer I get is “hell no”. Disheartening, but elections are still months away.
It’s understandable that they feel they have to focus on their fundy base — they don’t win without it. But they could lose even with it. It’s the security branch of the republican coalition that is the key. (And making Business nervous enough to hedge their bets instead of only supporting Repubs).
Do you think any of those who will not vote for a democrat but are reluctant to vote for the republican, will stay home and not vote?
I don’t know if they will but I’ve been flat out telling them they should. First time in my life I’ve ever said that.
I feel sort of guilty about it.
Especially when they look like that might be a good suggestion.
If I should ever come upon such a situation, I woud not feel one bit guilty, but then again..:o) depends on who is running I suppose. In 06, there is lots of things going on, on a local and state basis. For now this is what we have to address..first things first. Anyhow, down this way, I seriously doubt that I will find such a situation for me…:o)
I’ve seriously considered that “don’t vote” could be a serious billboard campaign strategy in outstate MO by some independent group. (yeah, yeah, billboards are bad, but they EXIST and are used by the repubs during elections). It would have to be carefully done to avoid a backlash. It would have to include humor.
But then I feel guilty because what kind of a democracy do we have that the only way to save it is to encourage people NOT to vote?
That’s a killer. Instead, put up a series of billboards that say, in stark black and white, things like
DO YOU REALLY WANT TO VOTE FOR A SENATOR WHO THINKS TORTURE IS ACCEPTABLE?
DO YOU REALLY WANT TO VOTE FOR A SENATOR WHO THINKS WE SHOULD BURDEN OUR CHILDREN WITH CRUSHING DEBT?
DO YOU REALLY WANT TO VOTE FOR A SENATOR WHO THINKS IT’S ACCEPTABLE TO SPY ON YOU?
Put it next to the scowling face of your target. Don’t tell them not to vote. Just ask the questions (lots of them, IMHO) and let them come to their own conclusions.
Don’t forget Medicare/Medicaid — that’s a BIG issue in rural areas. (Well, everywhere, but it IS big in rural areas.)
I’m pleased that the top story in the News Analysis section my local paper today is headlined “GOP is expected to lose seats, maybe control”. While I doubt they’ll lose control, these types of headlines allow people to feel more free to express their doubts about the repubs. I think we underestimate the effect of peer pressure on voting habits.
is their agenda. And just as the NY Times Sunday book review said about Kevin Phillips’ forthcoming book of the same title as my post, this country is currently headed by a political party hell bent on
I posted a diary about it today.
When Winning is Losing: Why the Gop is Scared of Winning the Abortion Battle
An excerpt: