[GulliverSwift]

I think Chavez is right on the money here. There's no reason to horde all that money gwb has been raising and then spend it at the last minute.

He should spend some of it now to help boost his ratings. He can't rely on the presstitutes to get the good news out from Iraq so he has to do it himself. Maybe Bush should also give a speech some time in November as sort of a report on what's going on now.

[sauropod]

Agree with the analysis. But that is what the Stupid party typically does with elections.

[RetiredArmy]

Like I have said in many other posts, the RNC and Republican Party are self-inflicted wounds. 99% of their problems are of their own making, either by not-doing or doing too late, or being weak kneed with the socialist. People who continue to look at Bush through rose colored glasses had better get a real grip. It will not take much for the unwashed to vote for the socialist and we will be right back with another Klinton administration for 8 years. Right, I hate it just as much as you do, but I actually look at facts and don't just "hope" it is going to turn out all right. Bush has done a good job in some areas, and a very poor job in others. He has hurt himself a lot.

[GSWarrior]

Wasn't this Daddy Bush's problem? His failure or reluctance to step into the campaign fray? If I remember correctly, George Bush's re-election push was lackluster at best.

[LS]

There are other things at work (go here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/992535/posts) and, contrary to Chavez, not all of them bad. I think a reasonable argument can be made that the "new tone" helped Bush win several senate seats in 02.

Regardless, it is FAR too early to start handicapping the election. A million things can, and will, happen between now and then. For one thing, both Afghanistan and Iraq are going to have constitutions, and some public removal of troops is going to occur. For another, you guys need to recall that EVERY TIME the Dems have attacked Bush, it backfires. I think there is a spiritual reason for this, but you are welcome to your own conclusions.

[theDentist]

I doubt 43 will lose. Secondly, spending money now will only leave less in the coffers when it's really needed.
Let the Dems spend their money firing shots at each other (as well as the Pres). At this point and time in the last 5 Presidencies all were at the same basic poll levels.

[Uncle George]

Bush should give a half hour progress report every three weeks on the FDR theme of fireside chats only call them "FREEDOM PROGRESS ADDRESSES". The COMMIE LIB press will bury the GOP if Bush does'nt keep one step ahead of them.

[bluebunny]

Bingo! Linda Chavez knows her stuff. She has pinpointed exactly the problem. Repubs are counting on the Democrats to defeat themselves. Not a good strategy IMO.

[Coop]

He should spend some of it now to help boost his ratings.

Which would immediately be seized upon as proof that Bush is vulnerable. I think he's smart to maintain the course. Those folks at the White House will know long before you and I if things are really starting to get worrisome.

[w_over_w]

Anyone notice what's missing from this analysis? As a matter of fact it's ALWAYS missing from these analysis.

Who's going to be the Ross Perot that siphones off 20 million votes from the Republicans?

[sergeantdave]

And in August the Republicans will hold their convention in New York City.

Every nutcase Marxist democrat will be there for TV face time. The show will include Greenpeace fascists scaling buildings. Homos parading naked in the streets. Anarchists smashing windows. Pictures of Bush wearing a Hitler moustache. Hippies crapping in the streets. Banners calling for the death of Isreal. With a mass riot as a finalle.

All of America will see the demoncrats on parade...may you live in interesting times....

[pawdoggie]

Of course Linda Chavez is absolutely right. The problem is that her prescription doesn't fit the RNC "template". The template says that you let your opponents spend themselves into near-bankruptcy prior to the conventions, gain whatever ground they can on you (while you appear to stay "above the fray"), and then stage a big convention and make big media buys right up until election day. It's all predicated on the notion that the American people (especially the "undecided voters") are totally oblivious to politics until the nominating conventions and Labor Day. It's worked in 4 of the last 6 elections, but it sure aint foolproof (just ask Bush '41 what happened to his second term; then ask President Dole what happened to his first term).

[Hank Rearden]

I don't care what the 'Rats think, but I won't vote for a Big Stupid Government president, like the one we've got. I want smaller, limited government, dammit, and the Republicans are running like hell toward Total Big Government. No way will I support that.

[dawn53]

I think she overlooks the fact that since 9/11 the standard newsbearers don't have the influence they once had.

Just for an example, look at CNN and MSNBC's ratings compared to Fox ratings.

Polls this far out as useless, the Dems are getting lots of "face time" because of their stupid debates.

From the Brit Hume interview the President hit the nail on the head. The Dems campaign right now is "I hate Bush", but when he goes one on one with the nominated Dem candidate, then it will be a different story (just remember the Gore/Bush debates.)

In the meantime just remember the words of John Paul Jones, "We have not yet begun to fight."

[lawgirl]

I think W should wait to see who his opponent is going to be before he starts spending a ton of money. Let the Dims each other- if he attacks, they unite to attack him, not to eliminate each other. Let their primary races get really hot so they can spend a lot of money on that and not have a lot left in the coffers to fight W.

he's doing what he needs to be doing- his job

[Stallone]

Totally agree.

This bullsh#t tone is the continuation of years of pious and polite nerds who ran the GOP.

Get this.

You are either streetwise and willing to fight, or you are a loser. Period.

But now, WARRIOR FREEPERS RULE THE EARTH.

They saved the 2000 election.

They are winning California.

And if W. doesn't learn, we will find a leader who does get it.

Intelligence, morality, kindness are all secondary principles in political warfare.

Of course we will choose the good guys, but does that mean we have to fight lies, deception and shamelessness with a thesaurus and a flower, instead of an Uzi?

Arnold Schwarzenegger is far more important to this party than most of the purists will ever understand.

McNaders are as much an impediment to the success of the future of the GOP as the 'Rats.

[Porterville]

The dems are buisy killing each other, let them wear each other out then release the big guns on the surviving 3; Look, Davis and Busta are killing each other one week outside of the CA election, dems are easy targets because they are soooo greeedddy.

[AHerald]

The man who is most responsible for the Republicans' highly improbable midterm election victories of 2002 (not to mention his capture of the White House from the incumbent party during an era of perceived "peace and prosperity") has already proven that he knows what in the hell he's doing.

The hardcores have been criticizing Bush's "new tone" political style since he was a first term governor. They were proven wrong then and they'll be proven wrong again. How many times does Bush have to prove that his political style is a winner at the ballot box before people will learn?

[StayoutdaBushesWay]

Bush needs to get on a positive marketing blitz! IMHO, I think he needs to have weekly updates on all the good things going on in Iraq.
He himself needs to do this, maybe he needs to have townhall meetings with images, videos, progress charts or whatever he can do that will be hard for the lamestream press to ignore.