I think it was in 1948 or so that we started noticing that Truman had no coat tails. Then Ike got elected and was very popular but had no coat tails. Then came Kennedy and no coat tailes. Nixon, Carter, Reagan, Bush Sr. and then Clitnon had no coat tails.
Now we know Dubya has coat tails. Imus said they were longer than the train on Princess Di's wedding dress. Well they certainly were long. Even FDR did not do what Bush Did. FDR won in a landslide in 1932. He won both houses of congress. He increased that lead in 34 and again in 38.
But bush started from a razor thin margin. And went from not having control to haveing control of the senate. For that we have to go back at least 100 years. ... That Teddy Roosevelt fellow did it... You know the one whose face is on Mt. Rushmore? That Roosevelt. He did it too.
Now today the Democrats and the media are all filled with how the Democrats are going to make it tough on Bush. 51 or 52 votes is a long way from 60. Well here are some facts. George Bush has proved that he can defeat Democrats running for relection when history says he can't. Im 2004 history says most presidents who are re-elected pick up 10 seats in the Senate.
When Bush wants a bunch of judges or homeland security or a hundred other bills passed. He calls Joe C Democrat (term ending 2004) on the phone. And says sorry to hear you are going to vote against cloture. I have ordered Carl Rowe to see what we can do about getting a really attrative guy to take you out in 2004. I will spend at least a week in your district. What happens is the Democrat says what will it cost me to keep you out of my re-election efforts. Bush says vote for me a lot and I'll think about it. You know that sometime I am a greatful guy and reward my friends. Nice talking to you. Don't talk too much in the Senate.
That Senator calls Daschle and says ... Tom I can't vote with you. Bush will destroy me.... I will vote for cloture. By the time that Daschle has 8 or 9 of those. He announces that what Bush wants to do is wonderful and he plans to work for its passage.
That is what happens to Democrat when faced with a Republican president with coat tails. The game of polictics is hardball and not the Chris Matthews type.
About next June expect the media to startreferring to Bush as the "GREAT COMMUNICATOR II" .. They will say he brings those democrats into his office and they leave and vote for him. What powers of persuasion. As skilled as Reagan.
Those that think the Democrats can hold 41 of their guyes in line to sustain fillibuster ain't never seen their guys hands tied with coat tails.... You have to go back to the 30's find cases. But bush understands what Coat tails are for. They are often quite valuable in controling people who have yet to have a direct experience with the Bush tails. I can tell you they will wish to avoid them.
House Leadership for the DEMS just tacked hard left.
They didn't learn it seems..