Well, this explains why Jeb and W pulled back on the plans they had.
Sounds like they knew it was real.
They probably knew the memo was real, but the point is that the memo was RIGHT.
The author of the memo correctly observed that the pro-life movement would become mobilized, excited and agitated about the case of poor Terri Schiavo.
The problem came when the Republicans, including the Bush boys, misunderstood the depth of commitment and sincerity of the pro-lifers. This was no political game for the benefit of the Republican Party here. The Martinez memo was about political gamesmanship. The pro-lifers were there about euthanasia.
So, Jeb and George, and the Republican House and Senate, did indeed get all of that mileage and good press among pro-lifers by taking a stand.
But then they lost all of it, and critically damaged themselves, but washing their hands of it all and walking away.
"I did my best" didn't fly, and still doesn't fly, when speaking of life and death issues to pro-lifers.
Once the Bushes committed to action, they had to use executive force to win the battle, or else they were going to end up seriously damaged. In Jeb Bush's case, the damage is politically fatal. Pro-lifers will not support him for high office again.
The damage continues too.
Having issued the subpoenas, which were disregarded, the failure of Congress to ENFORCE them damages the credibility of Congress with pro-lifers.
And finally, the failure to pass the Nuclear Option will be fatal to the Republican Party. Millions of pro-lifers are going to walk away, betrayed, if the Republicans don't come through on that.
I don't get the sense, at all, that the Republican leadership comprehends that they are standing at the edge of an open grave, and that the pro-lifer movement is going to push them into it if they don't come through on the Nuclear Option.
Not necessarily. They should have still gone ahead anyhow, even if they knew about the foolish memo. Right is right.