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Pelosi's Disastrous Miscalculation
The Weekly Standard ^ | 11/30/05 | William Kristol

Posted on 11/30/2005 3:15:04 PM PST by Pokey78

The House Democratic leader may have just handed a victory to the Congressional GOP.

Today, Nancy Pelosi endorsed withdrawal from Iraq. Her statement is a political opportunity for the GOP.

Until now, it seemed to me more likely than not that Democrats would win back the House in 2006: Bush's numbers are bad; the GOP is getting no credit for a strong economy (which could in any case weaken by a year from now); the Abramoff scandal is going to get bigger; twelve years in charge of the House, and three years in control of all three elected bodies, have created weariness and dissatisfaction with the GOP. All this made me think the 2006 elections could result in a Speaker Pelosi.

I now think that unlikely. Pelosi's endorsement today of the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq makes the House Democrats the party of defeat, the party of surrender. Bush's strong speech today means the GOP is likely to be--if Republican Congressmen just keep their nerve--the party of victory. Now it is possible that the situation in Iraq will worsen over the next year. If that happens, Bush and the GOP are in deep trouble. They would have been if Pelosi had said nothing. But it is much more likely that the situation in Iraq will stay more or less the same, or improve. In either case, Republicans will benefit from being the party of victory.

It goes without saying that Bush should seek victory in Iraq regardless of Congressional elections, and regardless of polling results. But Republicans on the Hill, whose nervousness has in turn rattled


some in the White House, should now realize that the die is cast. If, a year from now, Iraq is judged to have been a mistake and to be a disaster, the Democrats will benefit--for that is the position of their leadership. But if Iraq is judged to be a war worth fighting and winning--a war we are proud our soldiers are fighting and which we expect to win--that judgment will benefit the GOP in a way it might not have until Pelosi's statement today.

So all Bush has to do is fight the war. And if he really wants to torment the Democrats--and advance the war effort--he could make Joe Lieberman Secretary of Defense.

--William Kristol


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 109th; cutandrun; kristol; murtha; pelosi; wot
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To: Pokey78

Flip flop kristol writes again. He makes my head hurt.


41 posted on 11/30/2005 3:52:55 PM PST by mombonn (¡Viva Bush/Cheney!)
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To: Pokey78
Speaker Pelosi

Hurl until your liver ruptures alert.

42 posted on 11/30/2005 3:53:05 PM PST by Hardastarboard
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To: Pokey78
Set aside Pelosi, the rest of the RATs and Iraq..............

Bush and the GOP is in deeper than deep trouble due to the stratospheric social welfare spending and the global welfare.

After all these years, Bush makes a major speech this week about border security and STILL is asking for amnesty (no spin here folks; that mumbo jumbo IS amnesty) for 15 million illegal aliens.

Bush promised to go after nations that harbor terrorists, yet Iran and Syria are waging a war against the USA and Bush does nothing about it.

Bush has dug the hole that will bury us. It will take the most phenomenal change in attitude and agenda in a very short time for Bush and the Republicans to recapture some semblance of respect from the true conservatives.

43 posted on 11/30/2005 3:54:54 PM PST by Dont_Tread_On_Me_888 (Bush's #1 priority Africa. #2 priority appease Fox and Mexico . . . USA priority #64.)
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To: bray

Great! tagline!


44 posted on 11/30/2005 3:59:42 PM PST by mombonn (¡Viva Bush/Cheney!)
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To: Dont_Tread_On_Me_888

Let me guess ... you'll never vote for him again


45 posted on 11/30/2005 4:02:55 PM PST by Mo1 (Message to Democrats .... We do not surrender and run from a fight !!)
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To: Pokey78
if Republican Congressmen just keep their nerve--

Hey Bill, you can't keep something you don't have in the first place. Pathetic lot!

46 posted on 11/30/2005 4:04:34 PM PST by CommandoFrank (Peer into the depths of hell and there you will find the face of Islam...)
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To: yldstrk

I believe I heard Limbaugh say today, after hearing her comments, "She has the IQ of a pencil."


47 posted on 11/30/2005 4:08:28 PM PST by Calvin Locke
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To: EagleUSA

Pelosi is not dumb. She has a multi-million dollar vinyard but wont allow union workers in. She is a typical liberal who wants to strip you of your money to use to buy votes so she can stay in office and literally steal from the taxpayers..

Her own money she hedges and protects, just like the Kennedy's, Kerry, and other wealthy socialists who want to do good with someone else's money while keeping and adding to their own wealth. Who doesn't know by now what a hoax the Dems are playing on the dupes?


48 posted on 11/30/2005 4:09:32 PM PST by R.W.Ratikal
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To: Mo1

Wrong. If he [Bush] and Kerry were the two choices again, I would vote for Bush. The "lesser of two evils" phrase is rooted in reality.

The issue is not about voting or party politics, it is about the future of this nation. The fact is (repeat FACT is, not opinion) that the Bush and the Republicans are managing this nation like directionless liberals. Being Republican does not guarantee you are conservative, that you believe in limited government, and that you place the USA as priority #1--Bush and all the RINOs are perfect examples of that.

The problem with the Republicans is not that the RATs are gaining a following but the the Republicans are losing their following due to their Marxist ways.


49 posted on 11/30/2005 4:12:22 PM PST by Dont_Tread_On_Me_888 (Bush's #1 priority Africa. #2 priority appease Fox and Mexico . . . USA priority #64.)
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To: Pokey78

Help me figure this out. I just heard Murtha on Hardball say that we need to pull out of Iraq and let them handle their security situation. Then not 5 minutes later when discussing our ability to train them says it will take 25 years to do so. So in reality, what Murtha is saying is, he could give a rat's arse what happens if we pull out of Iraq.

Ready or not . . . we're pulling out. Sorry! That's his plan?

Incredible!


50 posted on 11/30/2005 4:13:53 PM PST by jayef
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To: Pokey78

billy kristal should go back to doing howard cosell and muhammad alley impersonations...he was a lot better at that.


51 posted on 11/30/2005 4:15:34 PM PST by Kokojmudd (Outsource the US Senate to Mexico! Put Walmart in charge of all Federal agencies!)
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To: Pokey78
So now the real reason Lieberman's posted his letter in the Wall Street Journal gets exposed. Silly Bill trying to pull a political coup, still after Rummy's head.

I wonder exactly what Rummy is NOT doing that has Billy's panties alll in a bunch.
52 posted on 11/30/2005 4:16:30 PM PST by Just mythoughts
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To: Txsleuth
"According to andrea Mitchell on Hairball today"

Geez, she mis-spoke again? WADASHAME!

53 posted on 11/30/2005 4:18:33 PM PST by litehaus
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To: R.W.Ratikal

You got the name of that vineyard? I wouldn't want to support the #!tch with a wine purchase.


54 posted on 11/30/2005 4:18:41 PM PST by AFreeBird (your mileage may vary)
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To: Dont_Tread_On_Me_888
The problem with the Republicans is not that the RATs are gaining a following but the the Republicans are losing their following due to their Marxist ways

Ya know .. I agree that the Republican Party needs to get it's act in gear

But to call them Marxist is a tad over board

55 posted on 11/30/2005 4:19:58 PM PST by Mo1 (Message to Democrats .... We do not surrender and run from a fight !!)
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To: Pokey78

Wasn't it 403-3


56 posted on 11/30/2005 4:20:38 PM PST by bert (K.E. ; N.P . Peta girls end up as spinsters)
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To: OB1kNOb

LOL


57 posted on 11/30/2005 4:21:14 PM PST by SquirrelKing (I'm not mean, you're just a sissy.)
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To: Mo1

Boy do I agree with you....jeez louise...


58 posted on 11/30/2005 4:21:29 PM PST by Txsleuth (9/11NEVER FORGET-NEVER SURRENDER, Sam Johnson, a REAL hero!)
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To: litehaus

I forgot to add that she and Chrissy and Murtha came to the conclusion from Bush's speech, that he has NO STRATEGY!!


59 posted on 11/30/2005 4:22:34 PM PST by Txsleuth (9/11NEVER FORGET-NEVER SURRENDER, Sam Johnson, a REAL hero!)
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To: Dog Gone
"That's because you're an idiot, Bill. Life is always gloomy for you."

My thoughts exactly.

60 posted on 11/30/2005 4:23:07 PM PST by Rokke
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