Posted on 12/18/2005 8:29:48 AM PST by SmithL
Just as the law of supply-and-demand dictates, we're now witnessing an abundant supply of politicians challenging, critiquing, even castigating the president. That would be typical of the Democrats, of course, but it's now becoming the norm among Republicans -- including some who aspire to the White House.
The latest Time magazine poll indicates that by a 60-to-36 percent majority, people want somebody with different policies from Bush's. Nearly a majority reported a "very negative" impact on their view of Bush from the Iraq war and rising gas prices -- and more than a third also threw in the deficit, hurricane-recovery efforts, the economy, and the sorry fate of his much-heralded Social Security "reform" initiative, which now languishes in a state of political rigor mortis.
After months of careening downhill, Bush's poll numbers have started to creep up. Still, a Gallup Poll found that even among Republicans, 7 in 10 voters are predisposed toward a candidate who disagrees with Bush.
Little wonder the GOP's White House aspirants have exhibited a Bush allergy. In last month's elections, even a Republican conservative such as Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum avoided campaigning alongside Bush (and party moderates such as California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger gave him a cold shoulder, too.)
The exception is the GOP's biggest innate UnBush, Arizona Sen. John McCain, who appears at his side, but also makes a habit of publicly second-guessing some of his moves.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
They got one thing right.
McCain is the UnBush!
By the time 2008 rolls around, and even in 2006, the GOP candidates will all be courting President Bush for his support.
I love how they hang thier hat on "60% of people want the next president to have policies different from Bush's" - which means nothing.
Of course Democrats want a different set of policies, and a significant portion of the Republican voting base wants more conservative positions. Not too hard to come up with "60%" wanting something "different".
More non news.
Wishful thinking pundits.
Unless George Allen or someone else can run as the UnBush on border control and federal spending cuts. Actually at the end of most 8 year terms I think it pretty typical of Americans to get bored with the same old same old and demand something that is "new and improved". The trick for an incumbant party is to offer a candidate the base will accept and the same time offer up someone interesting for the fickle minded. No way is this McCain no matter how hard the media will try.
And Antichrist.
Very few articles can totally destroy their own credibility with only the first 2 words written.
So, in other words, it was a transient effect they're trying to exploit.
And, of course, the Comical will not consider that a good bit of that percentage want someone MORE CONSERVATIVE than Bush.
What unpopularity? These people say something and to them that makes it true. Liberals you've got to admire their stupidity!
"Bush's unpopularity means that GOP office seekers, including its 2008 presidential aspirants, may see themselves as better off by shunning the party's incumbent in the White House."
In their dreams.
Yes they did. Also those RINOS and Commies in Sanfrancisco better wake up and realize that America is BELIEVING in what President Bush and our People In Country are doing. God Bless them ALL that are In Country.
They wish the candidate would be so stupid.
I think the best path is articulating to continue the Bush successes, distancing from unpopular moves, and playing up GOP stance on issues.
McCain is neither Bush nor unBush. McCain is a psycho.
If there is the slightest amount of truth here, it is that the administration cherry-picks its conservatism.
They are wrong about the "remedy", and from the lists of poll choices I don't see even one conservative being floated.
Well, Bush certainly has given Allen (and others) the opportunity to run successfully on those issues.
The worst thing the GOP can do now, especially before the elections, is to hunker down and attempt to paint brown stripes on their bodies as camo.
They need, and Bush needs to come out swinging in support of everything they supported before.
I really dispise all of them, from democrats to republicans, democrats especially, to greens and libertarians but the fact is someone has to lead.
Act like a shivering waif and you can betcha the voters will see that you do wind up selling matches.
An OPINION piece by Vicki Haddock. Opinions are like....Everybody has one.
"Ask Americans if they'd prefer the next president to be similar to George W. Bush -- or completely different -- and surveys show a burgeoning market for the UnBush."
Good old SanFranChron - stuck on stupid, again! They "ask Americans" in the Haight-Ashbury district in SF and think they've taken the pulse of an entire nation.
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