Posted on 01/16/2006 4:38:45 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
President Bush's advisers are resigned to the Democratic capture of the White House in 2008, according to senior Republican sources close to the White House.
GOP sources said White House strategists have attempted to persuade Mr. Bush that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, New York Democrat and her partys current front-runner to be the next presidential nominee, cannot be defeated in 2008. Bush strategists said the president should instead focus on seeking to retain the Republican majority in both houses of Congress in 2006 and 2008.
"There is nobody in the White House that will openly say we lost the presidency in 2008," a senior GOP source said. "But while the Democrats are completely focused on 2008, the White House has been completely aloof."
The strategists have argued that given the forecasts of a downturn in the economy, crises with China and Iran, Mrs. Clinton would be besieged with major problems that would ensure a one-term presidency, the sources said.
The strategists have pointed out that Mr. Bush, given the failing health of Vice President Dick Cheney, does not have a natural successor. Recently, Mr. Cheney, who suffers from heart problems, was rushed to the hospital because he had difficulties in breathing.
The sources said the strategists have assessed that Mrs. Clinton would easily win the Democratic leadership and the subsequent race for president. They said Mr. Bush has pledged to campaign vigorously for any GOP presidential nominee.
Administration sources said Mr. Bush has discussed the prospect of a Clinton presidency. But they asserted that the president has focused on the 2006 elections for Congress and the need to maintain the GOP majority.
"If we lost our majority in Congress, then the president immediately becomes a lame duck," an administration source said. "So, the talk of 2008 is not only premature, it's harmful."
And in 2004 Dean was a lock on the Democrat nomination until they actually had something count.
This is a ch__ch. What's missing?
alot of freepers (most?) would rather see Hillary be president, then Rudy. Its sad, but I really believe that.
Dick Morris is just as socially liberal as he was when he worked for Hill-n-Bill. All his ranting against H.C. is to get the GOP to give him influence on the choosing of '08 candidates... to the incalculable detriment of the GOP.
Do you know where the "missing" FBI files are? Hillary does and she ain't scared to use them.
J.D. Hayworth for president.
Who the hell is this so-called GOP source ??
David Gergen?
I'd much rather see NEITHER in the WH.
Someone like The Great Ronald Reagan (Pence, Coburn, etc) would do me fine.
"She might find herself on defense for the whole campaign...Bring her on!"
I think Kerry and Kennedy will bring out the skeletons for all to see. It will be fun to watch.
Nah. It's going to be Dan Quayle right after GHWB's second term.
TOTAL BS
Is there a video of this anywhere?
One has to wonder which she took on as the dominant side, the hyena or the slug....
This is a former magazine that stopped its hardcover publication. I think they're trying to gin up some interest in their website.
Even when they actually had a magazine, their articles were one part political analysis to nine parts kookery.
I wouldn't take their word for it if they said the sun rose in the east.
the other thing about this story that bothers me:
the Bushes seem too close to the Clintons since taking office in 2000. Bush could have buried Clinton, especially after 9-11, when many americans would have been quite willing to accept the idea that Clinton's 8 years of stewardship of the nation's intelligence and military apparatus led directly to 9-11 just 7 months after he left office. add to that, all these "special missions" for Bill with Bush 41, to rehabilitate his legacy. We all wrote it off as Bush being "a gentleman", but something tells me there is more to it then that - like we are being setup to accept their return to the white house as inevitable.
If this story was to be believed....
it doesn't matter what the White House believes, they are all going back to Texas. They won't be around after 2008, the GOP will be.
I feel as though a great deal of smoke is being blown up my ass.
I don't see Allen doing anyhting to distinguish himself from the rest of the herd in the senate. he voted for McCain's "torture" bill, I don't see him vocally out there backing the president on this NSA story for example.
If Allen wants it, he better get visible and vocal real fast.
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