Posted on 03/09/2006 5:22:17 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
March 9, 2006
Joe Scarborough had some tough stuff for both parties today. He revealed that Republicans believe they will lose the House of Representatives in 2006. But no thanks to the Dems, whose failure to exploit the political opportunity he explained in terms of their being "stupid."
Scarborough's appearance with Matt Lauer on this morning's Today show capped a long segment themed "Has Bush Lost His Clout?" The answer was a resounding 'yes' in NBC's mind.
Today outlined a litany of presidential woe, including:
Being forced to accept changes to the Patriot Act to win its approval.
Action by Republicans in Congress to block the UAE ports deal.
Erosion of the president's "once ardent base."
Possibly being "forced to bend" on NSA surveillance.
A gloomy forecast for Iraq.
Dismal poll ratings.
Speaking of polls, NBC White House reporter Kelly O'Donnell only featured the results of polls showing Pres. Bush's approval ratings at or below 40%, ignoring major polls such one by the Washington Post/ABC that has the president above 40%.
When Scarborough appeared, he asserted that the flap over the ports has created "the biggest outpouring of anything since impeachment," then added this grim assessement for the GOP:
"The mid-term elections are coming up and, for the first time in eight years, Republicans I am talking to think they will lose the House."
Lauer, sounding a currently popular theme, asked:
"Even with all of the troubles that the President is facing and the Republican party is facing, why aren't the Democrats elevating themselves in the midst of this chaos?"
Scarborough unloaded on the Dems:
"Because they are stupid. I say to my Democratic friends: What are you doing? This is too easy. You have people like Howard Dean and Kennedy being the face of the Democrat party. You won't take back the House doing that. They need to get moderates out there."
Continued the former congressman from the Florida panhandle:
"Were I a Democrat I would run on the ports deal and Iran. I would say [Bush] went after Iraq while the greatest threat to American security in the future [was Iran which] is now getting a nuclear weapon and we can't do anything about it. In 1994 a general told me it was obvious: the next 15 year's greatest threat to America is Iran. This has been coming a long time. You will hear about it on the campaign trail."
A pox on both their houses in Joe's book this morning.
Today Show/NewsBusters ping.
If there is one thing scarbourough is, it is being an expert in stupid.
Scarborough's looking to bump his poor ratings. Last I looked, his were the lowest for any MSNBC evening broadcast.
Apparently, anyone could do a better job running the Deomcrats than the actual Democrats.
Says so much.
Do they Dems need to change their policies? That's crazy talk!
Do the Dems need to drop the hate for all things Bush? Madness!
Do the Dems need to support the country? Drop the bong!
All the Dems need are moderates who can go on TV and provide cover for the men behind the curtain.
We can't do anything about it? Wrong. We haven't done anything about it due to the obstruction of leftist whiners. He was warned about Iran in '94. It stands to reason that the CIC was, as well. Who was that, again?
Hey Joe .. if you ever bothered to pay attention to anything .. you might realize they have very few moderates out there in that party
Best thing we ever did in our district in FL was vote in Jeff Miller-R to replace Scarborough, who left Congress supposedly for family reasons. I am so glad the RINO is gone. He's been nothing but a total A&% since he left and good riddance. Jeff Miller is a true conservative and a fine, decent man.
Good point - with 6 years left to run in office. Can anyone remember anything Clinton did on Iran?
It sounds like good advice for the Democrats. I would love it if they ran to the right of the Republicans. Lets go for lower taxes, small constitutional govt limits, borders, language and culture issues. Return power to the states, get rid of the amendment on direct voting for Senators. Dump the IRS, give us a consumption type tax. Line item veto. No money to candidates or parties from corporations. Unlimited money from any citizen within a persons district, with full and immediate postings of amounts and persons. Cut the legs off of the ACLU, and other anti-American organizations. So many things need addressing, and the Republicans have blown it on nearly all.
I don't think the Republicans will loses the House. If for no other reason than the turn over of the USSR Politburo was greater than that of the US House.
Conventional wisdom is that the Republican are going to get their clocked cleaned in the mid-term elections. Go ahead and underestimate this President and Karl Rove at your own peril.
Joe has been bad mouthing Republicans since he got that job working for liberals. Hey, the guy has to eat!
Scarborough and those Republicans are stupid if they think they are going to lose the House.
Scarborough is nothing more than a MSM go-fer.
The liberal news, publishing the stories they wish were true. (Thank you Rush)
Dem wishful thinking doesnt make it happen, so, no Dem majority in the house in 2006 per In Hoc's crystal ball.
The republicans keep the house because enough Americans know a democrat "isnt" a choice on a ballot.
2006 is 'gonna be a crap-shoot at best the way things look now. I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Dems took control of the House.
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