No, I don't think so.
When Bush goes bold, he wins. His base rallies, and the Dems melt. When he tries to split the difference, they just get more aggressive, it doesn't help.
The rest of the Repubs are worse. We should be attacking on energy issues, not trying to hide. We should be attacking on war issues, we should be attacking on border security. Those issues should be simple, clear, and clearly in our favor. No force on earth is more destructive of our energy infrastructure than the Democratic Party in all of its various mutations. No force on earth is more destructive and less competent on military security, no external enemy could do more damage to our intelligence capabilities than the DNC and its undercover operatives scattered throughout CIA.
But Repubs are hoping to slip back into office without a fight, hoping people will just intuit their positions without them having to actually declare and defend them.
I might be a little unfair here, or unrealistic, but I want these guys to stop hiding their light under a bushel. I want them to declare themselves, and declare war on the Dems.
In the end, Bush will be remembered pretty much the same as Reagan with a lot of good points an, of course plenty of screw-ups.
But Repubs are hoping to slip back into office without a fight, hoping people will just intuit their positions without them having to actually declare and defend them.
Great post!