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Bush's Bloom no GOP Rose for Midterms
Human Events ^ | June 19 2006 | Donald Lambro

Posted on 06/18/2006 6:50:53 PM PDT by Reagan Man

After months of declining job-approval poll results, George W. Bush seems to be turning around his presidency with the help of good news.

Less than five months before the midterm elections, several key events have joined together to lift Bush's approval polls to nearly 40% (up from 31% in May) and fewer Americans now think his decision to go into Iraq was a mistake. The Gallup Poll says 48% now believe the United States will win the war in Iraq, up from 39% in April.

Among these lynchpin developments:

The United States has killed top terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqwai, dealing Al Qaeda forces in Iraq a devastating blow to their leadership and morale. The new Iraqi government, now led by tough-talking Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, has filled all its Cabinet offices, including the critical defense and interior posts, and has begun a stepped-up crackdown on violence in Baghdad.

And in a dramatic act of support for the new government, Bush strode into its capital last week to tell the Iraqis, the terrorists and the world that no amount of suicide bombings can or will thwart the forces of democracy from building a free society in charge of its own destiny.

And there was good news for Bush domestically, too, that suggested the White House was fighting back against political foes.

His party pulled out a victory in a California congressional election that all of the pundits said was poised to fall to the Democrats, who would then be more likely to take control of the House.

In their dreams.

The special prosecutor in the CIA leak investigation said White House political strategist Karl Rove will not be charged in the case, lifting a dark cloud over the West Wing and clearing the way for the president's political mastermind to devote his full attention to winning the midterm elections.

And there was a sweeping housecleaning at the White House, too, by Chief of Staff Josh Bolten, who, in the space of a few months, has helped to engineer major changes in the president's staff and in top administration posts.

A new powerhouse Treasury secretary, who has the confidence of Wall Street, will be confirmed. A new CIA chief and budget director have been given the job of fixing key trouble spots. Media master Tony Snow has brought a refreshing change to the job of press secretary, sharpening the White House's message, making Bush more accessible and turning down the heat in the press briefing room.

Several other things are working in Bush's favor, suggesting that the political tides this year are unpredictable and could change dramatically before November.

For those who are concerned about the budget deficit, the good news is that it is falling, beaten down by strong tax revenue growth gushing out of a strong, full-employment economy.

It isn't getting much attention in the news, but in the first eight months of this fiscal year, the deficit was running $227 billion. That's still way too high, but it's down 16.7% from this time last year when it was at $272.3 billion.

The reasons: Government revenues to date ($1.54 trillion and climbing) were up nearly 13% from a year ago. So much for the critics who say the Bush tax cuts would reduce tax revenues and worsen the deficit.

But the story in the Republican-run Congress, whose approval ratings have sunk into the low 20s, isn't good and may be getting worse.

The voters are clearly unhappy with the perception that Congress has spent too much time battling and bickering, and precious little time getting anything done. That perception was worsened with the lobbying scandals, runaway pork-barrel spending and several events that broke last week.

First came the shocker from the Government Accountability Office, the auditing arm of Congress, that $1.4 billion in hurricane assistance was looted by recipients who used the money to buy season football tickets, take vacations and even to pay for a divorce lawyer.

Then there was the vote in the House, 249-to-167, to block a recorded vote on an impending congressional pay raise. The $3,300 raise is on autopilot unless lawmakers vote to kill it. If the Senate doesn't kill it, members of Congress will see their salaries rise to $168,500 a year -- much more than they're worth.

If GOP leaders are looking for another reason to anger the voters in an election year, this one will do it.

With the prospects of nothing being done this year to fix the problem of illegal immigration, the Senate's refusal to take up repeal of the death tax, and the House approving a transportation bill stuffed with nearly $1 billion in pork, how can they justify raising their pay? If anything, it should be cut.

If Republican leaders let this one pass, they deserve to be thrown out of office -- and many of them probably will be.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2006; aliens; bush; gop; govwatch; lambro; midterms; ushouse; ussenate

1 posted on 06/18/2006 6:50:54 PM PDT by Reagan Man
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To: Reagan Man

Sometimes I think throwing Republicans out of office would be a good thing...then I remember they would be replaced with Democrats...


2 posted on 06/18/2006 7:03:19 PM PDT by goldfinch
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To: goldfinch

I am glad that you realize how horrible is the alternative.


3 posted on 06/18/2006 7:12:48 PM PDT by jveritas (Support The Commander in Chief in Times of War)
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To: Reagan Man
First came the shocker from the Government Accountability Office, the auditing arm of Congress, that $1.4 billion in hurricane assistance was looted by recipients who used the money to buy season football tickets, take vacations and even to pay for a divorce lawyer.

Voters are not going to lay the blame for this on the GOP.

Then there was the vote in the House, 249-to-167, to block a recorded vote on an impending congressional pay raise. The $3,300 raise is on autopilot unless lawmakers vote to kill it. If the Senate doesn't kill it, members of Congress will see their salaries rise to $168,500 a year -- much more than they're worth.

Lambro is really delusional if he thinks that enough voters to make any difference, even know or care that congress gave themselves this pay raise.

4 posted on 06/18/2006 7:17:18 PM PDT by AmericaUnited
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To: Reagan Man

It really is extraordinary what an awesome job Bush is doing. The fact that a nation at war can reduce its deficit position is proof positive of his strong fiscal position.

I defy anyone to show me the US reducing the deficit at any prior time in war time.

We are fighting a global WAR on terror.

Good job Bush!


5 posted on 06/18/2006 7:19:47 PM PDT by lonestar67
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To: lonestar67
>>>>I defy anyone to show me the US reducing the deficit at any prior time in war time.

I assume you meant during "hot wars".

According to OMB:

US deficits, WWII:

$54.554 billion deficit in 1943,
$47.557 billion deficit in 1944,
$47.553 billion deficit in 1945.

Vietnam War deficits/surpluses:

1968 -25,161
1969 +3,242

1972 -23,373
1973 -14,908

So, its happened before.

6 posted on 06/18/2006 7:44:59 PM PDT by Reagan Man (Secure the borders; enforce employer sanctions; stop welfare handouts to illegals)
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Comment #7 Removed by Moderator

To: Maxwell105
>>>>What are you all talking about?

Not everyone says Bush is doing a great job. A lot of FReepers support his foreign policy but find his domestic policy to be a failure. Esepcially his support for the Senate's S.2611, immigration reform proposal.

8 posted on 06/18/2006 7:57:24 PM PDT by Reagan Man (Secure the borders; enforce employer sanctions; stop welfare handouts to illegals)
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To: Maxwell105

Like I said, Bush is doing a great job.

I also like his policies on immigration.

He never promised to close down the borders.


9 posted on 06/18/2006 8:00:41 PM PDT by lonestar67
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To: lonestar67
What are his policies on immigration ?
10 posted on 06/18/2006 8:08:28 PM PDT by fantom
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To: fantom

encourage Mexicans to become American citizens.


11 posted on 06/18/2006 8:11:57 PM PDT by lonestar67
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To: Maxwell105
I keep telling you guys, he is a fraud.

And I keep telling you to stop voting for him.

12 posted on 06/18/2006 9:08:04 PM PDT by Once-Ler (The rat 06 election platform will be a promise to impeach the President if they win)
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To: lonestar67
encourage Mexicans to become American citizens.

What is it about the word ILLEGAL That you and other liberals do not understand? Is it like being semi-pregnant?

13 posted on 06/18/2006 10:49:45 PM PDT by Cobra64 (All we get are lame ideas from Republicans and lame criticism from dems about those lame ideas.)
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