GOP Aims to Use a War to Win an Election Battle

LAT ^ | July 2, 2006 | Doyle McManus and Peter Wallsten

[FairOpinion]

Republicans are once again making the fight against terrorism a campaign cornerstone. So far, Democrats have not been as engaging.

President Bush says Democrats want to "wave the white flag of surrender" in Iraq. Vice President Dick Cheney accuses the opposition party's leaders of "defeatism" in the global war on terrorism. And House Republican leader John A. Boehner of Ohio charges Democrats who applauded last week's Supreme Court ruling on detainees with advocating "special privileges for terrorists."

Ever since the Sept. 11 attacks, Republicans have made an uncompromising stance against terrorism a cornerstone of their campaigns. It helped the GOP to take control of the Senate in 2002 and Bush to win reelection in 2004.

Now, in the face of increasing violence in Iraq and eroding public support for the war at home, Republicans are turning again to the theme of toughness — with gloves off.

[FairOpinion]

Good!

[FairOpinion]

I just noticed the article is in two pages.

The single page view is:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-assess2jul02,0,4052168,full.story?coll=la-home-headlines


A statement released by Boehner's office was headlined, "Capitol Hill Democrats Advocate Special Privileges for Terrorists." It noted that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) had applauded the court's ruling that alleged terrorists were entitled to "the basic guarantees of our justice system." The statement also said that Al Qaeda was "surely pleased at the show of support from Capitol Hill Democrats."

[decal]

"Now, in the face of increasing violence in Iraq and eroding public support for the war at home..."

No need to read past this couple of lies (actually, there was probably no need to read past the name of the source).

[coconutt2000]

The Left is trying to paint the WOT as cliché?

It seems the only politically correct use of 9/11, IEDs, our troops casualties, and hundreds of thousands to millions who have been killed or died because of the unjust and tyrannical policies of militant Islam, or secular tyranny in the Middle East is to promote our surrender to the enemy.

(In other words, only Democrats can talk about the war, and only in the context of surrender.)

[Darkwolf377]

Those dastardly Republicans!

Imagine, running for political office based on your position on an ongoing war! Why, they're daring to express their opinions on the #1 issue of the day! What's this world coming to?!?!?!

[Darkwolf377]

Ever since the Sept. 11 attacks, Republicans have made an uncompromising stance against terrorism a cornerstone of their campaigns. It helped the GOP to take control of the Senate in 2002 and Bush to win reelection in 2004. Now, in the face of increasing violence in Iraq and eroding public support for the war at home, Republicans are turning again to the theme of toughness — with gloves off.

It's interesting watching the spin machine at work: If the Republican support for the war went soft, they'd be bitching that the Republicans were "hypocrites" or were "inconsistent".

But since they're not changing their position, they're bullies.

You can't win with these jackoffs.

[Liberty Valance]

They got this story exactly backwards...thank heavens.

[ansel12]

When you are at war, how does that not enter national political campaigns?

Shouldn't that be the issue at the top of the list?

[FairOpinion]

We have a choice: elect Republicans who will support finishing the War on Terror, or elect Democrats who will surrender, and let the terrorists come to the US and keep murdering us, likely with WMD the next time.

What a difficult choice! (/sarcasm)

[JLAGRAYFOX]

You hit the nail on the head. By the time the election takes place, the American voter will have clear picture of the Democrat "traitor/treason" Party. The issues are not "pocketbook", they are life and death. Vote Democrat, and at the end of the day you will be signing your own death warrant, and death warrants for your families, loved ones and children!!! End of story!!!

[KTM rider]

Well I heard that the Democrat strategery is going to be to block national security in the legislature at every point from the war effort to the border immigration effort, to build the argument that the republicans "mission accomplished nothing" in an effort to win over the much coveted "middle of the roaders"

[paudio]

I agree with you. The more they think war is irrelevant issue, the more likely they lose (or, in this case, loose may be appropriate as well). Although I think Dems know the war is important. They just want the US to be defeated. For the Marxists/ socialists, defeating the 'capitalists' is the main goal.

[shellback_72]

If the GOP stands on the "war stump" and the Dems realize that mudslinging does not win elections then one has to wonder what the Dems will focus their campaign on. Pretty soon the people will loose sight of the fear that is being instilled into us and realize that there are other agendas going on that are being overlooked. The GOP must realize that while the war is important it should not be primary focus of the campaign but rather a large part.

[shellback_72]

The Dems are fixated on mudslinging and being anti-republican. They want the house and senate back then the white house. To them this is a schoolyard brawl. They do not care what is best for this country they want their ball back and will do whatever it takes to get that.

[American in Singapore]

Wow - being amoral and having no values must be tough...

So Republicans want to win the War on Terror because they want to win elections. Bush goes to Iraq so he can be on TV. And "The Republicans' new offensive on national security was launched last month" as if that's a bad thing.

As Rush always says, these people always look at any event through the prism of politics. No matter how many women, children and minorites die, starve, and live in poverty, it doesn't matter if political power can be had.

What a disgusting, pathetic bunch of traitors and losers.

[ARepublicanForAllReasons]

Yep, it's those unscrupulous Republicans again, running on their record!

[Raycpa]

How can this be smart for the republicans? The poll's show Bush made a huge mistake by entering Iraq and has lost all support from the American people.

How then can the GOP use this miserable failed policy to catapult itself over those superior democrats?

[freema]

"No matter how many women, children and minorites and American troops die, starve, and live in poverty, it doesn't matter if political power can be had."

Fixed it. If the building I'm in is ever attacked I'm sure if the bomb doesn't kill me, it will be the dems who are so good at running. They'll mow me over trying to flee.

[RetSignman]

[The poll's show Bush made a huge mistake by entering Iraq]

This is going to be the downfall of the democrats, to base an entire election on 'polls', what they perceive as a constant, of a snapshot of a dubious opinion.

Live by the polls..die by the polls.

[Savage Beast]

The Republicans need do very little. It is obvious to all that the anti-American Left, its Propaganda Machine (the "Mainstream Newsmedia"), and its Political Machine (the Democrat Party) constitute a fifth column in support of the enemies of the U.S.A., including those who have declared war on us, have attacked us on American soil, and have announced their determination to destroy the United States and to kill the American people.

The Left hates the United States and everything that it represents.

This is the only truthful message that the Left, its Propaganda Machine, and its Political Machine can give.

The American people have received their message.