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Thune Says He'd Distance Himself From Bush
AP ^

Posted on 07/19/2006 10:34:54 AM PDT by slowhand520

Thune Says He'd Distance Himself From Bush

Jul 19 1:06 PM US/Eastern By MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON

Freshman Sen. John Thune, the Republican hero two years ago for ousting the Senate Democratic leader, said Wednesday that if he were running this year, he'd distance himself from President Bush and his agenda.

In 2004, the White House political operation recruited Thune to challenge Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle. He dealt the Democratic Party a major blow, edging Daschle in South Dakota as Bush captured a second term.

Thune, a conservative who rarely breaks with the GOP or Bush, said Wednesday that if he were up for re-election this year, he'd adopt a different strategy.

"If I were running in the state this year, you obviously don't embrace the president and his agenda," Thune told reporters at the National Press Club. He said the Iraq war is Bush's biggest problem.

"The first thing I'd do is acknowledge that there have been mistakes made," he said. "Our candidates have to draw and point out differences in how they would approach and win the war in Iraq and how their opponents would. The biggest thing we have going for us on that issue is that Democrats are very divided."

Thune is a leading contender to head the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which recruits and helps finance Senate candidates, in the 2008 election cycle. The South Dakota senator offered a blunt assessment of the 2006 outlook.

"Clearly we are facing a headwind if you look at the national political environment," Thune said. "The president's numbers in most places aren't good ... these are going to be tough races to win."

Republicans hold 55 seats to the Democrats 45 with one Democratic- leaning independent. Republican incumbents in Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Montana, Missouri and Ohio face tough challenges. Democrats need to gain six seats to capture control of the Senate.

Thune said Republicans facing election should emphasize their differences with opponents on issues such as national security, which usually favor Republicans.

"What our candidates have to effectively do is make it about a choice," he said. "Who can move forward with a positive agenda?"

Since defeating Daschle, Thune has been a major draw on the Republican fundraising circuit, raising money for numerous candidates in states such as Missouri and Minnesota. He said he will decide after Labor Day on whether he wants to seek the post of chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

The current chair is Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C. Lawmakers typically hold the job for one election cycle.


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: South Dakota
KEYWORDS: 109th; bushbash; disloyalty; election2006; fingerinthewind; ingratitude; pollmonkeys; thune
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To: Merry

This is not the first time for Thune.


41 posted on 07/19/2006 11:38:14 AM PDT by AmishDude (Posting from Lake Balaton, Hungary.)
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To: slowhand520

Stupid ingrate.


42 posted on 07/19/2006 11:38:30 AM PDT by freedom4me ("Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom."--Ben Franklin)
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To: slowhand520
The first thing I'd do is acknowledge that there have been mistakes made," he said

i dont mind that statement...but it needs to be followed up line/line with all the anti-american liberal comments and actions.

43 posted on 07/19/2006 11:39:23 AM PDT by wallcrawlr
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To: slowhand520

Thune is finished with me. I will actively work to stop this guy from holding any position of power. He is a turn-coat and a traitor to the Party whut brung him!

LLS


44 posted on 07/19/2006 11:50:03 AM PDT by LibLieSlayer (Preserve America... kill terrorists... destroy dims!)
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To: DIRTYSECRET

Go back and read my post before you go off on me. I didn't mention Thune. Could care less about him...he's from South Dakota for God's sake....READ posts before you post. Your just making an a$$ out of yourself.


45 posted on 07/19/2006 11:59:13 AM PDT by napscoordinator
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To: The South Texan
Thune is a good example of politician that get corrupted by Washington and the Press and is why we need term limits.

Really. And he hasn't even been there for a full term. Guess I should look at the bright side - we got rid of little Tommy which was the main reason I sent $$ to Thune campaign. I know that Thune kicked up fuss about base closings but figured that was to be expected. But I sure didn't bargain for this - especially concerning the Iraq war. He's nothing but a politician and that's about as low as I can call someone.

46 posted on 07/19/2006 12:01:03 PM PDT by daybreakcoming ("We will not tire. We will not falter. We will not fail")
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To: faq

"I could be wrong but I don't think Bush visited South Dakota to campaign for him in 2004 (although Bush came to South Dakota five times in 2002)."

Google turned up at least three trips that the President made to SD to campaign for Thune (2004), and at least one trip made by V.P. Cheney. Thune received money from me in 2004 ($500.00), therefore I can call him a turn-coat, unappreciative POLITICIAN!

LLS


47 posted on 07/19/2006 12:01:20 PM PDT by LibLieSlayer (Preserve America... kill terrorists... destroy dims!)
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To: slowhand520
Another reason I never donate to the RNC!!!!

They're not smart enough to groom another to run against this traitor.

There should be such a thing as "towing the party line." The DemocRATs slog along behind their valiant heroes:

Pelosi, Kennedy, Schumer, Field Marshal Clinton, etc. etc.

Our party shoots itself in the foot.

48 posted on 07/19/2006 12:11:56 PM PDT by BerlinStrausbaugh (If life was fair, Elvis would be alive and all the impersonators would be dead.)
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To: All
I apologize for my unkind remarks above about John Thune.

Thanks to Conservative Majority I was able to read that the headline was a big fat lie.

Republican Senator John Thune of South Dakota said no such thing. He was talking about how some Republicans up for re-election this year have adopted a strategy to put some distance between themselves and President Bush, particularly about the conduct of the war in Iraq.

49 posted on 07/19/2006 12:16:52 PM PDT by BerlinStrausbaugh (If life was fair, Elvis would be alive and all the impersonators would be dead.)
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To: LibLieSlayer
Google turned up at least three trips that the President made to SD to campaign for Thune (2004)

Please post a link to that.

Post #27 seems strangely to be getting overlooked here. This story is apparently a lie.

In any event, other than the inflamatory headline, I still don't see a reason to get upset about this article. I have never once heard Thune say the Iraq war was a mistake. If he ever has, I want a quote and a link.

50 posted on 07/19/2006 12:23:33 PM PDT by faq (Oh, you heard that, too.)
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To: napscoordinator

A Republican bailing on Bush is bad. It is cowardly, it bespeaks disloyalty, it is defeatist, and it opens the door to the opposition a little wider. This is a cultural, moral, and political divide we are dealing with.

The world's worst RINO is preferable to the world's best Demonrat--RINO's can be rewarded and punished by the party.

Demonrats serve ends that are uniformly--not occasionally, or even mostly -- nefarious, destructive and corrosive to America's interests and core values.

It makes me gag to say this as Lincoln Chafee is my senator. It is what it is; choose between bad and worse.

No one has ever asked any of us who should run--legacy candidates or career trough feeders rising through the system of spoils called democracy (Dad was a Senator I should be too!!!!!!!!!) Few recall that we are a Republic--in fact promoting "democracy" rather than imposing YES imposing a constitutional republic on wretched nations like Iraq and Afghanistan is ludicrous.

Back on topic, candidates appear, get the win in the primaries (if primaries are held) we look at the options, say a prayer, pinch our nostrils and enter the booth.

Thune should shut his piehole if he can't support the president. He should at least abstain from commenting if he nothing to offer. I note the mental giant had no alternatives to policies pursued by the President just displayed cowardice in stating he would distance himself from the President. Lincoln Light in the Loafers Chafee bragged that he wrote in W's Dad's name (41) on his ballot in the 2000 and 2004 elections.

Subsequent to these loyal acts, the First Lady came and raised funds for the jerk.

Back on topic, we are in a war. Give me one Demonrat you would trust to prosecute the war or manage the victory.

RINOs will be with us always, like the poor, the infirm, and the clinically stupid. The only thing worse than a RINO is a Demonrat


51 posted on 07/19/2006 12:33:30 PM PDT by the anti-mahdi
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To: napscoordinator

A Republican bailing on Bush is bad. It is cowardly, it bespeaks disloyalty, it is defeatist, and it opens the door to the opposition a little wider. This is a cultural, moral, and political divide we are dealing with.

The world's worst RINO is preferable to the world's best Demonrat--RINO's can be rewarded and punished by the party.

Demonrats serve ends that are uniformly--not occasionally, or even mostly -- nefarious, destructive and corrosive to America's interests and core values.

It makes me gag to say this as Lincoln Chafee is my senator. It is what it is; choose between bad and worse.

No one has ever asked any of us who should run--legacy candidates or career trough feeders rising through the system of spoils called democracy (Dad was a Senator I should be too!!!!!!!!!) Few recall that we are a Republic--in fact promoting "democracy" rather than imposing YES imposing a constitutional republic on wretched nations like Iraq and Afghanistan is ludicrous.

Back on topic, candidates appear, get the win in the primaries (if primaries are held) we look at the options, say a prayer, pinch our nostrils and enter the booth.

Thune should shut his piehole if he can't support the president. He should at least abstain from commenting if he nothing to offer. I note the mental giant had no alternatives to policies pursued by the President just displayed cowardice in stating he would distance himself from the President. Lincoln Light in the Loafers Chafee bragged that he wrote in W's Dad's name (41) on his ballot in the 2000 and 2004 elections.

Subsequent to these loyal acts, the First Lady came and raised funds for the jerk.

Back on topic, we are in a war. Give me one Demonrat you would trust to prosecute the war or manage the victory.

RINOs will be with us always, like the poor, the infirm, and the clinically stupid. The only thing worse than a RINO is a Demonrat


52 posted on 07/19/2006 12:33:30 PM PDT by the anti-mahdi
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To: napscoordinator

A Republican bailing on Bush is bad. It is cowardly, it bespeaks disloyalty, it is defeatist, and it opens the door to the opposition a little wider. This is a cultural, moral, and political divide we are dealing with.

The world's worst RINO is preferable to the world's best Demonrat--RINO's can be rewarded and punished by the party.

Demonrats serve ends that are uniformly--not occasionally, or even mostly -- nefarious, destructive and corrosive to America's interests and core values.

It makes me gag to say this as Lincoln Chafee is my senator. It is what it is; choose between bad and worse.

No one has ever asked any of us who should run--legacy candidates or career trough feeders rising through the system of spoils called democracy (Dad was a Senator I should be too!!!!!!!!!) Few recall that we are a Republic--in fact promoting "democracy" rather than imposing YES imposing a constitutional republic on wretched nations like Iraq and Afghanistan is ludicrous.

Back on topic, candidates appear, get the win in the primaries (if primaries are held) we look at the options, say a prayer, pinch our nostrils and enter the booth.

Thune should shut his piehole if he can't support the president. He should at least abstain from commenting if he nothing to offer. I note the mental giant had no alternatives to policies pursued by the President just displayed cowardice in stating he would distance himself from the President. Lincoln Light in the Loafers Chafee bragged that he wrote in W's Dad's name (41) on his ballot in the 2000 and 2004 elections.

Subsequent to these loyal acts, the First Lady came and raised funds for the jerk.

Back on topic, we are in a war. Give me one Demonrat you would trust to prosecute the war or manage the victory.

RINOs will be with us always, like the poor, the infirm, and the clinically stupid. The only thing worse than a RINO is a Demonrat


53 posted on 07/19/2006 12:33:32 PM PDT by the anti-mahdi
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To: Merry
Merry I agree. It could be a liberal trick to make Thune look bad. But if it is true , then Thune will see his fund raising dry up in 2010 by vengeful Bush supporters.
54 posted on 07/19/2006 12:39:20 PM PDT by Jack Ian
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To: napscoordinator

That is exactly the kind of mentality that causes African Americans to be practically slaves within the Democratic Party.

"Let this Republican do whatever he wants and still vote for him, even if its not in your best interests...what, you want a Democrat in there?"


55 posted on 07/19/2006 12:43:26 PM PDT by BaBaStooey (I heart Emma Caulfield.)
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To: BaBaStooey

That is exactly the kind of mentality that causes African Americans to be practically slaves within the Democratic Party.

"Let this Republican do whatever he wants and still vote for him, even if its not in your best interests...what, you want a Democrat in there?"



Vote for who you want and I will vote for who I want. Honestly, I can't vote for either one. I am in Pennsylvania and have to vote in November for a Governor and Senator. Don't explain to me what RINO's are like...we experienced it pretty much in Pennsylvania.


56 posted on 07/19/2006 1:00:50 PM PDT by napscoordinator
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To: the anti-mahdi

I have never voted Democrat since I began voting in 1988. Of course what choice did I have with Spector. He was the RINO candidate and I voted for him. I believe the majority of people on this website have voted for a RINO at one point or another.


57 posted on 07/19/2006 1:02:55 PM PDT by napscoordinator
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To: samanella

I sent Thune $50 myself and I live in AZ. This is getting ridiculous. I think that I'll let him know that I'll be distancing myself from him during his reelection. I can't wait to receive my first mailer or email from his campaign office.


58 posted on 07/19/2006 3:57:13 PM PDT by kcrackel
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To: faq

Having a bad storm right now. Will do a search like I did from work and see if I can find the links. I hope that Thune was mis-quoted, as I thought enough to donate to him (not being from SD). I hope to see a correction in the press. Sorry to run but lightning is popping.

LLS


59 posted on 07/19/2006 4:07:56 PM PDT by LibLieSlayer (Preserve America... kill terrorists... destroy dims!)
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To: LibLieSlayer

Thune misquoted in a big way

http://www.jeffgannon.com/archives/general/index.html#a000630


60 posted on 07/19/2006 4:57:29 PM PDT by ConservativeMajority
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