And, while Fred is loathe to mention it, there is illegal immigration...
If the GOP politicians want to win over the GOP base, it's very simple:
1. Fight the war in Iraq. And elsewhere. And do it proudly.
2. Nominate original intent judges. Fight for them in Congress. Get them approved.
3. Enforce the laws concerning illegal immigration -- at the border and in the interior. And don't apologize for doing the right thing.
Rule #4: Shut your mouths and stop promoting amnesty!
Nothing keeps conservative voters in November like Republican elected officals supporting amnesty.
If the GOP loses Congress in November, the Bush/McCain/Kennedy amnesty plan will have had a major role.
Maybe he bounced back because we are being more aggressive in Iraq. The left seems to think all of the polls show that America is completely against the war when in fact there a good number of people who were not and are not against the war. They are tired of seeing us fight with one arm behind are backs and if anything want a much more aggressive war. In the polls these tired of the drip, drip, drip of casualties show up as lack of support but in fact nothing could be further from the truth. You want to see a republican resurgance TAKE THE GLOVES OFF!
You're right and Fred and his boss, Bill Kristol, are part of the "open borders" lobby that just don't get it. Barnes has been rightly described by Ramesh Ponnuru, of National Review magazine, as a "big government conservative" -- in other words, a Kerry-lite.
Much of the conservative base has also been disgusted with Bush's out-of-control spending and the creation of the biggest entitlement since LBJ.
That's why if the Republicans want to retain Congress they MUST distance themselves from Bush's domestic policies.
Seems in an abstract way he's acknowledging if Republicans want to win they are going to have to do better then produce an angry and indifferent base even if doesn't delve too deeply as to why we're in this mood lately, a mood that pretty much describes my mood these days when I concentrate on politics. Which is why I've been taking more time away these days, rather then live 24/7 in that mood.
Republicans have the most sophisticated turnout operation known to man. But it won't work if Republican voters, particularly conservatives, are angry at their leaders or indifferent.
Nice Fred has finally got that.
he's right that we should just fight and win in Iraq, be damned hearts and minds. Not that I don't share that agenda, still, but I'm at a point where I don't believe it can happen jointly. So, first break the agents of Iran and Syria, lay down the law, THEN we can go back to hearts and minds.
He's right that we should dump the diplomatic route for Iran we've tried this term. It's a failure.
He's right we sould return to judges because to this day it STILL rankles so many have been mistreated.
And, since I know the administration and the Mccain's of the world are unlikely to do right by the border at this time, at least resolve to be quiet. Stop attacking the House for standing for the borders. meanwhile the other candidates that have their heads on straight can campaign for border security without being undermined by the agents of amnesty.