Post Mortem Why Republicans got shellacked in the midterms

the weekly standard ^ | 11/08/2006 9:00:00 AM | Fred Barnes

[flixxx]

THIS ONE IS PRETTY EASY TO EXPLAIN. Republicans lost the House and probably the Senate because of Iraq, corruption, and a record of taking up big issues and then doing nothing on them. Of these, the war was by far the biggest factor. Unpopular wars trump good economies and everything else. President Truman learned this in 1952, as did President Johnson in 1968. Now, it was President Bush's turn, and since his name wasn't on the ballot, his party took the hit.

[toomanygrasshoppers]

What's the PLAN, Nancy?"


I'd love to see this emblazened on billboards all over the country. "What's the PLAN, Nancy?"

[Uncle Miltie]

He forgot the Spending.

[kabar]

and thats because the good has been SOOOOOO underreported? Care to explain? We caught Sadam and hes gonna hang. Whoopie. Did we really need to have our guys on the ground killed for that? We are in a country where there was no hunger for freedom.

Here is why we went into Iraq, in case you forgot.

The Iraqi security forces [military and police] have lost twice as many killed as we have. Civilian losses have been close to 30,000 from terrorist attacks. Still, they have voted up to 12 million strong under threat of death and injury to vote in a democratic government and approve a constitution. Iraqi government officials and their families are being assassinated, yet they have the courage to stay in these jobs to move their country towards democracy. They deserve our support and recognition of their sacrifice. Their is a hunger for freedom.

We are fighting AQ in Iraq. AQ has said that this is their central front against the US. These are the same guys who killed almost 3,000 of our fellow citizens on 9/11 as well as multiple attacks around the world including our embassies in East Africa and the USS Cole. If we leave, AQ is not going away. They will stay in Iraq as well as attack us anywhere else in the world. First and foremost, we are in Iraq and Afghanistan to protect our own national interests. It is part of the WOT.

[DoughtyOne]

"Is urging federal liability reform to eliminate frivolous lawsuits."

Unwittingly you've posted something that clearly defines one of the biggest problems this President and Congress presented.

When you inhabit the White House, are the majority in the House and the Senate for any period of time, you don't just urge...

The Democrats won't just urge. You watch them do... They won't hesitate to push through their agenda.

[snowrip]

Republicans lost this election because they threw away the chance to really lead America in a better direction than it is headed. They lost this election because they lacked the courage of conviction, and so lost the confidence of the voters. They lost this election by completely ignoring their conservative base. They lost this election by trying to please everyone, and by falling for the utter fallacy of political correctness. Did they honestly think conservatives would vote for them just because they were republicans, or that we aren't sick and tired of electing do-nothing politicians? For Christ's sake, THE DEMOCRATS DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A REAL PLATFORM ON WHICH THEY WERE RUNNING!!!!!!!

Corruption? There are PLENTY of instances of corrupt democrats... which the republicants never put pressure on, and never meted out punishment for. Again... when you lack the courage of conviction, the public will lose confidence in you. Ditto personal attacks. The conservatives were hand-wringers whenever anyone attacked them, and ran away from EVERY confrontation. Did they think that was inspiring to voters?

Republicans ignored their base... on spending, government growth, social security, immigration, and a host of other issues. By disenfranchising their base, they caused a great many people (who otherwise would have voted conservative) to stay home or vote independent.

Given when liberalism stands for, elections are now more about saving our nation than about securing political power. At least, that's how the public sees them. In losing the House, republicans have weakened this country and darkened our chances for security and prosperity in the future.

[freespirited]

The referendum on the war was in liberal Connecticut, and the war won.

I don't see the CT race quite that way. I think that one was a bit unique ... a referendum on a clueless moonbat vs. a classic liberal, and CT voters decided that the former was too much even for them.

[proud American in Canada]

Personally, I suspect it was a referendum on the war.

FWIW, I agree.

[JudgemAll]

unpopular war?

gee, since when was war or hard work popular?

It's not war, it's plowshare discipline the liberals love to make hated. Military involvement is only a dedtail of a war...

[Tucker822]

BRAVO! BRAVO! (standing O)

[EricT.]

I can't save America, but I can do my best to save my family. Terrorists will attack us big sometime before 2008.

[oldbill]

Fred Barnes was one of the elites who were calling the conservative base nativist kooks on the amnesty and open borders issue.

It was this in-your-face treatment by Beltway insiders like him that turned off the conservative voters and made them stay home.

Barnes, go look in a mirror before you start blaming others.

[Rodent_in_NY]

If we see a terrorist attack on US soil before the end of Bush's term, I won't be surprised. After his term is finished I fully expect to see something awful happen.

More terrorist mantra I see...

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

We are fighting AQ in Iraq. AQ has said that this is their central front against the US.

you can say whatever you want...but if you have a enemy then you should use overpowering force. We didnt and it came back to bite us as we all expected the people of Iraq to rise up and joyfully take over and throw rose pedals at us and welcoming us as liberators aka france/ww2. Someone would have t be in REAL denail to see that it hasnt and wont happen that way and that looking back we should have just bombed Saddam into oblivion and screw what the rest of the world thought.

[Rennes Templar]

All this proves is that the MSM is the winner yesterday. Tough to beat an entrenched socialist, morally bankrupt national media. Also proves the internet cannot counter it.

[codercpc]

I agree with your assessment. I lean libertarian on financial issues, conservative on social issues, and who ever offers the strongest military. For me, that meant a straight Republican ticket. But even I admit, I hate the way Iraq is being managed. That doesn't mean I want to cut and run, but change would be nice. Since reality to me means Republicans will do a better job than Dems, I am not sure the rest of the country feels that way. I think the message sent was Win but Change.

People not as politically astute as those that visit this site don't realize that the Dems were the worst choice, they still don't believe that the Dems actually want us to lose. Eyes will be opened in 2008, let's just hope we get there in one piece.

As for everything else, to tell the truth, having Republicans in power for the past 6 years hasn't changed a whole lot. Dems will be worse, but at least maybe President Bush will use his Veto Pen. We all have to remember that President Reagan governed under a Dem house and Senate, and IMO made him stronger. I am very disappointed, but we must all be honest and say this isn't unexpected. Remember 1 month ago, the media was saying a loss of 50 house seats, and a lose of the Senate. This was not as bad as it could have been. America wants change, nothing more, nothing less. Let's just hope we can live with the change.

[NurdlyPeon]

"Republicans lost the House and probably the Senate because of Iraq"

Republicans will loose Iraq because of the House and probably the Senate. There, fixed it.

[BelegStrongbow]

I disagree on both points, but even if I agreed that there were lies, that would not make the war unwinnable. What makes a war unwinnable is when the power base stops supporting the effort and when powerful elements start working against the effort. The Democrats did the former and the MSM did the latter. The enemy were encouraged (and possibly even funded) by this and given they are civilians, act like civilians and hid behind civilians, they're very hard to dig out.

Your point is too simple-minded, but just simple-minded enough for talking heads to endlessly repeat, some repetition of which you have apparently imbibed.

[kabar]

The Democrats won't just urge. You watch them do... They won't hesitate to push through their agenda.

Exactly. It will be interesting to see if/when they gain control of the Senate by one seat if they continue to keep the same senate rules in place concerning filibusters. I doubt if they will allow 40 Rep senators to block their agenda. Look for the Dem nuclear option.

[Ronaldus Magnus Reagan]

The reason the war is unpopular is that it is built on lies and unwinnable as a result.

Really? Anyone who uses their brain and does any due diligence research will find that it wasn't built on lies. That's left-wing propaganda that you have succumbed to. It was the enforcement of UN resolution 1441. The WMD's were just a sideline reason and you should know that. In fact, we just recently found out that Saddam was only a year away from having nukes in 2003. Care to dispute that? You just might embarrass yourself again.