Posted on 05/30/2008 8:34:54 AM PDT by shrinkermd
With Congress's approval rating at record lows, the time is ripe for a slam campaign. Barack Obama won't do it, since his Democratic colleagues are running the joint. But it's a huge opportunity for Mr. McCain, who could play Congress's failings off his promises for reform.
Mr. McCain could take encouragement from history. Harry Truman managed a 1948 victory by trashing the "Do Nothing Congress." Upstart Barry Goldwater in 1952 told Arizonans that Majority Leader Ernest McFarland represented the mess in Washington, and snatched the Democrat's seat. Tom Daschle followed McFarland, after being pilloried for turning the Senate into a dead zone.
Today's Congress is ripe for a shredding. The GOP kicked off an era of public disgust with its corruption and loss of principle, a reputation it has yet to shake. Democrats have, impressively, managed to alienate voters further with inaction and broken promises. Congress has come to represent the institutional malaise that so frustrates voters. That distaste explains this year's appetite for "change."
...Congress is the embodiment of that failure, and Mr. McCain could use it to draw distinctions. He could swivel the focus away from the Bush comparison, and toward Mr. Obama's kinship with today's all-talk Democratic Congress. He could tell voters that the party they feel is today failing them in the Capitol will also fail them in the White House.
As for bad-mouthing the GOP as part of this process, it isn't likely Mr. McCain would offend his conservative base. Most of it is already offended by Congress. His criticism of today's diminished GOP brand, and a promise to revive it, might even help him with the rank-and-file, and would certainly draw independents.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Running against Congress might be tough on the old horse-whisperer. He was a large part of the problem his entire hitch.
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Good point, although HYPOCRISY is standard modus operandi in the Congress, and Washington in general, that it may not be a problem. As noted, Harry Truman was quite successful running against a do-nothing Congress -— which has not really changed since WW2, so McCain should do it in my opinion. It would be TRUTHFUL (something RARE in Washington) to make the statement that Congress is near useless — for example, it is far more important to worry about steriod use in baseball than it is to STOP ILLEGAL invasion of America and the runaway spending associated with supporting them. I am sure McVain would use a different example though -— of course.
It seems the idea is to “will” John McCain to be what he is not.
Idea ain’t working even though it might make a person feel better.
Hmm...tough one.
If this scenario of running against the joint congress were to take place, McCain would be running against Republicans along with the 'Rats.
The fact is that in each state in the union, the senators and congresspeeples along with lesser lights such as statehouse officials, county commissioners, county party chairmen etc. largely control the political levers and apparatus of influence and power in the state.
They produce the foot soldiers, the doorbell ringers, the means of raising money, party state and local headquarter offices, etc.
A presidential candidate does NOT run against senators and congresscritters of his own party no matter how rational it seems to earnest but politically-naive laypeople. It won't work in this election where McCain desperately needs the cooperation and support of all state elected officials, not their emnity.
Leni
That’s the problem, he already does run against Congress....the GOP congress.
How bout...
McCain - Doesn't suck as bad as the others
“Running against Congress might be tough on the old horse-whisperer.-—”
Welcome to FreeRepublic!!!
Not anymore. The GOP gave in and went his way to the left. They're one big love fest of liberalism now, which is why the argument made in this article is whacky.
LOL - I like that. I want the bumper sticker.
Sounds good, but I seriously doubt McCain would run against his “friends” across the aisle in Congress, he’s too busy kissing their butts (except for conservatives, who he hates), and apologizing right and left to them when anyone says even the mildest of criticism toward them.
“McCain Should Run Against Congress “
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We should find a good man to run gainst both of them.
Oh, that’s right we did—and....they wanted a king, as usual...
“If so, it is time to take the RAT Congress on as a bunch of talkers and taxers.”
What? Take on his own party? Are you sure that’s wise?
About the same thing.
Get a gripe... every Administration does this.
America has 535 idiots useful to America's enemies who waste time as fast as they waste money.
This whole Presidental campaign is got to be THE most pathetic in history. The only main candadates we have happen to reside in the lowest rated Congress in the history of the United States!
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