Bush Chose Not To Use His Enormous Political Capital For GOP

Toogood Reports ^ | November 6, 2001 | Paul M. Weyrich

[dirtboy]

Bush Chose Not To Use His Enormous Political Capital For GOP

The public is not granting Bush a 90-percent approval rating to wage politcs - but instead to wage war. If he were to use that rating for political gain, he would lose much of it.

[Andrew Byler]

What the hell are they holding back for? He won't use his political capital for anything.

[Ligeia]

Some Virginians received the following letter:
President Bush Says Vote Mark Earley for Governor

[pgkdan]

The public is not granting Bush a 90-percent approval rating to wage politcs - but instead to wage war.

Yeah...I'm sure he'll get the Taliban vote in the next election.

[dirtboy]

Yeah...I'm sure he'll get the Taliban vote in the next election.

That was one of the most inane replies I have seen in some time. Do you think that, in the wake of the WTC attacks, that so many people who voted for Gore turned their support to Bush so he could wage politics?

[tellw]

Interesting analogy. I think Bush wimped out in the face of Daschle's threats that if he campaigned in the 2001 races the Democrats would not confirm any judges or agree to a fiscal package. Of course, the Democrats are doing that anyway.

But by and large, Schundler and Earley (and possibly Bloomberg) will lose because no one in the GOP was groomed to succeed the strong incumbents (Whitman, Gilmore and Giuliani). And the Dems had candidates who had already stood for major elections before, and thus did not seem as unknown quantities. I also think the GOP needs to find more women candidates.

[KC_Conspirator]

The public is not granting Bush a 90-percent approval rating to wage politcs - but instead to wage war. If he were to use that rating for political gain, he would lose much of it.

That is exactly right. I like Weyrich, but he is being short sighted on this one. I know that losses in today's elections will hurt, but if he has capital to spend, I would put it deep in the pocket and use it for when it is direly needed.

[MHGinTN]

Weyrich has become as shallow as the political arena. His 'vision' can no longer reach to the distant realities of politics, thus he tends to serve the democrat machine more than conservative change.

[Mr. Bird]

There are several things I would like to see George W. Bush do as President. Emulating Nixon is not one of them.

Seriously, though, Weyrich is making the mistake of fighting today's political battle on the landscape of 1969-70. That was over 30 years ago. Interesting to discuss, damn near fatal to buy into.

[Ward Smythe]

Bush had enormous political capital and he chose not to use it. He will likely pay for this for the rest of his presidency.

He's right on this one. If NJ, NYC and VA go RAT today, starting tomorrow on the Today show we'll hear Katie Couric asking Terry McAuliffe what this means. He'll reply, "Well, Katie, while we clearly stand with the President in the war on terrrorism, this is a clear indication that the American public is rejecting his domestic agenda." That'll be the start and the 90% approval rating will begin to fade.

It's not the President's fault that the GOP isn't way out front in these races. And, it pains me to admit it, but Weyrich is right that Earley has run an abysmal campaign (oh the stories I could tell...). But, Bush could've made a difference with very little effort and by losing no political clout.

If Earley and Schundler lose the blame will flow this way: 1) to the candidates, 2) to Jim Gilmore and the RNC, 3) to George W. Bush...

Bush is enough of a leader that he could ride it out, but now all the speculation will be on the 2002 race and whether the GOP can recapture the Senate.

[Irene Adler]

"...if he has capital to spend, I would put it deep in the pocket and use it for when it is direly needed."

I am not so sure it's possible to "save" political capital. It tends to dissipate with the passage of time and events. I think it really needs to be spent when ya got it or you usually lose the chance to spend it at all.

[Sci Fi Guy]

If he were to use that rating for political gain, he would lose much of it

First of all, He will lose it. This is just temporary, because of 9/11. After the gulf war, his father had 90% approval ratings too. Big Deal. Clinton had good approval ratings, yet most people had an extremely low opinion of him.

So what if he lost it. He was elected to do a job, that job includes political elements. The more Republicans that get elected, the easier it will be for Bush to get his agenda passed. An agenda that our country desperately needs.

[pgkdan]

. Do you think that, in the wake of the WTC attacks, that so many people who voted for Gore turned their support to Bush so he could wage politics?

And that is one of the most inane responses I've ever read. Do you think that just because the USA was attacked by terrorists that we should allow them to disrupt the functioning of this country? President's ARE political creations and should function as such. If Bush can find time to throw out the first pitch at a baseball game...if he can travel to China and visit public schools he can participate in politics. The world goes on...life is for the living.

[dirtboy]

And that is one of the most inane responses I've ever read. Do you think that just because the USA was attacked by terrorists that we should allow them to disrupt the functioning of this country?

Here is the headline for this article:

Bush Chose Not To Use His Enormous Political Capital For GOP

Where did Bush's Political Capital come from? The need to respond to the WTC attacks. The American people will stay firmly behind Bush as long as he remembers that. It is not Bush's political capital to squander on a few political races this year, and Bush knows it.

[dirtboy]

First of all, He will lose it. This is just temporary, because of 9/11. After the gulf war, his father had 90% approval ratings too. Big Deal. Clinton had good approval ratings, yet most people had an extremely low opinion of him.

Oh, I imagine Bush's rating will go down over time. But IMO he would be squandering the current rating by using it for politics. That can come next year, after the nation has settled into the post-WTC realities.

[hchutch]

Plus, we need to bring moderates in the party to heel in a way. DiFrancesco hurt Schundler badly in New Jersey, and while I hope Bret pulls it out, a close loss is more likely.

And competence would have helped out in VA, IMHO. Had they gotten some of the Warner stuff out earlier, things would have gone much better, IMO.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

Thanks for the history lesson but it all comes down to .............so what?? The entire political situation is so volitile that noone knows what is around the next bend. I agree with dirtboy, also.

[Miss Marple]

Let's pretend that Bush did campaign for these two candidates. We would then hear "Bush not serious about bipartisanship" and "Going back on his word, Bush brings partisanship into the race." He would be attacked for campaigning during time of war, and those fence-sitters that the GOP needs would break to the dems.

Both GOP candidates would lose, and as an added bonus we would get constant attacks from the dems in Congress (worse than they are doing now).

Campaigning wouldn't help, and would be counter-productive.

And here is another question: wasn't this guy the one who wrote a colummn two yers ago telling us we should withdraw from politics and form our own little society? I do believe so; it was a big item for discussion at the time.

So he NOW is griping that President Bush, who wasn't conservative enough for him before the Inauguration, is now not doing enough for the party in the manner in which he wants? Whine, whine, whine. State parties are responsible for gubernatorial elections and campaigns. These candidates, if they do not win, have no one to blame but themselves and their cmpaign strategy.

I know what I am talking about. David McIntosh LOST the Indiana gubernatoriail election last year, even though Indiana went for Bush by a large margin. I worked on his campaign. We were constantly anywhere from 10-20% behind, ruunning against a moderate/conservative dem. Then candidate Bush made a wonderful campaign ad for David McIntosh. It did NO good. McIntosh still lost. President Bush cannot help elect candidates in this situation, and carping about it doesn't help the party any, either.

There are more important things going on today, such as a war.

[pgkdan]

. It is not Bush's political capital to squander on a few political races this year, and Bush knows it.

No...Bush would squander nothing by supporting Earley in VA and Schundler in NJ and his popularity at this moment could have made a difference, esp in VA where the race is extremely close. Bush is resorting to type. He's sacrificing his friends in order to not offend the democrats. He's done this over and over and over again...in Texas and now as President.

No big deal...I'll get over it and I think that Earley still has a shot in VA, and I'll support Bush again in 2004...but with a whole lot less enthusiasm and a whole lot LESS effort. Virginia kept Bush's presidential hopes alive, our primary was crucial and if McCain had won it would've been over for W. Those GOP soldiers deserve much better from the man they worked so long and hard to elect.