[hchutch]

While it would satisfy us to see Bush call Daschle and out-and-out liar, it might not be the BEST move, tactically or in the strategic sense.

Bush needs to looks like the guy in the white hat. And the best way to do that is to give Daschle enough rope to hang himself with. Already Daschle's approval numbers ate below 45%. That's dangerous territory for a politician. Remember Tom Foley, the sitting House speaker knocked off by George Nethercutt? The same thing's gonna happen to Daschle if he ain't careful.

[Wphile]

I believe you are right about Daschle. I just wish he were up for reelection this year. The Foley phenomenon is happening to Daschle as it does to most Dems who reach national status. Instead of adhering to their constituency they have to adhere to the Dem base. The base is the ultra liberals from the NE and the Left Coast. Once they have to play the national party line, they are in trouble if they come from a moderate to conservative state. Let's hope Thune creams Johnson and let that be a very strong message to Dasshole from his former constituents in South Dakota.

[Theodore R.]

No, hchutch, Daschle has no national approval ratings. The American people are so uninformed that don't know Daschle or recognize his picture. But he is nevertheless running Washington. G.W. Bush is becoming a side show to the real power in Washington. Alas, Republicans don't believe me, and they should. I have been a registered Republican since 1970, the same year the great Helms switched parties. But I never switched parties -- I was Republican before it was cool. Still, I am disappointed in the record of the Republican party and its leaders. I don't know what will motivate G.W. Bush to "fight." Here he nominates this outstanding Judge Pickering and then just lets him twist in the wind. It's unseemly; if he wouldn't fight for Pickering, he should have made no nomination.