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Republicans on the Ropes,
The Hartford Advocate ^ | 10-30-03 | by Alan Bisbort

Posted on 10/30/2003 4:08:07 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer

Call me laughably optimistic, but I believe the Republican Party is in deep trouble. Even if you don't share my optimism, it's indisputable that the GOP is, like the Know Nothing and Bull Moose parties, ripe for a fall. We're talking smoldering ruins, defections, patricide, fratricide, and acts of contrition the likes of which Jimmy Swaggart never imagined. This situation has nothing to do with the formidable (ha) opposition of the Democrats, last seen playing patty-cake in Congress with the Future Felons of America in the White House. It is just a fact of life, like water running downhill and the Red Sox losing Game Seven.

If images are more important than issues, try this one on for size: The White House has banned the media from covering the arrival of the flag-draped coffins of dead soldiers on all military bases; Bush himself has not attended a single one of these 340-plus homecomings. See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil is the Republican mantra, and they're sticking to it even as their ship runs headlong into a perfect political storm.

To wit: Republicans control the White House, Senate, House of Representatives and Supreme Court. They control all three branches of government, have no checks and balances on their power. They also control Wall Street and the media. They not only run the show, they massage the message.

My point: This is their bad. By "this," I mean an all-time record federal budget deficit that's bleeding states, cities and towns dry ($374.2 billion for 2003, doubling last year's deficit and likely to reach $500 billion in 2004). "This" is a quagmire in Iraq that will not end soon, or well. "This" is virulent international pariah status, even among allies (Bush was heckled by Australians and Filipinos! Thai farmers put a curse on him!). "This" is setting back environmental progress 100 years. Etc.

In short, the GOP can no longer blame Bill, Hillary, Franklin Delano or Eleanor. Their so-called agenda has had time to prove itself, and it has proven only one thing: It's a miserable failure on all fronts (economic, environmental, racial, morality, foreign affairs, even war). The only things they have to show for themselves are Bush in that flight suit and 9-11. These are not reassuring items on which to build a campaign. Indeed, the foot-dragging on and censoring of the 9-11 probe (expunging links between Bush's Saudi pals and al Qaeda) and the ongoing Iraq carnage -- despite Bush in that victorious jock strap -- are too obvious even for Fox viewers to deny.

Telltale signs of GOP desperation are everywhere. Let me share one from my town. The "community relations chairman" for the local Republicans has, in a website posting, called Democrats "neo-Nihilists" who are "greedily enamored with the destruction of this nation." Further, Democrats "eschew rational debate," "hate America" and consider Saddam Hussein "a hero." Got that, you Al Gore-voting soccer mom?

Then there's George Nethercutt, a Republican running against incumbent senator, Patty Murray (D-WA). In a recent speech, echoing GOP talking points, he said, "The story of what we've done in the postwar period is remarkable. It is a better and more important story than losing a couple of soldiers every day." Makes a great campaign slogan, doesn't it? I mean, for the Democrats.

Or how about this from my Republican Congresswoman Nancy Johnson. In a recent letter to constituents, she said, "We are in Iraq to help ourselves and the Iraqi people because 9/11 proved how deeply intertwined are our lives." Huh? Even Bush now admits there was no connection between 9/11 and Iraq. Since the pretext for this war is gone, even "moderates" like Johnson are forced to deploy semantic deceits (or what I call Republican pretzel logic).

Last and least, former first lady Barbara Bush recently described the 12 Democratic candidates for president as a "sorry group." The Democratic lineup contains two decorated war veterans, a Rhodes Scholar, a top West Point grad, a longtime legislator, a successful mayor and governor, and numerous other public servants, none of whom warrant such an undignified characterization. Especially not from the matriarch of three substance-abusing grandchildren, a felonious whoremonger son (Neil), ethically challenged son (Marvin), HMO-fund-embezzler and election thief (Jeb), coke-sniffing AWOL Air Guard pilot son (W.), vehicularly homicidal daughter-in-law (Laura) and father- and grandfather-in-law who traded with Nazi Germany.

My bad in last week's column: I blew Red Sox manager Grady Little's name, calling him Grady Wilson. The latter was Fred Sanford's wine-bibbing partner on the great Sanford and Son . Fred's Grady might have made a better manager.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Connecticut
KEYWORDS: lunatic
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To: Coop
They get the nominees through committee just fine now that they're the majority. But thanks to the filibuster they don't "control" the Senate.

I deal in results, not rhetoric...the results are the same...a weak wristed Republican leadership not quite up to doing battle in the trenches and zero new judicial appointments.

81 posted on 10/30/2003 12:31:05 PM PST by Cuttnhorse
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To: paul in cape

The GOP Senate does need this.

82 posted on 10/30/2003 12:34:51 PM PST by bmwcyle (Hillary's election to President will start a civil war)
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To: milan
If the republicans fall they will crush the democrats.
83 posted on 10/30/2003 1:05:21 PM PST by billhilly (If you're lurking here from DU, I trust this post will make you sick)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Call me laughably optimistic

Can we just call you laughable?

84 posted on 10/30/2003 1:17:05 PM PST by pasquale
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To: chiller; Coop
Keep your eye on Bill Owens. He's a good conservative and a fine governor. And George Will likes him.
85 posted on 10/30/2003 1:25:48 PM PST by colorado tanker ("There are but two parties now, Traitors and Patriots")
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Well...he certainly is laughable.
86 posted on 10/30/2003 1:31:26 PM PST by Samwise (There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides the will of evil.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
To wit: Republicans control the White House, Senate, House of Representatives and Supreme Court. They control all three branches of government, have no checks and balances on their power. They also control Wall Street and the media. They not only run the show, they massage the message.

Is this a great country or what !!


87 posted on 10/30/2003 1:35:54 PM PST by unixfox (Close the borders, problems solved!)
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To: mewzilla
and the probable sweep of the 3 remaining gubernatorial elections for this year for the GOP after having just gained the governorship of California--more signs of panic.
88 posted on 10/30/2003 1:41:26 PM PST by Republican Wildcat (Help us elect Republicans in Kentucky! Click on my name for links to all the 2003 candidates!)
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To: Republican Wildcat
I love the smell of desperation in the afternoon :)
89 posted on 10/30/2003 1:42:33 PM PST by mewzilla
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
"Last and least, former first lady Barbara Bush recently described the 12 Democratic candidates for president as a "sorry group."

12?

Even if you count Bob Graham, who already dropped out, there's only 10. Well, unless you count Dopey and Grumpy, but I thought they were just write-in candidates.

With math skills like that, one can only be delighted at the prospect of these guys balancing the national budget.

Qwinn
90 posted on 10/30/2003 1:44:58 PM PST by Qwinn
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To: camle
Rudolph Guliani will succeed Bush in 2008. Cheney will retire mid-term leading the way for the next Republican to capture the White House. Also, he will beat Hillary for the NY vote.
91 posted on 10/30/2003 1:47:23 PM PST by dougiefresh
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
How about a Barf Alert in the headline?

Republicans control the White House, Senate, House of Representatives and Supreme Court

Two for four, guy. Anyone who asserts that the GOP's relationship to the Senate and SCOTUS is one of "control" is deranged.

92 posted on 10/30/2003 1:48:14 PM PST by pogo101
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To: camle
then who are the next republican leaders? these people ought to be household words by now.

You cannot be serious. Are you suggesting that Republicans should devote their efforts in the direction of creating "buzz" about a candidate who does not face election for five years?

93 posted on 10/30/2003 1:50:13 PM PST by 1rudeboy
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Does anyone on this board think as I do:

That some of the WMD will be found at just the right time, politically.

Or that OBL will be arrested (or killed) just in time for the 04 elections?

Or that Saddam will be arrested..just in time to make W a shoe-in for '04?
94 posted on 10/30/2003 3:00:18 PM PST by jtrowbr212
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To: jtrowbr212
I thought there would be a big arrest near the 2002 election. Of course, it didn't happen.

I've since had time to think about it and I do not think this administration would politicize that kind of thing. I now realize that my thoughts about the 2002 election were the result of Clinton fatigue ...
95 posted on 10/30/2003 4:10:42 PM PST by Oldeconomybuyer (The democRATS are near the tipping point.)
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To: pogo101
Just trying to comply with the "rules":
 
Titles, Accuracy, and Inappropriate Commentary [This means you!]
 

 

96 posted on 10/30/2003 4:13:37 PM PST by Oldeconomybuyer (The democRATS are near the tipping point.)
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To: jtrowbr212; wingnuts'nbolts
Not me .. But that kind of thing has happened in the past . Do you remember when President Reagan was elected and the hostages were seemingly released post haste ? I'm kidding of course Jim .

Or when the President of Panama failed to make his payment to the CIA so we invaded Panama ? No . I might think like you Jim but not on this 1 .

Have a laugh at the article winger -)

97 posted on 10/30/2003 4:26:24 PM PST by Ben Bolt ( " The Spenders " ..)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
That posting doesn't necessarily rule out "barf alert"; it may be limited to people putting extensive comments in the headline. Even if it does apply, it's not a "rule" in any official sense, to my knowledge, or, if it is: First I've heard it, and I strongly disagree. In any event, it's an optional COURTESY to put "alerts" in the titles, so that readers are forewarned that it's lefty lunacy that they're clicking towards.
98 posted on 10/30/2003 6:46:48 PM PST by pogo101
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To: pogo101
Fair enough. And yes, the article posted is a real hurler of leftist bile.

But this isn't my forum, it's Jim Robinsons. And if his Admin Moderators want to clean up titles in order to maintain a clean archive of news, opinion, and the events of the day then I will try to be a good FR citizen. Note however, that I often post BARF ALERT worthy bile from the parasitic left.

Reader Beware. ;-)
99 posted on 10/31/2003 1:18:16 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer (The democRATS are near the tipping point.)
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To: kittymyrib
I wonder if him and Comical Ali share delivery pointers?

100 posted on 10/31/2003 1:33:44 AM PST by zbigreddogz
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