Posted on 05/15/2008 12:49:48 PM PDT by Jeff Gordon
Soul searching Republicans are turning to an unlikely savior, one-time party heretic and now presumptive White House nominee John McCain, as they try to stave off an electoral disaster.
Stung by the Democratic seizure of three staunch conservative seats in Congress, Republican lawmakers fear a shellacking in November's general election, after losing control of both chambers of Congress in 2006.
The rise of McCain as their champion is not without irony, since the 71-year-old Arizona senator has quarreled with his own party for years on issues as diverse as immigration, campaign finance reform and global warming.
But it is precisely that independent streak that is drawing Republicans to his coattails, hoping he can cleanse them of the stain of gridlocked Washington.
Eric Cantor, Republican chief deputy whip in the House of Representatives, told reporters that the McCain brand was healthier than that of his party.
"John McCain is a demonstrated vote getter among independents, and his message and what he will be able to do in this election is extremely important."
House Republican minority leader John Boehner told Fox News that with McCain at the top of the ticket, his demoralized party might spring a surprise in November.
"I think that we're going to do a lot better than people think," Boehner said.
"John McCain appeals to almost all Republicans. He also appeals to a wide array of independents and conservative Democrats."
Democrat Travis Childers on Tuesday won Mississippi's first congressional district, one of the safest Republican seats in the country, following his party's recent special election wins in Illinois and Louisiana.
The win was another triumph for the strategy of matching socially conservative Democrats, who often oppose abortion and back gun rights, to conservative districts, where Republicans would normally ease to victory.
As they surveyed the damage Wednesday, Republican House leaders rolled out the first elements of a new agenda, dubbed "The Change You Deserve," pinpointing the struggles of working families.
Significantly, a key player in their press conference was Carly Fiorina, the former Hewlett-Packard chief who is now one of McCain's most visible economic advisors.
Democrats see their win streak as a referendum on the unpopular president and dream of an electoral landslide after a Washington Post/ABC poll this week found eight in ten Americans think the country is on the wrong track.
Tom Cole, who heads Republican congressional campaign efforts, delivered an unusually stark warning, telling his party's candidates "to take stock of their campaigns and position themselves for challenging campaigns this fall."
But Adam Putnam, chairman of the House Republican conference, suggested Republicans could prosper without their president up for reelection.
"The President is not on the ballot," he said.
Top Democrats will not let them creep silently out of Bush's shadow.
"What happened in Mississippi was a day for reckoning for the failed policies of the Bush administration," said Chris Van Hollen, chairman of the House Democratic campaign committee.
And he said McCain, who recorded a message for the defeated Republican candidate in Mississippi, had failed to save his party.
"They thought he would be a life preserver, he wasn't -- he was an anchor."
Democratic House majority leader Steny Hoyer meanwhile mocked the new Republican slogan, "The Change You Deserve," saying it had already been used to market an anti-depressant medicine.
Democrats, who seized control of both chambers of Congress in 2006, are looking to expand their 37-seat majority in the House, and increase their tally in the 100-seat Senate from the current 51.
Republicans are particularly bracing for losses in the Senate, since in what was already shaping up as a bad year they have 23 seats up for reelection compared to only 12 for the Democrats.
This should have been posted under humor.
Bump.
Exactly right. If the Republicans can't keep Mississippi, it is going to be DOOOOM in November, just as Conservatives have said all along. So much for 'electability', eh?
since the 71-year-old Arizona senator has quarreled with his own party for yearsHe hasn't quarreled with the people who run the party NOW.
He's got no problem with the RNC the way it is NOW.
The RNC Titanic set sail back in February with Captain John McCain at the helm.
Well, I guess it's true that the party has left its base behind.
I laughed at first. 'Til I thought about it for a second . . .
I will comment...
Unlike so many, I do not look to politicians to be my “savior”. There is only one Savior, and that is Jesus Christ.
That is part of the reason we are in so much trouble in this country - too many people look to and even worship their “lords and masters” in office to deliver them.... from financial mistakes, from laziness, from their own stupidity.
McCain isn’t even a better alternative...
;^)
There, fixed it...
Real Repubs certainly aren't stirred by McCain.
Thanks, perhaps it is time for people to face up to the facts. Those in power want impoverished, powerless, dependent masses. They cannot leave self reliant, strong people who might buck their program for us. We have to have any wealth taken away so we will be dependent on their caring mercy. Any crumb we will be so grateful for. What they want is many of us to die, hence crappy free socialist healthcare administered by morons. The more of us gone, the more for them, thats brings me to abortion, that ain’t going anywhere either, they need it with the inclusion of euthanasia. That will start out being voluntary, but that won’t be voluntary too long.
The Gorebal warming BS is the Big Lie foot in the door to control us. Both parties have signed on to this scam as the death knell for society. This will be used to bring us to our knees.
Like it folks, the screws are being turned while we sit on our dead butts and swallow it. Juan, Obama, Hillary, all branches of the poison tree.
Sorry, the whole thing is a joke.
Ain't that the TRUTH.
Here's what I'm suffering from.
Electile Dysfunction: The inability to become aroused over any of the choices for president put forth by either party in the 2008 election year.
Not this Republican.
I'm with you!!
I'm going to write in Dan Gurney for president. ;)
“Already the GOP is drawing the wrong conclusions.”
Amen, every time the GOP gets their a$$ handed to them, the RNC adopts a course or plan even more stupid than the one that was in effect prior to the loss.
We conservatives have to ignore the RNC leadership, stop sending them money and develop good, local, conservative candidates that, someday, will rise to high office and turn the USA back to the shining city on a hill that we know it can be.
Title should have read, “Republicans stick their heads further up their posterior”.
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