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It won't do anything relative to this fall's election since it doesn't go into effect until after that date - IF it survives court, which is unlikely.

I'm asking about what those who favor Bush's signature on this junk bill think will come of this bill in the fall election in terms of seats picked up. That seems to be the lame argument in support of Bush's support of this trash. I'm looking for some specifics so I can keep a scorecard to see if I misjudged this issue and those people are right who are predicting gains in the House and Senate.

Also, I'm interested to hear what the phantom new intrepid representatives will do to advance the conservative cause. My guess: bumpkus.

To answer your question on how this helps the Conservative cause:

1.) It removes the issue from the campaign. Now that the bill has been signed, the tying of Republican Senate and House members to Enron and non-signing of CFR is a dead issue. This removes a huge arrow from the democrat quiver, allowing us a greater chance to GET THE MAJORITY IN THE SENATE, which will allow the judicial nominations to get to the floor for passage.

2.) By filing the lawsuit quickly (and I have no doubt that McConnell was coordinating this, probably with the White House as well) the NRA has grabbed the venue. If a LIBERAL organization had filed the suit in California, for example, it would be tied up for years. I imagine that coordination with the NRA is why they had a quiet ceremony with NO photo ops so that people like Daschle wouldn't know exactly WHEN it became law.

3.) Portions of the bill which will remain after the SC rules on it do not take effect until AFTER November 6, which allows the parties to go ahead with their planned expenditures at this time. For us, this is good because we have way more money, and for the dems it is not so good, because they were, I think, banking on a veto and an override. Hence Terry McAuliffe using a HUGE chunk of soft money to pay up front for the new DNC headquarters.

4.) Demonization of President Bush can't be done on this issue (except here on FR, which most voters don't read...sorry) and his campaigning in the contested Senate seats will be more effective.

Off the top of my head, these are the things I can see as an advantage right now.

I'm personally unaware of a single R who "favors" this bill - but perhaps there are a handful. In fact, it appears the President had to swallow hard to sign it but will let the courts determine what of it they deem constitutional. I don't like it, but then I've yet to find a president I agreed with 100% of the time on 100% of the issues.

As for what it will do in the fall? Cause a few who may have voted for him to opt out of the process and probably keep many of of the lib/dems in that 80% approval rating to vote for R's over D's. This would be especially true if the courts strike down much of CFR when the president can then say, "I told you that would happen, but I wasn't going to be the one to interpret the law or frustrate the will of the people as determined through the votes of their elected representatives."