Even Republicans Don't Like Republicans

By: Teddy
Published On: 5/4/2006 6:18:58 PM

If you search carefully you will find, like straws in the wind, evidence here and there of a justifiable panic setting in among Republican elected officials, and evidence of blood lust, even anticipatory chops-licking by Democratic political analysts. Here's some stuff I've extracted over time from various places, including the Internet:

Strategy Memos from James Carville and Stan Greenberg point out that political discontent has reached a surprising level, even among Republicans, which explains "the GOP's motivation in pushing an immigration bill."  The Republican leadership is desperate to energize their base in what is described as a "near lethal environment." 

The two Democrats suggest that Democrats can take the initiave away from Republicans on the immigration issue by offering "realistic solutions."  They suggested English requirements for citizenship and enforcement of the law against businesses as well as illegal immigrants.

One of many recent new surveys causing such comments shows that, among self-identified Republicans across the nation, 40% say the country is headed in the wrong direction--- 24% want to go in a "significantly different direction than Bush."

As if that's not bad enough, in bright red counties (those which Bush carried in 2004), 64% say the country is headed in the wrong direction.  That's right, over two-thirds don't like where Bush is leading us.  The result: in these supposedly red counties Republicans now have only a 48% to 43% lead over Democrats in Congressional races.

Even in typically strong Republican areas, so-called "white rural areas," 61% say we're going in the wrong direction, and Republicans and Democrats are actually running even in BOTH House and Senate races.

Well, well. I doubt that ramping up the immigration rhetoric is going to help the Republicans that much. What other options do they have, aside from their usual slime attacks and tinkering with voter suppression and hackable voting machines?  What comes to mind, of course, is another war, complete with induced fear and jingoistic foreign adventurism: Iran.  That's it! Let's invade Iran in order to re-elect Republicans, the Great Security Party.

Been there, done that (with one letter of difference). Maybe that won't work, either. Hmmm.  If only the Democrats didn't have such an ability to shoot themselves in the foot every time the advantage tends their way, I'd feel better. I wouldn't put it past some national Democrat to decide to help out Bush in his hour of travail.  After all, they didn't like Colbert's humor at the White House Correspondent's Dinner (even the so-called liberal media felt Colbert was "over the top" and "not funny"). Can we just let the Republicans hang themselves now? Talk about overdue.

Comments



Is it Iraq? Is it the Deficit? Is it Civil Rights? (Teddy - 5/4/2006 10:07:08 PM)
You wonder: just what is it that's finally turned off the voters? We each have our theories. I hear that Congressional Republicans are sure it's the out-of-control spending, so we'll probably see Congress scurrying around to slash the budget here and there and continue to cut taxes (to satisfy their big time contributors). Maybe it will work, and restore public confidence in the Republican leadership. I doubt it, though. Democrats will have to keep pounding away at all the rest of the mess... they sure have a long menu of messes to choose from.  And the Republicans have to hear the advancing footsteps of the angry Democratic veterans, coming at them from everywhere, coast to coast.