Those Stinking Republicans
“… Are we better off than
we were three years ago? Is the Middle East more stable than it was three years
ago? Absolutely not, it's more unstable.” – Senator Chuck
Hagel (“This Week” on ABC)
What to do?
You have very few Republicans – you can count them
on one hand – who have the courage of Chuck Hagel's convictions. So, with the
midterms coming up, seriously, what do you do? Well, Joe Gandelman read Fred Barnes and went uncharacteristically ballistic…
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| Smell a skunk? |
You read Barnes' piece and it's like finding a skunk
in your tent while camping. You can hold your nose and get rid of a skunk's
smell by washing with tomato juice. For many voters, if this is the kind of
campaign the GOP will offer, it may be tomato juice washing time in November.Actually, there is a good chance this strategy will
succeed, since it has worked well before — and when it comes to politics,
Democratic strategists aren't exactly rocket scientists.In, fact, they're not exactly strategists, either…
But perhaps it will fail this time because polls show
there is a strong desire for change. The danger for Republicans is that some
folks may feel the only way to cleanse the country of this kind of political
stink is to vote against anyone with an “R” in front of their names
for an election cycle or two. The Republican leadership may also find out
that some Republicans have had enough of politics transparently designed to
define opponents and stir up passions, even if they don't like those opponents.
What
is the plan for Republicans going forward towards the 2006 elections? Change
the subject, baby.
House Republicans, for their part, intend
to seek votes on measures such as the Bush-backed constitutional amendment banning
gay marriage, a bill allowing more public expression of religion, another requiring
parental consent for women under 18 to get an abortion, legislation to bar all
federal courts except the Supreme Court from ruling on the constitutionality
of the Pledge of Allegiance, a bill to outlaw human cloning, and another that
would require doctors to consider fetal pain before performing an abortion.
Change the Subject
It infuriates Joe because it reveals the abject cynicism
of the Republicans in power. Cynicism could drive independents away from the polls,
rev up a right-wing base that has little real passion whatsoever right now for
the president, unless you're talking about the straw vote crowd from Memphis.
But it will also turn off a good many voters, which can only help Republicans
in an off year election.
It's Barnes' cynicism that has grabbed Joe by the throat and brought
forth such a passionate political yell. A word that's getting a lot of use lately.
Howard Kurtz used it today on “Reliable Sources,” when talking about
journalists.
It's one reason I believe that Russ Feingold's censure motion
is so important. In the midst of all this cynicism, a politician stood up and
turned the argument into what is supposed to be President Bush's strong suit,
national security and the war on terror. As Bill Kristol said today
on “Fox News Sunday,” much to Brit Hume's annoyance, you don't hear any Republicans defending the
program, just “whining” about Feingold's censure motion. Kristol practically
praised Feingold's courage and principled politics, regardless of where it goes.
He called it a smart personal move, as well for the Democratic Party, which
I said earlier.
The American people need to see the Democratic Party take a principled
stand. Americans respect that, regardless of outcome. It's the one question many people have about our party. Are we capable of taking heat, making an argument and standing up when something moves us? Russ Feingold and Jack Murtha are our heroes for this message. Murtha, once again proving today on “Meet the Press,” that he is an unflinching leader on Iraq policy.
If Barnes is right and the Republicans are going to stink up the political
debate yet again, by trotting out another polarizing campaign. It's not what Joe is advocating, preferring a higher plain of politics, but it's likely to backfire on Republicans, and make the Democratic Party smell like a spring rose.
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