Robert D. Novak: ‘Keep away from Bush’ may be GOP’s best election strategy

[sabra]

http://www.theunionleader.com/articles_showa.html?article=62896

Robert D. Novak: ‘Keep away from Bush’ may be GOP’s best election strategy
By ROBERT D. NOVAK
Commentary



HOUSE SPEAKER Dennis Hastert and the House Republican campaign chairman, Rep. Tom Reynolds, were given a sobering warning last week by senior GOP political operatives. They were told that on Tuesday, Nov. 8, the Democrats were sure to win the governorship of Virginia. After that, the warning continued, the watchword within the House majority would be: Every man for himself!

The victory of Democrat Tim Kaine over Republican Jerry Kilgore was the only contest in scattered off-year elections that was carefully monitored on Capitol Hill. For a liberal Virginian to win a Southern red state signaled that cherished Republican majorities in both House and Senate, plus all the perquisites they entail, could be lost in 2006. Eyeing the Democratic landslide in suburban northern Virginia just over the Potomac from Washington that gave Lt. Gov. Kaine the governorship, Republicans in Congress envision their own doom.

The antidote to avoid that fate is to keep as far away from President Bush as possible, a lesson underlined by the President’s failed election rescue mission for former state Attorney General Kilgore. The consequences may be profound. As his approval rating dipped, Bush increasingly has been treated in Congress as a lame duck. Tuesday’s Virginia outcome increases the propensity of Republican senators and House members not only to avoid their President on the campaign trail but also to ignore his legislative proposals.

....

Bush gets the blame. In the days immediately preceding Tuesday’s elections, Republican committee chairmen in Congress grew increasingly contemptuous of their President. Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, dismissed Bush’s Social Security plan as something to be shelved until after the 2008 Presidential election. Rep. Joe Barton, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, opposed Bush’s requested $7 billion to fight bird flu. Thanks to Virginia, the President can expect more of the same.

[SoCalDem]

1. What a toad..

no offense to toads.:)

[SammyWinstonJack]

2. LOL!

:rofl: How's that political capital working for ya George? :rofl:

[FreedomAngel82]

3. On Malloy's show tonight

he played audio of Scotty talking to someone about the election's and he tried to spin the Kaine win for them! He said that Kaine ran on a platform that was conservative and what they ran on so it was a win for them and their ideals and not the democrats and of course repeated the talking point of how "democrats have no ideas of their own". :eyes:

[Erika]

5. Kaine ran as a pro-choice, anti death-penalty guy

He interjected his personal beliefs and then said he would go by the law. The right-wingers are in full tizzy mode. The Religious right wingers are about to sue W for damages for not bringing on Armageddon.

They are truly amusing and amazing.

[Carolab]

7. In other words, he did what Dean said Dems must do.

Stand up for what they believe in and let the voters decide.

Voters want to know what you stand for, not a pack of lies. Even if they don't agree 100% with what you believe in, if it really is what you believe in, they'll respect you for saying it and having the courage of your convictions.

Kaine stood up for his beliefs and didn't hide them, equivocate or apologize. And the voters responded.

[BattyDem]

6. Corzine didn't run as a conservative ...

but Forrester did a complete flip-flop. He was conservative during the GOP primaries, then changed his views on abortion and stem-cell research to run as a moderate. Tell me again, Scotty ... which party has no ideas on their own? :evilgrin:

[Carolab]

8. It's the flip flop that kills you. Look at Kerry.

Remember how * got props for "knowing what he believed in and standing by it"? Well, people finally caught on that he has been playing them.

Clinton lied about a blow job. That nailed his coffin.

Bush lied about a war...

The moral? Stand up for what you believe in, and DON'T lie about it.

[BattyDem]

9. Yep! Dr. Dean was right. I'm glad the Dem candidates ...

are finally starting to listen. :-)

[The_Casual_Observer]

4. jr, I'll be happy to loan you my gas pipe.

[Meldread]

10. I bet Novak wished he had kept away from Bush...

Right now, I'm VERY proud to be a Virginian and to have voted for Kaine, and it isn't often that I get a chance to feel this good about living here.

[Awsi Dooger]

11. Novak conveniently left out one thing

He gleefully criticizes and denounces Clinton whenever he campaigns for someone and the candidate loses. This time Clinton went to New Jersey for Corzine. No mention of that in the article.