Bloomberg: Bush, Once Party-Builder, Leaves Republicans Weakened, Worried

[Hissyspit]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aLEVpghgS04Y&refer=home

Bush, Once Party-Builder, Leaves Republicans Weakened, Worried

By Catherine Dodge and Laura Litvan

May 15 (Bloomberg) -- Representative Tom Davis, a veteran Republican campaign strategist, sees one bright spot for his party's prospects in 2008: President George W. Bush's term will be drawing to a close.

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``The face of the Republican Party changes in about 12 months,'' said Davis, a Northern Virginia lawmaker who formerly headed the National Republican Congressional Committee. ``There's no question that the president at this point has dragged our brand name down.''

Davis was part of a group of 11 Republican House members who met with Bush and senior administration officials May 8 to deliver a blunt message: rank-and-file support for the war is fading amid growing concern that the party's embrace of Bush policies may imperil its future.

The longing for a break with Bushism is a far cry from the hopes the Texan stirred with his 2000 victory. Casting himself as a party-builder, Bush envisioned a political realignment that would make Republicans the nation's ruling majority.

Instead, he's poised to leave office as one of the country's most unpopular leaders, at home and abroad, with his party weaker than he found it.

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[Erika]

1. W hurt this country and the world in so many ways

He should be tried as a war criminal and that he reduced our middle class opportunities to zero.

He is a traitor to this country.

[bluestateguy]

2. ``The face of the Republican Party changes in about 12 months''

Not if we can help it.

We need to make their nominee's middle name "BUSH".

[Maccagirl]

6. If the Dem strategists and pols are smart

that's EXACTLY what they'll do-will they listen to us this time? The Repubs cannot be allowed to re-energize and revamp-the stakes are too high.

[opihimoimoi]

3. Bush has destroyed the GOP...and they deserve it for their 6 years of support.

[madrchsod]

5. they wiped their asses with our constitution

their loyalty was`t to america... it was to the party. yes they deserve what ever they reap

[JCMach1]

9. And many times Dems handed them the paper...

:grr:

Change in Washington needs to happen in so many ways!

[Erika]

4. Yep. The GOP rubber stamped Bush for 6 long years

They damn well deserve to pay for it.

[TwilightGardener]

7. And yet, they haven't broken away from him--I suppose if (and when) they do,

it will be SPECTACULAR! A seismic shift. At least I hope so--more entertaining than dribbling away gradually, in groups of 2's and 3's.

[vickitulsa]

8. Interesting piece.

The article had a bit of imbalance, imo, in quotes from 'Pukes trying to defend or deny, versus others who were citing facts and observing reality.

Still, the defenders of the GOP cause sounded lame and desperate in the end. And I liked some of the concluding comments in the article:

``All Republicans,'' Reed said, ``are thinking of a post-Bush world.''

In reality, things could get worse before they get better for the Republicans. Of the 33 Senate seats on the ballot next year, Republican candidates must defend 21. Democrats won a 31- seat majority in the House in 2006 and their advantage isn't seriously threatened at this point.

[Spinzonner]

10. Maybe their real problem is that they think of

leading the country as a 'brand' to be gained with corporate-style advertising and subterfuge

[opihimoimoi]

11. Them Pubs have the ME MY AND I Syndrome

They think for themselves and not for our Nation....look it the evidence everywhere.....