Reality-Challenged President Continues to Embarrass GOP

[babylonsister]

http://thenexthurrah.typepad.com/the_next_hurrah/2007/04/realitychalleng.html

Reality-Challenged President Continues to Embarrass GOP

by DemFromCT

The hierarchical Republican party has an especially difficult time when its leaders screw up. Used to following lock-step and doing what it's told (Chuck Hagel is a rare exception, McCain is not), the GOP was tongue-tied when Denny Hastert looked the other way during the Mark Foley scandal, was silent when Tom DeLay was forced out for myriad examples of aggression and poor judgment, and now is reduced to making anonymous remarks to the press while Republican George W. Bush, the GOP president, continues to preside over an adminiistrative debacle in the WH that they define as superior management.

snip//

Do Republicans really think Iraq is magically going to morph into 'victory' for our side or that the civil war there is somehow going to go away? Do they really think the American public, sick of this war, will support their non-reality parallel universe? Do they really think things will look 'better' in 2008? Do they really think the hard core Republican base, still fighting the Vietnam War in their heads, is all that matters (hint to the press: the GOP base is a minority of votes and opinion, so start treating them as such).

As William Arkin writes on washingtonpost.com:

One has to wonder whether the war wouldn't have gone differently, and whether we wouldn't be having a different debate today, if the U.S. military and the administration themselves had a more clear understanding of who they were fighting and what they were fighting for.

Because they didn't, there's little reason to believe they can develop that understanding now.

It starts by facing reality. Given the current kabuki over the failed Gonzales tenure at DOJ (see Andrew Cohen for more), orchestrated by the failed President, it seems apparent the current GOP leaders in DC are lacking the reality gene. They're more likely than not to find in 2008 that America is going to hold that against them. For the GOP, that's reality, and likely to be a very rude awakening.

[TwilightGardener]

1. This summarizes what I can't figure out:

Do the GOPers think we are suddenly going to start rallying again for the war--that it will somehow regain public support, after 4, 5, 6 years? They are in a tough position, but if they were to agree to reject the Chimperor's war policy en masse, then there wouldn't be any reprisals against individual GOPers for being "mavericks"--everyone could safely adopt the moral position without risking their careers. They are unwilling to do this, and thus the carnage continues for their lack of courage.

[babylonsister]

2. I think that's why every rethug seems to want to wait until September.

Then, they will all start bailing. That might say something about their loyalty, but says nothing about their morality. I know which trait I consider more important but apparently rethugs don't share my view.

[Alexander]

3. This is why Hagel will win the GOP nomination.

The "base" will give them a stunning wake-up call when Iowa and New Hampshire roll around, and the party will find themselves doing a total 180 on Iraq and dropping Bush like a bad habit.

[TwilightGardener]

4. LOL! You and I had this argument on another thread, I think, but I

don't think Hagel will even run. Not unless he suddenly sees a clear shot at winning--that is the buzz here in the home state, anyway. Now he is facing a likely primary challenge for his Senate seat, and that might spur him to retire it and run for Prez, but he's not a very predictable critter--he is not giving out many clues, that's for sure.