The Democrats National Security nightmare

Halfway to Concord ^ | 12/30/5

[SmithL]

They can never refuse the bait.

Just when you think the President has stuck his neck out too far…the Democrats grab the long knives…and…then instead of victory they dig themselves in deeper and deeper.

Tax cuts
John Bolton
John Roberts
The Murtha resolution

And now National Security.

The New York Times and Washington Post are now going to do to themselves and the Democrats exactly what they’ve been trying to do the President. Their political use of national security leaks is gong to cause several unintended, self-damaging effects.

First off it has only helped the President’s approval ratings. You know they didn’t want that to happen.

Next the “We killed the Patriot Act,” quote from Democrat Harry Reid will come home to roost on the weakest branch of the Democratic Party—National Security. I can almost guarantee you will see that sound clip in campaign ads.

And then they will have to explain the difference between clamoring for a special prosecutor to look into the Valerie Plame fiasco and not wanting to look into the more serious NSA leaks to both papers. (Which is unfolding as I write this.)

This will in turn bolster the American public’s resolve to reenact the Patriot Act.

This also has the potential to be a big, make that a very big, loser issue for the Democrats in the 2006 mid-term elections. The only thing trusted less than politicians right now is the press. The American people had a banner of bad reporting from the New York Times, CBS and the WAPO. Nothing that comes out of those media outlets is taken at face value.

In a spitting match between the press and the President, Bush will almost certainly come out on top–especially if Republicans continue to frame the debate around national security.

This is an issue in which you will see sensible Democrats and a very nervous Hillary Clinton tip toe around very carefully. And then only when she has to.

In fact this is probably the biggest lose-lose issue for her. She must appear strong on national security if she wants to win. If the electorate continues to think the Patriot Act is a good idea, which they do for good reason, she will have to come out in favor of it. This will not sit well with her base.

If she comes out against it there is little chance she, or any other Democrat for that matter, will be able to garner enough votes to carry the day.

That said, watch the Republicans go the through the longest, most drawn out process of keeping this top of mind with voters.

[SmithL]

This is great. I wish I'd found and posted this earlier.

[digger48]

Press Conferences by the Prez and keeping his face in as many cameras as he can.

Needs to run things like we used to bitch about Clinton for doing, 'non-stop campaign mode' from here on out..

[george76]