[M. Dodge Thomas]

Novak's unstated question is an interesting one: Is Bush Expendable?.

Seems to me that Novak's Republican sources, though they don't explicitly say so, are advancing their own version of an argument frequently made by left-leaning Democrats: that Kerry is going to catch hell for what they see as Bush's excesses, heat Democrats feel Bush and his party ought to own.

IMO from the standpoint of the folks who have been the big *economic* winners for the last there years it's a argument that makes some sense – likely they have received about all they are going got this go-around, and it's better to let the Democrats take the heat for the inevitable backlash while enticing them to vie for the support of big-money donors.

OTOH from the standpoint of *social* conservatives a Bush defeat would be a disaster; the demographic tide is running against them on just about every issue central to their concerns and they MUST have two or three Republican SC appointments ready to stand with them or their program is doomed sooner rather than later.

Then, there are the Senators and representatives, Republican and Democratic alike, who are waking up with one awful deficit hangover and the realization that the hair of the tax-cut dog that bit them is not going to help - that they have tax-cut themselves right out of the cash with which to buy votes (Oops).

[WestTexasWend]

FWIW, here's the note I sent Novak:

So Republicans on the Hill are upset with Bush? Well, sometimes I am, too, but the boys on the Hill have been a constant disappointment. Apart from the RINO sector, there's precious little "leadership" in the GOP. In the House, there's only Tom DeLay, who has no visable means of support from fellow Republicans, and, as usual, there is NO conservative leadership in the Senate. These "Kerry Republicans" will find a way to be useless regardless of who is in the White House. I wouldn't trust them to pick up my dry cleaning.
The "disaffected" had better know that they are far more expendable than Bush. They need to focus on their own responsibilities and let the president deal with his.
He shouldn't be expected to feed, burp and diaper these self-absorbed whiners.

[John Beresford Tipton]

""...Today, Republicans on either end of Pennsylvania Avenue seem to be going in opposite directions."

LOL,
well guys, a little late in the day to wake up and look at the calendar.

[EllaMinnow]

When I hit the link, I get a different title.