The Enemy Within (GOP Strategists: "If Election Were Held Today... 90% Chance We'd Lose the House")

OpinionJournal ^ | 05/08/2006 | John Fund

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Ken Mehlman is the unflappable efficiency expert who chairs the Republican National Committee. Because he's not known for histrionics, his warning last week to GOP congressional staffers about this November's elections caused many on Capitol Hill to bolt upright.

Mr. Mehlman traveled to Capitol Hill to warn the staffers that they risked a disaster at the polls if they didn't pass meaningful legislation the conservative base cares about. Other GOP strategists go even further. "If the election were held today, I'd say the odds are 90% that we'd lose the House," says GOP consultant Mike Murphy.

Other Republicans aren't as gloomy, but they warn the GOP Congress has to act on a range of issues soon. "If we want to ensure voter turnout among conservatives doesn't drop, we've got to perform," says Rep. Jack Kingston, a Georgia Republican who dropped by The Wall Street Journal's offices on Friday. He adds it is imperative that the bloated "emergency" spending bill passed by the Senate this week not become law and that some immigration bill clears Congress.

Some polls show public disapproval of the GOP among conservatives reaching dangerously high levels. A new Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll found that only 66% of Republicans now approve of President Bush's performance. A new Associated Press/Public Affairs poll found 45% of self-identified conservatives disapprove of Mr. Bush's job as president, and 65% disapprove of the GOP Congress. The disapproval numbers are probably exaggerated because of an oversampling of Democrats, but even if somewhat lower, the numbers are still toxic.

[Berlin_Freeper]

These numbers are absent any Democrat alternative. They are just internal Republican statistics, presented in a hysterical manner to try to bolster electoral motivation.

Don't forget, we have seen many many news reports that the Republicans have greater funds available to them than what The Screamer Howard Dean has been able to raise.

We have yet to see that effect kick in.

[jwh_Denver]

"They are just internal Republican statistics"

Yeah, totally meaningless. Ken's just hootin and hollerin about nothing. It's not what the GOP does in the next few months, it's the money they have. THIS IS SARCASM.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

presented in a hysterical manner

Given the three lengthy (and stat-heavy) paragraphs prominently anchoring said article's center, specifically stating multiple reasons why the 'Rats are facing their own numerous difficulties, re: their planned takeover scenario -- "presented in a hsyterical manner" seems considerably less than honest a summarization of Fund's painstakingly elucidated point(s), IMHO.

YMMV, however.

[the_Watchman]

The numbers point out that a LOT of people who normally vote Republican are not overly enthused about the current government. There is a real danger that a lot of Republican voters are going to stay home.

I can stay home and get (1)deficit spending (2)no closing of the border, and (3)the oil industry beat up for supplying us with oil.

Fund is suggesting that the GOP better get off their behinds and demonstrate that they are DIFFERENT!

[tobyhill]

Exactly! Congressional races are held by districts and the last poll I saw was that over 70% approved of their "own" Reps meaning most people just hate the other person's rep. I've heard a lot about this being the '94 for Dems as it was for Republicans but in '94 the approval ratings for congress was in the teens and the personal approval for individual districts reps were well below 50%. I am just not near the point of claiming the Rats will get the House and it's going to take a lot more than Conservatives claiming they just won't vote to convince me the Rats will.

[Herakles]

I don't see what the hurry is; they haven't done much the last six years but turn from Republicans into Democrat look alikes.

I liked the comment;

"Despite such numbers, analysts caution that a GOP wipeout in November is unlikely."

Some people just have to be thrown off the ship before they believe there are sharks in the water - then it's too late.

[John Valentine]

I agree with your analysis, but I also think that Republicans have become too complacent. Republicans need to run the coming campaign as if they want to EXTEND and strengthen their control of Congress.

I think that part of the dissatisfaction that we have with Congress stems directly from the fact that there are still far too many Demopcrats there. Especially in the Senate.

The American people can't afford to have more than about 26 to 28 of these nincompoops in the Senate, considering that we have to endure a half dozen or so Republicans who can't seem to bring themselves to get with the program.

[ModelBreaker]

Sad that this is the only way conservatives ever get any attention from the GOP. It would be so nice if it were actually a conservative party, instead of a party that occasionally panics and does conservative things.

This also confirms that Bush's declining poll numbers have been caused by declining support amongst conservatives, which I have suspected.

It's too bad that the war is the overriding issue. There is only one party that will fight the war. So conservatives need to support the R's regardless. The alternative is unthinkable.

[familyop]

"A new Associated Press/Public Affairs poll found 45% of self-identified conservatives disapprove of Mr. Bush's job as president, and 65% disapprove of the GOP Congress."

Well, well. We're hearing from the Susan B. Anthony brigade again. What a surprise. She was a Republican, too, after she was against Republicans and before she was against them again. After she faked being a Republican for a while, she traveled with George Train (notorious Democrat) to advocate in favor of slavery. She even refused, after being asked, to speak out against lynching.

The point is that many Democrats have and continue to pretend to be Republicans, when it suits their purpose. And some of their most sacred cows were hateful hypocrites.

[cricket]

The strategists are taking pages from the wrong book.. .it is the same one that the Dems use to fight a war. . .appease/capitulate.

Stand with our President. . .defend GW and his Legacy. . .or perish. . .

[AngelesCrestHighway]

Staffers!!??...we don't need no stink'in staffers...

[stands2reason]

Not that it matters, but they said "conservative" not "Republican".

It's a philosophy versus a party. Two different things.

[tobyhill]

You're right they need to shoot to extend their majority but a lot of "Conservatives" would rather get rid of the RINO's all at once putting the Republicans in the minority instead of getting the super-majority of Republicans and then weeding out the RINO's. I believe it's a process and not an instant one at that. If a yard has good grass but has a few weeds sometimes it's best to let the grass continue to grow and it will naturally crowd out and destroy the weeds instead of pulling the weeds up destroying the roots of the grass also.

[familyop]

Many people desire that our Presdient spend more time on domestic issues (immigration, for example) right now. People in a comfortable, wealthy nation tend to become bored by war--especially a long term war waged against us by assassins (guerrillas) bent on worldwide ethnic cleansing (including wiping us out). Many even believe that wars started by our enemies are actually conspiracies of distraction plotted against us by our own leaders.

But we're not living in a "mini-series," and there's no grand conspiracy to distract us.

Iran Prepares 'Judgment Day' Attack Plan
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1628446/posts

[kenth]

This is really sad: "If we want to ensure voter turnout among conservatives doesn't drop, we've got to perform."

He isn't saying they need to shape up and do their jobs, but that they need to do just enough to retain power. I think I'm sick of politics, specifically politicians, for the time being. They care not one bit about the citizens of this country or the laws therein, just how they can stay in power to sponge off the populace.

I'm really seeing America as a lost cause. I haven't thought about a time frame, but for the first time in my life, I don't see any hope that this country will outlast the left and opportunistic politicians.

[Recovering_Democrat]

bttt

[zbigreddogz]

Just because it's fun to look at:

[zbigreddogz]

Here's a better one:

[David Isaac]

"I haven't thought about a time frame, but for the first time in my life, I don't see any hope that this country will outlast the left and opportunistic politicians."


It certainly will not be done by The GOP out-Demming the Dems.

To adapt an old saying: Dog pisses on bush, not news. Bush pisses on dog, big news.