Posted on 11/11/2006 2:28:17 PM PST by crusher
" As far as the "Gang of 14" scheme is concerned, it is very possible (likely?) that an attempt to "go nuclear" would have failed because of the RINOs. Do you have any idea what that would have meant? "
That's the whole point ... the group 'pre-caved' on the nuclear option, threatening the ability of the GOP leadership to force the issue. 'pre-caves' like this are like giving the other party free Mulligans. It was a slap to Frist's authority, although Frist, to his credit showed enough willingness to push the envelope that it forced the issue anyway. Reid et al. allowed the compromise on gang of 14 as their best way out. Reid in fact knew that this was a political mistake for them that was costing them politically.
The gang of 14 gave a graceful way out for Reid, got us some judges confirmed, but we lost 2 things:
1) leverage on 100% of judges (several still languish)
2) judges as a political issue (since the deal de-escalated the issues and they allowed Roberts and Alito)
HAD WE HAD ANOTHER SHOWDOWN ON JUDGES, WE MAY WELL HAVE HAD A REPEAT IN 2006 OF 2002 AND WOULD NOT HAVE LOST ALLEN, TALENT AND BURNS. ... and possibly DeWine and/or Santorum too. JMHO.
Now, given that, there is a simple formula for 2008: Make the Democrat pay a political price for their opposition to conservative Judges.
Why Rudy? Here we are talking about the uselessness of RINOs and yet you are touting a pro-abort pro-gay marriage divorced (in ugly divorce no less) liberal Republican who endorsed Coumo in 1994.
Sure he was a great mayor of New York, and sure he's been an aswesome help to Republican candidates, but how does that experience and his positions make him a president we'll all adore? And how come he didnt try out for NY Governor to prove his executive leadership mettle (ie take on Spitzer?) I dont see it. His candidacy has as many holes as swiss cheese.
"Our troops deserve the love and respect of every American. They have gone forth to engage a very dangerous enemy. One of my problems I have with the Republicans and Bush in particular is that the reality of this war was poorly enunciated. MSM made this a Iraq = Vietnam thing,"
I agree with this.
" ... while W was saying that Islam is a religion of peace. It isn't for at least an alarmingly high percentage of a 1.2B worldwide population of believers."
So you think Bush should announce the 'real low-down dirty truth' on Islam? Get real for a second. Muslim fanatic groups already hate Bush for the things he is (properly) doing. If Bush had said anything against Islam as a whole, it would only incite violence, hatred and more anti-Americanism. It would have been of no help, and would have changed few minds.
Consider his words a diplomatic niceties that avoid making our challenge against Islamic extremism worse.
I think the American people and the west is waking up to Islam, slowly, thanks to Muslim over-reactions to things like the Danish cartoons.
"It didn't matter if Iraq had WMD's (I think they had a program) but once Al Qaeda joined the fray there it was war theatre #1 and we could not afford to lose. Why didn't we (Bush) say that Islamic fundamentalism is like nazism and this is WW III?"
Actually he HAS said that and explicitly used the "Islamofascism" term this summer.
"For Democrats and the MSM there is no excuse. They willingly spoke the talking points of the enemy in their shameless quest for power."
I agree. There are plenty of treason Democrats out there.
Be very afraid:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1737558/posts
"That's the whole point ... the group 'pre-caved' on the nuclear option, threatening the ability of the GOP leadership to force the issue."
Exactly! The RINOs would have killed us. So then we agree.... The "Gang of 14" scheme is the best thing that could have possibly happened. Rather than risk the end of America as we know it by failing in an attempt to "go nuclear", we settled for the no-sweat confirmations of John Roberts, Sam Alito, Priscilla Owen, William Pryor, and even Janice Rogers Brown! Quite a coup.
Well I think I agree with you there. The business of waxing wiser and "pre-caving" because the votes aren't seen to be therw does'nt do a whole lot to tell the public who's who on the issues. Better to stand down the enemy, force them to vote, and win or lose go forward knowing which party stands for which. It's pre-clever to obscure issues with high-paid political consultants. Dems usually win from that since it's MSM-regarded as weakness or lack of confidence and the public largely concurs, so fire the consultants and go with principle: that's what Reagan would do and win.
approximately $1billion was spent during the 18-month campaign season. Compare this to the cumulative value and effect of news cheerleading or condemnation during the same period. By this analysis there was approximately $10 Billion time-value worth of political “reporting” of which about 8% was favorable to conservatives.
Will McCain make the media bow to the FEC?
I think W deserves praise for prosecuting this war. But where were his handlers in helping him express this when he apparently could not? Sure the POTUS can't say that Islam is a stinking pile when it is - he's got to maintain it's "peaceful" while dealing with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, but that's what staves are for.
Problem is nobody told the public effectively just how critical this election was.
" But where were his handlers in helping him express this when he apparently could not? ... Problem is nobody told the public effectively just how critical this election was."
True, we've had weak PR from the White House (better now with Snow, but horrible under McLellan for previous 2 years) ... but I think the bash Bush 24/7 Democrats and the biased liberal MSM had something to do with the level of campaign misinformation as well.
I was a bit comforted by Bush's statements and move wrt Iraq this week, thinking he may have a viable plan that wont lead to defeat ... but then I read this:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1737294/posts?page=22
Damn. These Democrats have basically thrown away Iraq. We have tossed aside the sacrifices and thrown up a white flag.
Our enemies must be absolutely gleeful.
"The "Gang of 14" scheme is the best thing that could have possibly happened. "
Okay. Slow gangrene was better than a bullet to the head. :-)
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