GOP: Get Over Panic

Opinion Journal ^ | July 25, 2002 | John Fund

[Paul Atreides]

Panic is a sure sign of political weakness, and Republicans on Capitol Hill have shown enough of it in responding to the corporate scandals to make one wonder how coherent their campaign for Congress will be.

At last week's Republican National Committee meeting in San Francisco, many attendees were concerned that battered investors who normally vote Republican might stay home out of disillusionment with the economy. But there was no panic, with some delegates even expressing concerns at the White House's willingness to sign any legislation with an anticorporate label on it. But a White House representative made it clear that the administration wasn't about to have an argument on the merits of the legislation. "Politically, I would rather have pictures of a CEO wearing an orange jumpsuit and shackles than pictures of Osama bin Laden being captured right now," he told a closed-door meeting of RNC members.

[Hugin]

Why are the Pubs always so gutless? The dems hammer and hammer away, regardless of the truth. The Pubs always seem to be afraid to even point out the truth.

[Paul Atreides]

They want so bad for Helen Thomas to write something good about them.

[pabianice]

Why are the Pubs always so gutless? The dems hammer and hammer away, regardless of the truth. The Pubs always seem to be afraid to even point out the truth.

Dem sweep of Congress coming this fall. Bush gets zero through Congress 2002 - 2004. 2004: Hillary! The Republicans ARE The Stupid Party. They so hate fighting they'd rather be right and lose.

[DugwayDuke]

"They blame the Bush administration for refusing to point out a share of the blame belongs to its predecessor."

One wonders why these "gutless" ones have to rely upon the President to point this out? Are they unable to articulate a simple thought? Or, would they rather the President do their job for them?

[The South Texan]

When you got a pom-pom boy as your leader in the senate, is one of your reasons the GOP is gutless.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Democrats Republicans the rot infects all. Yes, I know, there are various degrees. So what! It is still rot and it stinks!

[deport]

Some Republicans are distressed their party broke and ran as quickly as it did, given that the groundwork for many of the corporate scandals was laid during the Clinton years. They blame the Bush administration for refusing to point out a share of the blame belongs to its predecessor.

I'm not sure as to who these "some Republicans" are but I guess the cat got their tongue and they are incapable of speaking for themselves....

[Let's Roll]

We need some street fighter types so bad.

[dts32041]

He is the titular leader of the party and it is the current occupant of the white house job to lead an point out, or at least tell his troops what to do.

Current occupant of the white house one term, hillary in 2004, sounds about correct.

[uncbob]

Why are the Pubs always so gutless? The dems hammer and hammer away, regardless of the truth. The Pubs always seem to be afraid to even point out the truth.

Because like most politicians they have no core beliefs and no real loyalty to anything but their careers
All they can respond to is PRESSURE
Most of the pressure comes from the liberal media

[MissAmericanPie]

Bush said he want's to bring a new "tone" to Washington, and it certainly needs one. The demonic howling from D.C. has been deafening for years, and it seems to be reaching a fever pitch. They will eat him alive if they can. And they certainly may if he doesn't engage them with truth. Truth is a weapon forged of awesome power, the most powerful weapon in any realm. Now the question is, does he possess it, and does he know how to use it?

[dixiechick2000]

"If Republicans are to avoid the political shellacking they fear so much, they'd better find a way to fight back. Step 1: Don't panic."

Step 2: Read Free Republic and arm yourselves with some knowledge.

Step 3: Grow a spine and dispatch some of this knowledge for public consumption.

[teletech]

I'd say the GOP is really behind the power curve on the 2002 elections. To many "close" races are going to translate into a RAT victory unless Republicans wake up and FAST! If the RATS get both House and Senate, they will force the President to veto every bill they send him and then hang his vetos around his neck come 2004. I shudder when I think what further damage a RAT Congress can inflict on our country.

[timestax]

bump

[Intolerant in NJ]

One wonders why these "gutless" ones have to rely upon the President to point this out? Rick Santorum pounded Corzine on "Kudlow and Cramer" a few nights ago - as much as blamed Clinton for the corporate misdoings - "Why should we be surprised that people don't know right from wrong when we had a president for years who didn't know what the meaning of 'is' is?", or similar words - left Corzine sputtering and resorting to a limp discussion of some stock market technicalities, with no real comeback to the swipe at Clinton (maybe because he knew the next round would involve some questions about his own wrongdoings at Goldman Sachs) - it can be done.........

[timestax]

bump

[timestax]

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[timestax]

git ober it !!

[c-b 1]

Some members openly said that all they cared about was being able to fly home for the August recess clutching a piece of paper they could wave in front of constituents and thus claim they did something.

There is the problem, they care more about re-election than they do about doing what is right.