Could the GOP face a bloodbath in November?
That's a question that's been burning up center-right pundits for some time. They are fretting over what will happen come November. Every member of the House is up for reelection, and there are 23 Republicans whose jobs are on the line in November. Could there be a bloodbath? Sure there could be, but we don't think it will be as bad as many are predicting. And we cite the Congress's approval rating as evidence that we're not the only ones on the chopping block.
In 2006 Nancy Pelosi -- the self-described "most powerful" woman in America -- gave the nation a list of things to be accomplished by her and the House in the first100 days of her "reign" as Speaker. The 100 days has come and gone, and she accomplished little. The Democrats in 2006 had to run conservative/moderate Democrats to win (the "Blue Dogs") that have served to be a thorn in her side on many occasions. They're not dumb, and know their jobs are on the line.
Likewise, in the Senate, Harry Reid's feckless leadership has earned him nothing but spite from the American electorate. They dislike his tactics, they dislike his attitude, and they dislike his incessant whining that he's not getting his way. Furthermore, Americans are thoroughly ticked at the fact that he, along with his Democrat colleagues, is refusing to get the president's judicial nominees through the Senate for their proper up-or-down vote.
According to the Gallup poll conducted in April, the congressional approval rating sits at 20%. Who's in charge of Congress? Democrats. People aren't happy with them right now, which might explain the whispers going on within the Democrat leadership that they're preparing for the same possibility; a bloodbath of disgruntled voters fed up with them.
To be honest, I think both sides have reason to worry. The Politico has a story today about some of the changes already in the works amongst the GOP in the House:
The chief deputy whip [Eric Cantor] passed on a chance in 2006 to challenge Blunt. Ever since, Republicans have seen him as the next lawmaker to lead their party. The question: Would he challenge Blunt or go all the way by taking on Boehner?
The answer probably depends on the outcome in November. Boehner’s support has wavered at times, but he remains the most powerful voice among Republicans in the House. On the other hand, Cantor might feel loyalty to Blunt because he elevated Cantor to the leadership, and their staffs remain closely aligned.
However, some of Cantor’s leadership colleagues saw in Cantor’s decision to sign a recent letter calling for a unilateral GOP earmark moratorium a symbolic betrayal and a sign that he was cozying up with conservatives to ensure their support in an internal fight.
He is just one voice that has been calling on the GOP to amend its ways. When they took the House in '94, they did so on the back of the "Contract With America." People understood what the party was doing, and they supported it. But when the GOP finally took the Senate eight years later, the House had already lost it's way; content to act like little Democrats, and spending like drunk sailors.
People were rightly angry over the spending. But the base was even more perturbed by the fact that they acted so much like Democrats. Dennis Hastert had a hissy fit, with Nancy Pelosi, when William "Dollar Bill" Jefferson's offices were searched by the FBI on a corruption investigation. When the Abramoff scandal broke, a number of Republicans were taken down, including Duke Cunningham and Tom DeLay. Then there was Mark Foley and his scandal involving congressional pages. Then Larry Craig got popped in an airport restroom. On, and on, and on it went.
The base has had it with these people in Congress. Not just Democrats, but Republicans as well, and it's because they literally have lost their way. We used to be the party of smaller government, lower taxes, and a strong national security platform. One out of three is terrible, and the party had best pay attention to that. They can't win by simply pointing to the fact that they refuse to retreat in the war. They need more than that. Back in 2006 we listed a number of RINOs in the Senate that had to be gotten rid of. Lincoln Chafee and Mike DeWine were bounced, which took care of a couple of them, but we still have a few that need to be tossed in favor of real conservatives. Among them are Ted Stevens (AK), Susan Collins (ME), and Lindsey Graham (SC).
If the Republicans don't wake up, and learn how to regain the trust of the base in the nation, they will leave the party wandering in darkness for years to come.
Publius II
In 2006 Nancy Pelosi -- the self-described "most powerful" woman in America -- gave the nation a list of things to be accomplished by her and the House in the first100 days of her "reign" as Speaker. The 100 days has come and gone, and she accomplished little. The Democrats in 2006 had to run conservative/moderate Democrats to win (the "Blue Dogs") that have served to be a thorn in her side on many occasions. They're not dumb, and know their jobs are on the line.
Likewise, in the Senate, Harry Reid's feckless leadership has earned him nothing but spite from the American electorate. They dislike his tactics, they dislike his attitude, and they dislike his incessant whining that he's not getting his way. Furthermore, Americans are thoroughly ticked at the fact that he, along with his Democrat colleagues, is refusing to get the president's judicial nominees through the Senate for their proper up-or-down vote.
According to the Gallup poll conducted in April, the congressional approval rating sits at 20%. Who's in charge of Congress? Democrats. People aren't happy with them right now, which might explain the whispers going on within the Democrat leadership that they're preparing for the same possibility; a bloodbath of disgruntled voters fed up with them.
To be honest, I think both sides have reason to worry. The Politico has a story today about some of the changes already in the works amongst the GOP in the House:
The chief deputy whip [Eric Cantor] passed on a chance in 2006 to challenge Blunt. Ever since, Republicans have seen him as the next lawmaker to lead their party. The question: Would he challenge Blunt or go all the way by taking on Boehner?
The answer probably depends on the outcome in November. Boehner’s support has wavered at times, but he remains the most powerful voice among Republicans in the House. On the other hand, Cantor might feel loyalty to Blunt because he elevated Cantor to the leadership, and their staffs remain closely aligned.
However, some of Cantor’s leadership colleagues saw in Cantor’s decision to sign a recent letter calling for a unilateral GOP earmark moratorium a symbolic betrayal and a sign that he was cozying up with conservatives to ensure their support in an internal fight.
He is just one voice that has been calling on the GOP to amend its ways. When they took the House in '94, they did so on the back of the "Contract With America." People understood what the party was doing, and they supported it. But when the GOP finally took the Senate eight years later, the House had already lost it's way; content to act like little Democrats, and spending like drunk sailors.
People were rightly angry over the spending. But the base was even more perturbed by the fact that they acted so much like Democrats. Dennis Hastert had a hissy fit, with Nancy Pelosi, when William "Dollar Bill" Jefferson's offices were searched by the FBI on a corruption investigation. When the Abramoff scandal broke, a number of Republicans were taken down, including Duke Cunningham and Tom DeLay. Then there was Mark Foley and his scandal involving congressional pages. Then Larry Craig got popped in an airport restroom. On, and on, and on it went.
The base has had it with these people in Congress. Not just Democrats, but Republicans as well, and it's because they literally have lost their way. We used to be the party of smaller government, lower taxes, and a strong national security platform. One out of three is terrible, and the party had best pay attention to that. They can't win by simply pointing to the fact that they refuse to retreat in the war. They need more than that. Back in 2006 we listed a number of RINOs in the Senate that had to be gotten rid of. Lincoln Chafee and Mike DeWine were bounced, which took care of a couple of them, but we still have a few that need to be tossed in favor of real conservatives. Among them are Ted Stevens (AK), Susan Collins (ME), and Lindsey Graham (SC).
If the Republicans don't wake up, and learn how to regain the trust of the base in the nation, they will leave the party wandering in darkness for years to come.
Publius II
posted by Syd And Vaughn | 3:43 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home