NYT- Bad Iraq War News Has Some in G.O.P. Worried Over '06 Vote

[Rose Siding]

By ADAM NAGOURNEY and DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK
Published: August 18, 2005
WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 - A stream of bad news out of Iraq - echoed at home by polls that show growing impatience with the war and rising disapproval of President Bush's Iraq policies - is stirring political concern in Republican circles, party officials said Wednesday.
.....
Republicans said a convergence of events - including the protests inspired by the mother of a slain American soldier outside Mr. Bush's ranch in Texas, the missed deadline to draft an Iraqi Constitution and the spike in casualties among reservists - was creating what they said could be a significant and lasting shift in public attitude against the war.
.....
"There is just no enthusiasm for this war," said Representative John J. Duncan Jr., a Tennessee Republican who opposes the war. "Nobody is happy about it. It certainly is not going to help Republican candidates, I can tell you that much."

Representative Wayne T. Gilchrest, a Maryland Republican who originally supported the war but has since turned against it, said he had encountered "a lot of Republicans grousing about the situation as a whole and how they have to respond to a lot of questions back home.

"I have been to a lot of funerals," Mr. Gilchrest said.

.....MORE......

http://nytimes.com/2005/08/18/politics/18repubs.html?hp&ex=1124337600&en=b9db56c95a07f3ea&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Roland99]

1. Aww...dissent doesn't sit well with those who toe the party line?

Fuck 'em.



No enthusiasm for the war? Oh, there's plenty of enthusiasm but it's not the "rah rah" type these morans pray for and expect.

[KingFlorez]

2. This is good

John Duncan is one of the most conservative members of the House and his district is extremely Republican, if he's against it the Repukes must really be in trouble.

[Imagevision]

45. GOP will be sweating it more with each passing month with Bush

running this war, we're not winning the war in Iraq and they know it.

[stepnw1f]

3. When Aren't They Worried?

Do you see what tactics they use to win elections?

[The_Casual_Observer]

4. "There is just no enthusiasm for this war" The guy must not be

reading the rw websites! Plenty of support for the chimp & the war from the privacy and comfort of those shit houses.

[Kelvin Mace]

5. The difference between them and us

They are worried about the '06 election, we are worried about our troops.

[babylonsister]

20. Amen, Kelvin M! That's a marked difference.

Nice catch!

[FredStembottom]

31. Off-topic / Michael Dunn!

One of my all-time fave actors! I must have re watched Ship of Fools about a dozen times. Can't get enough of that movie and his performance in it.

And talk about relevant! Holy cow!:wow:

[Kelvin Mace]

43. I love Michael

A very underrated actor who would have been brilliant if given the chance.

[Old and In the Way]

6. Don't let these pricks reinvent themselves.

We need a new Congress with a clear majority of Democrats in both Houses. Then the payback begins.

[Mike_The_Computer]

15. I love that sound of that word ... "Payback."

Dare I to dream? Can we really shove these loudmouthed, self-righteous, christo-fascist, warmongering, neocon bigots back into the margins, from whence they slithered? Can we make them PAY for what they've done to this country, its people, and the peoples of the world at large?

[Old and In the Way]

38. Welcome Onboard!

Yes, it's a word I savor, as well. As the great Jimmy Cliff once sang-

"The Harder They Come, They Harder They Fall...One and All"

[blue sky at night]

7. sign them up, have them pick up a weapon, stand a post.........

since they will need a job, we have a fucked up desert country with a view and lots of welcoming natives.

[Wapsie B]

8. This is a nice tightrope the chimp has to walk.

On the one hand we have a prez who wants nothing but continual war.
Out in the sticks the people are getting restless of dealing with Vietnam v2.0 That doesn't bode well for gop house and senate candidates.

[Turbineguy]

9. There's the rub

Bush has to declare victory and leave Iraq and the timing has to be such that it insures at least a 44.5% GOP vote (that's what they need in order to win thanks to BBV) but not so early that the whole thing collapses before the election date. A tricky proposition.

[deadparrot]

10. I love how I was 16 when this war started...

and somehow I knew more than the so-called "experts" and lawmakers.

[Skittles]

34. GAWD how LOVE and APPRECIATE the DU YOUNG ONES

you give me hope, you really do :thumbsup:

[Lerkfish]

11. bwahahahahahahaha! God bless you, Cindy!

see they are like cockroaches...turn on the light and they run around, scared.

oh, woe is me, people don't like our illegal imperialist war of aggression.

[Demonaut]

12. this war is getting so damn inconvenient

fuckers

[Teaser]

13. Schumer's fuck up...

"I have been more supportive of the president's war on terror than many Democrats."

Man, Sen. Schumer....you managed to reinforce the "war on terror" frame for Iraq while simultaneously slamming fellow Democrats.

Way to Go!

[mitchtv]

16. The pukes are gonna start to pull out for the election

And the hawks(Dems) will be able to get NO traction. They are gonna look real bad .

[saigon68]

32. Schumer a DINO

One of the most hated senators in the North woods

[SOS]

47. He keeps some strange company

Check this out:

http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies.htm

The Nation also has a good article by Ari Berman on the "strategic class" that has strangled the Party with their pro-war idiocy:

http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20050829&s=berman

[paulk]

90. as of June, '05 Schumer has a 61-28 approval/disapproval

in NY State.

What's your definition of "hated"?




http://surveyusa.com/100USSenatorApprovalRatings061305.htm

[saigon68]

92. He's the mayor of kabul as far as I am concerned

WI unfortunately go red next time around because of his ( and like minded dinos) stand on hunting.

[wanpete]

14. God don't like ugly...and the repugs have been as ugly as they can

get and using His name as a cover to do their dirt and love on corporate america. They've bought off the media, the journalists, and they own talk radio (although there are some really great progressive shows around the country). But they cannot control the events in Iraq and this shall be their downfall. This is my prediction and hope. I have never seen party members who are so loyal to a president. I LOVED Bill Clinton. But if he did something I didn't agree with, I'd voice my concern to anyone about it. The rethugs are like mindless zombies. It's kind of scary!:shrug:

[nookiemonster]

22. The cult of "W".

Scary shit indeed.

:o

[DELUSIONAL]

17. Beware -- Nixon had a "secret" plan to end the war

and after he won re-election -- we learned that he lied.

I predict that the bushie gang will pretend to pull out or even draw down pre elections 06 -- and once he and Rove have their media whores in line -- they will continue to feed the Halliburton bottomless pit.

[barb162]

28. He should have been impeached just on that.

Yeah, those helicopters getting the people off the roof of the American Embassy in Saigon, that was a really great "secret" plan.

[DELUSIONAL]

36. I know someone who left in one of those helicopters

she was part of the embassy staff.

She shredded papers -- and when I asked if they were top secret or something, she said no. It was just something to do while waiting.

[barb162]

44. I remember that all so well, watching the news over and over

on that last day and those Vietnamese people screaming at the gates to be let on those helicopters.

[noamnety]

18. That's the most disgusting quote I've seen in a long time

"There is just no enthusiasm for this war ... It certainly is not going to help Republican candidates ..."

What the hell ... does he expect us to show up for funerals in cheerleader outfits? Are we supposed to wave our pompoms about when we see a photo of another Iraqi child with birth defects?

Almost 2,000 of our troops dead, thousands more wounded, an entire country struggling for the very basics of water and electricity, and his biggest concern is how this affects Republican candidates?

That's sickening.

[teryang]

39. Really, it's sociopathic

The corruption has reached the point where the greed, selfishness, and indifference to human suffering is overtly sociopathic.

When I expressed concern for young people given the inflation, war and inequities which have reached watershed levels in our nation, a republican lawyer said, "I don't give a shit about that, when I die my kids will get my stocks."

[Divernan]

41. Speaking, sadly, as a lawyer, I believe the selfish greed,

the total lack of feeling or concern for anyone or anything outside their own tax-sheltered world, is typical of the majority of lawyers I have known and worked with. These people live to accumulate wealth and power - there is never enough to satisfy them and they have no meaningful lives outside of their work. When you look at the large firms, I found it true of around 90%. They spend quality time with their kids at the annual firm picnic.

This guy's kids may get his blood-soaked Big Oil and Halliburton stocks - but they'd be better off if they had grown up with a humane father.

[wakeme2008]

19. No matter what they say about the war,,, the price of GAS is

going to hurt them more in 2006 than Iraq. IMHO..

[Iowa]

24. Yep, and these will be high on the list too:

--- natural gas & electricity going through the roof this winter
--- nothing but crappy $6.00/hour McJobs for the unemployed
--- a health care system that's in complete disarray
--- indictments (possibly)
--- and last but not least - Social Security. Let's hope the boy-king fires up his traveling show to push his plan to loot SS.

[ribrepin]

33. You got that right

There was a large segment of the population that thought we would go to Iraq and take their oil. You know, lower gas prices. That didn't work out and now they are pissed. I watched some guy fill up his SUV this weekend. Mr. Cool started pumping and he was styling hanging on to that handle. He kept pumping and glanced at the gage and started to look a little concerned. That pump kept going and he began to sweat. By the time the pump stopped, he looked a little white around the gills. I just had to drive by and see the final total--$75.00. He had a car full of kids. You know that's got to hurt.

I had a right-winger friend who had the nerve to tell me that war is good for the economy. She really believed it. That is so 1950's. I wonder what she think now as she fills up her car.

[wli]

21. they've got Diebold; why do they care? n/t

[UrbScotty]

23. Those anti-life ReTHUGS should be worried! (nt)

[oscar111]

26. UNPOPULAR WAR.. frequently ends regimes

like bush's.

good riddence to rubbish

[ShockediSay]

25. Not that Gas Prices Should -

Not that gas prices should give them cause for pause.

WHY DID WE GIVE OIL COMPANIES A HUGE TAX GIVEAWAY?!?!?!?!

[oscar111]

29. burntout reservists and regular army soldiers

i speculate.. true?.. that bush is keeping the same troops in iraq, seldom putting new ones in,.... is for this purpose--

the fewer voter families with tragedy in them from Iraq,

the less anti-GOP votes.

am i right?

PS This theory also explains why so few troops are there.

comments?

[barb162]

30. It wouldn't surprise me if this were the thinking of the Pentagon

and Rove

[Olney Blue]

27. They made their bed...

now they can die in it.

[truthisfreedom]

35. this is the world they wanted. this is the world we promised them if they

believed in a madman. this is the world they get. the thugs are toast.

toast.

[Solly Mack]

37. "There is just no enthusiasm for this war,"

Why on earth would anyone be enthusiastic about war? People die in war. How the hell does a person get all happy about that?

And if anyone is happy or enthusiastic about war, then I submit there is something seriously wrong with them mentally.

[Roland99]

48. Because Murika kicked some Ass!

[HeeBGBz]

40. Ya think?

Maybe they realize THEY are gonna have to be the ones to fight the war if they want one so badly.

[tsuki]

42. Gilchrest goes to funerals? I thought that all Repubs were in

denial.

[speedingbullet]

46. It's Clinton's Fault

Don't underestimate the right-wing spin machine. They have an amazing ability to reinvent reality. By 2006 they will likely have been against this whole thing since before it started.

[ramapo]

49. Not to Worry. Plenty of time....

The GOP has lots of time to come up with some new wedge social issues and divert attention from the serious to the trivial. America likes that. And will the Democrats show any spine by then anyway?

[Judi Lynn]

50. Republicans fear Iraq could hurt them in '06

Republicans fear Iraq could hurt them in '06
By Adam Nagourney and David D. Kirkpatrick The New York Times

FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2005


WASHINGTON Bad news out of Iraq, echoed in the United States by polls that show growing impatience with the war and rising disapproval of President George W. Bush's Iraq policies, is stirring political concern in Republican circles, according to party officials.

Some of these officials, speaking on Wednesday, said the perception that the war was faltering was providing a rallying point for dispirited Democrats and could pose problems for Republicans in the Congressional elections next year.

Republicans said a convergence of events - including the protests inspired by the mother of a U.S. soldier who was killed in Iraq, the missed deadline to draft an Iraqi constitution and the spike in casualties among reservists - was creating what they said could be a significant and lasting shift in public attitude against the war.

The Republicans described that shift as worrisome, 14 months before the midterm elections. As further evidence, they pointed to a special election in Ohio two weeks ago, where a Democrat, who had served as a marine in Iraq and who criticized Bush's decision to invade that country, came close to winning in a district that should have easily produced a Republican victory.
(snip/...)

http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/08/18/news/bush.php

[MaineDem]

51. Gee, you think?

Brilliant!

[Rambis]

53. At least they didn't spend millions on a research grant?

I am going to have to include this in all my posts today-

Schadenfreude: The Outlaw Emotion
It’s been called an outlaw emotion, but it’s a sentiment that most of us have experienced, even if we’re reluctant to admit it. The Germans call it Schadenfreude – that guilty pleasure we take in the misfortunes of others

[Melodybe]

64. Gee, I'm guessing we won't see anything like this article in the Corporate

media.

[davidinalameda]

77. exactly!

ya think

[Dissent Is Patriotic]

52. No Shit. n/t

[NewJeffCT]

79. was just about the post the same thing!

I just hope it really is true.

[Megahurtz]

54. Oh but they will just

have Diebold save them!

.........but fortunately maybe the shift will be so great that they won't be able to cover it up this time!

:woohoo:

[wake.up.america]

56. I hope people vote on what is correct. Then everyone will vote...

for someone other than for one who supports the evil of Bush.

To me the whole thing is what right and wrong, not democrats versus republicans.

It just so happens the democrats are right.

Catch my drift?

[Megahurtz]

62. Got It!

:)

[wakeme2008]

57. that's the big problem

Diebold can shift around 4% of the vote. Once you get over that percentage the risk gets too hi.

Also check this on 4% being moved in San Diego

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1710340

[Megahurtz]

65. This trend has got to stop!

I guess the trick is getting it way over 4%, and it looks like it's heading that way (I hope?)

[AndyTiedye]

72. Ask Former Gov. Barns and Former Senator Max Cleland...

how many votes Diebold can shift.

Cleland and Barnes were ahead by double-digit margins, and they "lost".
The exit polls for their elections were also "lost".

Those elections featured a 12-16 point "red shift".
Every vote in Georgia is counted by Diebold DRE machinez.

[texpatriot2004]

59. Yeah, they can rig it again but it has to look plausible eh...

From the public perspective it has to look like it really could have happened. I hope this downward shift for Bush and the Rethugs continues.

[Megahurtz]

66. I think that Cindy Sheehan has

done a really good thing by starting this downward shift. And the timing is right with soaring oil prices etc. We all have to somehow keep the ball rolling!

[bearfan454]

89. What if it doesn't look plausible ?

Who's going to do something about it ? Besides Conyers the big name Dems haven't said shit.

[meganmonkey]

55. Well, they've been hurting Iraq since '03

so that sounds fair to me.

:(

[tanyev]

58. If only they'd thought of that before the idiot THEY voted for

gleefully ordered Operation Shock and Awe.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

60. WE got called traitors by Repugs for saying the war was a bad idea

and that the war was based on lies, that occupying Iraq and reconstructing a new country from scratch was going to be difficult.

Where were those Republicans in 2003 who now oppose the war? They were slating us for being hippie-commie-peaceniks. The republicans who now oppose the war only do so because of public opinion rather than any genuine conviction.

[lasttrip]

61. glad they got their priorities straight.

putting their self preservation over the rest of the county's problems, as usual. :crazy:

they could do the right thing and try to end the war. to bad it would be only to save their jobs, not soldiers lives or this country.

[jsamuel]

63. Maybe you should have thought of that BEFORE you gave Bush everything he

asked for!

[Sandpiper]

67. The Dems won't be able to make political hay out of it

Too many candy-assed enablers in our own party have been a rumber stamp for Shrub's warmongering.

[TankLV]

80. That certainly doesn't stop the repukes from switching 180 degrees on the

issue and still try to "make hay".

I say our so-called "leadership" is paralized - they SHOULD try to make "hay" out of it - we've already given them plenty of cover for reasons why they have all changed their minds now if they choose.

But they continue to ignore our advise to this very day.

It's really very simple:

WE TRUSTED OUR PRESIDENT. WE NEVER THOUGHT HE'D LIE TO US AND DECEIVE US INTO A WAR OF CHOICE. BUT HE DID. HE LIED TO US AND TO THE ENTIRE COUNTRY AND WORLD. HE'S A LIAR. I WRONGLY SUPPORTED THIS LYING CRIMINAL, AND NOW I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE SET THINGS RIGHT. THAT IS WHY I NOW OPPOSE THIS IMMORAL AND ILLEGAL BUSH WAR.

[Vogon_Glory]

68. I Hope They Have Good Reason To Fear And That Their Fears Are

I hope that the Republicans have good reason to fear the voters' anger about Gee Dubya's Mesopotamian Adventure and the Republican Party's part in it. The entire Iraq mess is the sort of speeded-up demonstration of present-day Republican venality and incompetence put out where any thinking citizen/voter can see it and weep for his or her country.

I dearly hope that the events of the last few years have been enough of an awakening for enough of the American electorate that the voters will respond by throwing elected Republicans out of office in droves.

As long as I'm typing, I'll shoot for the Moon, too. I dearly hope that 2007 and 2008 see the establishment and funding of prosecutorial teams to root through and root out the corruption the GOP has brought to federal and state governments.

[maxrandb]

69. Well Since Values Trump Economics, I'm Sure

Values also trump the deaths of 2000 American Troops, and untold amounts of "blood and treasure". Values also trumps the incompetance of the wing-nuts that got us into this never ending mess.

All they need to do is place a few "anti-gay" referendums in a few key states, and they won't have anything to worry about.

I mean Republicans might be "lying, cold-hearted, treasonous chickenhawk bastards", but at least they're "God-fearing, lying, cold-hearted, treasonous chickenhawk bastards".

[0rganism]

70. That's it. They're going to make a half-assed withdrawal.

Vietnamization redux: we will support the new republic of Iraq with high-altitude carpet bombings and cruise missiles.

[confludemocrat]

73. exactly, they will do a drawdown of unverifiable size pre-06 elections

to trump what little opposition big Dems seem to want to offer on the war (which will be the issue of 2006 as it was in 2004), and if the Dems don't win big enough in picking up seats, will carry on until 2008.

This is not being pessimistic or fatalistic, this is based on if the Dem "leadership" doesn't wake up and get some life on opposing the war bigtime.

[slor]

71. Well some Dems have moved so right...

that the rethugs may be the "anti-war" party. Of course I am being extreme in saying that, but I the damn Dem leadership to embrace Cindy and to challenge the chimp! Where is that leadership!?!

[depakid]

83. You're pretty much on the mark

With Biden & others constantly snivelling and trying to "act tough" (seemingly at the same time)- the Democratic "leadership" has lost most of their credibility on the issue.

Watch the Repubs just snatch that issue from right under their noses....

[LisaM]

74. Could hurt THEM? What about the rest of the world

more proof that they don't care about anything but seizing and holding power. We have all been mightily hurt by them.

[VegasWolf]

75. Exactly!!! What about the 100,000 dead Iraqi's!?! Fucktards. nt

[wake.up.america]

91. The party is more important than people's lives?

[TankLV]

76. From their worried small minds to god's ears.

We can only wish and hope and pray that their fears come true.

I certainly am/do.

[truebrit71]

78. Amen to that!!

...Amen indeed.

[roguevalley]

81. How BTK of them. It will hurt their personal gain perhaps, not that

it hurt millions of others. Wankers. I hope they all lose.

[TheCowsCameHome]

82. It's not exactly true that it could hurt them. IT COULD SINK THEM!

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

[HockeyMom]

84. Iran

Given the NEGATIVE polling on Iraq, how will they ever make the case to bomb/invade Iran? Iraq is a mess and even Afghanistan has been heating up lately, for anyone paying attention.

Short of another 9/11 attack (real or manufactured), I don't think the public will tolerate another war to destroy WMD's, dispose an evil dictator, or to promote democracy; take your pick.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

85. An interesting question

Although looking at the polls it does make it hard for a US government to start yet another war. However * is unlikely to be as receptive to public opinion since firstly he personally does not need to think about re-election. Also, * may well be surrounded by "yes men" and those highly ideological hawkish advisers who want to entrench the US military in Iran before election season 2008. The GOP strategists may think that a gamble on playing the "America at War" card and calling dissenting Democrats as unpatriotic could help in them in the 2006 mid-terms. * does seem prone to self-delusions and thinks God is on his side, so he's capable of the most irrational of actions.

[Up2Late]

86. Republicans fear Iraq could hurt them in 2006 (IHT/NYT)

Republicans fear Iraq could hurt them in 2006

By Adam Nagourney and David D. Kirkpatrick The New York Times

FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2005
WASHINGTON Bad news out of Iraq, echoed in the United States by polls that show growing impatience with the war and rising disapproval of President George W. Bush's policies, is stirring political concern in Republican circles, party officials say.

Some of these officials, speaking on Wednesday, said the perception that the war was faltering was providing a rallying point for dispirited Democrats and could pose problems for Republicans in the congressional elections next year.

Republicans said a convergence of events - including the protests inspired by the mother of a U.S. soldier who was killed in Iraq, the missed deadline to draft an Iraqi constitution and the spike in casualties among reservists - was creating what they said could be a significant and lasting shift in public attitude against the war.

The Republicans described that shift as worrisome, pointing to a special election in Ohio two weeks ago, in which a Democrat, who had served as a marine in Iraq and who criticized Bush's decision to invade that country, came close to winning in a district that should have easily produced a Republican victory. "There is just no enthusiasm for this war," said Representative John Duncan Jr., a Tennessee Republican who opposes the war. "Nobody is happy about it. It certainly is not going to help Republican candidates, I can tell you that much."

<http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/08/18/news/repubs.php>
(more at link above)

[donco6]

87. Why the hell would he wonder that . . .

. . . "no one is happy with (this war)."

What kind of sick fuck is EVER "happy" with war? Why would you even express such a stupid concept?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

88. They'll gain seats.

Upset Tuesday!