WP: To Some In GOP, Bush's Troubles Become A Liability

[CShine]

Until recently, few Republican lawmakers would be so quick to distance themselves from President Bush. But the president's approval ratings have fallen sharply since April, the nation's job growth remains sluggish and large numbers of Americans feel the nation is putting too much money -- and not enough wise planning -- into Iraq.

Although many Republicans are optimistic that Bush will win reelection next year, all nonretiring House members (and a third of senators) have their own 2004 reelection campaigns to worry about. Some GOP incumbents -- especially those in the several dozen House districts that Democrat Al Gore carried or nearly won in 2000 -- are showing an increasing willingness to vote against key White House initiatives and to reassure constituents that they think and act independently of the president.

Leach was among 21 Republicans who joined most Democrats when the House voted 221 to 203 to bar the administration from implementing the overtime revisions. Scores of Republicans bucked the White House by voting to overturn a Federal Communications Commission rule making media mergers easier, and several also voted, against Bush's wishes, to allow the importation of prescription drugs from Canada and other countries.

Such erosion of GOP solidarity was rarely seen when Bush's approval ratings were higher, but it hardly signals a deep or permanent break between the White House and congressional GOP moderates. Republican lawmakers from swing districts say that Bush generally remains popular with their constituents, and that jobs, not Iraq, are No. 1 on voters' minds. Many GOP House members are taking a cautious line: focusing on the possibility that Bush can't help them at reelection time, yet continuing to support him as much as possible.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56064-2003Oct20.html

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. Some of these bills were SO extreme that that a few of

the republicans actually had a very rare twinge of guilt OR they knew that the voters back home would be sorely pissed. I don't think there is a real healthy trend here. There are plenty of fresh cases where they have remained unified in spite of Chimp's ratings.

[ninkasi]

2. Bush himself

is a liability to the whole PLANET, as far as I can see. We've got to get him voted out in 2004. I truly believe our survival depends on it.

[grasswire]

3. hoooooooorayyyyyyyyyyyyyy!

I've been waiting for this day. Yayyyyy!

When pugs start peeling off, it's time to push. Push them! Tell them Bush is destroying the GOP. Peel them off!

What we want is a Repuglican challenger in the primary.

[Don_G]

4. I Could Be Generally Popular Too

If I controlled the media, threatened to give the troops that served in Iraq and Afganistan 20 years on a Federal Rap for opening their mouth, had "Oxy" Rush and "Let 'Em Die" Laura pushing their morality, and scamming Billions off the US economy to benefit a few 100K+ campaign donors.

Oh, I forgot about his 2000+ Security Detail to protect his sorry ass from any vestiage of humanity that may cross his path....

[4dsc]

5. Rubber stamp republicans

If I was campaigning against any repugs, I would bring up his/her rubber stamp politic's and voting record.