Republicans try to change subject from Bush

[Judi Lynn]

Republicans try to change subject from Bush
Fri Mar 24, 2006 3:30 PM ET

By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans, beset by an array of political troubles, are cranking up the attacks on Democrats and trying to change the subject from President George W. Bush ahead of November's congressional elections.

With Bush slumping in the polls and Republicans on the defensive over the Iraq war and a series of ethics scandals, the party wants to shift the spotlight away from the White House by convincing voters that Democratic rule would be a dangerous choice.

Republicans hope the strategy will limit the national momentum that Democrats might ride into November and fire up the party's conservative base supporters to ensure they turn up at the polls.

"What the Democrats are trying to do is make this a referendum about Bush," said Republican pollster David Winston. "What we are saying is, 'Look, this is about a choice.' The strategy is to go out and define what this choice is going to be about and that's what you are beginning to see."
(snip/...)

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2006-03-24T202957Z_01_N24217945_RTRUKOC_0_US-USA-POLITICS-REPUBLICANS.xml&archived=False

[demosincebirth]

1. Kind of hard to change the focus...all people have to do

is look at the last 6 years and see what a fucking mess this country is in because of them.

[napi21]

2. Well, CNN announced a little while ago that Shrub was doing a

fund raiser for Santorum in Pa, but there will be NO photo ops for the press! They also mentioned that the Sens and the candidates from Ohio weren't seen with him during his visit there early this week, and Cheney spoke at a fund raiser for Keen Jr. and Jr. said he was stuck in traffic and OOPS, finally got there AFTER Cheney left!

Sure sounds to me like lots of people are putting some serious distance between ShrubCo and their own necks!

[windy252]

4. I say the Dems should still try to link Bush

to Republicans running for Congress. :evilgrin: It wouldn't be hard. When push came to shove, even the so-called "moderates" blindly supported him. :grr:

[rodeodance]

15. actually, there was a quick shot of Santorium greeting Bush on the tarmac

. PBS I think. tonight.

[ginnyinWI]

3. This is why we all need to keep talking about Bush

He's not officially on the ticket in fall, but they will all be painted with his policies and his record. Top Dems are doing this (Kerry, Reid, and others) and we should too. Those Repubs in the Congress can't get far enough away and will get caught up in it.

They can not govern. Conservative policies don't work. And this WH is exhibit #1.

[radfringe]

5. they can run but they can't hide

santorum had a PRIVATE fund raiser today with bush.... in a private home....no cameras or press allowed...afraid of getting his picture taken standing next to bush?

I'm wondering if we are seeing the beginnings of an flu epidemic where repugs are afraid of catching it ... just call it "Bush Flu"

meanwhile ... enjoy the new toon

[gratuitous]

6. Ph33r!

"Oh golly, don't vote Democratic, they could get us into a war." Uh, waitasecond.

"Don't vote Democratic, they'll run up the federal deficit." Oops.

"Don't vote Democratic, they'll be corrupt." Uh oh.

Looks to me like the GOP will be running as fast as it can from its own record of incompetence and failure from the past five years. I wonder if they'll get away with it?

[Tiggeroshii]

13. lol!

Nice.

[madame defarge]

7. This IS a referendum about choice...

whether you choose a candidate who will balance George or one who will support him. I want/demand balance!!!

[sui generis]

8. here's what it's gonna take

some of our electorate to stand up and say the following:

"If seven out of ten people, including seven out of ten republicans, in the sandbox said the democratically elected leader of the sandbox was doing a terrible job, why would anyone still listen to that leader about anything? It's time to take away his frisbee. You're right, it's time to change the subject - talking about a failure in the white house is failing to talk about the issues outside of the white house."

If you want a "lame duck" you're going to have to lame the duck folks. It doesn't just happen on its own.

[MADem]

9. You know what is so damn funny, though?

These same assholes who are engaging in an elephant stampede AWAY from the Toxic Texan are the same clowns who walked over the backs of their colleagues in order to be photographed with the little pecker when 'times wuz good' for the Greedy Ole Party! They snuggled, they gripped and grinned, they craved the hearty backslap from the chump, and they drove miles to be seen hopping off AF1 with the clown!!

Honestly, the oppo ads write themselves!!! (INSERT GOP CANDIDATE NAME) says he disagrees with President Bush NOW, (PICTURE OF CANDIDATE SUCKING UP TO BUSH, PICTURE OF CANDIDATE SUCKING UP TO CHENEY, lather, rinse, REPEAT, ad infinitum) but where was (INSERT GOP CANDIDATE NAME) when Bush and Cheney were (PICK ONE OR MORE ISSUES, or add your own!) ignoring the deficit, mismanaging the war, handing out favors to cronies, watching gas prices go through the roof, and (INSERT A FEW CHOICE LOCAL ISSUES HERE--all politics being local, natch!). The people of (INSERT STATE) deserve better. And we can't AFFORD more of the same!

Hell, all you need are a bunch of rapid-fire photos (the uglier, the better), a little doom-and-gloom music (or alternatively, some clownish circus music, for a more lighthearted effect), and a voiceover actor with a portentious voice! A twenty minute effort!!

[warrens]

10. "How can we miss you when you won't go away?"

The GOP serenading Smirky the Punk, who will continue to shoot off his mouth from now to November.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Question, Senator Frist . . .

Mr. Bush has lied to start a war, which was not only unnecessary in terms of national security but poorly planned. He has asserted some mythical Constitutional authority to violate the civil liberties of private citizens on American soil. He failed to excute the law concerning disaster relief after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans.

In light of all this, why oppose Senator Feingold's censure resolution? Why do you imply that impeachment is not a proper remedy?

[brentspeak]

12. George Who?

[damntexdem]

14. Hey, forget Bush, let's criticize Feingold!

Why, what's he done?

Called for censure of Bush.

Hey, let't talk about that.


I don't think they'll find it so easy to change the subject -- they spent too long making Dubya the only subjec: Ïgnore tax cuts for the wealthy, ignore being asleep at the switch on 9/11, ignore the Tora Bora Follies, ignore lying us into Iraq, ignore our blowing Iraq, just keep your eye on Bush."