Bush Slips--Among Republicans

[DS1]

The record-high turnout in the New Hampshire Democratic primary -- 219,787 Granite State voters took Democratic ballots Tuesday, shattering the previous record of 170,000 in 1992 -- is being read as a signal that voters in one New England state, and most likely elsewhere, are enthusiastic about the prospect of picking a challenger for George W. Bush. And the turnout in the Democratic primary is not even the best indicator of the anti-Bush fervor in New Hampshire, a state that in 2000 gave four critical electoral votes to the man who secured the presidency by a razor-thin Electoral College margin of 271-267.

Many New Hampshire primary participants decided to skip the formalities and simply vote against the president in Tuesday's Republican primary. Thousands of these Bush-bashing Republicans went so far as to write in the names of Democratic presidential contenders.

Under New Hampshire law, only Democrats and independents were permitted to participate in Tuesday's Democratic presidential primary. That meant that Republicans who wanted to register their opposition to Bush had to do so in their own party's primary. A remarkable number of them did just that.

...more

http://www.thenation.com/thebeat/index.mhtml?pid=1221

[KayLaw]

1. I'm proud of them

It shows that there are plenty of decent, honorable, and intelligent Republicans out there who are savvy and strong enough to stand up for their country. This can't be easy, either, with all the birdbrain pundits lying and pimping for little Lord Farquad day and night.

[NeoConsSuck]

3. I have an ultra-conservative co-worker..

who vows he is not voting for Bush in 2004. We're in the financial trade, and he is worried about the deficits, and how it will impact his children in coming years.

He wouldn't agree that these deficits are just an excuse for NeoCons in coming years to do away with Social Security, Welfare etc..

And he had no problems with this murderous slime administration having killed over 8,000 Iraqi citizens.

But, a vote against Bush is a vote against Bush.

[Enraged_Ape]

10. I LOL at your Lord Farquad analogy

And it's perfect. I never really thought about it, but Lord Farquad is pretty much the CGI embodiment of Dubya.

[KayLaw]

18. Ha!

Since you seem to know movies, the whole bunch of them - the powers that be - remind me of Cyberdyne Systems and the media, too. Reporting all the news the government whats you to hear.

( Shudder.)

[Enraged_Ape]

28. Either Cyberdine Systems or...

Omni Consumer Products (OCP). (Remember them?)

[KayLaw]

42. No

Does it have to do with soylent green? Sounds nice and sinister.

[SpiralHawk]

19. One of every seven voters in R primary voted against Bush

According to the article.

What's that? About 14 percent of Bush's base?

[calimary]

21. Lord Farquad! OMG! That is Fabulous!

And it says it all. Wickedly brilliant - and so observant of you! And besides, the guy really is a cartoon, anyway.

[formactv]

26. Who is Farquard?

[Enraged_Ape]

29. Lord Farquad is...

the short, petty, petulant "handsome" prince from the movie Shrek. If you haven't seen this film, you really do owe it to yourself to rent it. It's more funny for adults than it is for kids.

[dusty64]

2. This is great and I

know quite a few of them myself. Ya gotta love the depiction of those opposed to our extremist corporate taliban as being "bush-bashing republicans" though. They probably didn't mean it, but this is the whole Pravda strategy of showing those who oppose our "glorious leader" as being "full of hate" and "unpatriotic". I think their ability to see through the media smokescreen and think for themselves is applaudable and I respect moderates who now realize they've been duped and our regime needs to go.

[sendero]

4. I think the news media...

....and the pundits are in serious danger of relenquishing what little credibility they might have had with the average American.

As they continue to parrot the party line while things just get worse and worse and the spin more and more blatant, more and more Americans see their bias more and more clearly.

And that is good. You morons at Fox and CNN, please keep shooting yourself in the foot. You will soon be the scorned laughingstock of the country, just like our fraud president is rapidly and inevitably becoming.

[calimary]

22. No one likes to admit they were wrong.

Problem is, as time goes on, they're wronger and wronger and wronger.

One of these days, maybe even some of THEM will start waking up. Apparently it's already happening among independents and even republicans (note - I did not say republi-CONS - these are not the bad guys. These are among the manipulated).

Worth watching to see if this trend continues. We can talk and console ourselves all day (I certainly do!) with anecdotes about a friend here, a neighbor there, an in-law here, a family member there, slowly coming to their senses. But that could be debated by some. THIS backs it all up and gives it the strength of numbers that NOBODY can misconstrue. NOBODY.

Seems like we're in for another war or a terrorist attack. We must watch and gird our loins for cornered attack dogs and what they might do if they're really desperate. Either that, or there may just be a whole pile-on (pile-OFF?) of rats jumping ship.

NOBODY likes to get too close to the smell of a loser. Of course, we all recognized just the plain ol' smell, a long time ago. I think "smell of a loser" has a nice ring to it, myself.

Let's just not get complacent. The fat lady hasn't sung. But I find myself suspecting that maybe she's finishing up in her dressing room backstage...

[wabeewoman]

32. I hope you are right.

I was waiting at the airport yesterday and faux news was on. First they slammed Dean and then Kerry in a very slimy weasily way. I had to move so I wouldn't start screaming at the TV. And I looked for someone to complain to but couldn't find anyone. They are SOOO biased and even CNN is carrying water for this administration. I have always stood up for the media(used to want to be one) but I just can't anymore. Whoever invented the term mediawhore had it right. I wish we could sue ALL of them who are flat out lying on TV. It is supposed to be OUR airwaves after all.

[Arugula Latte]

35. Whenever I call to complain...

...about some horribly biased story on the networks or cable news channels (not Fox--I won't waste my breath and I programmed my remote to skip over Fox) I always say something like: "No wonder so many of us are turning to the Internet to get real information." That let's them know I have an alternative to their little right-wing propaganda show.

[SoCalDem]

5. I was under the impression (CNN) that they could change party

when they went to vote, and could then change it back afterwards.. So, with no real challenger to Bush, republicans were free to "make a little mischief" by becoming a one-day democrat so that they could promote the one that Rushie told them would be the easiest to defeat in Nov..

at least that's what I heard CNN say..

[calimary]

23. I'm beginning to suspec that's just more spin.

If they were mischief-makers, who would we have quotes from the 61-year-old Vietnam Veteran who wants us out of Iraq and feels there ought to be a guy who actually knows what war is - in position to start another one. THAT kind of republican voter sounds pretty serious to me, seriously concerned more about this country than about throwing a monkey-wrench into the works.

I'm thinking this may be for real.

[BiggJawn]

6. Oh, My! Write-ins for Kerry?

And I thought the 15% that did NOT vote for bush went for the usual Ultra-right rabble who ignore Karls' memos about clearing the way for Shrub.

This was RICH! thanks for finding it!

[0007]

7. This is good news!

[usrbs]

8. We advised Republican registered voters to write in Dean

When supporters said they couldn't vote in the Democratic primary 2 days before the election, we were told to reply - then write in Dean.

(Does that mean that you can't switch parties on election day? I'm from Mass so I don't know.)


When phoning for Clark* on the primary day, I told anyone who replied that they were Republican, but a Democratic supporter, to go to vote and write in their candidate, no matter who their choice was.

If people can't switch between parties in time in some of the other states with restrictive rules, all campaigns should tell their reformed Republican supporters to do the same.

* I support both Dean and Clark, so I work for both.

[demgrrrll]

9. I was talking to a business associate this morning who is one of the

most die hard Republicans I know. He said he is not going
to vote for Bush. I thought that if he isn't voting for Bush
there must be many more Republicans who will not vote for him.

[reprobate]

11. There is a widespread but unreported anger out there.

And it crosses party lines and economic lines. I think the maladministration is well aware of it. It's why they are running scared.

[Occulus]

12. It also means they'll eventually slip big.

And that could mean both good and bad things.

Remember, this group has gotten away with some seriously bad shit- items that would land anyone else at all in jail faster than you can say boo. If something brings them down, it may well bring us all down as well.

There are many unstable areas in the world today. Lots of things happen that we little people never ever hear about.The people currently in charge have an open disregard for things which do not profit them.

We may learn something that will remove them all, but by then it could be too late for all of us.

I think it's time for a viral investigation. By that, I mean people all over the country going in and getting documents in any place the Bush family has had any influence. FOIA requests. Open media acknowledgment that this is a nationwide effort. Openly declare a legal war.

Nobody can stop us from doing this. It's a request for public information. We also need an Internet repository from which to draw our arguments. The only thing we need to agree on is a platform on which to build a case.

Is this doable, DU law types? Responses are welcome- I think this could work.

[grasswire]

13. I think your idea....

....deserves its own thread.

[reprobate]

20. Your idea strikes a cord.

Could you expand a bit more on it?

What kind of documents?

Look for them where?

What are we looking to prove?

Things like that.

[Just Me]

27. I like your idea,...

It would require a well-defined strategic core which would take some vigorous issue spotting and problem solving by a willing group of people. One of the major obstacles to overcome is "stock denials" of FOIA requests (especially those falling under "security/national interests", in addition to the usual scrubbing and screening, and also the plain ole' "not specific enough for us to comply" evasive maneuvar). Moreover, following the money (which reveals a helluva a lot about intentions/motivations) is an very challenging endeavor.

Your idea is great but would demand powerful and focused organization to be effective :D

[PaDUer]

15. I don't think

they're running scared at all because come election day, * will win again--hope you didn't forget those voting machines, remember 2000..from what I've seen happening since 2000, it's those machines and those who hack the machines in favor of *!!! Best thing to do since there's so much that * has done is go for IMPEACHMENT NOW.

[Elidor]

14. Republicans writing in Kucinich and Sharpton for their own primary?!?!

Ye gods! I love it! This is the worst nightmare Turd-blossom could have!

Who was it that started a thread awhile back saying that anecdotes of Republicans' discontent were meaningless hearsay? I wish I had bookmarked it. This is the most heartening news I've heard in three years. Flight-suit Boy is going DOWN!!!

[T Bone]

39. Did any voters in the Dem primary write-in Bush?

If so how many. How does it compare statistically to the write-ins for Dems in the Republican primary. That difference could be very telling.

[shawmut]

41. 115 democrats wrote in Bush

out of the 219,781 democrats that voted.


by comparison, 4,632 republicans voted democrat out of the 67,833 republicans that voted.


http://www.boston.com/news/special/politics/2004_results/

[SpiralHawk]

16. Hmmm - I'd say this constitutes a "loss of face" for Bush

at least to some degree. Therefore, it is an excuse to once again resurrect the "Omen of the Old Man of the Mountain."

To wit:

High up on the flank of a massive mountain in Franconia Notch, NH -- the Old Man of the Mountain lost his face - literally - on May 3, 2003, the day after President George W. Bush paraded across the deck of the U.S. aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, and declared "Mission Accomplished" in Iraq.

I was struck by the sequence of events. Bush parades on Abe Lincoln deck, then the Old Man of the Mountain loses face immediately thereafter. What's going on here? Is the mountain trying to tell us something?

Bush Struts Carrier Deck in Flight Suit - May 2, 2003
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/2993415.stm

Old Man Loses Face - May 3, 2003:
http://gonewengland.about.com/cs/nhhistory/l/bloldmanofmtn.htm

For Granite Staters -- and for all who had ever seen him -- the collapse of the Old Man's face was a first-class tragedy because the Old Man was a symbol of honesty, dignity, and honor. He seemed eternal.

I always thought of the Old Man's profile as embodying the same qualities as Old "Honest Abe" Lincoln, whose profile is so familiar to us from the penny. So I was deeply saddened to see him "lose face," and could not help but note that it came right after Bush pulled what was basically a PR stunt on the deck of our nation's Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier.

What right did he have to celebrate and "Declare Victory"? Hundreds of our soldiers have died and been grievously wounded since that day, not to mention the ongoing misery for their families at home and the families in Iraq. And, of course, at this time Bush own AWOL military record is being called into question.

At the time last May I was inclined to take this monumental loss of the Old Man's face in the Granite State as some sort of cosmic sign that the heavens frowned upon Bush's hollow boasting.

After all, as we now know the Iraq war is based on made-up stories. Iraq had no WMDs, and no connection to the tragedy that befell America on 9/11. This is apparently a war of aggression and conquest. That's why our young men and women have their lives on the line in Iraq. it has little to do with our national defense or our true honor. It has a lot to do with power and oil.

Now that I have read Sevethson's essay about the candidacy of John Buchanan in the NH Republican primary, I see things in a different light. I see the loss of face of the Old Man of the Mountain as a possible omen that G.W. Bush may well lose face before the voters of NH.

Will Bush be surprised during the NH primary? We shall see.

Here's Seventhson's discussion thread on the NH Republican candidacy of John Buchanan against G. W. Bush.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=980708

Buchanan's campaign -- and his research -- are sincere, and worthy of every voter's consideration.

Web site at http://www.johnbuchanan.org

[proud patriot]

17. I hope the whole FCC rules issue

has woken people up .

Because all sides were against it Left , Right , Middle
of the Road people all oppsed it .

The Issue of the FCC rules shows the people
what has happened to our Government .

It is as clear as can be .

[calimary]

24. Nope, it's the pocketbook issue.

We even have recovering republicans here citing that as their number-one reason of discontent. As one of them VERY eloquently put it - it's the "drunken-sailor spending." Hey - this is a MOST legitimate reason. Certainly carries some weight with me as a Democrat. And it shows true commitment. If they don't like it when Democrats overspend, it's good to see that they hold their own to the same standard, as they should.

If anyone votes his or her pocketbook it's a republican.

NOT in any way meant to mess with the recovering republicans now among us. I appreciate them perhaps more than almost anybody else, for their realism, their ability to face facts and then decide to deal with them, and their courage. It's awfully hard, and sometimes a little scary, to buck a political party like theirs has become. I salute them. They are true patriots.

[alfredo]

25. The only way they can win is if the rig the voting machines.

That needs to be the buzz words.

[YouMustBeKiddingMe]

30. Very good news!

With Republicans turning and higher than usual voter turnouts in the primaries so far, this can only spell good news for Democrats!

[JohnyCanuck]

31. I'll really cheer when I see the headline...

Bush falls on his lying ass among republicans.

[rocktivity]

33. Republicans Against Bush--A meme is born!!!

Maybe we should make a direct appeal to them, if only to make them feel that they're not alone!


rocknation

[pinniped]

34. Yup, monkeyboy has pissed off everyone...

except his warmongering buddies and businesses, those that pollute the shit out of the earth and timber choppers.

The only people who love this POS are those gunnuts. And even some of them are seeing through the facade.

[stickdog]

36. NH Turnout in 2004, 2000, 1996, 1992, 1988

Tens of thousands of Republican leaning independents voted in NH's Democratic primary. How else do you think Lieberman managed 8%?

2004:

Democratic ~220,000
Republican ~63,000


2000:

Democratic ~152,000 (Total pool of voters: about 198,000 Democrats plus 275,000 Independents)
Republican ~236,000 (Total pool of voters: about 266,000 Republicans plus 275,000 Independents)


1996:

Democratic ~92,000
Republican ~209,000

1992:

Democratic ~168,000
Republican ~174,000


1988:

Republican ~158,000
Democratic ~124,000

[confusionisnext]

37. "just" 85% support from Republicans?

If you see hope in this number then you are blindly optimistic. In polls right before he won re-election, Clinton "just" had 80-85% Democratic support.

More important in this article is how independents are feeling.

[The_Casual_Observer]

38. Who are they going to vote for Harold Stassen?

This is simply hand wringing, they have no intention of voting for ANYBODY else.

[togiak]

40. Alot of Republicans are upset

The extreme right wing of the Republican party is definately VERY upset with Bush. Some of them actually call him a Socialist. I think that he is putting himself in a bad position with his base but they would never in a million years vote for a Democrat. The only hope is that they are discouraged enough that they stay home on Super Tuesday. I don't know though, they are so dogmatic and single minded in their hatred of all things Democrat that they truly believe that the country is going to fall apart and become a slave state of the UN if a Democrat wins the presidency.

If you want to go to see the viewpoints of these people (and believe me they are scary) go to www.etherzone.com/forum. All I ask is that you don't flame them. One of the things that sets progressives apart from right wingers is our civility in debate. I warn you all, however, their statements are highly offensive and quite racist at times so this site is not for those who are easily enraged. I think that it is important, however, to visit these kind of sites because we need to truly understand the otherside in order to beat them.