Tribunal Dispute Could Ruin GOP Strategy

[cal04]

Bush-McCain Standoff Over Terrorism Trials Overshadows Electoral Battle
Congressional Republicans had carefully orchestrated the finale of the legislative year to be a showdown with Democrats over which party is best equipped to keep the country safe, a handpicked fight on traditional Republican turf.

But the high-stakes standoff between President Bush and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) over military tribunals could ruin that legislative strategy, political analysts and strategists say. Instead of fighting Democrats, Republicans find themselves in the middle of an intraparty struggle between an embattled president and two of the most respected figures in their party, McCain and his ally on the issue, former secretary of state Colin L. Powell.

"Purely from a strategic point of view, this is another mess," said Stuart Rothenberg, a political analyst and editor of the nonpartisan Rothenberg Political Report. "Every time Republicans think they have an issue to unite them and divide the Democrats, the Republicans end up spending most of the time fighting among themselves."

Republican pollster Tony Fabrizio agreed: "If the goal of this process was to show stark differences between Republicans and Democrats, what is being portrayed is stark differences between George Bush and some Republicans. From that standpoint, you aren't hitting the message mark."



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/16/AR2006091600650.html

[ProgressiveEconomist]

1. Is the tide finally turning? Is the Washington Post shifting into Watergate

mode?

Have Keith Olberman's improved ratings with his target demographic, and the lack of retribution against him for his cheeky commentary last Monday, spurred his colleagues to try it his way for awhile and see what happens?

[samsingh]

2. let's hope so.

[spag68]

3. We are winning nothing on this one

Don't you see the hand of of the pig rove here? Gives them a chance to be independent and stand up to the panderer in chief and after the election they will go right back to kissing the ring.