RNC warns in memo, congressional Republicans better not criticize Bush

[CatWoman]

Hotline has the memo here.

I think the memo is right and wrong. It claims that W "is" the party, he "is" their brand, and that if he gets further diminished they all go down with him.

First off, yes, Bush is your brand, and we're all quite happy about it. Please do wrap yourself in him as often as possible.

The problem is that Bush is already damaged goods and he is ALREADY taking other Republicans down with him. There is nothing GOP congressmen can do to get Bush's numbers up. But there is a lot they can do to bring THEIR numbers down. Sticking their necks out to defend Bush at this time will only suggest to the public, including their own base, that they don't get it. That they think, incredibly, that all is well in Washington, and that Bush, like Brownie, is doing a heck of a job.

You turn voters around by proving to them that you deserve their loyalty, and that's through your own actions. It's a message Democrats need to learn as well.

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2006/03/rnc-warns-in-memo-congressional.html

[buddysmellgood]

1. Sweet.

[rodeodance]

2. here is some of the actual memo. from Ken Mehlman

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/03/post_6.html
Memorandum

To: Ken Mehlman
From: Jan van Lohuizen
Date: March 3, 2006
Re: Bush -- Congressional Republicans

Per our conversation, we took another look at the way voters, Republicans specifically, link President Bush and Republicans in the House and the Senate. There are several points worth making:

1. President Bush continues to have the strong loyal support of Republican voters. Despite slippage in approval ratings among all voters, the President's job approval among Republicans continues to be very high. Most members will be elected with between 80% and 100% of their support coming from Republicans. I don't see that Republicans driving a wedge between themselves and the President is a good election strategy.

2. My read of the current environment is that our problem will be turnout. '06 could become an election like '82 or '84. In '82 Republicans showed up at relatively normal turnout rates, while Democrats, because they were angry, showed up at abnormally high turnout rates. In '94, Republican turnout was elevated, while Democratic turnout was depressed. We have every reason to believe '06 could become the inverse of '82. We don't see signs of a depressed Republican turnout yet, but we have every reason to believe Democrats will turn out in high numbers. Anything we do to depress turnout, by not running as a unified party for instance, could very well lead to serious consequences in November.

3. The President is seen universally as the face of the Republican Party. We are now brand W. Republicans. The following chart shows the extremely close correlation between the President’s image and overall ratings of the party.

[rodeodance]

5. He thinks the problem will be turnout in the fall.

[napi21]

3. I HOPE they do stick with Shrub! I'll be happy to see them ALL

drown together! The thing is, there are some old fashioned Pubs who know better! They see the HW on the wall and they're not going to go along with this!Santorum is torn between staying or leaving, the guys in OH are running away as far as they can get!

I see deserters every day! TS the RNC knows they're up the creek!!!!

[bpilgrim]

4. if the Dem's run a populous, they're all done

unfortunately that would spell doom for many of our own leaders so they are fighting it tooth -n- nail

:hi: CatWoman

peace

[TahitiNut]

6. Yes, please let reichbots go swimming with a W-shaped anchor tied to ...

... their necks. Please. Then please let the Democrats have the moral courage to nominate a REAL liberal with integrity!

I'll take Gore/Kucinich, Feingold/Kucinich, or Gore/Feingold gladly.

[CatWoman]

7. you get my DUmail, Sweetums?

:hi:

:loveya:

[TahitiNut]

8. Ubetcha, m'luv! Thank you!

You're awesome, mid'! :loveya: :hug: :pals:

[Disturbed]

9. Rethugs are such a loyal bunch.

I bet most of them, except McLame, try to distance themselves from Bush/Cheney by posturing while still supporting the RW Agenda through their votes in Congress.

[CatWoman]

11. they are already distancing themselves from him

but not from his money.

[Warpy]

10. Good, the more they cling to their little tin Jesus in the White House

the easier they'll be to defeat. Of course, if the Democrats want to hang onto power, they're going to have to mend a few fences with their traditional base and focus on some working class issues instead of playing geopolitics and fatten the corporations.