Bob Novak: "I have not seen a president so isolated from his own party in Congress"

[sabra]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03262007/postopinion/opedcolumnists/gonzo_politics_opedcolumnists_robert_d__novak.htm


GONZO POLITICS
NOBODY LOVES ALBERTO
By ROBERT D. NOVAK

<snip>

"Gonzales never has developed a base of support for himself up here," a House Republican leader told me. But this is less a Gonzales problem than a Bush problem. With nearly two years remaining in his presidency, George W. Bush is alone. In half a century, I have not seen a president so isolated from his own party in Congress - not Jimmy Carter, not even Richard Nixon as he faced impeachment.

Republicans in Congress do not trust their president to protect them. That alone is sufficient reason to withhold statements of support for Gonzales, when such a gesture could be quickly followed by his resignation under pressure. Rep. Adam Putnam, the highly regarded young chairman of the House Republican Conference, praised Donald Rumsfeld last November, only to find him sacked shortly thereafter.

But not many Republican lawmakers would speak up for Gonzales even if they were sure Bush would stick with him. He is the least popular Cabinet member on Capitol Hill, even more disliked than Rumsfeld had been. The word most often used by Republicans in describing the management of the Justice Department under Gonzales is "incompetent."

[Atman]

1. Leak it to someone who cares what you think, Novakula.

Piss of you traitor.

.

[Tsiyu]

7. My first thoughts exactly n/t

[whistle]

I don't know about that claim by Novak, Richard Nixon was very isolated

...over the Watergate affair. That's why I think the democrats need to bring impeachment to both Bush and Cheney. Then we would see rethuglicans scatter into their rodent holes

[NewJeffCT]

4. Yes, Nixon was extremely isolated. Big difference today, though

Back in the early to mid 70s, the nightly news actually reported something called "news" - and that did not include reporting the latest celebrity gossip. And, there was no right-wing media machine (they started building it in response to Watergate & Nixon!)

[Nay]

12. And Nixon, isolated, was visited by REPUBLICANS who convinced

him to step down or be impeached. Where are those principled Republicans now? Oh, yeah, they don't exist.

It is very true that, back then, news shows actually reported news. This was partly a function of news only being on for an hour in the evening -- this 24/7 news we have now is too much, and relies too much on idiot news, which has infected even the hour news shows on regular channels. It is not an improvement. The Law of Unintended Consequences really hit hard re news.

[whistle]

2. I don't know about that claim by Novak, Richard Nixon was very isolated

...over the Watergate affair. That's why I think the democrats need to bring impeachment to both Bush and Cheney. Then we would see rethuglicans scatter into their rodent holes

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

3. Yeah, they may dislike Gonzo...

But they are scared of Dear Leader. That is apparent in every move they make.

[madrchsod]

5. the republicans told nixon to resign

well they told him there were enough votes to impeach him so it was best he just resign. bush still has enough support in the republican party to stay the course for almost two more years

[Solly Mack]

6. Yes..the GOP should not trust Bush.

I'll sign on to spreading that thinking far and wide.

People turn on those they can't trust to have their backs

So they often end up doing the stabbing first

[Supersedeas]

8. Funny....coming from one of the 'hangers-on'

[Hamlette]

9. Why would GOP congresscritters think Gonzo incompetent?

Since they were apparently able to get him to fire prosecutors who didn't act like Ken Starr or wouldn't bring phony criminal prosecutions against dems to help their friends get elected, do they think him incompetent because he let the cat out of the bag? You'd think they would love Gonzo.

Why did Ashcroft get the boot? Why do they hate Gonzo? Does the GOP hate lawyers? The law? Gonzo hasn't been in his office for long enough to piss off the GOP members in congress...unless I missed something. I just don't see them getting all indignant over Gonzo trying to keep them in power. Something else is afoot here but I don't know what.

[yellowcanine]

10. Novak is telling us he can tell which way the wind is blowing just like Specter can.

[Bandit]

11. IMO the word most used to describe the entire Bush* Cabal is incompetent

What have they been competent on in six years?

[Nay]

13. They HAVE been competent when stripping the country and people

of their wealth, you have to admit. They've practically turned us upside down and shook stuff out of our pockets.