|
|
| |
| Sat, Aug. 30, 2008 |  |
 |
|
||
| |
Beaten down, whipped and preparing for more Sunday, May 18, 2008 By David J. Sanders WASHINGTON - Most agree the business of politics is cyclical. Congressional Republicans, entangled in a vicious cycle, help drive home the point. ? The cycle was in evidence again Tuesday when voters in Mississippi's once reliably Republican 1st Congressional District elected a Democrat. It was the third such upset in a special election, following similar losses in Louisiana and Illinois. On Wednesday, some Republicans on and around Capitol Hill made no attempt to hide their concern, while others tried soft-pedaling the disappointing news. Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia warned his party's congressional leadership in a 22-page exposition that the political environment for Republicans was better following Watergate and nearly two years ago when they handed the gavel back to Democrats after losing 30 seats in the House than now. He called on fellow Republicans to distance themselves from President Bush because of voters' discontent with the Iraq War, increasing gas prices, the sluggish economy, record home foreclosures and, in some cases, cultural differences. Both in the memo and in front of reporters at the Capitol, the retiring Republican said "the Republican brand is in the trash can ... if we were dog food, they would take us off the shelf. "I'm not going to lie to you, we've got problems out there," Danny Diaz, communications director for the Republican National Committee, admitted after trying to explain that the Mississippi loss was really the result of a divisive Republican primary. Rep. John Boehner, the House Minority leader, woefully acknowledged the obvious, claiming that Republicans have to do better in the November elections. One Republican lobbyist who asked not to be named said his frustration with congressional Republicans and the party leadership is that "all too often they engage in wishful thinking when it comes to electoral outcomes."?He explained that many in his party have become consumed with watching the endless primary battle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, with all its cultural and racial tensions, hoping that in time the Democratic Party will self-destruct. In the Mississippi and Louisiana races, Republicans attacked the Democratic candidates, both of whom were considered moderate to conservative, by airing television ads linking each man to Obama. "I just wish they were thinking," the lobbyist added. Delighting in the misfortune of others isn't anything new in politics, but in the case of the Republicans, they have become the rubber-necking driver who can't help staring at the fender-bender on the other side expressway long enough to avoid slamming into the car in front of him. It's apparent that continuing on the same course will result in electoral decimation this fall, but some believe it could already be too late to avoid that which appears unavoidable. With the record number of Republicans retiring from the House this year, the National Republican Congressional Committee will be forced to spend its precious resources defending once-safe seats instead of targeting potentially weak Democrats. Many Republican political operatives are frustrated and have become complacent. But beyond the nuts and bolts of the campaigns, congressional Republicans are severely disabled with President Bush in the White House. Public opinion toward Bush resembles malice more than apathy; that is not going to change. Making matters worse, Thursday it was reported that John McCain, who is worried about his own race, will soon begin distancing himself and his campaign from congressional Republicans.? ? This vicious cycle shows no signs of ending. But it will, because it's a cycle. The question is when. ------- David Sanders writes twice weekly for the Arkansas News Bureau in Little Rock and is a host of the Arkansas Education Television Network's "Unconventional Wisdom." His e-mail address is DavidJSanders@aol.com. |
