Friday, October 20, 2006
GOP goes negative by outlining Democratic agenda
From today’s front page at the Washington Post:
GOP Aims to Scare Up Big Voter Turnout with a sub-headline that reads: With House Losses Likely, Tactics Focus on Warnings About Democrats.
Here’s what the reliably non-partisan Dan Balz & Jim VandeHei (and yes, that’s meant to be sarcastic) mean:
“Amid predictions that demoralized conservative voters might sit out the election, Bush and other senior Republicans will escalate charges that Democrats will raise taxes, weaken national security and liberalize social policies.”
Escalate charges? This isn’t just some silly name-calling spat – the Democrats are very open about their desire to raise taxes and liberalize social policies. While no one openly runs on a platform of weakening national security (however defined), I don’t think I’m being overly partisan by noting that an emphasis on traditional notions of national security is not a Democratic crowd pleaser. And the prospect of a Congress led by Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid isn’t exactly telling our enemies: “No more Mr. Nice Guy!!”
As to “demoralized conservative voters” sitting out this election, I still think that’s a reflection of some wishful thinking. I certainly qualify as one these voters…and I can’t imagine the depth of political depression I’d have to be in before I eschewed my right to vote. There is always a full slate of local elections – city, state, school board, what have you – that also demand our attention and feed into the issues that concern all us voters. November 7th may yet prove me wrong and, if so, let me preemptively express my contempt for those pouting, tantrum-throwing voters who ignored their civic duty because of some self-congratulatory petulance about Congress.
Yeah our national Republican leadership is fairly pathetic – Bill Frist and Dennis Hastert aren’t anyone’s idea of the foundation for a school on Leadership – but next to the Democratic leadership, they are practically Churchillian. Not voting, then, is not some principled act of “sending a message” but rather a slothful act of laziness and selfishness – well deserving of all the disdain and contempt it engenders.
GOP Aims to Scare Up Big Voter Turnout with a sub-headline that reads: With House Losses Likely, Tactics Focus on Warnings About Democrats.
Here’s what the reliably non-partisan Dan Balz & Jim VandeHei (and yes, that’s meant to be sarcastic) mean:
“Amid predictions that demoralized conservative voters might sit out the election, Bush and other senior Republicans will escalate charges that Democrats will raise taxes, weaken national security and liberalize social policies.”
Escalate charges? This isn’t just some silly name-calling spat – the Democrats are very open about their desire to raise taxes and liberalize social policies. While no one openly runs on a platform of weakening national security (however defined), I don’t think I’m being overly partisan by noting that an emphasis on traditional notions of national security is not a Democratic crowd pleaser. And the prospect of a Congress led by Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid isn’t exactly telling our enemies: “No more Mr. Nice Guy!!”
As to “demoralized conservative voters” sitting out this election, I still think that’s a reflection of some wishful thinking. I certainly qualify as one these voters…and I can’t imagine the depth of political depression I’d have to be in before I eschewed my right to vote. There is always a full slate of local elections – city, state, school board, what have you – that also demand our attention and feed into the issues that concern all us voters. November 7th may yet prove me wrong and, if so, let me preemptively express my contempt for those pouting, tantrum-throwing voters who ignored their civic duty because of some self-congratulatory petulance about Congress.
Yeah our national Republican leadership is fairly pathetic – Bill Frist and Dennis Hastert aren’t anyone’s idea of the foundation for a school on Leadership – but next to the Democratic leadership, they are practically Churchillian. Not voting, then, is not some principled act of “sending a message” but rather a slothful act of laziness and selfishness – well deserving of all the disdain and contempt it engenders.
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In Jewish American newspapers there's been a dustup over ads sponsored by the Republican Jewish Committee featuring the likes of Jimmy Carter and Cindy Sheehan saying that the Democrats are anti-Israel. Somehow that's not fair game in the eyes of some.
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