Some Republicans fear Iraq will color campaigns

[Spazito]

Everywhere Rep. Rob Simmons goes these days, he lugs a 2-inch-thick binder. Inside are a summary of an investigation into the Iraq (news - web sites) prisoner-abuse scandal and the Army's field manual on interrogation.

snip

This behavior was not approved or trained" by the military, he says, showing people in "black and white" why he doesn't explain away the military guards' actions. Unlike most of his colleagues in Congress, Simmons, who also spent 10 years as a CIA (news - web sites) spy, understands on a personal level how "very damaging" the scandal has been to the nation's reputation.


Less clear is the damage the scandal, and the mounting violence in Iraq, could do to Simmons' bid for a third term in the House of Representatives. Political analysts say he is one of the most vulnerable Republicans in Congress this year. His House district in eastern Connecticut is among the most Democratic-leaning ones held by a Republican. In 2000, George W. Bush did worse there than in any of the other 227 House districts controlled by Republicans.


Now, as Bush struggles to reverse the lowest approval ratings of his presidency, vulnerable Republicans in competitive districts like Simmons' are starting to worry. Will voters angry about Iraq take it out on them in November? If they do, they could tilt control of the House from Republicans, who hold a 23-seat edge.


more

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=676&ncid=716&e=25&u=/usatoday/20040528/ts_usatoday/somerepublicansfeariraqwillcolorcampaigns

[sniffa]

1. drop anchor

any repubLicans who do not jump ship, are gonna ride bush's anchors (the reverse of 'coattaiLs') right out of a job.

[wicket]

10. Amen to that!!!

Well said :)

[sniffa]

12. ty

it's one of severaL words/phrases i'm trying to work into the pubLic's vocabuLary.

[displacedtexan]

2. Boo Fucking Hoo!

:grr:

[struggle4progress]

22. Do I detect a lack of sympathy?

:evilgrin:

[Rebel_with_a_cause]

3. Can't imagine why. eom

[freetobegay]

4. 23 seat edge?

I thought it was only 12. WTF?

[Art_from_Ark]

13. Put it this way

If 12 Republicans were to switch to the Democrats, it would result in a net loss of 12 for the Repubs abd a neet gain of 12 for the Dems, or a switch of 24, which would give the Dems a one-seat advantage.

[Wilber_Stool]

5. Hummmmmmm

They're smarter than I thought.

[Nlighten1]

6. "Some Republicans fear Iraq will color campaigns"

In a NEGATIVE light...you can bet if Bush had not FUCKED up so badly that they would be spinning the fall of the dictator into the campaign and they wouldn't be complaining. They would be on EVERY network news outlet smirking.

[SharonAnn]

28. THEY are responsible for Iraq. I know Dems voted to support

it (bill giving the president the right) but it would never have become an issue to vote on except for Bush and all the House and Senate Republicans "ginning" up the need! They wanted to win the 2002 election and this was one of the things they could rally all the patriots around. Remember the ugly campaign ads?

It belongs to the Republicans, they're responsible for it, and they can d**n well "sink or swim" by it.

[Justice]

7. Simmons Among Most Vulnerable- Support His Democratic Challenger!

Democratic challenger Jim Sullivan, a former Norwich city councilman, is making Simmons' support for the administration and Republican House leaders a central issue in his campaign.

http://www.sullivanforcongress.com/media/news.cfm

Offer Jim Sullivan your support today


(Simmons only got in because the last democrat to hold the seat was very controversial).

[KamaAina]

26. The last Dem to hold CT-2nd is a PNACer!!

That'd be the Hon. (?) Sam Gejdenson:

http://www.newamericancentury.org/hongkong-20021126.htm

The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
Washington, DC

Dear Mr. President:...

Sincerely,

William Kristol Dick Thornburgh

Morton Abramowitz Mark A. Anderson Andrew Y. Au Gary Bauer

Robert L. Bernstein Max Boot Ellen Bork Steven C. Clemons

Helle Dale Midge Decter Thomas Donnelly Nicholas Eberstadt

Robert Edgar Amitai Etzioni Hillel Fradkin Sam Gejdenson

Merle Goldman Bruce Jackson Robert Kagan Max M. Kampelman

Adrian Karatnycky Penn Kemble Craig Kennedy Harold Hongju Koh

Tod Lindberg Bette Bao Lord Connie Mack Mary Beth Markey

Martin Peretz Danielle Pletka Norman Podhoretz John Edward Porter

Gary Schmitt Sin-Ming Shaw Paul Simon Stephen Solarz (another PNAC Dem! -Ed.)

Leonard Sussman John J. Sweeney John Tkacik Arthur Waldron

Jennifer Windsor Larry Wortzel

[CWebster]

8. Tsk tsk. nt

[UpInArms]

9. ya think? ............... eom

[dusty64]

11. And WHY exactly

shouldn't this quagmire "color" their campaigns. These "reps" really ARE from another planet.

[MsLeopard]

14. What kind of voting machines

are in his district? Seems to me his seat might hinge on that factor the most.

[Beetwasher]

15. Ha Ha! Stupid SUCKERS!

They all deserve to go to hell in a handbasket along with their vaingloriously incompetent misleader.

[gratuitous]

16. Why are they worried?

I thought the War on Terror was a brilliant strategy, both for our nation, and for the Republican party. Teevee tells me that every night on every channel. Is something going on in Iraq that teevee's not telling me? Why would they be "worried" that Iraq might color the campaign? Isn't it a glorious, star-spangled, red white and blue extravaganza of American principles in action?

[Cocoa]

17. the House should have impeached Bush long ago

as soon as it became known that he lied in the State of the Union, to fool us into this war, Congress should have acted. Instead, the republicans just kept on covering up for him, blocking investigations the dems wanted, and hopefully they'll pay for it in Nov. and for many years.

[DinahMoeHum]

18. Good. Let them piddle their pants trying to explain themselves

and their support for this war.


:nopity::nopity::nopity:

[ronatchig]

19. Hee Hee may all

congressional rethugs be necklaced,(politically speaking, of course) with a burning Bush. to the themesong HighWay to Hell by AC/DC


On edit okay, okay Step away from the Bong and quit thinkin Revolution

[wildwww2]

20. I fear all Republicans. They are led by a pathelogical liar.

And I am afraid to associate with any of their evil asses. I have been boycotting repukes and their businesses. To the best of my ability since they stole the election. And will continue to do so forever. Because they will never change. They have sold their souls to the devil in Al Gore`s White House. And there is no hope for them.
Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President

[Claire Beth]

21. you got that right!!!!! they are EVIL!!! n/t

[salin]

23. Funny... last year they were COUNTING on Iraq "coloring" the campaign

short sighted fools. Hell, the IWR vote was TIMED to color the midterm elections. THis is what the GOP (Rove, Bush and DeLay) have been doing for nearly three years. Forgive me if there is no sympathy when their plans have gone so disasterously (and avoidably) awry.

[The_Casual_Observer]

25. The entire war was timed to "color" bush's reelection

Do the invasion in the cool part of springtime and reap the rewards 2 years hence.

[robbedvoter]

24. Rate this baby!

Poetic justice!

[Oreegone]

27. It's the Titanic !!!

And the band is beginning to play.

[dansolo]

29. Remember the Rove presentation

Run on the war. They were more than happy when they thought that the war would improve their chances.

[warrior1]

30. you broke it,

you bought it.

[Piperay]

31. HAWHAWHAW

GOOD it should color the election and if it doesn't than something is VERY, VERY wrong here! :evilfrown: