Bad Iraq News Worries Some in GOP for '06

[Modem Butterfly]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/18/politics/18repubs.html?ei=5094&en=b9db56c95a07f3ea&hp=&ex=1124337600&partner=homepage&pagewanted=print

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 - A stream of bad news out of Iraq, echoed at home by polls that show growing impatience with the war and rising disapproval of President Bush's Iraq policies, is stirring political concern in Republican circles, party officials said Wednesday.

Some said that the perception that the war was faltering was providing a rallying point for dispirited Democrats and could pose problems for Republicans in the Congressional elections next year.

Republicans said a convergence of events - including the protests inspired by the mother of a slain American soldier outside Mr. Bush's ranch in Texas, the missed deadline to draft an Iraqi Constitution and the spike in casualties among reservists - was creating what they said could be a significant and lasting shift in public attitude against the war.

The Republicans described that shift as particularly worrisome, occurring 14 months before the midterm elections. As further evidence, they pointed to a special election in Ohio two weeks ago, where a Democratic marine veteran from Iraq who criticized the invasion decision came close to winning in a district that should have easily produced a Republican victory.

"There is just no enthusiasm for this war," said Representative John J. Duncan Jr., a Tennessee Republican who opposes the war. "Nobody is happy about it. It certainly is not going to help Republican candidates, I can tell you that much."

Representative Wayne T. Gilchrest, a Maryland Republican who originally supported the war but has since turned

[Modem Butterfly]

1. You all owe it to yourselves to read this article

Richard A. Viguerie, a veteran conservative direct-mail consultant, said Mr. Bush "turned the volume up on his megaphone about as high as it could go to try to tie the war in Iraq to the war on terrorism" last year, and he argued that the White House could no longer do that.

"I just don't think it washes after all these years," Mr. Viguerie said.

The other changing factor is the continued drop in Mr. Bush's job-approval rating that could make him less welcome on the campaign trail.

"If this continues to drag down Bush's approval ratings, Republican candidates will be running with Bush as baggage, not as an asset," Andrew Kohut, president of the Pew Research Center, said. "Should his numbers go much lower, he is going to be a problem for Republican candidates in 2006."

[TwilightZone]

2. It obviously worries them - look at the GOP reaction to Cindy Sheehan.

They're attacking a grieving mother, for heaven's sake, only weeks after attacking an Iraq war vet running for office.

[Modem Butterfly]

3. It's a terrible thing to say, but I'm going to say it anyway

All of this nastyness from them will make excellent campaign commercials for us.

[Raksha]

4. Why is that a terrible thing to say?

I trust you were being sarcastic. It's great when they hand us such fantastic material on a silver platter like they've been doing! I hope they keep it up.

[Modem Butterfly]

7. This fantastic material comes at such a high cost

[TwilightZone]

5. I have to admit that I have come to believe that we need to do whatever

it takes to save ourselves, our country, and our future from these idiots.

Within legalities and reason, of course, but the kid gloves need to take up permanent residence elsewhere.

[Modem Butterfly]

9. Well said.

[annabanana]

6. poor GOP.."no enthusiasm for this war"

You reap what you sow..
:nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity:

They are stuck and they can't get out.

[Orsino]

8. Guess how much people actually *in* Iraq are worried?

Punks.