A somber e-mail from Ken Mehlman--

[TexasLawyer]

my good buddy, who sends me messages to keep me abreast of the party line.

:nopity::nopity::nopity::nopity::nopity:

See if you can spot the double-talk:

<snip>

Our messages of expanding freedom at home and defending freedom abroad persist as the right answers for our nation. Indeed, many of the Democrats who won yesterday embraced our platform and our values. Last night, however, the voters sent a message, and we need to make sure we receive that message loud and clear. We need to recommit ourselves to conservative reform. Our leaders must work to provide bipartisan solutions to the challenges facing our country, and demonstrate the highest standards that our Party expects and the nation deserves.

Going into the 2006 cycle, we knew that we faced an enormous challenge. The party of the incumbent President typically loses 29 House seats and three Senate seats during the second midterm. Since World War II, this average loss is even higher. And in wartime, midterm losses are equally high.

So we faced an historic challenge - and we were not able to overcome it yesterday. But adversity is no excuse.

Our party is built on ideas and values that transcend any one election. The principles of Lincoln and Reagan remain alive and well in the policies of our President, and will persist in the face of a loyal Democratic opposition, as they did throughout the Gipper's two terms. We will recruit a new generation of candidates, continue to improve our party's operations, bring new faces and voices into our party, and reengage in the battle for our countrymen's hearts and minds, stronger than ever. Our leaders will redouble their efforts to enact a conservative agenda and make us proud.

<snip>

[IndyOp]

1. The party of the incumbent pres typically loses 29 House & 3 Senate seats?

Is this true?

:shrug:

[Mythsaje]

2. Sorry, Kenny boy

but we're going to drag all your party's dirty little secrets into the light and strip them naked before the American public.

You can't play nice and call us the "loyal opposition" after years of calling us terrorist sympathizers and traitors.

[Straight Shooter]

3. Talking Points Memo response to Mehlman's skewed assertions:

Here are the number of House seats lost by the President's party in the 6th year of his presidency during the post-war period. I pulled the numbers from the House website and quickly did the math:

1958: Eisenhower--Republicans lost 48 seats
1986: Reagan--Republicans lost 5 seats
1998: Clinton--Democrats gained 5 seats

<snip>

The 1974 midterms, in which the Republicans lost 48 House seats in the aftermath of Watergate, occurred after Nixon resigned.

Of course, if Mehlman wants to compare the sea-change that followed the dark period of Watergate to the sea-change that occurred yesterday, I have no objections. Quite an apt comparison in many ways."

From his contributor, DK.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/

[SaveElmer]

4. As Abraham Lincoln spins rapidly in his grave...

Being mentioned in t he same breath with Ronald Reagan!!!

[ashling]

6. Abraham Lincoln spinning in his grave

isn't that what they call the Republican Revolution?

[FVZA_Colonel]

9. That Mhelman would compare the modern Republican Party to

the party of Lincoln is truly galling, though not surprising.

[ashling]

5. My answer to Ken Mumbleman

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=5818122&mesg_id=5818122

You get booted out on your ass with the lack of credibility you have, not the credibility you could have had at some future date if you had not been a heartless lying scumball!

[RoccoR5955]

7. Please! Gag me now!

ACK! this is all double talk. Reagan killed my brother who died from AIDS in the 80s, because he got a bad transfusion. Reagan called it a "gay cancer." My butt!
Never in my life will I ever consider Reagan anything other than a murderer of people with a tragic disease, and my brother. The gipper's dead! As he should be! Lincoln is dead! Probably turning over in his grave because of the crap THIS Rapeublican party has wrought upon people.
They are the party of CORPORATE values, using people as dupes, making war with countries that never attacked us. The crappy principles of Reagan may survive, but those of Lincoln do not. The only new faces they will bring in are two faced faces with forked tongues!

They're method of leadership through fear does not help our democracy. They do not defend freedom by trashing the Constitution. And they are far from conservative when they do not want to do anything to conserve the environment. They are not fiscally conservative, because they spend money like drunken sailors, giving tax cuts to the rich, while leaving the poor out to rot. These Rapeublicans have NEVER promoted bipartisanship, they have divided this country to the likes of what was seen during Lincoln's term. The only standards they stand for are standards of corruption and fear-mongering.

I, for one, am glad to see the demise of these hateful bastards.
May the GOP RIP!

[Bullshot]

8. Mehlman was on Today this morning

talking about bipartisanship and statesmanship.

You had all of the chances of demonstrating this for several years and you abused it.

Now, it's time to reap what you sowed.

[TexasLawyer]

11. Yes, and when you look at what he writes in the e-mail

he's not really talking about bipartisanship.

The Republicans heard what the voters said loud and clear, Mehlman says. But apparently what the Republicans "heard" was that Republicans need to redouble their efforts at carrying out the conservative mission of "the Gipper."

Yeah, the Republicans heard us all right-- NOT!

[jillan]

10. It took him 6 years to figure that out?

Kerry was right! ;)

[txindy]

12. Didn't Bill Maher out Kenny on TV today? I can't find that thread.

Poor Kenny. So much self-hatred. :nopity: