Thread: Bush's Problems Have GOP Worried

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=N ... le&sid=479

5/16/2005
Associated Press
By RON FOURNIER
Topics: President Bush, approval ratings, war, economy, illegal immigration, laws, crimes, Congress, CAFTA, amnesty
WASHINGTON (AP) - As funny as this may sound, President Bush misses John Kerry. In the 2004 campaign, Bush sought to make the election a referendum on the Democratic senator's character and leadership skills rather than his own record as president. Now that he has nobody to run against, every day is a referendum on Bush. And it's taking a toll.

Read the latest headlines about illegal immigration.

Bush's approval ratings are among the lowest of his presidency. Voters are growing increasingly uneasy over the war in Iraq and the economy. His signature domestic issue, Social Security reform, was received coolly by Congress and the public. Some Republicans are raising the prospect that Bush could cost them control of Congress.

What happened in seven months? One explanation is that he lost his punching bag - a political rival who, once pummeled, helped make Bush look good by comparison.

On Election Day, a majority of voters were concerned about the war in Iraq and the economy. But the president and his bare-knuckles political team - with some help from Kerry - convinced enough voters that the Democrat was an indecisive, flip-flopper who might do more harm than good. Voters might not agree with his policies, Bush said, but at least they knew where he stood.

Now, with nobody else to blame, Bush stands alone. He can't deflect voter concerns about the economy and other pressing domestic matters.

ALIPAC NOTE: Yea, like the fact he has ordered the US Border Patrol to stand down and thousands of illegal aliens rush into America each night!

With the death toll in Iraq pushed above 1,700, more than double the number of a year ago, it's no longer a choice between Bush and Kerry.

It's Bush's war. Period.

"There's just a general angst right now," said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla. "He's paying for his Iraq policy more now than he was before the election. People know we have to win, but they're not very happy about it. So he has a lot of problems and, frankly, nobody to blame them on.

"And the Democrats are in the unique position of not having to propose anything," Cole said.

Bush, like other second-term presidents trying to delay lame-duck status, is up against his own record, in a sense, and that's seldom a welcome situation.

"In a vacuum, all the dissatisfaction is put on the White House," said GOP consultant Charles Black, who argued that Bush should steer more attention to upbeat economic numbers.

"When you're in a campaign, people have to make a choice. It's either A or B. Easy enough," said Ken Khachigian, who served as a strategist for President Reagan. "It gets more complicated after the campaign." Khachigian said Bush could seize the initiative by delivering a speech to Congress on Iraq.

Black and Khachigian said Bush may have an easier time as the 2006 congressional elections approach, because he can contrast his record with Democrats in Congress.

Bush seems to be warming to the idea of finding a new punching bag.

Addressing GOP donors on Tuesday night, the president said of Democratic lawmakers: "On issue after issue, they stand for nothing except obstruction, and this is not leadership. It is the philosophy of the stop sign, the agenda of the roadblock, and our country and our children deserve better."

Some Republicans say they fear that Bush and his advisers are ignoring the signs of voter discontent, moving too slowly to adjust their strategies. They also blame GOP congressional leaders for focusing on legislation that seems to help a select few while making no progress on issues that matter to many.

These Republicans include lawmakers and consultants who are allies of the White House. Most spoke only privately, fearing reprisal from the administration.

"They might not realize what a challenge we face here," said Joe Gaylord, a Republican consultant close to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. "The challenge is they're in campaign mode. Americans can be patient for a while, but when they see nothing going on, they get to wondering, 'What's going on here?'"

Khachigian said Bush is being worn down by stiff Democratic opposition and by his bullish agenda. "In a campaign, you're less likely to put up provocative ideas, you use much more global messaging and fewer specifics," he said. "What he's paying the price for now is being specific and provocative, especially on Social Security."

Cole compared Bush to President Truman.

"He was pretty farseeing. What you liked about Truman is what in the short term makes it politically challenging, and I'd say the same thing about Bush," Cole said. "He likes to make tough decisions."

Cole's analogy may not be comforting to Republicans. For all his tough stands and history's opinion, Truman left office with low poll ratings after the 1952 elections. And his Democrats lost control of Congress and the White House.

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EDITOR'S NOTE - Ron Fournier has covered national politics for The Associated Press since 1992.

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=N ... le&sid=479

Now, with nobody else to blame, Bush stands alone. He can't deflect voter concerns about the economy and other pressing domestic matters.

"other pressing domestic matters" like what? Millions of foreign invaders flooding our country, job market, housing developments, schools, hospitals, welfare offices?

Washington Post: Question: WHY DIDN'T YOU NAME THE "pressing matter"?

ALIPAC NOTE: Yea, like the fact he has ordered the US Border Patrol to stand down and thousands of illegal aliens rush into America each night!

Right On William!! I guess the writer Ron Fooooooournier just couldn't "think" of what to "call it"?!?!?!? One of these "slow guys" that got a big job with a big newspaper but poor thing believes Harry Truman has something to do with this story!!

"In a vacuum, all the dissatisfaction is put on the White House," said GOP consultant Charles Black, who argued that Bush should steer more attention to upbeat economic numbers.

Mr. Black, there ARE NO UPBEAT ECONOMIC NUMBERS!! What are YOU talking about? Jobs were DOWN in May; Sales were DOWN a full 1% in May; GM and Ford were BOTH reduced to junk bond status. Brunswick Corporation is closing their "bowling ball" plant, for heaven's sake and moving it to Mexico. GM announced it plans to lay off 25,000 employees which MEANS Mr. Black that there will be 4-6 additional employeees laid off throughout the economy as a result for every one of those lost GM Jobs!! It's called the economic multiplier of a manufacturing economy. For every manufacturing job created, there are 4-6 additional jobs created in other manufacturing operations that serve the industry and in other sectors of the economy benefitting from the PAYROLLS! GM is at the top of the job creation ladder because of its assembly operations; level of parts and components; and PAY SCALE!! SO, when you LOSE the jobs at the GM level, you LOSE the others. THAT announcement meant the US Economy just lost 125,000 to 175,000 GOOD JOBS!! Personal debt is the highest in history while personal savings is the lowest in history. Opposing directions and both in the wrong direction. It's called being "drawn and quartered".

Addressing GOP donors on Tuesday night, the president said of Democratic lawmakers: "On issue after issue, they stand for nothing except obstruction, and this is not leadership. It is the philosophy of the stop sign, the agenda of the roadblock, and our country and our children deserve better."

This just shows this man has no philosophy. "and our country and our children deserve better". Better than what Bushey Boy? Troops dying every day on foreign soil so your "boys" could install BY LAW their control of GMO farming in Afghanistan and Iraq?

Better than what Bushey Boy? Better than American Workers losing $200 Billion a year in deflated wages and salaries from your immigration policy such that they are living hand to mouth using up their savings they worked a life-time to have and maxxing out credit cards to pay their bills as they watch wave after wave of foreigners with their mouths open and their hands out destroy our economy with your Blessing?

Better than what Bushey Boy? Better than 10,000 people dead in California at the hands of illegal aliens; drop out rates of 58% in their high schools because they are terrified to attend schools controlled by MS-13 Gangs?

Better than what Bushey Boy? JUST WHAT is it you want to give to our CHILDREN who deserve better than a "stop sign or a roadblock to your sick-wacko AGENDA"?

We're on to you, Bushey Boy!! We know your AGENDA!! We're late in getting there, but as God is Our Witness, we've got your number now. You could care less about American Children. You are starving their parents; and thus starving them. You have already robbed the futures and well-being of American Children in ways that will take us decades to repair. You have already ruined their schools; ruined their lives; taken their hope for a better life; and in many cases, SIR, you have TAKEN THEIR LIVES! Children are dying in America because of YOU, Bushey Boy. If you think Americans are going to tolerate this ONE MORE DAY....you are sadly mistaken.

Your Days of Glory and Agenda Peddlin are OVER!! You are a disgrace to the United States and the American People, and I'm a 4 th Generation Republican who has earned every right to tell you and the world just that!

You are not US and You do not represent US. You are not WHO WE ARE! You are a Mutant; an indescribable Traitor who has betrayed the loyalty, trust and support of those who made you who you are. Your "boys" didn't get you to the White House. Americans got you there. We are Your Master. We decide your Fate. AND, Bushey Boy....it 'aint gonna be pretty. Your Pink-Slip is Printed. Your Heretic Stake Ready!!

Some Republicans say they fear that Bush and his advisers are ignoring the signs of voter discontent, moving too slowly to adjust their strategies. They also blame GOP congressional leaders for focusing on legislation that seems to help a select few while making no progress on issues that matter to many.

"to help a select few" = sicko-wacko-evil-life-sucking-parasites-from-hell GLOBALISTS!!

"moving too slowly to adjust their strategies" = Duuuuuuh!!

What you liked about Truman is what in the short term makes it politically challenging, and I'd say the same thing about Bush," Cole said. "He likes to make tough decisions."

"he likes to make tough decisions" - Uh Uh....that get people killed; that starve Americans; that bloat our population to unsustainable levels; that generate poverty on a monumental scale; that enrich beyond belief his "select few"; and that are made to END OUR NATION so American Soil is nothing more than part of the mudslide to a Third World Hemisphere!!

Tough decisions? Are you NUTS? The man is the most unbelievable Traitor in the History of the United States and a Heretic Stake.....too good for him.



GOP--Grand Ole Party, Party of Jefferson and Lincoln....GET this sicko-wacko Parasite out of our Government and Prosecute his ass for Executive Treason.

NOW!!....scoot along, hurry up, it's tough, it's messy, we know that....but it's gotta be done....immediately!!.

On issue after issue, they stand for nothing except obstruction, and this is not leadership. It is the philosophy of the stop sign, the agenda of the roadblock, and our country and our children deserve better."

On most of these issues that are being blocked...I say "Thank God"...hang in there and STOP this globalist agenda.

RR

The lame stream media has done all it can to avoid the fact that Bush's ratings are in the tank because of illegal immigration. Hopefully they won't ignore it much longer.

Please, contact media outlets constantly over their failure to address this!

Bob Scheifer said when he did the last presidential debate, that the number one question from the public was ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION!

Why should Bush worry about what the people want? All he has to do is fix the elections, just like he did the last two? And the Democrats are no better. They are the party of inclusion. It doesn't matter who it is. While we sit here discussing what "dirty rats" the politicians are, the invaders are crossing our border in ever increasing numbers. They are invaders just as surely as if they were carrying weapons. It is the "numbers" of Hispanics stupid!!! I am sick of appealing to the politicians, waiting for the next fixed election. Where are the men of this country? Don't they resent paying taxes to support people from another country, while our own people do without basic services. About 11 years ago, weren't these same politicians complaining about the "welfare queens." At least the welfare queens were American citizens!

Originally Posted by gabelle

Why should Bush worry about what the people want? All he has to do is fix the elections, just like he did the last two? And the Democrats are no better. They are the party of inclusion. It doesn't matter who it is. While we sit here discussing what "dirty rats" the politicians are, the invaders are crossing our border in ever increasing numbers. They are invaders just as surely as if they were carrying weapons. It is the "numbers" of Hispanics stupid!!! I am sick of appealing to the politicians, waiting for the next fixed election. Where are the men of this country? Don't they resent paying taxes to support people from another country, while our own people do without basic services. About 11 years ago, weren't these same politicians complaining about the "welfare queens." At least the welfare queens were American citizens!

They ARE weapons- WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. There are still a few MEN, Gabelle. Those that have not been feminized, are READY to DIE if it comes to it. We would have a lot more MEN if they had not been ABORTED 20 years ago. Plus EVERYTHING THAT JUDY SAID