Them Dems

UPDATED: FEB 20, 2008

GOP GAME PLAN

As the Democratic Party is still working through the process of selecting its nominee, the Republicans are starting to discuss their game plan. Republican leaders met recently to discuss their strategy if Obama is the Democratic nominee.

This is the broad outline of what Democrats can expect (formatting changed for presentation in TPJ):

Focusing on Barack Obama’s “inexperience” and “undisciplined messaging” are two ways to ensure that the senator from Illinois doesn’t get to be president, according to honchos at the Republican National Committee. . . .

RNC Chairman Duncan as well as Co-Chairman Jo Ann Davidson opened the Sunday session with a Power Point presentation outlining five main strategic attacks against the Obama candidacy. A Politico reporter witnessed the document, but not the presentation.

The first called for pointing out what the GOP views as a seeming incongruity between Obama and the mantle of commander in chief.

The second point harkened back to Obama’s days in the Illinois state Senate, noting how his “pattern of voting ‘present’ offers many openings to question his candidacy.”

The third offered hope to the GOP faithful that “we can be confident in a campaign about issues.”

A fourth bullet point relayed how “undisciplined messaging carries great risk. . . . .”

[F]ifth and final attack point stressed, “His greatest weakness is inexperience. He is not ready to be commander in chief. He is not ready to be president.”

The RNC event also broached taking control of traditionally Democratic issues such as health care, with even Rove stressing a need for Republicans to start addressing the matter. Congressman Calvert described health care as “one of the seminal issues” of the upcoming election and asked, “Are we going to move towards socialized medicine or away from it? Because we can’t move towards the middle.” . . .

“The American people are yearning for leadership,” said Lungren, who represents a Sacramento-area district. “We can win this election. We will win this election. Forget the carping about John McCain not being the perfect conservative. Ronald Reagan wasn’t a perfect conservative, but he was pretty doggone good. I’m not saying John McCain is Ronald Reagan: John McCain is John McCain. But we can win this election.”

“Not ready for prime time” will be at the core of the Republican message. Can Democrats convince Americans that the impulse for change trumps experience? That message has worked for Obama in the primaries to date; will it work in the broad spectrum of the American public? The 2008 General Election may hinge on the answer to that one simple question. For the moment, Sen. McCain has already opened with the GOP script, calling Obama’ candidacy an “eloquent but empty call for change[.]"

Right wing media opinion makers are already opening the attack and State Senator Kirk Watson, Sen. Obama’s representative in Texas stumbles badly. Chris Matthews, NBC’s Hardball, asks Senator Watson to name any legislative accomplishments of Obama. Senator Watson is simply unable to answer. Watch the answer at the hyperlink below:

Hardball

_____________________________________________

UPDATED: FEB 17, 2008

Congressional Democrats finally moved on two fronts this week – demonstrating principled opposition to Republicans.

First, Democrats failed to accede to Bush’s public scolding that permitting FISA to expire this past Friday would expose America to increased terrorist threats. Keith Olbermann delivers the best analysis and commentary of Bush’s threat and the Congressional Democrat response. It is a must view for all Democrats:

Second, the US House voted to hold Harriet Miers and Joshua Bolten in contempt of Congress for their refusal to testify:

On a 223 to 32 vote, the House approved contempt citations against White House Chief of Staff Joshua B. Bolten and former White House counsel Harriet E. Miers over their refusal to cooperate with an investigation into the mass firings of U.S. attorneys and allegations that administration officials sought to politicize the Justice Department. . . .

Democrats said they were left with no choice but to engage in a legal showdown with Bush because he has refused for nearly a year to allow any current or former West Wing staff member to testify in the inquiry. Citing executive privilege, the president has offered their testimony on the condition that it is taken without transcripts and not under oath.

"This is beyond arrogance. This is hubris taken to the ultimate degree," Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in the closing moments of the debate.

The administration immediately condemned the House action, noting that no White House official has ever been cited for contempt. "This action is unprecedented, and it is outrageous. It is also an incredible waste of time -- time the House should spend doing the American people's legislative business," White House press secretary Dana Perino said in a statement.

The message for Ms. Perino – Democrats were about the people’s legislative business. The important business of establishing that not even the Executive Branch of government is above the law.

After a year of static approval ratings, there are signs Bush’s approval ratings appear to be headed down again. Two February polls; CNN/Opinion Research and AP-Ipsos start Bush’s monthly approval average at 31%, down from January’s 32.33%. A 31% approval rating suggests Bush is losing some margin of his Republican support.

Two polls do not “make” a trend. At least six more polls will be needed to gage the true direction of Bush’s polling numbers.

Yet, related polling supports the possibility Bush is headed down again. Consumer confidence is falling. The ABC Comfort Index denotes a sour public mood:

The NBC/ Wall Street Journal Poll finds those who believe America is headed in the right direction at historic lows.

With consumer confidence falling and citizens angry over the direction of the country, a fall in Bush’s approval ratings appears logical. At TPJ, we believe that the polling from January and February denote that Bush has resumed his downward spiral.

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Bill McInturff (R). Jan. 20-22, 2008. N=1,008 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.1.
.
"All in all, do you think things in the nation are generally headed in the right direction, or do you feel that things are off on the wrong track?"
.
		Right Direction	Wrong Track	Mixed (vol.)	Unsure
		%	%	%	%
	1/20-22/08	19	68	10	3
	12/14-17/07	22	63	13	2
	11/1-5/07	21	67	9	3
	9/7-10/07	25	63	9	3
	7/27-30/07	19	67	11	3
	6/8-11/07	19	68	11	2

TPJ'S BUSH WATCH
TPJ'S BUSH WATCH
		Approve	Trail Mo	Disapprove	No Opinion	Spread

	2008

AP-Ipsos	2/4-6/08	30		66	4	-36
CNN/Opinion Research	2/1-3/08	32		67	1	-35



	February Avg	31.00	-1.33	66.50	2.50	-35.50

	January Avg	32.33	-1.12	63.13	4.47	-30.80

	2007
	December Avg	33.45	0.85	61.82	4.45	-28.36
	November Avg	32.60	-0.50	61.81	5.59	-29.21
	October Avg	33.10	-0.07	60.90	5.90	-27.80
	September Avg	33.17	1.17	61.75	5.17	-28.58
	August Avg	32.00	1.58	61.67	6.33	-29.33
	July Avg	30.42	-0.43	63.50	6.08	-33.08
	June Avg	30.85	-2.38	63.23	6.00	-32.38
	May Avg	33.22	-1.70	61.33	5.56	-28.11
	April Avg	34.92	1.49	59.92	5.15	-25.00
	March Avg	33.43	-0.24	60.43	6.14	-27.00
	February Avg	33.67	-0.22	60.17	6.08	-26.50
	January Avg	33.89	-1.61	61.61	4.83	-27.70

	2006
	December Avg	35.50	-0.93	59.25	5.42	-23.75
	November Avg	36.43	-1.07	58.00	5.50	-21.57
	October Avg	37.50	-3.42	57.11	5.36	-19.61
	September Avg	40.92	2.64	54.23	4.77	-13.31
	August Avg	38.29	0.59	57.14	4.64	-18.86
	July Avg	37.70	0.49	56.40	5.90	-18.70