Republican Attack Dogs, Muzzled

[Excaliber]

The Republicans are broke. They don't even have enough money to fund the campaign of a single party member.

Many prominent groups and privates citizens (like T. Boone Pickens) are sitting this one out. Pickens, for example, wrote a 7 figure check some years ago to help the Republicans, not this time. He's putting his money on bi-partisan efforts now. Some contributors don't want to be associated with efforts that could back-fire and cast them in a bad light. As happened to some with the "Swift Boat" attacks on Kerry.

McCain himself was critical of many of these so called "Attack Dog" groups and now they're asking, "Why should we stick our neck out for him?" McCain is the supposed Republican candidate for the next POTUS election at this point.

To date no group has come forth with an anti-Obama campaign (CC being a notable acception on that front ). There are some anti Obama books coming out soon, as well as some pro-Obama books, could be a draw (on the Obama side, crayons if you like to color instead of draw).

On balance, the Democrats are also seeing a decline in funding for these private attack dog groups. All though no where near the deficit Republicans are running. Some speculation is that the Obama money machine is so well oiled all ready there is little need to feed these independant groups.

The 527 groups can take unlimited donations so all it would take is a few BIG checks and they could be up and running in no time. So far, that hasn't happened, (all though rumor has it the Gasholes may come to the rescue by donating several BNL series cars).

[Jamo]

Ernie...what's the source?

[Excaliber]

I first saw a "blurb" about it on Fox, but I'm not real keen on them for a source so I Googled it and found a bunch of articles. I kind of liked this one best and paraphrased parts and pieces therein.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/42490.html

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

... I kind of liked this one best and paraphrased parts and pieces therein.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/42490.html

Jeez... "...Posted on Sunday, June 29, 2008"

A little stale, eh?

[Excaliber]

From the additional sources it appears that nothing has changed from the date of the article I cited! I did read a number of articles on this issue and just thought the one cited was the clearest and easiest to understand. The most recent piece concerning this subject is currently Fox, reads pretty much the same...

[Jamo]

Hmmmm...so op pieces now constitute hard news?

[Excaliber]

Eh eh, good point, I thought it was interesting. But I'm not sure how big of a roll these 527's play in the big picture?

All though, the Swift Boat group proved to be remarkably effective, so you can't rule them out.

Here's the Fox news link:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010...election-bids/

[Jamo]

You're thinking tactics remain constant.

It's a mid-term election...money is going to go with district and state congressional races.

[Excaliber]

I do plead guilty of "sensationalism" though using this opening line, without actually crossing the line.

The Republicans are broke.

Perhaps after the mid terms the 527's will start getting those big checks? It could happen...

[joyridin']

I personally think the last "x" years have really awaken some people to the reality of our government. We had 8 years or so of spending by the repubs while they were telling us they are the fiscal responsibility party, then the dems get elected, and they just continue on.

People want decent jobs, less spending, a little help from the government when needed, and some representation in Washington...nothing of which they are getting now or have been getting.

[Ron61]

I think that Ernie just discovered that his dogs are Democrats. They sit around all day waiting to be petted, fed, taken outside, and pampered. In return they try to find ways to get out of his yard to see if the neighbor will give them any more.

Ron

[Dan40]

Ernie's liberal Utopian dreaming extends to election prognostication. When has a party controlled both houses and the White House not suffered in the mid terms? And right now Congress is under Democrat Dictatorship and has an approval rating of 27% by liberal pollsters and as low as 17% by more conservative pollsters.

Incumbents facing re-election in districts where there is any evidence of a brain cell are dead meat rotting in the sun. Even some of the Pelosi Posse are putting down their bongs long enough to wonder who she is and should she be elected or committed.

[BeanCounter]

Damn, it's so cold her in KC I saw a group of Jackson County Democrats standing around with their hands in their own pockets for a change.

[Excaliber]

I am left wondering if support for the Repub party is slipping or folks are just tired of an all out negative campaign style? While negative campaigning usually winds up getting some bad press, I've heard it is also a very effective tool. It leaves that lingering doubt, plants that seed and all the while we condem it's tactics we can't help but wonder, "What if it's true?"

The field is "target rich" when it comes to those associated with Obama, but no one has gained any real traction on the attack side, yet. Doesn't look like it will happen with the mid term elections (a major negative campaign), still time to "hope" for the POTUS election. If McCain run's again it won't happen, he's made it pretty clear he want's a basically clean fight. That could be his undoing, actually...

Bernie, that's a classic funny.

[Dan40]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

I am left wondering if support for the Repub party is slipping or folks are just tired of an all out negative campaign style? While negative campaigning usually winds up getting some bad press, I've heard it is also a very effective tool. It leaves that lingering doubt, plants that seed and all the while we condem it's tactics we can't help but wonder, "What if it's true?"

The field is "target rich" when it comes to those associated with Obama, but no one has gained any real traction on the attack side, yet. Doesn't look like it will happen with the mid term elections (a major negative campaign), still time to "hope" for the POTUS election. If McCain run's again it won't happen, he's made it pretty clear he want's a basically clean fight. That could be his undoing, actually...

Bernie, that's a classic funny.

Do you get your info from the "FAIRY TALE BOOK OF POLITICS?" Or you just grab at any straw or make up imaginary scenarios to avoid reality. The pres is under 50% in approval, not running for office in 2010. But he will be no help to those seeking new terms. Congress, Democrat controlled, is as low in approval as they've ever been, and the power party always loses in mid terms. Plus the recent elections should have sent you a reality check. But I'm sure you only saw how the Republicans screwed up in a minor NY district. You didn't notice that the Dems lost 2 major Govenorships, that they fully expected to and historically win.
Going in to the 2010 elections, the Democrats will have to explain:

1.The STIMULUS, a monumental bad piece of expensive and ineffective partisan pork legislation.
AND
2. Probably the Health INSURANCE bill. Already destined to be the absolute worst, most expensive, and ineffective legislation ever by a wide margin.

There WAS near universal agreement that some health CARE reform was needed. Instead the Democrats in a 100% partisan manner try to take control of the insurance industry while only addressing health CARE by deciding to rob Peter to pay Paul. Peter being ALL taxpayers and all those presently covered by any health care program now.

[Bartruff1]

I don't think the Republican's are even a national party, mostly a rural southern party...if history is any guide...the Democrates are likely to lose 20 or so seats in the house and 3-5 in the Senate....the fact is that 95% of incumbents are re elected if they choose to run. I remember Sam Rayburn (sp?) telling Landslide Lyndon Johnson that he had a job for life unless he was caught in bed with a live boy or a dead girl and even that low bar has been lowered. Looks to me that by 2012 Obama will have the economy smoking...the deficit will be in decline ....he will be out of Iraq and damn near out of Afpak...the guy is way to smart for his opponents...

[Excaliber]

The problem is, as bad as Obama might look and as dim as it appears to be for the Dem's (a target rich environment) the Repub's STILL need a game plan to win. Mid term or long term. I'm left wondering what IS the Repub game plan? They can't win just counting on the Dems to loose, it's going to take more than that.

They've got to rally at some point. OK, so were only in the first quarter, half time coming up fast. What's the call Coach? Uh, well, ya see, uh, OK, you guys go hard right and...

[Bartruff1]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

The problem is, as bad as Obama might look and as dim as it appears to be for the Dem's (a target rich environment) the Repub's STILL need a game plan to win. Mid term or long term. I'm left wondering what IS the Repub game plan? They can't win just counting on the Dems to loose, it's going to take more than that.

They've got to rally at some point. OK, so were only in the first quarter, half time coming up fast. What's the call Coach? Uh, well, ya see, uh, OK, you guys go hard right and...

Strong National Defense... low taxes.. small and efficient goverment....balanced budgets...tort reform....etc... what they don't have because of the last ten years is any credability or any calm reasonable spokesperson.. the media just covers the screwballs...the country needs a Republican Party... the God/Guns/Gays bunch should form their own Christian Right Party and run on the so called social issues.....I happen to be pro life and believe that life begins at conception and that the state has a responsibility to protect that life....BUT, give it a rest, Abortion is never going to be illegal and neither will guns. I am tired of the black helicopter gang...

[Dan40]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

The problem is, as bad as Obama might look and as dim as it appears to be for the Dem's (a target rich environment) the Repub's STILL need a game plan to win. Mid term or long term. I'm left wondering what IS the Repub game plan? They can't win just counting on the Dems to loose, it's going to take more than that.

They've got to rally at some point. OK, so were only in the first quarter, half time coming up fast. What's the call Coach? Uh, well, ya see, uh, OK, you guys go hard right and...

Political campaigning has long been characterized by mud slinging and negativity. It should NOT be that way, but it IS that way.
What can the Democrats say? "The Republicans haven't done anything to help?"

The Republicans can say, "That's right, we haven't done anything to waste Trillions of Dollars and raise taxes for bad bills!"

Right now 80% of the population do not approve of what Congress is doing. And 100% of the disapproved doing is Democrat doing.

Democrat losses are assured, current events and history say so. IF the Republicans had a good strategy and mounted a strong and viable campaign they could wrest control of both houses from the Dems. But that is very unlikely. Dems will keep shooting themselves in the foot with howitzers and lose total control while Repubs shoot themselves with pellet guns and gain some seats by default.

There is NO issue of Republicans being bad and Democrats being 'good.' Both are bad, Democrats, holding the power get the most blame. Republicans gain just by avoiding a major mistake.[Which they are fully capable of making!]

[Excaliber]

There is certainly no question we need both parties. If the Repub's either split or by default just don't get their act together we really are going to be in trouble on a National scale. Third party won't have snow balls chance in hell in making any significant gain. That's about as likely as a black man being elected, oh wait,,,

No, seriously third party won't go anywhere, it would just divide but not conquer.