From Capitol Hill Blue
FUBAR GOP memo touts new terror attack as way to reverse party's
decline By DOUG THOMPSON Publisher, Capitol Hill
Blue Nov 10, 2005, 06:19
A confidential memo circulating among senior Republican leaders
suggests that a new attack by terrorists on U.S. soil could reverse the
sagging fortunes of President George W. Bush as well as the GOP and
"restore his image as a leader of the American people."
The closely-guarded memo lays out a list of scenarios to bring the
Republican party back from the political brink, including a devastating
attack by terrorists that could validate the Presidents war on terror
and allow Bush to unite the country in a time of national shock and
sorrow.
The memo says such a reversal in the President's fortunes
could keep the party from losing control of Congress in the 2006 midterm
elections.
GOP insiders who have seen the memo admit its a risky strategy and
point out that such scenarios are blue sky thinking that often occurs in
political planning sessions.
The Presidents popularity was at an all-time high following the 9/11
attacks, admits one aide. Americans band together at a time of
crisis.
Other Republicans, however, worry that such a scenario carries high
risk, pointing out that an attack might suggest the President has not done
enough to protect the country.
We also have to face the fact that many Americans no longer trust the
President, says a longtime GOP strategist. That makes it harder for him
to become a rallying point.
The memo outlines other scenarios, including:
--Capture of Osama bin Laden (or proof that he is dead);
--A drastic turnaround in the economy;
--A "successful resolution" of the Iraq war.
GOP memos no longer talk of victory in Iraq but use the term
successful resolution.
A successful resolution would be us getting out intact and civil war
not breaking out until after the midterm elections, says one insider.
The memo circulates as Tuesdays disastrous election defeats have left
an already dysfunctional White House in chaos, West Wing insiders say,
with shouting matches commonplace and the blame game escalating into open
warfare.
This place is like a high-school football locker room after the team
lost the big game, grumbles one Bush administration aide. Everybodys
pissed and pointing the finger at blame at everybody else.
Republican gubernatorial losses in Virginia and New Jersey deepened
rifts between the Bush administration and Republicans who find the
President radioactive. Arguments over whether or not the President should
make a last-minute appearance in Virginia to try and help the sagging
campaign fortunes of GOP candidate Jerry Kilgore raged until the minute
Bush arrived at the rally in Richmond Monday night.
Cooler heads tried to prevail, one aide says. Most knew an
appearance by the President would hurt Kilgore rather than help him but
(Karl) Rove rammed it through, convincing Bush that he had enough
popularity left to make a difference.
Bush didnt have any popularity left. Overnight tracking polls showed
Kilgore dropped three percentage points after the Presidents appearance
and Democrat Tim Kaine won on Tuesday.
Conservative Pennsylvania
Republican Senator Rick Santorum told radio talk show host Don Imus
Wednesday that he does not want the President's help and will stay away
from a Bush rally in his state on Friday.
The losses in Virginia and New Jersey, coupled with a resounding defeat
of ballot initiatives backed by GOP governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in
California have set off alarm klaxons throughout the demoralized
Republican party. Pollsters privately tell GOP leaders that unless
they stop the slide they could easily lose control of the House in the
2006 midterm elections and may lose the Senate as well.
In 30 years of sampling public opinion, Ive never seen such a
freefall in public support, admits one GOP pollster.
Democratic
pollster Geoffrey Garin says the usual tricks tried by Republicans no
longer work.
"None of their old tricks worked," he says.
Rep. Thomas M. Davis
III (R-Va.) admits the GOP is a party mired in its rural base in a country
that's becoming less and less rural.
"You play to your rural base, you pay a price," he says. "Our issues
blew up in our face."
As Republican political strategists scramble to find a message any
message that will ring true with voters, GOP leaders in Congress admit
privately that control of their party by right-wing extremists makes their
recovery all but impossible.
Weve made our bed with these people, admits an aide to House Speaker
Denny Hastert. Now its the morning after and the hangover hurts like
hell.
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