Monday, October 10, 2005
Republicans feel sting of rejection
This article from the LA Times examines a problem that the Republican party is facing.
The article states that "A confluence of problems that are driving down Bush's public approval ratings — high gas prices, ongoing violence in Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, the ethics problems hounding Rove and GOP congressional leaders — is also making it harder to persuade Republicans to seek Senate seats in 2006, strategists say."
It gives several examples of this happening.
The article goes on to say that Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman has said that he's "'realistic' about the GOP prospects in 2006 and that history was on the Democrats' side — in the sixth year of a two-term presidency, the president's party usually suffers losses in the midterm election."
After Bush's pretty definite victory in the last presidential election, and given the current political climate (and the emphasis on "values" in the U.S.), it seems like the Republican party could assume that their candidates would at least stand a good chance in these races. Instead, members of the party don't even want to be the Republican candidate. They are essentially throwing their hands up in the air.
Do you think this shows a lack of faith in their own leadership or is it foreshadowing a change in political climate?
Also, if this does hold true, and if Democrats earn more seats in the Senate, what will this mean for the last two years of Bush's presidency? It could make things very interesting with the war and other hot topics.
The article states that "A confluence of problems that are driving down Bush's public approval ratings — high gas prices, ongoing violence in Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, the ethics problems hounding Rove and GOP congressional leaders — is also making it harder to persuade Republicans to seek Senate seats in 2006, strategists say."
It gives several examples of this happening.
The article goes on to say that Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman has said that he's "'realistic' about the GOP prospects in 2006 and that history was on the Democrats' side — in the sixth year of a two-term presidency, the president's party usually suffers losses in the midterm election."
After Bush's pretty definite victory in the last presidential election, and given the current political climate (and the emphasis on "values" in the U.S.), it seems like the Republican party could assume that their candidates would at least stand a good chance in these races. Instead, members of the party don't even want to be the Republican candidate. They are essentially throwing their hands up in the air.
Do you think this shows a lack of faith in their own leadership or is it foreshadowing a change in political climate?
Also, if this does hold true, and if Democrats earn more seats in the Senate, what will this mean for the last two years of Bush's presidency? It could make things very interesting with the war and other hot topics.
# posted by Anonymous @ 4:00 PM 
