It is easy to spin the results of yesterday by noting that it is normal for the administration's party to lose off year elections and the losses, while dramatic, are clearly in line with the average result over the years. I think that kind of thinking would be a big mistake for Republicans. One reason is that they were not so much defeated by the Democrats as abandoned by their own voters. The party bosses have had a tendency to blame the voters for problems, such as with the anger over immigration. That kind of attitude now could turn potential and former Republican voters off for good, returning the party to its permanenet minority status.
I think the Rumsfeld canning was a good start. Clearly Iraq is the font of most of the administration's problems and he is the face of that war. I don't think it goes far enough however. I think Bush should clean house in his administration. At a minimum, I think Mike Chertoff, the head of Homeland Security should get the axe, if for no other reason making me wait in line and kowtow to moronic screeners and doing nothing about border security.
Attorney General Al Gonzales should also get his walking papers. He has presided over a sleepy department that managed to let the William Jefferson corruption case go quiet before the election, even as they prosecuted and demanded long sentences for two Border Patrol guards who seemed to be just doing their jobs.
Sec. of State Condi Rice has run a sloppy ship. Could anyone name a diplomatic success on her watch? A supposed Russian expert, she has let this most important of relationships turn sour for us.
I could go on, but what's the point? It is vital that voters perceive that the Republicans hear their discontent and pay attention to it. Of course, the "leaders" of the Republicans in the House and Senate should also step down for their slovenly leadership.
Rush Limbaugh made the disturbing observation that Bush may adopt the "rope a dope" strategy for his last two years. Go along with whatever the Democrats want to avoid partisan bickering, as Clinton was perceived to do. No odubt there would an implicit bargain that the Dem's would not pursue impeachment or other aggressive investigations. I know there must be a tremendous temptation for Bush to do just that. He has been soundly repudiated, and he has zero chance of doing anything productive for the rest of his term. Facing impeachment and disgrace is not a pleasant thought. Even Reagan was accused of doing something similar, under the influence of his wife.
I hope Bush has too much backbone and grit to go along with that strategy. It would be totally demoralizing for Republicans and would pretty much doom their hopes in '08. Instead, he should be Commander Adama and rally what is left of his world, get them organized and in fighting shape and ready to battle for the principles that unite the party.
I think the Rumsfeld canning was a good start. Clearly Iraq is the font of most of the administration's problems and he is the face of that war. I don't think it goes far enough however. I think Bush should clean house in his administration. At a minimum, I think Mike Chertoff, the head of Homeland Security should get the axe, if for no other reason making me wait in line and kowtow to moronic screeners and doing nothing about border security.
Attorney General Al Gonzales should also get his walking papers. He has presided over a sleepy department that managed to let the William Jefferson corruption case go quiet before the election, even as they prosecuted and demanded long sentences for two Border Patrol guards who seemed to be just doing their jobs.
Sec. of State Condi Rice has run a sloppy ship. Could anyone name a diplomatic success on her watch? A supposed Russian expert, she has let this most important of relationships turn sour for us.
I could go on, but what's the point? It is vital that voters perceive that the Republicans hear their discontent and pay attention to it. Of course, the "leaders" of the Republicans in the House and Senate should also step down for their slovenly leadership.
Rush Limbaugh made the disturbing observation that Bush may adopt the "rope a dope" strategy for his last two years. Go along with whatever the Democrats want to avoid partisan bickering, as Clinton was perceived to do. No odubt there would an implicit bargain that the Dem's would not pursue impeachment or other aggressive investigations. I know there must be a tremendous temptation for Bush to do just that. He has been soundly repudiated, and he has zero chance of doing anything productive for the rest of his term. Facing impeachment and disgrace is not a pleasant thought. Even Reagan was accused of doing something similar, under the influence of his wife.
I hope Bush has too much backbone and grit to go along with that strategy. It would be totally demoralizing for Republicans and would pretty much doom their hopes in '08. Instead, he should be Commander Adama and rally what is left of his world, get them organized and in fighting shape and ready to battle for the principles that unite the party.
