NYT: Rallied by Bush, Skittish G.O.P. Now Embraces War as Issue

Rallied by Bush, Skittish G.O.P. Now Embraces War as Issue
By JIM RUTENBERG and ADAM NAGOURNEY
Published: June 22, 2006

WASHINGTON, June 21 — Just a few weeks ago, some Republicans were openly fretting about the war in Iraq and its effect on their re-election prospects, with particularly vulnerable lawmakers worried that its growing unpopularity was becoming a drag on their campaigns.

But there was little sign of such nervousness on Wednesday as Republican after Republican took to the Senate floor to offer an unambiguous embrace of the Iraq war and to portray Democrats as advocates of an overly hasty withdrawal that would have grave consequences for the security of the United States. Like their counterparts in the House last week, they accused Democrats of espousing "retreat and defeatism."

That emerging Republican approach reflects, at least for now, the success of a White House effort to bring a skittish party behind Mr. Bush on the war after months of political ambivalence in some vocal quarters. As President Bush offered another defense of his Iraq policy during a visit to Vienna on Wednesday, Republicans acknowledged that it was a strategy of necessity, an effort to turn what some party leaders had feared could become the party's greatest liability into an advantage in the midterm elections.

The approach might yet be upended by more problems in Iraq, as Republicans were reminded this week with reports about two American servicemen who were abducted, tortured and apparently killed. Some polls show a majority of Americans continue to think that entering Iraq was a mistake, and pollsters say independent voters are particularly open to the idea of setting some sort of timetable for withdrawal, the very policy Democrats have embraced and Republicans are now fighting.

But people who attended a series of high-level meetings this month between White House and Congressional officials say President Bush's aides argued that it could be a politically fatal mistake for Republicans to walk away from the war in an election year....

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/22/washington/22capital.html?hp&ex=1151035200&en=23087ca8c839a956&ei=5094&partner=homepage

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2691174

That Nagourney sure is a "gem," isnt he.

and that's why I won't read the article.

Ad Nags makes Göebbels look like a tenth stringer on a cheap tabloid.

But this time, the slick bastard won't slide.:nopity:

I love the smell of desperation in the morning.

After they steal the election this year, they will claim the pro-war vote put them over the top (and the anti-gay values crowd). That convenient excuse will give them cover to conduct whatever operations they want.

allow that to happen again.

I have a feeling more then a few of them may not make it to Nov anyway and many of them will be too busy defending themselves in court, to have much time for politics.

I love to see them this flustered and flip-flopping like mad.

Boy, this country is surely in deep doo-doo, when people will willingly hang with the republican operatives, even when their children are being killed and maimed. It's as if there is a cheering section rooting: More, more, more, we love you Bush; anything you want is all right with us. Keep hopping around in Air Force One at taxpayer's expense to attend you $1,000.00 a plate rallies; and lying to us.
The more horrible things this administration does, the more they are rewarded.

I've reached a point where I think the democrats should quit trying to help Bush out of his self-made
mess, and let them all stew in their own juice. People like that eventually self destruct, if they are
left alone. It's too bad they hate poor people so much; and turned down a meager raise in the minimum wage. That is absolutely shameful. "Family Values" do not exist in the republican party.It's just a catchy phrase to further their agenda.

I despise this unnecessary war, and all those who lied their way into it for political purposes. As long
as they are raking in millions of dollars each day from their oil, no-bid contracts, and stocking their
weapons of mass destruction to deceive us, and justify the war; these fascists will keep this senseless
quagmire going on forever and loving every minute of it, and their loyal "followers will just keep up their rooting him on."

:thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: