House Appropriations Defense subcommittee Chairman John Murtha (D-Pa.) said Monday that he expects that Republican lawmakers will begin abandoning President Bush's Iraq policy after the GOP picks a presidential candidate next year. "As soon as the primaries are over, you'll see Republicans start jumping ship," Murtha said in remarks at the National Press Club.Murtha also is predicting that Democrats will pick up 40 to 50 seats in the House next year. To put his predictions in context, might I remind readers that Murtha, one year ago, was predicting that by this time (September '07) we would have surrendered in Iraq and our troops would be "redeploying" to areas outside of Iraq where we could provide "quick response" strikes on terrorists -- from bases as close as Okinawa, Japan, 4899 miles away.
I believe that Murtha's predictions this year are also in error. Iraq will be in play next year, but will be more of a problem in the general electorate for Democrats than Republicans. And with Congressional approval lower with a Democratic Congress than it ever was with a Republican one, I don't think you'll be seeing any Democrat landslide in '08. What are the Dems going to do, run against themselves? (Oh wait, there's MoveOn.org...)
If (a big if) Republicans clean up their act and pledge fiscal conservatism under new leadership, I think that the Senate will remain in the Democrats' control, but the House might switch again. If Iraq is going particularly well, however, that might change - Republicans could win the Senate as well. All bets are off if the Republicans continue to act like idiots. I think that the House Republicans have, for the most part, learned their lessons. The Republicans in the Senate, as of yet, have not learned theirs (as evidenced by Larry Craig and Ted Stevens), and might not until after 2008.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. The math is still on the Demcorats side in the 2008 Senate race. The GOP has over 20 Senate seats to defend (the Dems have about half that and they are more rock solid), and Virginia will be in play with John Warner's retirement and Democrat Mark Warner running.
AS to the presidency, who knows? We have had 8 years of a conservative Republican president, and people like a change of direction, a fresh face, etc after that much time. Who that is in either party I am not certain.
David S. at 3:29PM on Sep 17th 2007
2. "Iraq will be in play next year, but will be more of a problem in the general electorate for Democrats than Republicans."
I can envision the following as a GOP platform -
'After five years, we are finally getting it right in Iraq.'
That'll be a sure winner.
vegastracon at 3:42PM on Sep 17th 2007
3. With the Iraqi war's slow progress being a thorn on the side of republicans, if there suddenly drastice positive changes there it will turn the tables to the right. I may vote Democratic for domestic problems neglected by the republicans but if I see Ron Paul being the Rep nominee for Pres, I may vote for him. I just don't like the Dems candidates and the others are just like Bush.
David McCool at 8:18PM on Sep 17th 2007
4. With positive news from Iraq for some time now and General Petraeus positive report to Congress Democrats are smart enough not to push the 47 "Blue Dog" Democrats on leaving Iraq and end up with more egg on thier face.
So Jack Murtha will shake his fist and exclaim
"wait till next year" while he and Democrats wait for a down turn in the war to make their move.
"In last years election, Democrats made hay with the claim that Bush and his fellow Republicans "won't admit when they're wrong." That resonated with many voters, and helped give Democrats control of Congress.
Today, with America winning in Iraq and Democrats in denial, it looks like they're the ones who won't
face the facts."
THE TURNING POINT
IBD 9-17-07
George Bushs approval rating has moved up in lock step with our success in Iraq three months in a row to 40.2%. Clearly people want us to succeed in Iraq.
Americans may view Democrats pandering to the anti-war crowd for us to leave Iraq as rooting/working hard for us to loose in Iraq so they can win an election in 08.
Good news in Iraq is bad news for Democrats in 08.
Pete at 9:14PM on Sep 17th 2007
5.
"Rowley's report, which includes interviews with candid U.S. soldiers and footage of a military commander handing a Sunni leader a wad of cash, suggests the role of bribery and coercion in building alliances that serve short-term goals in Anbar province, but in the long run deepen a multisided civil war."
http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/62827/
This must be the good news that you are referring to. Bribery. Coercion. Republicans will be able to hold their heads up high come '08. (The higher, the better.)
vegastracon at 11:02AM on Sep 18th 2007