This is really scary considering who sent a tape today
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 President's 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 it's a risky strategy and point
out that such scenarios are "blue sky thinking" that often occurs in
political planning sessions.
"The President's 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 Tuesday's 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. "Everybody's 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 didn't have any popularity left. Overnight tracking polls showed
Kilgore dropped three percentage points after the President's 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, I've 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.
"We've made our bed with these people," admits an aide to House Speaker
Denny Hastert. "Now it's the morning after and the hangover hurts like
hell."
(c) Copyright 2005 by Capitol Hill Blue
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 President's 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 it's a risky strategy and point
out that such scenarios are "blue sky thinking" that often occurs in
political planning sessions.
"The President's 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 Tuesday's 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. "Everybody's 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 didn't have any popularity left. Overnight tracking polls showed
Kilgore dropped three percentage points after the President's 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, I've 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.
"We've made our bed with these people," admits an aide to House Speaker
Denny Hastert. "Now it's the morning after and the hangover hurts like
hell."
(c) Copyright 2005 by Capitol Hill Blue
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