WP: For One (anonymous) Senate Candidate, R Is Scarlet Letter (amazing!)

[DeepModem Mom]

For One Senate Candidate, the 'R' Is a 'Scarlet Letter'
By Dana Milbank
Tuesday, July 25, 2006; Page A02


A GOP Senate candidate expressed dissent, loudly if anonymously, with the White House, pointing to President Bush's post-Sept. 11 pose with a firefighter and his post-Katrina flyovers as signs of a "disconnect."
(By Doug Mills -- Associated Press)

....The candidate (a Republican in a competitive Senatorial race) gave the luncheon briefing (Monday) to nine reporters from newspapers, magazines and networks under the condition that he be identified only as a GOP Senate candidate....(H)is willingness to speak so critically, if anonymously, about the party he will represent on Election Day points to a growing sense among Republicans that if they are to retain their majorities in Congress, they may have to throw the president under the train in all but the safest, reddest states.

It's not an ideological matter. Even as he berated the president, the candidate allowed that he opposes a pullout from Iraq, agrees with Bush's veto of human embryonic stem cell research, and supports constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage and flag burning....

***

The source of the candidate's anger -- and his anxiety -- is the Iraq war, which he called "the single thread that is weaving through every issue," including high gas prices and the violence in Lebanon. "People want an honest assessment from the administration, and they want to hear the administration admit we thought this, and it didn't happen that way, and -- guess what -- it didn't work, so we're going to try a Plan B."...

***

"In 2001, we were attacked and the president is on the ground, on a mound with his arm around the fireman, symbol of America," he said, between bites of hanger steak and risotto. "In Katrina, the president is at 30,000 feet in an airplane looking down at people dying, living on a bridge. And that disconnect, I think, sums up, for me at least, the frustration that Americans feel."

The response to Katrina was "a monumental failure," he continued. "We became so powerful in our ivory towers, in our gated communities. We forgot that there are poor people." The detachment remained after the storm, he said. "I could see that they weren't getting it, they weren't necessarily clued in. . . . For me, the seminal moment was the (Dubai) port decision."...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/24/AR2006072400953.html

[truthisfreedom]

1. i'm lovin' it! woohoo! 8^D

see that smile? that's me! 8^D

[liberalpragmatist]

2. Who could it be?

Which Republicans are in tight races? There's Chafee (RI), DeWine (OH), Talent (MO), Santorum (PA), Burns (MT) and Allen (VA). It could also be a non-incumbent - McGavick (WA), Kennedy (MN), Corker (TN).

Too conservative to be Chafee. Can't be Santorum, Allen, or Burns. So I'm thinking it's either DeWine, Talent, or one of the three challengers. Maybe McGavick.

[norml]

5. Here's a picture of him, from the press conference.

[grytpype]

10. GONG!

[woodsprite]

31. Looks like Santorum ;) n/t

[UpInArms]

20. It's not No-Talent - he'll keep his arms wrapped around Dimson

on his way to the bottom of the ocean.

[gratuitous]

24. Who could it be?

Joe Lieberman, of course.

Gah! You people just don't think sometimes! :)

[geardaddy]

49. I think it's Mark Kennedy

He's been trying to separate himself from * from the time he announced his candidacy for US Senate. He's already taken the picture of him and * off his website. He's very conservative, and the MN senate race is the hot one, IMO, because of the open seat being vacated by Dayton (D).

[Blue_Tires]

54. i still think it's Chafee

I've met him a couple of times when he wasn't wearing his 'senator' hat and spoke off-the-record....He still comes from an old-school, New England liberal GOP background and he hates bush/inhofe for their environmental policies more than anything...He ALSO has a very close relationship with the Providence Journal and has given closed-door, off-the-record, no-BS interviews before

[liberalpragmatist]

57. I like Chafee, but he should've switched parties

As it is we have no choice but to go for every competitive seat. I'm sure even the Senate Democrats would love to have him if he were willing to switch.

BTW, care to mention some of what he has said off-the-record?

[Blue_Tires]

58. check PM n/t

[saracat]

3. The implication is that it is an incumbant.

It actually might be Santorum.He plays up his Catholicism and the Poe is anti war. And he sure is conservative enough!

[DeepModem Mom]

4. I just edited, removing that the candidate is an incumbent. It's not clear

if he is an incumbent or not. I assumed at first he was, since the lunch was on Capitol Hill.

[saracat]

6. The article itself implies the fact without saying it.

[Sadie5]

7. This might be a Nixonian moment

One by one the GOP turned on Nixon to save their own skins. It too was a slow process. We can only hope.

[depakid]

8. Don't be fooled

Republicans will always be Republicans-

and the Washington Post- until Donald "boy" Graham and his pack of jackals are gone and replaced with people of some integrity will always be the Washington Post.

They'll say anything.

[Zorra]

9. I agree. They'll say anything. Never trust a republican. n/t

[Pierre.Suave]

39. BUT

Kennedy (R-MN) is currently MN's 6th district rep in the house.

[geardaddy]

50. Again, that makes me think it's Kennedy

He's the CD-6 representative from MN, so he would be in DC.

[cally]

51. Does he wear cufflinks?

Not that many men do.

[geardaddy]

52. I wouldn't put it past him.

[grytpype]

12. I'm also thinking Santorum.

Let's get the clues together:

Repug, probably incumbent.
Up for re-election.
Losing big to the Dem challenger (or he wouldn't be talking like this).
Pro-life, anti-science, anti-gay.
Cufflinks match the tie.
Eats risotto, doesn't eat egg yolks.
Too wuss to go on the record.

Sounds like Santorum to me.

And I think Santorum has said in the past he wouldn't want Bush campaigning for him.

[Julius Civitatus]

22. Santorum: too much of a wuss to go on the record

I agree. I think it's clear it's that asshole.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

28. what about arnold spector?

[RFKHumphreyObama]

35. Arlen

And he's not up for re-election until 2010

[ElsewheresDaughter]

44. er....m yeah him too :D...my bad

[auburngrad82]

11. He doesn't have the balls to own up to his opinion. I can't vote for him

That's bullshit that he won't identify himself. It's a ploy to try to distance the Repugs from the Most Hated Man in America.



Liberal bumper stickers

[PurpleChez]

13. Maybe Most Hated Man in the WORLD? Hmm?

I'd bet there's more hate around the world for Preznint Chuckles than for Osama, Hussein, etc. Makes ya proud.

[democrank]

14. This senator should show some real courage.

Drop the anonymous part and step right up to the microphone. The future of this country is a hell of a lot more important than the future of his party.

[JPZenger]

15. Too blunt to be an incumbent

I think the wording is too blunt to be an incumbent. In particular, it is too logical to be Santorum. He didn't bring "man on dog" sex or kissing fetuses into the conversation.

[ourbluenation]

16. I'm saying Hagel...

[warrens]

26. Hagel's not running this year...he comes up in 08

Santorum seems like a good guess. Trying to get some press sympathy. It would narrow things down if we knew what media were there...

[KittyWampus]

45. Yes, but Hagel's running in 08 for POTUS, IMO.

[emanymton]

17. In Virginia, The GOP Candidate For Governor, George Allen ...

does not mention his party in TV ads being aired in Winchester.

[BonnieJW]

33. Allen is too dumb for this interview

He's just like *. He can only recite talking points ad nauseum. A thoughtful response? He can't spell that.

[onenote]

56. uhh,Allen is candidate for Senate, not Governor

[emanymton]

63. Thank You. I Stand Corrected. I Meant To Say Senate.

[Demeter]

18. OR--THe GOP Could Impeach and Convict Bush and Co

of multiple crimes against the State, and become legends in their own time, heroes of the nation, and REALLY make the Democrats look bad!


Nah, it will never happen. Too much fear of blowback, probably justified.

[rodeodance]

19. at lest this was not on the front page!-(as news).

[ima_sinnic]

21. dumb@$$ coward. if the Iraq war were "popular" he'd be all for it.

Since he's a candidate he WILL have to reveal his identity, otherwise how could anyone vote for him. DUH. I'm sure he didn't have any problem kissing *'s butt the several times the budget for the Iraq War came up for a vote, or any of *'s other failures--if he's so aggrieved about the Katrina response, and about * "on the ground with his arm around a fireman," why didn't he speak up then? Because he is a cowardly little putz who doesn't even have the guts to reveal his identity. Here is a person with no "personal barometer" of right and wrong. He's not against the war because people are dying needlessly and incomprehensible suffering is being unnecessarily inflicted on millions of humans--only because it is unpopular with the voters.

Will you now, "Senator X," spearhead the impeachment drive?

major yawn.

[samfishX]

23. I'm guess it's

DeWine.
After all, Santorum's race is hardly what you could call competitive at this point. He's down by what?- 30 points or so?
Mike Dewine fits, though. The Ohio race is mighty competitive and he's shown a willingness in the past to come out against his own party...albeit ratherlightly.

It could also be Conrad Burns...but he seems like he's a bit to loyal to the cause, to me.
...although that could be what prompted him to take such a cowardly move.

Republicans- party before country. This interview seems to prove that more than ever, IMO.

[yellowcanine]

25. They emphasized Senate "candidate", I am guessing not a sitting Senator.

A Senate candidate from a Northeast state? Say, New Jersey? Maryland?

[PaDem]

29. I think it's an incumbent............

Frist popping in is a strong indication.

[yellowcanine]

67. Nope, it is Steele of Maryland. It was in the WP this morning

[yellowcanine]

68. We need a scarlet R campaign for Steele........

Now that we know that Steele is the "Scarlet R" candidate, Maryland Democrats ought to mount a scarlet R campaign. We could have a bunch of scarlet R badges made up and show up at Steele events wearing them. Get some big scarlet Rs made up and stick them on his campaign signs around the state, etc. Mail post cards to his campaign with a big scarlet R next Steele's name. You get the idea.

[wake.up.america]

27. There is too much talk about what"s good for the different parties. How

talking about what is good for the the average citizen?

People running for office should get it into people"s heads that the future of America is at stake.

[eggplant]

30. Just wait to see who gets bitch slapped

Just because we don't know who it was doesn't mean the White House doesn't know. Watch and wait to see who publicly falls in line.

[DeepModem Mom]

32. We can assume Frist knows. The article says...

he was also at the restaurant, and came by the table.

[kestrel91316]

34. "Forgot" there were poor people? FORGOT??????

"We became so powerful in our ivory towers, in our gated communities. We forgot that there are poor people."

There's no "forgot" going on. They simply don't CARE about poor people. Their attitude toward them is: You're poor? Tough shit. Must be because you're lazy, or not one of God's favorites.

[meganmonkey]

36. Seriously, man

that's the sentence that stood out for me too.

What a disgusting load of shit. I don't care if this Senator really thinks Bush is a chump or is just covering his ass, but this is just another elitist load of shit IMO. Is that his attempt to seem compassionate? Jeeeee-sus!


:puke:

[Wednesdays]

59. Yeah, and they suddenly remembered there are poor people

when they saw their poll numbers. Some compassion.

[proud2BlibKansan]

37. What a typical selfish repukelican

Blame anyone other than your own damn self for your problems.

This was my favorite line from the article:

He spoke of his party affiliation as though it were a congenital defect rather than a choice.

Doesn't that just say it all??? What a friggin idiot.

[PennyK]

38. Watch for Milbank on "Countdown" tonight!

If, hopefully, Keith is on tonight (had yesterday off). Dania Milbank is a frequent guest on his show...and I can just see Keith teasing him about this article.

[Pierre.Suave]

40. I am telling you guys

It may very well be Mark Kennendy (R-MN) currently the rep for MN's 6th District, and running for senate this fall.

[myrna minx]

41. Kennedy doesn't have any sense of compassion for anyone

so I doubt it. Although, he's has been trying to pretend that he is some sort of "independent thinker" LOL! but he doesn't strike me as one who would be reflective at all.

[Pierre.Suave]

43. re-election

concerns will make these guys do strange things.

[myrna minx]

46. Ain't that the truth.

:hi:

[genieroze]

42. anonymously, whadda pussbag.

[Pierre.Suave]

47. arent they all?

seriously.

[Jacobin]

48. I know. I know who it is:

Lieberman.

:-)

[theanarch]

53. It's Steele...the black Repub from...

...Maryland...open seat, competative race; probably a snazzy dresser, close to DC; cynical enough to generally toe the GOP line; scared enough to start distancing himself...just a guess, but it wouldn't surprise...

[DeepModem Mom]

55. YOU ARE RIGHT! SABRA HAS POSTED THIS THREAD --

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2412788

(As of now, it's been locked as a dupe.)

[theanarch]

60. I WON! I WON! I WON!....

...so, what's my prize and where do i go to claim it?

[tanyev]

61. How about a nice square of applause?

:applause: :applause:
:applause: :applause:

[DeepModem Mom]

62. Hmmmm. I asked over in GD for ideas. You deserve a prize!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1731221

[PassingFair]

64. What you mean WE, Republican Man?

"We became so powerful in our ivory towers, in our gated communities. We forgot that there are poor people."

Delusions of grandeur.

Ivory towers.....:puke:

[stevietheman]

65. The article gave me an idea for a new Democratic ad to play this fall...

A short five-second spot peppered throughout the TV schedule, with bold white lettering over a black background.

Using alternating voices to read the text for each spot, the voice and the text will say:

"You aren't voting Republican, are you?"

[leesa]

66. Well, he may as well own up to him, he's just as stupid as Bush is.

[Synnical]

69. GOP Candidate Says Criticism Was a Joke

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/07/26/politics/p123541D70.DTL&type=politics

(07-26) 13:23 PDT Annapolis, Md. (AP) --

Republican Senate candidate Michael Steele on Wednesday called President Bush his "homeboy," reversed course on having the president campaign for him and said he was joking when he described his Republican affiliation as a scarlet letter.

The Maryland lieutenant governor, under fire for his comments, told WBAL radio that his remarks were supposed to be off the record with a handful of reporters. Instead, Steele's campaign confirmed Tuesday that he was the unnamed Senate candidate who had assailed the Bush administration and Republican-controlled Congress in a story in The Washington Post.

"I've been quoted as calling the president my homeboy, you know. And that's how I feel. ... It's a term of affection and respect for his leadership of our country in a difficult time," Steele, who is black, said in the radio interview.

The Post quoted the unnamed candidate as saying the GOP-controlled Congress should "just shut up and get something done," that the Iraq war "didn't work" and "we didn't prepare for the peace," that the response to Hurricane Katrina was "a monumental failure of government," and that "there's a palpable frustration right now in the country."