Did the Republicans get any political advantage with FMA?

[drumwolf]

The defeat of the gay marriage amendment would not, by itself, necessarily mean that the GOP didn't get what they wanted. I don't think anyone, including Bush and the senators pushing the FMA, seriously believed that the amendment would actually pass. I think they were trying to milk some sort of political gain from it even if it didn't pass (i.e. mobilizing their wingnut fundie base).

So my question is, do you think the GOP gained any political advantage at all from pushing this issue? Or do you think it hurt them more than it helped? It seems like they sure did not get a BIG victory from this whole episode, but I'm hearing mixed interpretations over whether they got any political advantage at all.

[Walt Starr]

1. It's helping a bit to solidify their religiously insane base

but it is also turning off the middle. Net outcome is a few less votes but a solid base.

[seabeyond]

10. downside, the second run around, the first this spring

got a handful more of people think about this proposition in messing with constitution and adding discrimination to it. and really who cares what the gays do and how foolish to see the far religious yelling it is the end of the world, ect. i feel this is how they naturaly make their bad decisions. they allowed it in front in spring then dropped it. allowed mess of bush and war and economy to allow us to feel less about these people, then they bring it to our attention once again.

personally i am thinking it is just softening and conditioning the people to say screw it, who cares, lets gays marry nothing to do with me. and the country is a mess and this is what they give us

i think strongly this hurt them, and hurt them bad.

[judge_smales]

2. Yup.

To the far-right wingnuts they look great. They bravely stood for what is right. If only those meddling Dim-O-Rats and Lie-berals hadn't interfered!!

[drumwolf]

11. don't you mean "Democraps" rather than "Dim-O-Rats"?

After all, that's how Bob Boudelang spells it.

:D

[No Mandate Here.]

3. Sanatorium and his Holy Cabal got

the names of quite a few people to demonize- in the Senate and elsewhere. Even Auth's cartoon this mormning showed an interesting take on Kerry and his stance...

<>

[gratuitous]

4. I don't think so

They might have solidified the insane wing of their base, but a lot of people just don't give much of a rip about the issue. However, this does allow Kerry and Edwards, if they so choose, to make a big deal about how three precious legislative days were consumed in this pointless, doomed debate. Surely there are other, more pressing issues (box turtles notwithstanding) that the Senate could have taken up in those three days?

I'll give you a f'rinstance or two: The federal deficit; cost of the Iraq invasion; the critical shortage of military manpower; health crisis of the uninsured; low income housing; and clean air regulations. Those are just for starters.

[readmylips]

7. Preaching to the religious wingnuts...bunch of ignorants...

Bushco are afraid some of those religious will turn away from voting for repigs. Those religious wingnuts are poor, lack education, and maybe out of work. The only ones wanting bush are the rich tele-evangelicals. They steal money from the poor.

Bush has been staging rallies in states where repigs are the majority and will (maybe not) already vote for him. He's in trouble if he needs to spend so much money on people he already has in his pocket.

[drumwolf]

8. are you serious?

You sure these are SOLIDLY red states and not potential swing states? If this is true, it's certainly a hopeful sign.

I've heard speculation that the GOP believes there is a SUBSTANTIAL number of fundies who did not vote for Bush and could potentially swing the election to him. It's certainly a gamble, and I would most certainly hope a losing one.

[calico1]

5. They do as far as the wingnut base is concerned

And that was the whole intent of bringing up the vote. To impress the religious wackos. It was not intended to attract swing voters.

[splat]

6. investment in friendly faces somewhere

He can tell those who really really care about this, "I tried." It will grease the skids for friendlier welcomes by them down the trail.

But he's lost Andrew Sullivan and, as the Ohio focus group said,

''There are more important topics that ought to be discussed way before this,'' says William Pant, 36, a graphic designer and undecided voter. Heads nod around the table.

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

9. They probably shored up their base...but no impact w. swing voters.

This was a vote for the base.

Swing voters dont really care that much about this...they think it should be left to the states.

[BillZBubb]

12. Yes, I think it will help them in the general election.

Because now they've got an excuse to fire up the base and get this crap on state ballots. That will bring the roaches to the polls in droves in November. Even if they were starting to waver on Bush*, now they've got a mission.

I think it will help send several toss up states to Shrub--this and Diebold.