"RNC Chairman Warns Republicans Of Possible Catastrophe In November..."

[Pirate Smile]

"RNC Chairman Warns Republicans Of Possible Catastrophe In November..."


This is the Front Page of Huffington Post which links to the following:

State of the Parties:

Republicans: RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman met with Republican members of Congress this week to impress upon them just how bad the opinion polls are looking for them, and warning that they face a possible catastrophe in November.

1) This warning contributed to GOP determination to pass a tax reconciliation bill that will extend the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts beyond their current expiration dates at the end of the decade.

2) On Tuesday, Senate Finance Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and House Ways and Means Chairman Bill Thomas (R-Calif.) were supposed to meet with President Bush in the Oval office to discuss the tax bill, which, if passed, will be one of the most important Republican accomplishments of 2006 leading into the midterm elections. But Grassley bowed out, giving the excuse that he had constituents in town from Iowa. Even in the face of disaster, Republicans seem unable to get their act together.

3) Despite all the media coverage given to the issues of immigration and "corruption," polls show that the issue currently concerning voters the most -- even more than immigration -- is the wasteful spending by the Congress. With its vote on Thursday in favor of the rule for the lobby reform bill, the House has taken its first step toward patching up damaged Republican credibility.

4) Republicans will focus in their campaign on the danger of electing Democrats to a majority in Congress. Their catch-word is "dangerous," a word taken from an ill-considered appearance by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) on the Senate floor next to a sign (color-coded to match her outfit) stating "Dangerously Incompetent" in large letters. The Stabenow appearance was meant to highlight the administration's incompetence.

http://www.humaneventsonline.com/enpr/current_enpr.html#1

[tanyev]

1. Duh, Ken, just a couple weeks ago you sent out a memo reminding

them that they are all "Brand W Republicans". That's your catastrophe, buddy.

[rocktivity]

8. Did Mehlman REALLY say that they're "Brand W Republicans"

for cross-your-heart-and-hope-to-die double dog for really really honestly TRUE? Then DON'T DISCOURAGE HIM! Tanyev didn't really mean that, Ken--you're absolutely right. All Republicans should stick to Bush and his policies tighter than Crazy Glue! Who needs religious moderates and political independents when you've got a lock-stepping Bush-worshipping base? Stay the course--you can do it! Go, Ken, go! RAH RAH RAH!


rocknation

[tanyev]

14. He really did.

The memo, obtained by National Journal, insists that rank-and-file Republican voters remain loyal to Bush, so candidates that drive "a wedge between themselves and the President" undermine the party's broader prospects. The van Lohuizen memo also suggests there are real fears within the Republican establishment about depressed Republican turnout running up against elevated turnout from angry Dems, which could be exacerbated by GOP candidates distancing themselves from the Bush White House.

"The President is seen universally as the face of the Republican Party. We are now brand W. Republicans. <…>

"President Bush drives our image and will do so until we have real national front-runners for the '08 nomination. Attacking the President is counter productive for all Republicans, not just the candidates launching the attacks. If he drops, we all drop."
http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/wp-print.php?p=6991

Oh, yeah, I encourage him 100%, too, but I just couldn't resist pointing out the, uh, elephant in the room. :+

[Doctor_J]

2. Possible catastrophe is right

they might still control theh WH, House, Senate, SCOTUS, and media. That would indeed be a catastrophe.

[Zenlitened]

3. What, November? They've been bringing catastrophe to America...

... for years now.

Republicans are destroying America. That's a fact.

[wizdum]

17. True. The criminals have taken over the government and they are stealing..

...anything that isn't nailed down. We are witnessing high crimes with this administration that are just as bad, if not worse than those committed by Nixon.

[otohara]

4. This Would Be A Good Catastrophe

one that the whole world will rejoice! Yeah, America has come back to it's senses.

[robinlynne]

5. This photo is extremely disturbing.

I like your post, and I wouldn't mind dead republicans, but a dead elephant is a terrible thing, and very upsetting.

[Botany]

6. I disagree the photo is great.

It shows thinking and respect for the dead among the elephants. Did you know that they
can talk over 5 miles?

BTW I think that Ken Mehlman see the glass as 1/2 empty but I see it as half full
of bush poison ... just a few drops can kill ..... drink up your repug congresspersons
and senators.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

15. "Disturbing" in seeing the aftermath of that beautiful creature...

slaughtered for its tusks/ivory. But I agree re the "thinking and respect."

[Generic Brad]

25. And don't drink the last third

As Colbert pointed out, that last third is just backwash.

[AtomicKitten]

9. I'd like to see a dead Mehlman

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

11. lions gotta eat

[dusmcj]

7. Don't worry, be happy. nt

[shance]

10. Propaganda. They're not worried about the elections with electronic

voting machines. We are going to have widespread fraud again.

This is an article to make Americans think our elections are actually legitimate.

They won't be legitimate until we as citizens count the votes ourselves. Then and only then will there be the fairest of elections.

[Joe for Clark]

13. We don't have to count them - we have to confirm them,

we have to be able to pick up any fraud attempted - and trace to source.

Like I said, you might fudge 2 points, but that is a world away from cheating 5 or more. And you might be able to cheat in one election, but you can't hope to do that in 400 plus at one time.

I think we need to put big checks on this election - but, frankly - a generic dem congress going into the elections with a 5 or better point lead - I wouldn't care if satan counts the votes - The reason we call it a democracy is because WE decide - and there is a finite limit to cheating - ESPECIALLY WHEN WE REALLY LOOK!!

This country is capable, has been capable of really great - smart decisions as a whole, when we are pushed. WE ARE PUSHED RIGHT NOW. I trust us.

Trust but verify.

We can certainly do that.

Joe

[shance]

22. What does "confirm" mean. You can't confirm unless you count the votes.

That is the confirmation.

"Trust but verify"? Who are you relinquishing your trust to? That's the core issue.

Are you going continue to relinquish your trust to private companies like Diebold and Elections Systems and Software?

Its not who casts the votes that decide the election, it is who COUNTS the votes.

Joe, I believe you are saying two different things.

Americans are either actively participating by counting the votes, which is WHO DECIDES the election, or we are giving up our power to proven "untrustworthy" individuals/private entities who have both a monetary and power-driven stake in the outcome of the elections, not to mention remain unaccountable with regards to the already enacted fraud.

[Joe for Clark]

24. No - you don't have to count the ballots twice.

What I am saying is that - when the election occurs the systems in place (good or bad) produce a result, voter by voter to cumulative effects. That should be the beginning.

What we should be looking to do here, my opinion, is confirm or reject those results. And if they are questionable results, have enough of a control in place to locate the problem, the personnel responsible and produce "more correct" results to the highest possible degree. That means we have to look to a very refined exit polling and that means being able to trace back results to source and that means building a system that makes people accountable, not systems - people can go to jail for such things - systems don't.

There was a serious problem in 2004 in that no such controls were evident, at all. That exit poll done was NOT IN ANY WAY sufficient - even if they released the underlying data - which they didn't - and NOT designed to deal with potential frauds AT ALL. We sure better own the data this time, you know. 2004 polling was designed better to see how many "soccer moms" voted for whatever party, anyway.

It is not a substitute for good voting systems. But I don't think we have enough time to do anything better right now. I really think in 2004 - everybody assumed somebody else was doing it. And consequently - it just never got done.

Joe

[shance]

26. Preventative measures are better than allowing the cancer to metastasize.

The genie is already out of the bottle when the fraud has occured.

Look at the history of the recounts. They have been dog and pony shows, stalling tactics, smoke and mirrors.

In fact, all of the large races and their recounts WERE NEVER RECOUNTED.

We need to be counting the votes, not those who are telling us to trust them.

[Joe for Clark]

31. I specifically avoided the word recount.

That will never work - if you put the same votes thru the same mechanisims you can expect to get the same result. A recount can only work if the system is honest to begin with.

Assuming we cannot get all the systems that count votes "honest" in time for this Novembers election - six months away - I don't see any other choice. I think of it more like auditing the election. That can be done. Maybe not in real time, but close to it.

Joe

[marions ghost]

28. I don't think there's time to do this now

sure real exit polling is needed, and recount procedures that actually make sense. You seem to have a lot of faith in systems, but when it's this messed up, there's no quick fix. If the Dems get in, it won't be because the system is working--it'll be because things are so bad politically the Repugs couldn't pull off a theft as easily.

[Joe for Clark]

32. NOT just focused exit polling.

It could never be more than a part of a solution.

We need better than a statistical probability in any event. Only numbers people would believe that kind of proof. We are going to have to be able to prove who, how and where any fraud was committed, if it was. And quickly.

It kind of goes to what you believe, I suppose. Could the systems be made good in time for November, or do we as a society have to revert to these kind of techniques.

And your point is good about things being so politically bad for the republicans. The other fact in our favor - 400+ elections happen this November, not just 1. It would be extremely difficult to cheat on this kind of scale. On the other hand, they have an awful lot to lose here - an Awful lot.

Joe

[marions ghost]

29. But we DON'T look

at what really goes on in elections. And now, with auditless voting machines owned by Republican companies and backed up by partisan election officials, there is no limit to cheating.

Trust. What's that? Trusting is what the innocent are doing while the crooks are stealing.

[GOTV]

33. Careful, Generic Congressional polls...

... don't really work. They don't measure the opinions that govern congressional votes.

You could easily feel that congress woudl be better off in the hands of one party or the other and happily vote for a rep of the other party. You vote for your rep on the basis of your feelings for your rep and his/her challengers. How you feel about generic dems or reps doesn't necessary connect to your feelings about your local race.

Incumbents win almost all the time.

[Imagevision]

34. It doesn't matter who votes...it only matters who is doing the counting!

If ever there was a need for election fraud this is it -- November 2006 is the election that will have more irregularities then all elections combined! only this week in of all places, Ohio again experiecing more problems with Diebold.

[Supersedeas]

35. they need this election as bad as 2004 and will do anything to secure it

Election Fraud is coming!!!

[Joe for Clark]

12. They SURE do!!

Americans do the right thing at the end of the day. We procrastinate - but we COME THRU!!

They should be scared - and we should be looking to take the senate, too!!

Shit, even Kristol admitted we will take the house - duh!!

IF we can take the House AND the Senate - Successful Impeachment becomes a VERY real possibility.

I think it has to happen - This country has to cleanse itself.

I have faith in our country - we will do the right thing as a whole, in the end.

Joe

[wizdum]

16. They are so desperate they are taking their new slogan from a democratic..

...senator. "Dangerous democrats." I guess Karl is too busy trying to stave off an indictment to think of a new one for them. Too bad "brand W" pubs.

[killerbush]

18. One can only hope

[mr.alleycat]

19. That's about when....

The inheritance tax is going to be back in play.

"1) This warning contributed to GOP determination to pass a tax reconciliation bill that will extend the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts beyond their current expiration dates at the end of the decade."

If I were daddy B, I'd start getting a little worried around then;)

[Pirate Smile]

20. You mean the Paris Hilton tax cut?

;-)

[flaminbats]

21. Republicans want to blame Democrats for increasing taxes..

why should Republicans be blamed in November for not renewing Bush's tax-cuts? After all..they didn't begin this expensive war in Iraq, they didn't raise federal spending to its highest level in history, and they didn't pass a tax-cut that wasn't permanent :crazy:

Its all the Democrats fault for helping the trial lawyers, creating Social Security, and for raising taxes under Clinton to balance the budget. Blame the Democrats for not supporting Bush in 2004, blame the Democrats for high gas prices, and blame the Democrats for not providing sympathy for Bush's failure on 9/11. But its sooooo unfair to blame the party now in power..:cry:

[rniel]

23. Yeah they've got to make it close on the election

Or someone might start paying attention to computerized voting machines.

[sampsonblk]

27. Perfect Slogan - Dangerously Incompetent

Would have been a great slogan for Kerry's "campaign" in 2004. Should be our main line of attack in 2006 and 2008.

[Clarkie1]

30. They don't have any effective strategy.

Extend the tax cuts will either not help, or backfire on them. People understand the illogic of tax cuts in a time of war and deficit.

The "dangerous" angle isn't going to work, either. Americans are wise to it, and will make the Republicans pay if that's all they've got.