Republicans vent anger after Senate loss

[Kadie]

Dec. 23, 2006, 11:55AM
Republicans vent anger after Senate loss
GOP Senate campaign committee draws harsh criticism after loss of Senate control


By DAVID ESPO
Associated Press


WASHINGTON — Narrowly defeated in his bid for a fourth term, Montana Sen. Conrad Burns turned his anger on the National Republican Senatorial Committee and commercials it had run months before the election.

"The ads hurt me more than they helped. I wouldn't have spent the money," he said, his comments characteristic of the season of second-guessing now unfolding among Republicans.

President Bush's low approval ratings, the unpopular war on Iraq, voter concern about corruption and Democratic fundraising all figured in the GOP loss of Senate control in last month's elections. But among Republicans, long-hidden tensions are spilling into view, with numerous critics venting their anger at the GOP Senate campaign committee headed by North Carolina Sen. Elizabeth Dole.

In recent interviews, officials said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., as well as Ken Mehlman, the party chairman, set up outside checks on the committee at critical points in the campaign.

As early as last summer, Mehlman signaled he lacked full confidence in Dole's committee. In an unprecedented move, he set up an independent entity to control more than $12 million that the Republican National Committee spent for television advertising in Ohio, Tennessee and Missouri.

more...
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/4422962.html

[OhioChick]

1. Cry me a river........

:nopity:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. And we can see how well those ads worked in Ohio and Missouri

can't we?

[wryter2000]

22. Give credit where it's due

Rush gave us Missouri. :evilgrin:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

27. You're right!

Think we should all call him up on his show and thank him?

[wryter2000]

29. That'd be fun

You'd have to get through his screeners. Give it a try!

[JohnnyLib2]

3. I can't help it, this one made me smirk.

Mea culpa. Heh, heh, heh.

[Liberal Lassie]

12. IT MADE ME LOL...

EVEN THE BIBLE (THEY ARE THE PARTY OF "MORALS" AREN'T THEY) SAYS THAT A DOG WILL RETURN TO IT'S OWN
VOMIT. START SLURPING AND THEN GET LOST.

[lolly]

4. Memo to Republican candidates:

Ideas for 2008 ads--

Take the "R" away from your signature line.

Look in the camera and say very clearly that you apologize for being a Republican in a former, deluded life.

Promise to make sure Cokesnort is deported so he can stand trial in the Hague.

Denounce the racism of the Republican party.

Beg forgiveness.

Then you might have a chance to win. If you're running against a rabid hamster. Or maybe not.

[JohnnyLib2]

24. All that plus the requisite rehab.

Maybe a stint in DU?

[Deja Q]

5. Well, maybe they will grow up and work for the people again.

That's the point of our government. Do a bad job and your ass is voted out. Like republicans like to say, we're supposed to work hard and do a good job. As we've had them whining about 2 day work weeks amongst other truly obtuse comments (those that have made me blush and I've got a PDD to deal with. What's their excuse?), they have no reason to be angry.

That goes for any member of ANY party.

And Iraq war or not, I think the repubs lost due to many more domestic issues. And, of course, the long-forgotten "Contract with America".

[SoCalDem]

6. Burnsie should have "watched what he said". His big mouth

hurt him more than he thinks :)

[Donovan61]

7. Awwwww, what a shame

I encourage Republicans to set up a circular firing squad.

[Jackpine Radical]

9. God knows the Democrats have modelled that behavior for them

often enough.

[billybob537]

8. What hurt you the most Senator

Was that GOP after your name.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

10. Yeah, it was Dole and the Ads

:sarcasm:

[Jimmy52]

11. I was surprised

I was surprised the GOP senators and house members didn't run from bush sooner. But they hung on long enough to go down with his delusional policies.

[kevinmc]

13. Should be: Republicans Cry and Whine after Senate loss ..n/t

[wakeme2008]

14. Sorry Repugs wrong again.... in the case of George Allen the ONLY reason

he lost was his RACIST MOUTH. IMHO he would have beat Webb with out his racism coming out.

[jgraz]

16. Yep, one of the few good things to come out of public racism

Hopefully, it will have the same effect on Virgil "The Crusader" Goode.

[jgraz]

15. I got only one thing to say to them

[jody]

17. IMO Rove assumed one campaign strategy would win in every state but Dems were forced

to tailor strategies on divisive, wedge issues to the unique needs of each state.

If that’s somewhat correct, then that’s a lesson to be applied in future elections.

[Skidmore]

18. What is the URL that you have attached for the article?

My computer locks up when I try to access it and then Explorer shuts down.

[Kadie]

19. It is from the Houston Chronicle.

I had a hard time getting it to load the first time I tried, then I tried again and it worked.

I tried to find another link for you, but I didn't see one. I will post one later if I find one.

[TexasProgresive]

20. try this link

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1153AP_GOP_Second_Guessing.html

[wryter2000]

21. Oh, my gosh!

The Republicans are in disarray! They're a circular firing squad. They have no plan.

[rasputin1952]

23. I'm gonna need a 10 ft ladder to climb up on...

just so I don't drown in his Sea of Tears...:D

Maybe it never dawned on him that the state of Montana decided he was a lousy Senator.

[opihimoimoi]

26. Burns is the guy that made some stupid comments to resting Fire Fighters on their way home from the

forest fires...turned them off...something you don't wanna do when running for office...sho nuff, FF hotline and most FFs went Blue.

Just enough to turn the tide and Burn Burns Ass....

[newyawker99]

25. Awwww!!

:nopity::nopity::nopity::nopity::nopity:

[Swamp Rat]

28. Waaaahh!

:nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity:

[Mme. Defarge]

30. It's nice to imagine

Libby Dole turning on her own. Just so I don't have to actually hear it.

[UTUSN]

31. But they are perfectly happy to have Dizzy Lizzie warming a senate seat n/t

[tinfoilinfor2005]

32. I have to agree with one thing...Libby really was a dizzy ditz

especially in the three or four days before the election when she was on every channel ranting and raving and just not shutting up. Even the interviewers with a right wing bent looked like they wanted to slap her.