I love it when the voters pay attention
Apr. 26th, 2005 07:43 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jebbypalWoohoo, more fun from the Daily Kos":
There are twitters today about a possible compromise between Reid and Frist on the seven nominations. I don't think it's going to happen, but the process of negotiation is necessary theater for both sides. Here's why I think we're headed for the showdown: first, because Frist and the rest of the GOP have wedged themselves between a rock and a hard place. Second, because Sen Harry Reid and associates have set the framework for the coming battle perfectly.
As posted earlier today, the latest WaPo poll shows this issue as being an absolute disaster for the GOP, on par with the Schiavo fiasco. While Frist and the rest of the GOP shine Dobson's shoes, they probably weren't counting that in addition to a 80% disapproval on this issue among Democrats, and 70% among independent voters, Republicans are split evenly at 48/46. That's not just bad, that's baby-eating bad. (And by that, I mean Dick Cheney could eat a human baby on live TV, and you'd see Republican numbers not much worse than that.)
Those numbers are very surprising, because it shows that despite my own frequent cynicism, voters are paying attention to the issue, and know something of the issues involved -- and because of that, we see the predictable GOP split between the conservative base and the religious right.
Because the public does know what's going on, you now see the frantic talking point shift from the Nuclear Option to the Constitutional Option. Straight from the bowels of the usual GOP strategists, the Constitutional Option is indecipherably vague, and presented in such a manner as to practically require stapling an American Flag to your forehead while saying it. This is how the GOP has approached national politics for the last few elections: no matter what your agenda is, (1) give it an impossibly abstract name, and (2) hide the actual issue behind that name -- bringing us things like the I Love Baby Eagles Initiative, or the Free America Freedom Liberty Freedom Act to Preserve Freedom. And it's utterly effective, except when the American public already knows about the issue in question. That's why the GOP Social Security initiatives are bombing -- no matter what they call it, the general public is already keenly aware of what Social Security is and what it does for them.
The Nuclear Option, as has been demonstrated elsewhere, came about largely as an inside-the-Beltway term bandied about by Trent Lott and other Republicans -- it wasn't meant for public consumption. Constitutional Option is the focus-grouped alternative, but it's too late. The numbers show the public knows the score, a name change isn't going to patch this one up. The Republicans don't have months to deal with this one, they've got to fish or cut bait within the next several weeks.
At this point, Sen. Bill Frist is screwed. At this point, his only options are to move forward, infuriating the 48% of Republicans who see this overreach as another Schiavo-like pandering, or back down, raising absolute frothing head-spinning holy hell with the far right. He's got to piss off one group or the other, there's no other choice.
What's not here, however, is a reason for the Democrats to give in quietly. Or even noisily, for that matter.
There are twitters today about a possible compromise between Reid and Frist on the seven nominations. I don't think it's going to happen, but the process of negotiation is necessary theater for both sides. Here's why I think we're headed for the showdown: first, because Frist and the rest of the GOP have wedged themselves between a rock and a hard place. Second, because Sen Harry Reid and associates have set the framework for the coming battle perfectly.
As posted earlier today, the latest WaPo poll shows this issue as being an absolute disaster for the GOP, on par with the Schiavo fiasco. While Frist and the rest of the GOP shine Dobson's shoes, they probably weren't counting that in addition to a 80% disapproval on this issue among Democrats, and 70% among independent voters, Republicans are split evenly at 48/46. That's not just bad, that's baby-eating bad. (And by that, I mean Dick Cheney could eat a human baby on live TV, and you'd see Republican numbers not much worse than that.)
Those numbers are very surprising, because it shows that despite my own frequent cynicism, voters are paying attention to the issue, and know something of the issues involved -- and because of that, we see the predictable GOP split between the conservative base and the religious right.
Because the public does know what's going on, you now see the frantic talking point shift from the Nuclear Option to the Constitutional Option. Straight from the bowels of the usual GOP strategists, the Constitutional Option is indecipherably vague, and presented in such a manner as to practically require stapling an American Flag to your forehead while saying it. This is how the GOP has approached national politics for the last few elections: no matter what your agenda is, (1) give it an impossibly abstract name, and (2) hide the actual issue behind that name -- bringing us things like the I Love Baby Eagles Initiative, or the Free America Freedom Liberty Freedom Act to Preserve Freedom. And it's utterly effective, except when the American public already knows about the issue in question. That's why the GOP Social Security initiatives are bombing -- no matter what they call it, the general public is already keenly aware of what Social Security is and what it does for them.
The Nuclear Option, as has been demonstrated elsewhere, came about largely as an inside-the-Beltway term bandied about by Trent Lott and other Republicans -- it wasn't meant for public consumption. Constitutional Option is the focus-grouped alternative, but it's too late. The numbers show the public knows the score, a name change isn't going to patch this one up. The Republicans don't have months to deal with this one, they've got to fish or cut bait within the next several weeks.
At this point, Sen. Bill Frist is screwed. At this point, his only options are to move forward, infuriating the 48% of Republicans who see this overreach as another Schiavo-like pandering, or back down, raising absolute frothing head-spinning holy hell with the far right. He's got to piss off one group or the other, there's no other choice.
What's not here, however, is a reason for the Democrats to give in quietly. Or even noisily, for that matter.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2005-04-26 12:45 pm (UTC)*head explodes and dies*
Oh the visual *falls down laughing*...how I'd love to see that in real life. He does it on the side...why not on TV dammit!!!
*is more than slightly insane, random and easily amused today*
(no subject)
Date: 2005-04-26 01:19 pm (UTC)