Is It Time For a New War?
by TChris
Charlie Cook argues that the November elections will hinge on what voters are talking about in the days before they cast their ballots. Republicans enjoyed a modest approval bump in late August when the president made threatening speeches about terrorism. After the NIE judgments became public and Bob Woodward began his book tour, the focus of public discourse shifted from terrorism to Iraq. New military casualties in Iraq and continuing criticism by retired generals (not to mention the country's instability, which is unlikely to improve before November) will probably keep Iraq on voters' minds, and most people aren't buying the president's attempt to link the war in Iraq to the botched war against terror.
The longer the Foley scandal stays in the news (it shows no signs of disappearing, and it probably won't unless Dennis Hastert walks the plank), the more voters will be reminded that Republicans would rather cover up wrongdoing than take responsibility for it. Polls were encouraging to Democrats even before the Foley scandal. Now Foley's seat is in play, and the scandal may touch other races, including Tom Reynolds' reelection campaign.
The president is still whining that Democrats are soft on terror, but voters are likely to be more interested in understanding why he's standing behind Dennis Hastert. Is it time for the White House to start another war to get voters to renew their support of an all-Republican, all-the-time government?
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