Tuesday evening when I read that the GOP had lost another House seat in a traditionally Republican district in Mississippi, it set me to wondering how in the world the party digs themselves out of the hole they have created.

Karl Rove has a few ideas in this article published in the Wall Street Journal:

Why is it tough sledding for Republicans? Public revulsion at GOP scandals was a large factor in the party’s 2006 congressional defeat. Some brand damage remains, as does the downward pull of the president’s approval ratings. But the principal elements are the Iraq war and a struggling economy.

Gallup’s 2007 report found that fewer voters identify themselves as Republicans now than at any point in the past 20 years – despite the fact that less than a fifth of Americans agree with Mr. Obama’s call to rapidly withdraw from Iraq. And while many Americans are concerned about the economy, most are satisfied with their own finances.

As Republican ranks declined, the number of independents and Democrats grew. Has the bottom been reached? It’s too early to know. But Americans are acknowledging progress in Iraq, economists are suggesting the economy will be in better shape this fall, and a recent ABC/Washington Post poll found GOP identification rising.

What is clear is that John McCain and Republicans will prevail only if they convince voters that there are profound consequences at stake in Iraq, and that more and better jobs will follow from the GOP’s approach of lowering taxes, opening trade, and ending earmarks and other pro-growth policies.

Mr. Rove may have been adept in pointing out the areas on which candidates on the Right should focus, but I see a larger problem.

I am wondering if anyone is even listening..or is the electorate in one of those “throw the bums out” mindsets so that anyone with an (R) following their name will have an uphill climb?

What say you?

Written by Sue
Politics in America linked with Is Anyone Even Listening?

3 Responses to “Is Anyone Even Listening?”

1. Politics in America » Is Anyone Even Listening? says:

   May 15, 2008 at 1:18 am

   [...] Caption-This - Add your funny caption to our daily photo wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt Tuesday evening when I read that the GOP had lost another House seat in a traditionally Republican district in Mississippi, it set me to wondering how in the world the party digs themselves out of the hole they have created. Karl Rove has a few ideas in this article published in the Wall Street Journal: Why is it tough sledding for Republicans? Public revulsion at GOP scandals was a large factor in the party’s 2006 congressional defeat. Some brand damage remains, as does the downward pull of [...]
2. ~J~ says:

   May 15, 2008 at 3:13 am

   That might be the case, but it would be even better if we threw all the bums out and elected a brand new House of Representatives this fall. Wishful thinking, I know, but somehow we have to get back to citizen legislators and not career politicians.

   If we can put term limits on the president of eight years we should be able to have term limits on Congress. No more than 12 years in office including House and Senate. Serve your 12 years in either or both places and then go home and live like an ordinary American.

   And let’s take private money out of campaigns so we can stop buying offices. Finance them with government funds, have a short election season and be done with it.
3. David M. says:

   May 15, 2008 at 9:22 am

   I don’t think it’s a “throw the bums out” attitude. This is a bad year for a candidate to have an “R” after his/her name. No Republican can avoid the baggage that follows the President and Vice-president. The citizens may not analyze the economy, but they sure see gasoline prices and the equity in their real estate eroding. I do not blame the media for this and I don’t think it’s corruption in the GOP. The Democratic AG of Ohio resigned this morning and the Democratic sex scandals are reported on with glee also.
   McCain should never have said (paraphrasing): “100 more years in Iraq is possible.” He should not have compared the war in Iraq with our continued military presence in Germany and Japan. That has no relationship to Iraq. What else do citizens see? They see unstable allies like Pakistan and they see the bodybags and the flags at half-staff. It doesn’t matter if the surge is working! The citizens don’t care. There is no stability in the Iraqi government and that fosters nothing but hopelessness. No new terrorist attacks on American soil? Who notices things that do not happen? We notice what is happening–like the price increase in food. Instead of addressing the problems, the national party is assessing blame and trying to decide if new party leadership is needed. Maybe it is, but not less than a month before my state’s primary. Heather Wilson and Steve Pierce are arguing over who is most conservative and Tom Udall is leading by more than 20 points and hasn’t even campaigned yet. The Democrats have a massive war-chest and the GOP is strapped.