Some thoughts on Republican electoral strategy:
Karl Rove’s right: The 2012 GOP nominee should “fiercely challenge Mr. Obama’s policies, actions and leadership using the president’s own words, but should stay away from questioning his motives, patriotism or character.” Still: If the GOP nominee uses good-natured humor to needle Obama’s record, then the president likely will show his bad side. And the country won’t like it.
It occurs to me that these polls showing that the public still “likes” the president, even though they disapprove of his performance, are probably overstating the former. I think that there is still some residual resistance to being accused of being racists (unsurprising, given the media climate over the past two years, in which that was the instant response from the president’s defenders, both in and out of the media, to any criticism of his policies). I’d imagine that we’re seeing some “Bradley Effect” for the presidential popularity, though they feel a little more free to speak their minds on the policies themselves.
[Update a couple minutes later]
I’d say that, after the rank hypocrisy of the AWOL president lecturing the Republican House (which has actually passed a budget) to buckle down and do their homework, this video is well deserved.
[Update late morning]
Change it back:
[Courtesy of Jeff Dobbs]
Agree with the Rovian strategy of getting the President to react vs respond as Covey might put it.
To be fair to the President, his administration did put forward a budget. It was just unanimously voted against by the Senate. At least Republican Congressmen wrote budgets that garned some votes. It’s the Democrat Congressmen that have failed to provide a budget.
And the ad does say, “No plan to balance the budget”, which is entirely true.
This from a guy who couldn’t get his own Senators to vote for his budget. What hubris.
I always want to see the WORDING of said questions on this kind of stuff, when some large percentage seems to be out of touch with the public’s sentiment. I had a poll on the phone about one of our ex-Congressman a few years back. The questions were all worded so no matter how you answered, you would ‘like’ him! Or that’s the way it hit me at least.
No I don’t hate him…
(I’m not hating anyone right now, trying to rise above hate, my beliefs tell me not to go there)
No, I don’t think he is intentionally stealing from me…
(I do think his take on the world is twisted concerning taxation)
Yes, he is better than a thief who is outwardly stealing from me…
(I might shoot said thief if I catch him in the act though, so lookout Mr Congressman!)
No, I don’t want the predecessor back, INSTEAD…
(even if said predecessor DOES get early release)
and
(no they didn’t ask questions to get these answers, my mind wanted to fill in these last parts)
As I said, to me, it’s HOW the question is asked. And over the years I think the MSM / Pollsters have gotten very good at wording them so you’ll ‘like’ their guy. The Pollsters I get, shame on the MSM though!
They have all the integrity of a guy intentionally stealing from me!
Many Republicans are excessively cautious in criticizing Obama. I think they still don’t want to risk being called racists. Their caution is a sign of weakness, and probably also of corruption as a lot of them would settle for a minority share of the treasure Democrats have looted from the taxpayers. To be effective, Republicans should attack Obama bluntly and relentlessly as a liar, a corrupt Chicago hack, and a hard leftist who doesn’t have the country’s best interests at heart. Why should voters take Republicans seriously when Republicans won’t even state the obvious?
Jonathan Says:
July 1st, 2011 at 1:44 pm
“Many Republicans are excessively cautious in criticizing Obama. ”
Not this guy (Thaddeus McCotter being interviewed by Jedediah Bila):
JB: What actions by the Obama administration do you see as the biggest threats to our growth and/or liberty?
TM: His seeking re-election.
JB: It appears to be incredibly difficult for many to enter the D.C. world and come out on the other side with their principles intact. What has been your approach to fitting in — or not fitting in — with the D.C. scene?
TM: As a Detroiter, I instinctively reject the Gucci-shoed D.C. divas’ dysfunction that deems what’s nuts is normal.
[He knows his alliteration]
JB: What qualities do you feel are most important for the man or woman facing President Obama in 2012 to possess?
TM: The visceral, shared experience of what people are suffering as their American Dream is endangered, and the unshakable faith that through the grace of God and the virtuous genius of our free people, America’s best days are ahead.
JB:….If you were to make a run for the presidency, would holding GOP candidates accountable be part of your approach?
TM: No one is perfect, despite reams of campaign ads to the contrary. Thus, the sovereign American people will ultimately examine the candidates, hold each accountable, and choose one to be the GOP’s standard bearer against President Obama. I will facilitate the process, for it is the beauty of democracy.
JB: I’m not going to ask you if you’re running for president, but I am going to ask if you’d be likely to have your guitar in hand during the announcement. And if so, what song could potentially kick off the McCotter campaign?
TM: Until the day I die there will be a guitar in my hand — or not far from it. And, at a presidential announcement, it will be jamming “Let it Rock!”
I’ve mentioned this guy a few weeks ago in an earlier thread. I like the way he sounds. He’s a 5 term Congress-critter. There is talk he’ll run. Here is his web page:
http://mccotter2012.com/