Novak blames “arrogant” GOP for Dem pickup
Robert Novak has picked the Dems to pickup 19 House seats and 2 Senate seats. One of the reasons Novak says this will happen is an “arrogant” GOP:
The first is an arrogant and politically tin-eared Republican establishment in Washington. In the handling of key issues such as the occupation of Iraq, the response to Hurricane Katrina, and a meaningful follow-through on Social Security reform, the White House displayed incompetence.
Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, Republicans encouraged practices (such as earmarking in the appropriations process) that let corruption run free. When scandal hit, they handled it badly, particularly in the most recent case of disgraced former Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.). They also went to great lengths to alienate their base on the issue of immigration reform, and they created an issue for Democrats in the form of embryonic stem-cell research. Recall that federal funding for embryonic research received a vote on the House floor only when the House Republican leadership made a deal with moderates in order to pass their budget in 2005.
November 7th, 2006 at 11:00 am
Tim,
Hastert is a big part of the problem. He isn’t the worst of the bunch, but he is the face of the arrogance. When Ney plead guilty Hastert should have demanded his resignation immediately. Even if Ney refused Hastert would have been on record showing Republicans boot our crooks. When Jefferson was caught with marked bills from a bribery case in his freezer Hastert should have demanded his resignation. Instead Hastert saved his indignation for the Feds for having the audacity to execute a warrant. In that case, Hastert sent the message to everyone that the right of a congressman to hide evidence was more important than rooting corruption out of congress. He is in a leadership position and he failed to lead! Whether the GOP loses big, loses a close one or squeaks out a narrow majority in the House, Hastert needs to be replaced by someone with the strength of character to provide leadership even when it isn’t pleasant.
November 7th, 2006 at 11:09 am
LargeBill,
I am fairly confident that regardless of the outcome today, Dennis Hastert will not be leader going forward in the next Congress. If as expected the Dems win, there will certainly be a new top guy. If the don’t, I think there will be a movement for new leadership anyhow.