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DEL.ICIO.USNewt Gingrich and Allan Crow on the implications of Louisiana
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
On Saturday, Don Cazayoux became Louisiana’s newest Democratic congressman, wresting a seat that had been in Republican hands for 33 years.
In Washington and elsewhere, the defeat wiped off whatever smiles the Barack Obama/Hillary Clinton fight has been putting on Republican faces.
The Louisiana result came on the heels of the Republican loss of former Speaker Dennis Hastert’s seat in Illinois, which had been held by the GOP — with a single two-year exception — for 74 years.
That has Newt Gingrich calling for marked change of course for Republicans “or they are going to suffer decisive losses this November.”
Gingrich has this posted on the web site of Human Events:
Senator McCain is currently running ahead of the Republican congressional ballot by about 16 percentage points. But there are two reasons that this extraordinary personal achievement should not comfort congressional Republicans.
First, McCain’s lead is a sign of the gap between the McCain brand of independence and the GOP brand. No regular Republican would be tying or slightly beating the Democratic candidates in this atmosphere. It is a sign of how much McCain is a non-traditional Republican that he is sustaining his personal popularity despite his party’s collapse.
Second, there is a grave danger for the McCain campaign that, if the generic ballot stays at only 32 percent for the GOP, it will ultimately outweigh McCain’s personal appeal and drag his candidacy into defeat.
The Republican brand has been so badly damaged that if Republicans try to run an anti-Obama, anti- Reverend Wright, or (if Senator Clinton wins), anti-Clinton campaign, they are simply going to fail.
It’s worth noting that Atlanta consultant Allan Crow handled the media for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in Louisiana.
National Democrats dropped $1 million plus on the Louisiana race, Crow said — twice what the candidate himself spent. National Republicans and various 527s spent a similar amount on Woody Jenkins.
This was the first attack ad in the race, and it could have implications elsewhere in the country. Even in Georgia.
Designed by Crow and launched close to April 15, the TV spot tied Jenkins’ failure to pay his taxes to his support for “a national sales tax” of 15 percent “on just about everything.”
That’s a reference to the Fair Tax, which has been embraced by many Republicans in the state. In Georgia, it might also apply to the property tax shift proposed this year by House Speaker Glenn Richardson.
“We found that it worked pretty well, particularly in the context of Woody not paying his taxes,” Crow said.
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Comments
By Copyleft
May 7, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this
Heh. Even Gingrich can see the handwriting on the wall. Running an “anti” candidate that the party base doesn’t particularly care for is a recipe for failure. (John Kerry found that out in 2004.)
Not that the GOP has much choice; 2008 simply isn’t going to be their year, thanks to America’s disgust with the Bush agenda.
By cooday
May 7, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this
U2 and Green Day “The Saints Are Coming” video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seGhTWE98DU
Barack Obama 08!
By Mark Hollis
May 7, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this
Dissatisfaction cuts both ways. I live in Connecticut where Democrats, who have held my town’s government for decades, were swept out of office in the last election here. The reason was simple: Democrats overreached. They have raised town taxes between 9 and 12% each year for the past seven years, have refused to provide housing for the elderly in a town whose average age is now above 55, have added (some say unnecessarily) to the town’s police force, purchased a farm in the center of town without consulting the electorate and have presided over an infrastructure in the town that is falling apart. Republicans, on the other hand, won with the promise to limit property tax increases to 3% or less and to cut profligate spending. They also have promised to rewrite the town charter to require that the electorate pass on any town budget before it may be adopted. Congressman Gingrich himself overreached and was ousted when it became obvious that he had. I think it’s particularly amusing that he considers his own advice to be pertinent and that anyone within his party would actually listen to what he has to say.
By Polly A
May 7, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this
If the ad is true and he really didn’t pay his taxes on time, then he and the rep. party got what they deserved. Why can’t we find honest, decent people to run on the rep. ticket? This is why Huckabee formed HuckPAC.
By Richard
May 7, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this
I guess they have nobody but Bush to blame!
By Clyde
May 7, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this
Thinking of a possible Obama presidency makes me vomit. It seems to me that both parties, the Democrats and Republicans, are do-nothings. Congress is not doing much now to help America. Is it that when a person is elected to the presidency or to congress, they think they are “hot stuff” and need to just travel, talk and look good? What about their job and what they are suppose to be doing? Helping America. I’m over 65 and feel our present politicans are the worse we’ve had, both parties. In America it takes so so so so much money to run for president. Too much money and too long campaign. Our America is going downhill, realize that. R&D is not good; our jobs are going overseas. Everything says “made in China” or Indonesia, or some place else. Even our military defense items are going to be l/2 made in a foreign country. I’m glad I will not be seeing what America is like 15 yrs. from now.
By vtwin
May 7, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this
It’s Bush stupid!
By Tim
May 7, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this
Newt is jumping on the bandwagon because he is trying to make the Republicans in his image, so he can run for President in 2012 as someone who has united the Party, and worked with the other side. This column is another stab from a slanted media outlet to paint a party the way they want them seen. Slants are from both sides, but this is clearly a liberal one. The reason is so clear why the Republican lost, he was a tax evader, it had nothing to do with him being a Republican. Has anyone heard of protest vote, this Woody should have stayed where he was.
By Lonnie C. Gay
May 7, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this
The United States is hopelessly adrift and our future is being wasted by a 100 year war, high oil costs, high food prices and a slumping housing market. We need a President and a Congress who puts America first, not their party. However I don’t think it will happen. Both parties are two busy bashing each other and enjoying it.
By Gary
May 7, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this
Its funny how Newt gets thrown under the bus so to speak because House Republicans tried a coup that eventually failed. He resigned for the good of his district and the good of his party. Don’t you think for a minute he is the reason why Republicans are not in power today? If he was still calling the shots in the house, things might actually get done in Washington. Sure he played politics with Clinton, but his ultimate goal of a balanced budget was achieved and spending was cut. Its funny but didn’t the Republicans that tried to oust Newt eventually take over the House leadership and now look at where they are at, another disaster in waiting because they are not listening to the American people. For their part the Democrats are not listening either which is really no surprise to me. Its time for a new party to take over. One that consist of smart men and women who could actually get something done. The two in Washington are clearly not getting it done…..well at least if you are farmer they are. Gotta love those subsides.
By iLarynx
May 7, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this
Uh, sure. This article by right-wing Republican Newt Gingrich is an example of the “liberal slanted” media.
Right.
Ten or twenty years ago it was whackos finding demonic messages in rock albums played backwards. Now it’s paranoid wing-nuts imagining “liberal bias” wherever they look. I had one wing nut tell me that the dictionary was liberally biased since one definition didn’t fit his world view.
These kooks are everywhere. Check out this paranoid PajamasMedia review where they found “liberal bias” in the comic book movie, “IRON MAN” -
http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/iron-man-superhero-powered-by-super-shame/
IRON MAN!!! Luckily, a swarm of people who saw the movie chimed in and commented how the paranoid reviewer was, well, paranoid and seeing things not there.
By Stine
May 7, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this
If Ron Paul ran as the GOP ticket, I firmly believe true conservative republicans would love Ron Paul. So would anti-war democrats. And Ron Paul’s constitutional views on the issues should be popular with everybody. If Ron Paul were the GOP nominee, it would be the complete rebirth of the GOP as we know it.
I always thought I was a democrat until Ron Paul informed what a true conservative set of ideals is all about. If Ron Paul runs on the Republican ticket, I’ll vote for him. If it’s McCain, I’ll be voting for Obama. I know a lot of young people feel this way too.
If hard-core Republicans are really as disenfranchised with McCain as it seems, Ron Paul has positioned himself PERFECTLY to take the true Republican ideals to the convention. It’ll be exciting at any rate.
By Sixtees
May 7, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this
I am an independent, not tied to any party affiliation, am not a lawyer, have only an associates degree, am not rich and believe we can be better than we are. I believe that manufacturing must be re-established in the US, that outsourcing jobs to the pacific rim be curtailed, that corporate control over government (through lobbies, etc.) be outlawed, that all votes have a paper trail, and that any war must be declared and ratified by Congress. I believe that America should never be the agressor. Basically, I believe what I was taught in public school in the 1950s and want my government to reflect these cherished beliefs. Is there anyone out there in either party who holds these cherished ideals also? I am ready to vote for that individual. Hello, hello - are you out there?
By The Snark
May 7, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this
“The Republican brand has been so badly damaged that if Republicans try to run an anti-Obama, anti- Reverend Wright, or anti-Clinton campaign, they are simply going to fail”? You mean … OMG … they might actually have to persuade the voters of the merits of their policies, instead of relying on name-calling and smear campaigns and wedge issues and fear tactics? What is the world coming to? Say it ain’t so, Karl Rove!
By Jimmy
May 7, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this
Clyde,
I agree with your assessment of many of the problems in the US.
“Our America is going downhill, realize that. R&D is not good; our jobs are going overseas. Everything says “made in China” or Indonesia, or some place else.”
What I do not understand is your aversion to Obama. How could he be worse than Bush? (How could anyone be worse than Bush?)
Jimmy
By Craig
May 7, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this
Stine,
How in the world can you say you’d vote for Obama over McCain and say you agree with Paul? You do realize that Obama is the farthest from Paul right? You’d be willing to basically burn Rome? For what purpose?
By JOseph
May 7, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this
Remember Ron Paul? He was the only candidate that had anything intelligent to say. He warned the party about the direction it was going, about the economy, the war, he would have won the presidential elections he even had great solutions to these problems. Instead of lining up behind his message they treated him like he was nuts. He wasn’t nuts he was threatening to their special interests. As usual the man was spot on about everything. Well they richly deserve their just rewards. By the way the Democrats not much better.
Can’t wait for the gas to hit $150 a barrel, maybe the cattle I mean the people will wake up and toss these bums out of Washington, the whole lot of them.
By Joseph
May 7, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this
Remember Ron Paul? He was the only candidate that had anything intelligent to say. He warned the party about the direction it was going, about the economy, the war, he would have won the presidential elections he even had great solutions to these problems. Instead of lining up behind his message they treated him like he was nuts. He wasn’t nuts he was threatening to their special interests. As usual the man was spot on about everything. Well they richly deserve their just rewards. By the way the Democrats not much better.
Can’t wait for the gas to hit $150 a barrel, maybe the cattle I mean the people will wake up and toss these bums out of Washington, the whole lot of them.
By gravitybob
May 7, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this
People, people. Get a clue … The reason the republicans are on their way out is 8 years of complete incompetency. Usually, mere incompetency can be endured, but these times are a bit different. There are real world, burgeoning prolems that have chewed away at our ability to maintain an “American” lifestyle. Food and fuel prices skyrocketing. No faith in the government’s ability to respond to physical emergency (Katrina). Loss of the “American Dream” (foreclosure crisis). Core economic issues that have begun to decay … all under Republican leaderiship. The Cheney/Bush sleight of hand trick of trumping up terror monsters to distract you from the domestic disaster won’t work any more . . because the social rubble piling up around us is now the source of real terror. Your republican leaders have created this crisis; they have presided over it. Even the most obtuse voter understands that self interest requires pulling the lever for someone new …
By Redman
May 7, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this
Every Republican in the country could be defeated this year from the courthouse to the Whitehouse. If it happened we would not miss them at all based on their consistently low octane performance in office. The brand Republican is so tainted they probably should start over as a party. If they do, this time they should try some truth in labeling for a change. Perhaps picking a name to accurately describing their party and it’s goals would be a good start. Hear are some suggestions for descriptive party names, Plutocraticans, Aristocraticans, American Royalist, Corporate Socialist, Cleptocrats, Autocraticans, Talabanicans, I could think of dozens of others, all accurate, but some not suitable for a family paper.
By Rush
May 7, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this
Operation Chaos is entering third phase. Or what I like to call phase 3. All lemmings pat their bellies and tap their heads at echobravoretardo 3:00 p.m. on 5/9 megga-dittos.
By Holly
May 7, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this
Wrong, Redman, you would miss them for the very reason of why America is a two-party system. We don’t all think alike, and the idea of a two-party system is to ensure that opposing veiwpoints have their place. Right now, we’re coming off a perfect example of why one-party rule is bad.
By marc christophe
May 7, 2008 2:06 PM | Link to this
In my 58 years I have seen the political pendulum swing before, first with LBJ’s landslide, then Reagan’s landslide, back and forth. Right now, momentum is clearly with the Democrats. The danger, however, rests with the terrible prospects of what the Dems will do with power once they get it. We are looking at 4 to 8 years of radical socialism and pandering to class warfare. We are looking at confiscatory taxation, a severe loss of personal freedom and constitutional rights, the massive growth of federal power, the “rationing” of health care, food and gasoline, and the liberal wet-dream of a nation of people “standing in line” while the central government doles out “benefits”. I lived under socialism in Hungary, and I cannot believe that a free people would sell themselves into slavery at the ballot box. The GOP needs a plan, and it needs “fighting candidates” who will return to the principles of Lincoln and Reagan that made the party great. Sadly, what the GOP offers is pasty little patricians who do not want to get their hands dirty fighting for America, and who simply do not care what happens as long as they are not personally inconvenienced. Instead of pandering to the religious nuts, the GOP would do well to read Charles Darwin. Dinosaurs died out.
By Dave53
May 7, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this
It is both parties that are compromised and corrupt beyond repair. With the Dems, it’s tax and coddle, with the Reps, it’s a corporate takeover and spend. Since about ‘95, Americans has been on me first mentality, feeding whatever stock/real estate boondoggle that comes along, forgetting about the country at large. Then 9/11, and the flag waving and fear got us into a unwinnable war with no end. That gut-wrenching wake up call united us temporarily with the civilized world, and then we squandered it. We’re on a precipice here, and I don’t see anyone with a good idea on how to change it. What is needed is a new party for sure, not beholding to anyone, berift from shadow motives. Maybe some day.
By gttim
May 7, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this
“If Ron Paul ran as the GOP ticket, I firmly believe true conservative republicans would love Ron Paul. So would anti-war democrats.”
Why would Democrats love Ron Paul? His positions place him right next to the John Birch Society. Other than being anti-war, he holds views that are the complete opposite of most Democratic Party ideals. Please, just let it go….