How You Know the GOP Is Really Disoriented

15.05.2008

They stop referring to Democrats as "the Democrat Party" and add that long lost "ic." As in this from today's Harris and VandeHei piece in the Politico:

The Republican infrastructure is crumbling. Making matters worse, Democrats are erecting a pretty impressive network of donors, think tanks and activist groups that is exploiting the GOP’s structural weakness. The GOP “needs to realize what the opposition is and how formidable it is,” said former GOP leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas). “The Democratic Party is organized chaos, but it is so much better than what we are doing.” It will take no less than three to five years to fix, smart Republicans estimate.

And DeLay practically invented "Democrat Party"...

Never fear, though. Some GOPers still know which way is up. Recommendation number 6 in the Politico piece should sound pretty familiar:

Fan the fear: Ignore the critics, Republican wise men say — there is still no better way to win than to stir up concerns about Democratic patriotism and their commitment to national security and killing terrorists. It often remains the best call in the GOP playbook, especially with McCain atop the ticket.

Republican officials privately urge lawmakers to whack their opponents whenever they can for worrying more about coddling terrorist suspects than condemning them, failing to support U.S. troops, exhibiting weakness in dealing with dictators, and rushing to a quick Iraq exit that could put U.S. servicemen and women at risk. Polls still show GOP strength on national security and fighting terrorism — at least when compared with their lousy numbers on domestic issues.

--Noam Scheiber

Posted: Thursday, May 15, 2008 3:04 PM with 3 comment(s)

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liberal reformer said:

The errorolocution known as the "Democrat Party" long antedated Tom Delay's moment in the sun (though he popularized it). I recall back in the '70's National Review (I think in the persona of WFB) declaiming against it, saying it sounded "phony - baloney". BTW, I just got through watching you vis - a - vis Mark Schmitt on you guyses entertaining To Hillary or not to Hillary that tis the question segment. I noticed behind you in the office a book on the anti - Christ with the title of "Nader" on its spine. Gave me the shudders; this man gave us Walker.

May 15, 2008 3:38 PM

jemerk said:

Thats who they need, the bug killer, he knows toxic.

May 15, 2008 4:34 PM

waynejm said:

"Republican officials privately urge lawmakers to whack their opponents whenever they can for worrying more about coddling terrorist suspects than condemning them, failing to support U.S. troops, exhibiting weakness in dealing with dictators, and rushing to a quick Iraq exit that could put U.S. servicemen and women at risk."

Much as party leaders call for a new approach to head of November's approaching electoral train wreck, even as it becomes more and more apparent that the electorate isn't buying their tired rhetoric, they still can't resist the visceral charge they get from such raw demagoguery, can they? They really can't help themselves. It's like an addiction. Weird.

May 16, 2008 9:07 AM