WSJ Editors are unahappy with the Republicans

[question everything]

The Wall Street Journal

McCain's Tax Blunder
July 30, 2008; Page A14

(snip)

Mr. Stephanopoulos pressed, "So that means payroll tax increases are on the table, as well?" Here came the words that have caused the McCain campaign well deserved grief: "There is nothing that's off the table. I have my positions, and I'll articulate them. But nothing's off the table." So given a chance to reiterate his opposition to tax increases -- and underscore a main contrast with his opponent -- Mr. McCain punted. Democrats were quick to pounce, with the Democratic National Committee issuing a press release headlined, "McCain Tax Pledge? Not so much." It provided citations of the presumptive GOP nominee asserting that "Senator Obama will raise your taxes. I won't." Expect the "nothing's off the table" line to show up in Democratic TV spots this fall.

(snip)

Economics has never been Mr. McCain's strong suit, but with Iraq receding as a crisis the economy is the ground where the Senator will have to fight and win. And the tax issue provides him with a potent opening, given Mr. Obama's pledge to raise taxes on incomes, dividends and capital gains. In proposing to raise the payroll tax cap, the Democrat is to the left even of Hillary Clinton. Mr. McCain's Sunday blunder will make that issue that much harder to exploit. Such mistakes also help explain the continued lack of enthusiasm for Mr. McCain among many conservatives. Meeting with us last December, before the primaries, he declared that "I will not agree to any tax increase," repeating the phrase for emphasis. He did not say any tax increase with the exception of Social Security. If Mr. McCain can't convince voters that he's better on taxes than is a Democrat who says matter-of-factly that he wants to raise taxes, the Republican is going to lose in a rout.


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and..


The Stevens Indictment
July 30, 2008; Page A14

Yesterday's seven-count indictment of Alaska Senator Ted Stevens is another blow to the Republican Congressional reputation for honest government -- as well as the party's chances of avoiding big losses in November. Minority parties don't typically defeat a majority when more of their own Members are being indicted for corruption.

(snip)

Mr. Stevens deserves the presumption of innocence, but his indictment only underscores how much the GOP lost its way in its final years running Congress through 2006. The 84-year-old Senator was the king of Appropriations, legendary for ensuring spending earmarks for his state. The pork made him popular at home, but it also undermined the GOP's fiscal credibility -- most notoriously with his Bridge to Nowhere. If the criminal charges are proven in court, Mr. Stevens also crossed the line to using his power for personal enrichment.

Senate Republicans are already facing losses this fall, enough so that they will have to fight to hold 41 seats to maintain a filibuster; they now have 49. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell needs to think about a political quarantine, beyond Mr. Stevens forfeiting his ranking status on Appropriations as per Senate rules. Mr. Stevens could also do his party a favor by dropping his re-election bid, which is now a very long shot. If Mr. Stevens insists on running again, Alaska Republicans will have a chance to render their own verdict in an August 26 Senate primary. Some political hygiene would seem to be in order.




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