Thomas Schaller: America's View of Republicans Crumbles in Iraq

[marmar]

from the Baltimore Sun, via CommonDreams:


Published on Wednesday, February 14, 2007 by the Baltimore Sun (Maryland)
America's View of Republicans Crumbles in Iraq
by Thomas F. Schaller

According to the latest Gallup survey, Republican self-identification has declined nationally and in almost every American state. Why? The short answer is that President Bush's war of choice in Iraq has destroyed the partisan brand Republicans spent the past four decades building.

That brand was based upon four pillars: that Republicans are more trustworthy on defense and military issues; that they know when and where markets can replace or improve government; that they are more competent administrators of those functions government can't privatize; and, finally, that their public philosophy is imbued with moral authority. The war demolished all four claims.

In uniform or out, Americans think Iraq is a disaster, oppose escalation and blame Mr. Bush and his party for the mess in Mesopotamia. Heading into the 2006 mid-terms, polls showed Republicans trailing Democrats as the party most trusted to handle Iraq and terrorism. Nationally, Mr. Bush's war approval ratings hover around 30 percent.

Military members are skeptical, too. A Military Times poll released in December revealed that only 35 percent of military members approved of the president's handling of the war - despite the fact that 46 percent of them are self-identified Republicans (down from 60 percent in previous Military Times polls) while just 16 percent are Democrats. According to a recent Zogby survey of troops serving in Iraq, 72 percent want American forces home within a year.

Congressional hearings last week on war contracting dispel the second claim. Billions of dollars appropriated for Iraq cannot be accounted for, and contracts have been doled out with limited oversight and little regard for competitiveness. ......(more)

The rest of the piece is at: http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0214-25.htm

[marmar]

1. Dinner hour kick....

:kick:

[Felinity]

2. And one for breakfast. n/t

[Demeter]

3. Even the Suckers Can Smell Rottenness (after a while)

"Branding" is the scourge of the modern western world. It is creating and selling a lie; no more, and no less. It is more insidious than Religion, the historical model upon which modern Advertising is based. It is more deadly than Plague, since one can suffer repeatedly from it (whereas you only die once). It drives War, Greed, and other socially unacceptable practices with a power that these practices wouldn't have in naked form.

The GOP tried to turn "America" into a brand, too. But they trashed that image as well. Fortunately, the world knows the difference between America and the New Improved GOP Amerikkka!

So let's drive out the GOP and their hateful laws, practices, and crutches, and revive the original organic product of the soil of our land.

[Doondoo]

4. K&R