GOP “Mod Squad” and Evidence of Bush Bubble; Iraq

NY Times:

“Moderate Republicans gave President Bush a blunt warning on his Iraq policy at a private White House meeting this week, telling the president that conditions needed to improve markedly by fall or more Republicans would desert him on the war.”

The Squad is feeling a certain amount of unease or “grave unease” as the paper “reports” it as many Republicans are with the war. In “candid” moments with the president they informed him of the withering of public support for the war in their “swing districts.”

In as aside, I’m not aware of “swingers” having a voting bloc, but that is neither here nor there.

Perhaps gleefully, the Times quotes a participant in the meeting, Representative Ray LaHood of Illinois as saying:

‘“It was a tough meeting in terms of people being as frank as they possibly could about their districts and their feelings about where the American people are on the war.”’

Also, “one told Mr. Bush that voters back home favored a withdrawal even if it meant the war was judged a loss.”

Who is this frank? Who are these voters, anonymous push polled people? What is a “withdrawal” even if “judged a loss?” “Judged a loss” implies how something appears; whereas withdrawal may have much more dire consequences and be a reality regardless of how “judged.”

Are these GOP mod squadders beginning to look at this battlefield through too much of a Democrat prism? Certainly losing an election and giving up a seat is not nothing; issues have to be looked upon with a political eye to winning an election, but ultimately what are you winning if you give up on the real threat only to win?

Would it be wise to protect your seat only to give up so much more?

Ultimately these elected officials need some support from the president; need some positives from the Iraq front. They should get it, but they should also try to sell it more themselves. We’re not talking about nothing here. Is it important enough? Do they believe in it enough?

Lastly, Representative Jim Gerlach of Pennsylvania said of results in Iraq and General Petraeus’ report in the summer:

“I think people want to hear what the general says, we will all go from there.”

“People” doesn’t include Reid and the Dems does it? Well, it doesn’t if the report is positive, right?

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Dana Perino, White House spokeswoman:

“The president encouraged the members to give unvarnished opinions and views.”

That damned Bush Bubble!

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