Time Mag Nails the GOP

Yesterday, Time Magazine posted an article by Karen Tumulty titled, “The End of a Revolution”. The article is appearing in the October 16th issue. The subhead says, “Sex, lies and power games are just the latest symptoms of a Republican Party that has strayed from its ideals”. Here are a few random quotes: “Compromise, that most central of congressional checks and balances, has been largely replaced by a kind of calculated cussedness that has left the G.O.P. isolated and exposed in times of crisis.” “As conservative George F. Will, writing in the Washington Post last week, put it, the Foley affair is ‘a maraschino cherry atop the Democrats' delectable sundae of Republican miseries.’” “In the latest TIME poll, conducted the week after the news broke, nearly 80% of respondents said they were aware of the scandal, and two-thirds of them were convinced that Republican leaders had tried to cover it up. Among the registered voters who were polled, 54% said they would be more likely to vote for the Democratic candidate for Congress, compared with 39% who favored the Republican--nearly a perfect reversal of the 51%-40% advantage the G.O.P. enjoyed as recently as August. There was even worse news in a poll by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center that showed a precipitous drop in Republican support among frequent churchgoers, one of the most important and loyal elements of the G.O.P. base. There's no indication that they are clamoring to be Democrats, but the risk is that they will simply stay home on Election Day.” “And the Democrats for once are showing the good sense to stay out of the way when the other side is self-destructing. Sighed one of the younger House Republican aides who sits in on key meetings: ‘Foul play on the Democrats' side? If that is the only card left to play, then we are in serious trouble.’" “Even though many of the G.O.P.'s policies have been hostile to gay rights, its leaders have long followed a ‘Don't ask, don't tell’ policy with what pretty much everyone in Washington knows is a sizable number of closeted Republicans among members of Congress, upper-level staff and top party operatives. Says Patrick Sammon, executive vice president of the gay group Log Cabin Republicans: ‘There are a lot of gay Republicans who are working behind the scenes to advance the priorities of this party.’" The Time poll follows: Do you approve of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President? Disapprove 57% Approve 36% Approve or disapprove of the job the U.S. Congress is doing? 57% disapprove 31% approve 12% don't know Say they would vote for a Democrat if the congressional election were held today: 54% vote for a Democrat 39% favor a Republican 7% Other party/ don't know Think the country would be better off if the Democrats won control of the House: 49% agree 38% disagree 13% Don't know 78% of poll respondents were aware of the scandal involving former G.O.P. Congressman Mark Foley. Their views: Do you think Republican leaders in Congress handled the Foley situation properly, or do you think they tried to cover it up? Handled properly 16% Covered it up 64% Did the disclosure about Foley's sexually explicit instant messages to teenage congressional pages and the handling of this situation by the House Republican leadership make you less likely to vote for the Republican candidate in your district, more likely, or did it really have no effect on how you will vote? Less likely 25% More likely 4% No effect 68% Do you think Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert should resign as Speaker because of his handling of the Foley case? Yes 39% No 38% Don't know 23% ("This TIME poll was conducted by telephone Oct. 3-4 among 1,002 adult Americans by SRBI Public Affairs. The margin of error is 3 percentage points. "Don't know" responses omitted for some questions. Asked of registered voters.") The cover of the October 16th issue of Time Magazine was as eloquent as this article. It showed the rear end of an elephant with a caption that read: WHAT A MESS.