Desperate, Desperater, Desperatest

Denying the the story appearing in the New York Times yesterday that Bush has moderated his plans for "staying the course" in his highly unpopular war in Iraq-- whatever the cost or the consequences-- in the Washington Post today (title bar) we see this news:

"The White House is bracing for guerrilla warfare on the homefront politically if Republicans lose control of the House, the Senate or both--and with it, the president's ability to shape and dominate the national agenda.

"Republicans are battling to keep control of Congress. But polls and analysts in both parties increasingly suggest Democrats will capture the House and possibly the Senate on Election Day Nov. 7.
...
"Everything could change overnight for President Bush, who has governed for most of the past six years with a Republican Congress and with little support from Democrats.

Nothing whatsoever to be alarmed about, says George, although his expression belies his words: "'Every session you change the way you do business with the Congress. And you test the mood of the Congress, find out what their appetite will be. But it doesn't change your priorities,' the president told ABC News.
...
"Democratic victories essentially could block Bush's remaining agenda and usher in a period of intense partisan bickering over nearly every measure to come before Congress.

"Loss of either chamber also could subject his administration to endless congressional inquiries and investigations. "

It's to be hoped, anyway.

Maybe that accounts for the disturbed & pensive expression on George's face here, uncharacteristic as it is.


Photo: Washington Post










And meanwhile, Kingmaker Karl Rove (who elected him, anyway) swings into action, also reported in the WaPo today. Rove took it upon himself to "test drive" his new campaign plans by launching absurdly reductionist arguments against Democrats, still insistent that what the country needs is more of the same: draconian "fixes" in laws that don't need to be fixed, among other things.

"Appearing in support of embattled GOP Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds (R-N.Y.), Karl Rove offered biting jibes against House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), took a shot at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and asserted that Democratic policies would leave the country weaker.

"'You can't say I want to win the war but not be willing to fight the war,' said Rove, Bush's top political adviser. 'And if leading Democrats have their way, our nation will be weaker and the enemies of our nation will be stronger. And that's a stark fact, and it's the reason that this fall election will turn very heavily on national security.'

"Officially, Rove was speaking at the annual dinner for the Erie County Republican Party, but in many ways, the appearance was a show of support for Reynolds, the chairman of the National Republican Campaign Committee, who is in danger this fall after questions about his role in responding to the Mark Foley page scandal.

"Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was supposed to be the speaker at the dinner and rally, but he canceled, pleading a scheduling conflict, the Buffalo News said. McCain did speak to the rally by telephone, praising Reynolds as "one of my heroes."
Rove stepped in at dinner and used his speech to road-test new lines of attack on the Democrats. The basic themes -- that voters face a stark choice between the parties on taxes and terrorism -- have been a Bush standard.

"But Rove, who once claimed liberals preferred 'therapy' to war against terrorists, delivered them with an acerbity not seen from his boss.

"For instance, he needled congressional Democrats for voting against a GOP plan to try terrorist suspects at the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba. Many Democrats said the plan violated basic rights, but Rove rejected that. 'You need to have the ability to try these people without worrying about the ACLU showing up saying, 'Wait a minute, did you Mirandize them when you found them on the battlefield,' " he said. 'With all due respect, I don't happen to remember that in World War II, that when we captured Nazis and Japanese and took them to camps, that the first thing we did was provide them legal aid.'

"He also went after the would-be House speaker for voting against renewing the USA Patriot Act, the warrantless wiretapping program and the war in Iraq. 'With a record like that, you can see why Nancy Pelosi wouldn't want this election to be about national security,' Rove said."

Demon Princess is delighted to archly note that Karl's speechifying took place at what was, for all intents & purposes, a Neocon rally for Reynolds, who devoted a huge portion of the GOP re-election campaign funds to the sordid brand of dumpster-diving, lying, thieving & forging-of-signatures- on-documents that Rove himself purportedly pioneered when he was just a lad with hair.

This from the party that anoints itself defenders of moral fiber & "character counts," no less.

We guess that includes setting up straw-man arguments & absurdist scenarios with no basis in real fact whatsoever. The fixes the Republicons so ardently desire is that the electorate turn off their critical thinking faculties and dive deep into the depths of the dumpster of shameful Rovian politix & governance by propaganda.

In other words, more of the same.