Must-read column:
But the real problem goes much, much deeper: The Republican Party has ceased to stand for anything other than its own perpetuation in power.
Whether it's the $1.2 trillion Medicare prescription-drug giveaway, a massive cash drop to farmers, tariffs to protect uncompetitive U.S. industries or a porky highway bill, the GOP has sent the clear message that it's lost all will to restrain either spending or the size of government.
Leaving voters who once leaned Republican to conclude: If they're not going to do what they were sent to Congress to do 11 years ago — well, then to hell with them.
"Republicans will stay home, independents will cast a protest vote and every Democrat will come out," warns Luntz. "What reason do Republicans have to wait in line an hour to vote?"
And the real kicker is, does anyone seriously believe that without the prescription drug benefit, the farm subsidies, tariffs or highway bill that Bush and the GOPers in Congress wouldn't have won last November anyhow? I have yet to meet anyone who voted for Republicans last year based on any of those reasons.
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Granted, I'm in Washington, DC and can count the number of people I know who voted for Bush on one hand...
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Update: Related thoughts here.
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Another update: And yet as bad as Republicans are...
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