LAT: GOP Leaders Are Hoping to Turn Iraq War Into a Winner: Memo

[DeepModem Mom]

GOP Leaders Are Hoping to Turn the War Into a Winner
A strategy memo says Iraq may rouse voters. A recent poll shows it may not be to their benefit.
By Peter Wallsten, Times Staff Writer
August 8, 2006

CRAWFORD, Texas — Some Republican candidates are distancing themselves from President Bush in fear of voter discontent with the war in Iraq. But a new GOP strategy memo argues that the war could prove to be an advantage for many Republican candidates, citing it as one of the most effective issues that will excite the party base in November.

The memo, based on a Republican National Committee poll of GOP voters and obtained by the Los Angeles Times, lists Bush's handling of "foreign threats" as the No. 1 motivator of the Republican base, specifically citing his leadership on Iraq.

"Large majorities report satisfaction with the president's commitment to defeat the terrorists in Iraq and his leadership in the war on terror, in general," according to the memo sent Wednesday to Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman from GOP pollster Fred Steeper.

The memo suggested that Republicans could motivate their base in the upcoming elections by talking about foreign threats and national security issues, including Iraq and the potential nuclear threat from Iran, and by drawing contrasts with Democrats in those areas. It said "a huge 87% of the base expresses extremely strong feelings" about national security issues.

The memo underscores the belief among top White House and GOP strategists that the war, despite the rising death toll and mounting public anxiety, could be the party's biggest advantage in the fight to retain control of Congress in the November elections....

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-gop8aug08,0,6496427.story?coll=la-home-nation

[ananda]

1. So what!

Let it excite the base... it's so small now.

[meegbear]

2. Use TERRAH! TERRAH! TERRAH! as a campaign issue?

And they had to wrote a memo? They've been using that shit for a few years now.

[cspanlovr]

6. I'm sick of their terrah-ra-boom-de-A mongering.

Maybe a whole lot of other people are too.

[RaleighNCDUer]

24. I think that is more correctly

"terrah-ra-boom-de-A-bomb".

[sinkingfeeling]

3. We should all post signs across the country.... The draft will start

with GOP supporters. If they get 'excited' about war, let them fight it!!

[acmavm]

4. Oh for God's sakes, how do thise super-morans think they

can spin that carnage into a plus?

That's one of the dumbest things I've ever heard in my life, and I'm getting up there.

[underpants]

11. I completely agree

That was hell I don't even know what to call it.

[rodeodance]

21. well, a third already believe and those in the middle?--only takes a bit

over 50% -they did it last time. And they will fight harder this time--i dread the whole scene.

[Kikosexy2]

30. Haven't you heard?..

Uncle James Baker III is working on it right now...check out truthout.org it's all there....if Uncle Baker boy can't turn Iraq into a winner then GOPers and Bushco are sooooo screwed....

[acmavm]

35. I read that this afternoon. But you know, sometimes a loser is just a

loser. This 'war' ain't ever gonna be made to look like a winner. Not unless the constant smell of death in the air can be made out to be a good thing.

[tabasco]

42. Never underestimate the gullibility of the American people.

Look how many millions actually voted (twice!) for George W. Bush, who was clearly in way over his head.

This is a country of morons and now we have corporate media blasting propaganda non-stop.

Suffice it to say, I'm very worried about the future of this country.

[Lerkfish]

5. Iraq and "winner" should never appear in the same sentence.

[Cocoa]

7. Iraq is a winner with the TFM demographic

[stepnw1f]

8. "Turn Iraq War Into a Winner" So That's Why We Are There?

So Republicans can win elections, while soldiers and civilians die?! WTF!!!!!

[EVDebs]

34. Putting lipstick on this pig isn't as easy as they thought LOL !

[Barrett808]

9. "Large majorities report satisfaction with the president's commitment"

Which polls are they reading?

[underpants]

10. Hey no posting articles from The Onion in LBN

Oh wait that wasn't an Onion article??

:rofl:

First off-what is a "swing Republican"?? :rofl:

Hey Mehlman I thought you "from the gut" guys didn't pay any attention to polls. Speaking of which what polls are you reading? More importantly does the RNC have drug tests? I guess this is like the poll that Rove was talking about a few months ago that completely supported what he was saying (not that he pays any attention to polls mind you) but was never able to actually produce this supposed poll.

Lastly-reread the first 4 paragraphs and tell me that they aren't basically the same message rewritten 4 different ways.

[underpants]

14. I formally nominate this LA Times story for the top 10 of this week

This is one for the books.

I think it is safe to say that they are polling/focus grouping on this article (itself) as we speak.

[bowens43]

12. "a huge 87% of the base expresses extremely strong feelings"

Unfortunately for these clowns, that "huge 87% of the base" only represents a small percentage of voters. The neo-con base is small and shrinking.

[Auntie Bush]

37. Changed your mind yet about Dems needing General Clark?

Are you warming up to that possibility just a little?

[daleo]

13. If they manage that trick, they should try turning base metals

into gold.

[Lerkfish]

17. LOL!

thanks made me laugh

[MrCoffee]

18. why not?

they turned a base person into pResident

[grytpype]

15. Make the war a winner without winning the war!

"We're losing the war, but we're feeling great! Our base is highly motivated by resolute defeat! Heh heh heh."

They are pissing themselves with fear. I love it.

[MrCoffee]

16. A very special place in hell for Ken Assface Mehlman

From the article - "Mehlman, in an interview Monday, said the GOP survey demonstrated that the base became motivated when it heard that Democrats supported policies of "isolationism and defeatism," words that the GOP had attached to Democratic proposals to withdraw troops in Iraq."

So for all you isolationist, defeatest Dems out there, you're just motivating the GOP base. Don't swish the backwash, people!

[Roland99]

19. They're desperate to get their base to even go to the polls.

[janx]

23. Precisely! And they know that FEAR works well with

(what is left of) their base.

[KansDem]

20. It'll take a helluva lot more than a memo...(eom)

[OregonBlue]

22. Shouldn't Keith nominate for worst person in the world? Using the

war and terrorism as a strategy is so sleazy. Needs to be framed as "they are trying to SCARE you into voting to continue their ineptitude"!!

[TankLV]

36. All we have to fear is - well - BE AFRAID, BE VERY AFRAID!

Repuke party, circa 2006.

My how low we have come from FDR's stirring vision and strength...

[OregonBlue]

41. When will dems go on attack? Start asking American people when

we all became such wimps? We need a leader, a brave leader who will really question their whole "be very afraid" B.S. One who will ask the American people to stand up and face our fears and do the right thing. How do Dems convince American people that this "war on terror" is making us less safe?

[Monkeyman]

25. A letter from Iraq from a troops is on

http://www.dailykos.com

[swimboy]

Operation Iraqi Freedom to be Most Popular War Ever!

:eyes:

[maxrandb]

26. This just about says it all about the GOP, doesn't it!

"The memo underscores the belief among top White House and GOP strategists that the war, despite the rising death toll and mounting public anxiety, could be the party's biggest advantage in the fight to retain control of Congress in the November elections"

Read that again s-l-o-w-l-y. "The war could be the party's biggest advantage in the fight to retain control of Congress in the November elections".

This is the party that "supports the troops"?? Seems to me, it's the other way around. They're looking at using the troops to support their party.

Sick fucks. If the American people fall for it, then we deserve what we get. The GOP must think the American people suffer from "battered spouse syndrome". Every new disaster, terror attack, scandal, or outrage is just another reason to keep the Repukes in power.

They've worn out using 9/11 as a prop. Now their using our dead troops. I loathe these fuckers.

[yellowcanine]

27. Good. We should encourage this. Heh,

[klyon]

28. lol that's right just keep playing that Iraq card

everything is peachy
we're just pulling back to Baghdad for stretegery reasons
no civil war there no no not there
:thumbsup:

[Supersedeas]

29. Ken Biglips Mehlman really has it goin' on--he's a big winner.

[BigDDem]

31. Let the excited base show up in Iraq

they'll be greeted as liberators with flowers and candy.

[Straight Shooter]

32. GOP is thrilled with bush's "commitment to defeat the terrorists in Iraq"

Well, isn't that special. Create a FUBAR situation, then congratulate yourself on making it worse while simultaneously telling people you're committed to fixing it.

Repubs are strange. Very, very strange.

[SnowGoose]

33. The GOP consultants are saying what their employers want to hear.

How surprising is that? The beauty is that these stuck-in-the-matrix republicans will probably believe it.

The whole thing's such an unmitigated human tragedy that I can't even take any pleasure in these idiots willfully branding themselves with it. But I guess it's fitting - this is their war. I can't imagine why they'd want to claim it, but if they do, it'll be the only honest thing they've said, and it'll give the American public a clear choice.

[Cha]

38. The "TERRORISTS IN IRAQ"

THAT bush CREATED! Let's not rewrite history again you lyin' bunch of jackals.

[Bosso 63]

39. Rove always attacks an opponents perceived strength.

Well Bush's perceived strength is national security, and we need to attack that illusion.
After 9/11, Bush had everything; The most powerful military force the world has ever seen, 90% approval, and a blank check from congress to go after guys armed with box cutters. Well, 5 years later, are we more secure? Do we have the enemy one the run? Is there light at the end of the tunnel?
Hell no! So what's the problem?

It seems to me that either:

A. The our troops are incompetent cowards afraid to fight; or

B. Its the President's fault.

That's how I would frame the question

[Felix Mala]

40. "...foreign threats and national security issues, including Iraq..."

Didn't we go into Iraq precisely so it would NOT be a threat? Here we are three years later and they want to campaign with the idea that we're no safer for all the lives and billions of dollars spent?

I guess since so much of the GOP base is completely insane (I'm talking about you, Ann Coulter, and you, Sean Hannity), they have to get them to the polls with even more insange ideas.

[Sapere aude]

43. Fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror

Fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror Fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror Fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror Fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror Fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror Fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror Fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror Fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror Fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror Fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror Fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror Fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror Fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror Fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror Fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror Fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror Fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror Fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror Fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror Fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror Fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror Fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror Fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror Fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror fear terror

That's what will bring out the repuke base.