America's view of Republicans crumbles in Iraq

[Quixote1818]

Thomas F. Schaller
Originally published February 14, 2007
According to the latest Gallup survey, Republican self-identification has declined nationally and in almost every American state. Why? The short answer is that President Bush's war of choice in Iraq has destroyed the partisan brand Republicans spent the past four decades building.

That brand was based upon four pillars: that Republicans are more trustworthy on defense and military issues; that they know when and where markets can replace or improve government; that they are more competent administrators of those functions government can't privatize; and, finally, that their public philosophy is imbued with moral authority. The war demolished all four claims.

In uniform or out, Americans think Iraq is a disaster, oppose escalation and blame Mr. Bush and his party for the mess in Mesopotamia. Heading into the 2006 mid-terms, polls showed Republicans trailing Democrats as the party most trusted to handle Iraq and terrorism. Nationally, Mr. Bush's war approval ratings hover around 30 percent.

Military members are skeptical, too. A Military Times poll released in December revealed that only 35 percent of military members approved of the president's handling of the war - despite the fact that 46 percent of them are self-identified Republicans (down from 60 percent in previous Military Times polls) while just 16 percent are Democrats. According to a recent Zogby survey of troops serving in Iraq, 72 percent want American forces home within a year.

More: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.schaller14feb14,0,771774.story

[Skink]

1. Now maybe they will rethink their belief in other Republican policies.

[Change has come]

2. That was a wonderful read.

Thanks for posting.

[The Magistrate]

3. Mr. Schaller Is One Hundred Percent Correct, Sir

This is damage on a generational scale....

[opihimoimoi]

4. The GOP iz kaput......Farmez le bush

[The Magistrate]

5. Indeed, My Friend

Next year there will be a celebratory barbaque....

[opihimoimoi]

11. Steaks and fine WINE,,,,

my treat....:toast:

[Quixote1818]

6. Yep, Bush is doing for Democrats what FDR did for Democrats

only with negative results for the country that will last years.

[dysfunctional press]

7. and the Democrats are fucking up all that good will...

they refuse to do what the people elected them to do-

they may be in for a VERY rude re-awakening in 2008.

[Jacobin]

14. The people are always ahead of the 'leaders'

Democrats have been very very slow to capitalize on this issue, and here's hoping they are paying attention now.

[Cha]

16. Like Molasses in

February in the North East.

[ThaSickness1979]

8. I'm glad

The you brought up the Military Times poll. The military is not in Dumbya's back pocket anymore and are growing tired of this war. Although I got a friend who is in the Army who could be leaving for Iraq in the next 6 months. I hope for his sake he doesn't end up there.

[Quixote1818]

9. So those DU bumper stickers do bring good people to DU?

Welcome! Hope you come around on a regular basis!

[Gold Metal Flake]

10. To paraphrase Franklin...

We have a majority party, if we can keep it.

[DaveofCali]

12. Republicans are frauds. Democrats handled 4 major wars in the 20th century

Even though LBJ screwed up with Vietnam (interestingly, just to compete with the Republicans,) Democrats handled World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. All the Republicans have in war credentials in the past 100 years is the continuation of Vietnam (which Nixon also screwed up in) and the two Iraq wars, with the Gulf War, which was relatively easy, obviously being the only success.

[Jacobin]

13. survey of troops serving in Iraq, 72 percent want American forces home within a year.

Put that in John McCain's crack pipe and let him smoke THAT one, the ass always trying to say what the troops want

[Cha]

15. Since it was built on the house of

Sand and the fucked up Americanmediawhores..that's all it took to crumble..thousands and thousands of deaths by bushlies and billions and billions of $$$$ blown to hell. :nuke: