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Broder On The Coming Bush "Einstein Bounce"

Atrios appears not to think much of Broder's prediction of a Bush Bounce:

Dean Broder says the Bush Bounce is coming!!!!!!!!! AWESUM!!!!
It may seem perverse to suggest that, at the very moment the House of Representatives is repudiating his policy in Iraq, President Bush is poised for a political comeback. But don't be astonished if that is the case.

Well, politics, like everything, is relative. What I think Broder is really talking about is that the Democratic Congress is likely to take a tumble, because of Iraq:

[Bush] minimized the stakes in the House debate by endorsing the good motives of his critics, rejecting the notion that their actions would damage U.S. troops' morale or embolden the enemy -- all by way of saying that the House vote was no big deal. . . . [B]y contrasting today's vote on a nonbinding resolution with the pending vote on funding the war in Iraq, he shifted the battleground to a fight he is likely to win -- and put the Democrats on the defensive. Much of their own core constituency wants them to go beyond nonbinding resolutions and use the power of the purse to force Bush to reduce the American commitment in Iraq.

Sure the Dems support with the base is going to suffer if that happens. But more than that, Dems will join Bush in being blamed on Iraq if that happens. The Dems must see that a position on Iraq can not be avoided. And the choices are binary - in or out. Vote funding for the war and the Iraq Debacle becomes your Debacle too. Vote against it and it does not. It is that simple.

It is "cut and run" all over again. In 2006, the Dems were smart enough not to bite on Rove's gambit. I smell them biting this time, and taking the Iraq Debacle on their shoulders. Incredibly stupid politically as well as being bad policy.

And when that happens, Bush will look better relatively in comparison. Call it an Einstein Bounce.

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    an "Einstein" bounce? (none / 0) (#1)
    by cpinva on Fri Feb 16, 2007 at 12:02:56 AM EST
    puhleaaaaaaaaaaaaze! "dean" broder is a class A idiot. anyone foolish enough to even waste time on his meaningless ramblings should be sent to the end of the line. he's proven, time and again, that he doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground.

    bush could only look better, by comparison, to the sopranos, maybe. he is a tool now, has been a tool for all his life, and will continue to be a tool, for the rest of his sick, sad and pathetic excuse for an existence. anyone who thinks otherwise is a complete fool.

    A Bush bounce... (none / 0) (#2)
    by Edger on Fri Feb 16, 2007 at 01:45:54 AM EST
    ...would be like a splat staining everything around it.

    Well, politics, like everything, is relative. What I think Broder is really talking about is that the Democratic Congress is likely to take a tumble, because of Iraq

    Just like with the rest of Bush's life it would be a lie. He can only make himself look good by making everyone around him look bad. Some bounce.

    Broder has declared himself passe (none / 0) (#3)
    by wrisky on Fri Feb 16, 2007 at 02:51:02 AM EST
      With this editorial it has become apparent that David Broder's day in the sun is definitely in the past. He speaks highly of Bush's press conference the other day. I've watched it several times and I am unable to see what Broder saw. Maybe they let Broder into the Bush bubble and he was unable to think clearly due to the thin air or something, I don't know.

      It is sad to see erstwhile journalism heavyweights lose it this way though, very sad.

     

    wrisky (none / 0) (#4)
    by cpinva on Fri Feb 16, 2007 at 05:39:57 AM EST
    broder has been beyond passe' for years now. go back and read his columns of the past 6 years, they are a telling narrative of a man suffering early-onset journalistic alzheimers: he sees what clearly isn't there, and hears that which only dogs can.

    had he any honor or integrity left, he'd commit the journalist's version of hari kari.

    It's not THAT complicated for Dems (none / 0) (#5)
    by owenz on Fri Feb 16, 2007 at 08:37:11 AM EST
    Defunding the war remains the most direct option for Dems, but the political optics will be difficult as long as guys like Steny Hoyer are perpetuating the myth that funding the war equals "supporting the troops."  Americans seems to have internalized this meme at least to some degree, as polls indicate that substantially more Americans support setting a withdrawal date than a straight defunding effort.  

    With that in mind, Democrats should set a withdrawal date and vote on it.  Pass the proposal in the House, then put all the pressure on GOP senators to either support it or stand in the way.  It will likely get fillibustered in the senate. Democrats should then say: if Republicans will not let this come to a vote, we will be forced to defund the war when the deadline for withdrawal comes, regardless of whether we've had a vote or not.

    Let's say the withdrawal date is September 1, 2007.  Vote on it in the House and get it approved.  Watch it get fillibustered in the Senate.  Then say: if Republican Senators will not let this come to a vote, we will be forced to begin defunding the war on September 1, 2007.

    then maybe it's time (none / 0) (#6)
    by cpinva on Fri Feb 16, 2007 at 05:39:28 PM EST
    for some democrat to get up and say, to those like hoyer, "don't be an f*ing nimrod!". now, i'll grant you, that's probably not considered your standard senatorial speechifying, but it cuts right to the heart of the matter.

    sometimes, it really is necessary to point out the emperor's lack of clothes, so the willingly blind have no more excuses.