The news for Democrats is so good these days, it's scary.
The news for Republicans, however, has not been quite so bright. A partial list of the GOP issues should help to underscore their dire straits: Sarah Palin's Troopergate ethical violations, John McCain's utter failure to drive any economic message, McCain's hypocrisy on his campaign "suspension" (brutally highlighted by David Letterman), Palin's general incompetence (brutally highlighted by Tina Fey), Ted Stevens' conviction (times seven), Michele Bachmann's self-impaling, Joe the (Unlicensed, Tax-Evading, Non-Independent, Congress-aspiring) Plumber.
So, it's not surprising that the Republicans are eating their own as their campaign dodders to its logical, unattractive conclusion. The question of who is putting the blood in the GOP waters, though, is an interesting one. Follow me below the fold for the information about who might be one of the main stiletto-wielding elephants.
The American Spectator website has a fascinating article in its "Washington Prowler" column today.
"Post-Defeat Planners" is remarkable for two reasons. First, the very title is an assumption that the Republicans are going to be on the business end of an electoral tsunami.
The content of the article, however, is even more revealing. It points a finger directly at a nationally prominent Republican for sowing the seeds of the disunion du jour that Republicans are suffering.
The article devotes its first half to the machinations of Eric Cantor as he tries to angle for some new job inside the House. It's not exactly certain what job that would be, as John Boehner and Roy Blunt don't have any plans to leave their positions, and Cantor's not exactly the most popular among his dwindling band of GOP House colleagues. However, that particular Virginia quisling is worth watching as the GOP heads into the political wilderness.
The real sockdolagers are in the second half of the article, and they all concern one Willard M. Romney.
Here's a quote from one former Romney aide, now working for McCain - and getting some early stiletto work in on the Alaska governor. (emphasis mine)
Sarah Palin is a lightweight, she won't be the first, not even the third, person people will think of when it comes to 2012. The only serious candidate ready to challenge to lead the Republican Party is Mitt Romney. He's in charge on November 5th.
Wow. I mean...just...wow. Has anyone told the McCain campaign that the election hasn't happened yet? Anyone appreciating "No-Drama Obama" a little more right now?
As Al Jolson said, though, "Wait a minute, wait a minute, you ain't seen nothin' yet, folks!" An anonymous McCain communications flack returns the shiv to the Mittster.
[Romney] said the only time he'd travel for us is if we assured him that national cameras would be there. He's traveled to Nevada and a couple other states for us. That's about it.
So Romney AND Palin are both divas, then? And, if so, does Romney have his fingernails out first? This anonymous Spectator citation indicates that both questions may be answered in the affirmative. (emphasis mine)
Some former Romney aides were behind the recent leaks to media, including CNN, that Governor Sarah Palin was a "diva" and was going off message intentionally. The former and current Romney supporters further are pushing Romney supporters for key Republican jobs, including head of the Republican National Committee.
Of course, it will be difficult to advance Romney's cause in light of these discoveries, plus Romney's failure to help any GOP candidates who were not already assured of winning. His refusal to do advertising for Jeff Beatty, who has a Sisyphean hill named Sen. John F. Kerry to climb on November 4, is highlighted in the article.
I believe all of this is important. The reason is that we cannot overlook anything at this juncture - including the future. David Axelrod is known for fighting the next war while other strategists are fighting the last or the current war. Democrats would do well to emulate Axelrod's long-range thinking to maintain this edge they're currently enjoying.
Democrats are going to get a mandate out of this election. The critical question is NOT how big the mandate will be. Rather, the critical question is what will Republicans try to do to undermine it, and how do Democrats get ahead of those plans?
Republicans, led by George W. Bush and masterminded by Karl Rove, failed to think things through once they got their executive and legislative control, and Democrats are benefiting from their arrogant shortsightedness. Let's not make the same mistake with our mandate.