From Doug Thompson at Capitol Hill Blue:
GOP memo touts new terror attack as way to reverse party's decline
A confidential memo circulating among senior Republican leaders suggests that a new attack by terrorists on U.S. soil could reverse the sagging fortunes of President George W. Bush as well as the GOP and "restore his image as a leader of the American people."...
The memo outlines other scenarios, including:
--Capture of Osama bin Laden (or proof that he is dead);
--A drastic turnaround in the economy;
--A "successful resolution" of the Iraq war.
GOP memos no longer talk of "victory" in Iraq but use the term "successful resolution."
"A successful resolution would be us getting out intact and civil war not breaking out until after the midterm elections," says one insider...
The losses in Virginia and New Jersey, coupled with a resounding defeat of ballot initiatives backed by GOP governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in California have set off alarm klaxons throughout the demoralized Republican party. Pollsters privately tell GOP leaders that unless they stop the slide they could easily lose control of the House in the 2006 midterm elections and may lose the Senate as well.
"In 30 years of sampling public opinion, I've never seen such a freefall in public support," admits one GOP pollster...
As Republican political strategists scramble to find a message - any message - that will ring true with voters, GOP leaders in Congress admit privately that control of their party by right-wing extremists makes their recovery all but impossible.
"We've made our bed with these people," admits an aide to House Speaker Denny Hastert. "Now it's the morning after and the hangover hurts like hell."
Full article