One month ago:
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) predicted Thursday that Republicans will pick up seats in the 2008 election despite a slew of GOP retirements and the Democrats’ significant fundraising advantage.
"We don’t need as much money as [Democrats] have," he said. "We need enough to tell our story."
He added, "I think we are going to gain seats this year. Period."
Today:
Losses in two recent special elections combined with prospects for a tough contest next week sent House Republicans scrambling for change — both in words and deeds.
Minority Leader John A. Boehner told his caucus behind closed doors Tuesday that Americans won’t vote for Republicans until they fix their "brand" and convince voters they will fix Washington, according to members who were present.
The solution?
He told reporters that a campaign message for the caucus would be developed in the next few weeks.
"I think it’s clear this election is about change," Boehner said. "If we’re going to do well in this election, if we’re going to win back our majority, we have to prove to people that we are in fact the agents of change."
"I’ve been saying it for a year and a half," Boehner told his colleagues, according to the Ohio Republican’s written talking points and those inside the room. "Some of you have been listening. Others I’m not so sure about."
Boehner cited the need to stick with presumed presidential nominee Arizona Sen. John McCain and aggressively criticize Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif.
Right. Agents of change. Doing things like this.
House Republicans will hold a rally with President Bush on Wednesday morning, with all 199 members invited to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. to show solidarity with the president, according to GOP sources.
That's a total change from the blind solidarity Republicans have give Bush the last eight years! That'll show voters how Republicans want a change from a potential Obama presidency and all the things he'd do to reverse the Bush disaster! And yeah, it'll totally be a change for Republicans to remind voters that Pelosi is from -- gasp! -- San Francisco! That'll be so different from the last two years they've spent reminding voters that Pelosi is from -- gasp! -- San Francisco!
Where did Republicans dig up this joker?