Although
as our distinguished guest Professor Steven Freeman will demonstrate on our show Sunday, the GOP has evidently rigged our recent elections, there's one set of numbers they just can't change: the actual opinions of the American public.
Take the war. Please.
The Republicans have apparently chosen to follow the Karl Rove strategy of rallying 'round our fearless leader, supporting his war plan (if you can call sinking in a quagmire a plan), and condemning any talk of withdrawing our troops as "cut and run."
The Democrats, on the other hand, are engaged in a lively debate about what to do to stem the flow of blood and treasure and American reputation (what's left of it in the world today). In contrast to the Grand Old Party, the perennially disorganized Democrats are divided and, in the upcoming elections, prone to be conquered, according to the conventional political wisdom.
But hold the phone. It's reality calling.
Let's just use some "ballpark figures" (It's a "left field" thing). There are about equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans in the country. So if all the Republicans are in favor of the war as is, and the Democrats are divided right down the middle between the
Liebermans and Lamonts, that'd put support for staying the Geo. W. course at about 75% -- three-to-one against "the politics of defeat."
So how can all the polls show most Americans opposed to the way the president is handling the war in Iraq, the Number One issue for most voters?
Answer: The "stay the course" Republican leadership is out of step with the majority of Americans, who favor the more Democratic alternative -- either a gradual or an immediate withdrawal of our troops.
And put those attitudes towards the war together with the concerns reported today that moderate Republicans in Congress are worried that their leadership's emphasis on such issues as loosening controls on gun ownership and tightening opposition to abortion rights will alienate them from swing voters back home, and the GOP is setting itself up for electoral disaster.
They've got enough rope -- the presidency, both houses of Congress, and a fairly reliable majority on the Supreme Court -- now they're hanging themselves with it.
And it seems they know how to tie a good knot -- one that no amount of vote rigging can undo. Or can it?