Election ’08

If my fellow Republicans think we've had a rough few years, said Mona Charen in National Review Online, just wait until 2008. All signs point to a total 'œdebacle,' as the public disenchantment with the GOP that was evident in the 2006 elections has only worsened. A new Pew Research Center poll found that 50 percent of Americans now identify themselves as Democrats, compared with 35 percent who call themselves Republicans. Five years ago, the public was equally divided. Another recent poll found that the public trusts Republicans more than Democrats on only four of 13 major issues: terrorism, illegal immigration, taxes, and moral values. Here's the most shocking sign of all: Democrats are actually raising more campaign contributions than Republicans—something that hasn't happened in years. 'œWorried? I am.'

The GOP's problems can be summed up in two words: George Bush, said Ronald Brownstein in the Los Angeles Times. The president's disapproval rating 'œhas exceeded 58 percent all year and hasn't fallen below 50 percent for two years.' That's the longest that anyone in the Oval Office has been so unpopular since Harry Truman left office, in 1952. Historically, voters have avenged themselves on unpopular lame-duck presidents by voting against their party, both in subsequent presidential elections and in congressional races. 'œWhen a president takes on water, in other words, everyone in his party flounders.'

Not necessarily, said William Kristol in The Washington Post. On the big issues, Republicans actually have reason to be optimistic. After all, voters are quite aware that there hasn't been another terrorist attack on U.S. soil since 9/11. The economy is also in good shape. The biggest drag on Republicans right now, of course, is the war in Iraq, which is seen as 'œBush's war' and which Democrats want to abandon. But evidence is mounting that the surge is working, and that the worst may be behind us. If that proves to be the case, Bush will suddenly be viewed 'œas a successful president.' And as Election Day draws nearer, many Americans may 'œrecoil from the prospect of being governed by an unchecked triumvirate of Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid.'

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Republicans have to do more than hope that the public simply hates them less, said David Brooks in The New York Times. The leading GOP presidential contenders are merely mouthing the usual platitudes: 'œsmall government, military strength, strong families.' That's hardly going to inspire the nation. If Republicans truly want to be inspiring, said Frank Luntz in the Los Angeles Times, they'll have to figure out how to tap into the current discontent. For starters, they must convince the nation that they, too, are 'œfed up' with the gridlock and partisanship that now rule Washington. 'œStep two is to develop a message of hope.' That means offering an optimistic vision of America, as Ronald Reagan did, 'œrather than simply a litany of what has gone wrong.' It will take 'œa Herculean effort' for Republicans to avoid a catastrophe in 2008. They'd better start now.

John Podhoretz

Post