McCain Implies Congress Is Lost
In recent ads and campaign speeches, John McCain implies Congress is lost and Congress implies the White House is lost. Republicans are beginning to use their coming electoral losses as arguments against each other. Implicit in both these arguments is that divided government is good for America.
Michael Landauer takes up the perceived wisdom in a blog post on The Dallas Morning News Opinion blog. He quotes from the The Dallas Morning News' own endorsement of John McCain:
"In better times, America could afford to consider entrusting the White House to an appealing newcomer like Mr. Obama and giving control of the presidency and Congress to the same party."
This makes no sense. If America is facing crises (and we are, two wars and the worst financial collapse since the Great Depression), why would we want ineffective government, bogged down by inter-party bickering and politics? When decision-making needs to be swift and firm, divided government is a recipe for failure. The News' argument actually makes sense only in reverse. In good times, America can afford divided government. In a crisis, voters should choose wisely and empower the winner to defeat the threats facing our country.
I can't find the text of the 2004 endorsement by The Dallas Morning News editorial board, but I know they endorsed George Bush, so they didn't worry then about Republicans having control of both Congress and the White House for another four years. This year, The Dallas Morning News endorsed John McCain for President, John Cornyn for Senator, and Sam Johnson, Pete Sessions, Joe Barton and other Republicans for Congress. The News has no concerns at all about recommending pretty much straight-ticket Republican voting and using any and all arguments to win votes, including fear of straight-ticket voting and the possibility that Democrats might end up winning too many races.
Tony Goolsby Blows Smoke At Voters
KERA radio aired an interview with Texas District 102 Rep. Tony Goolsby today in which Goolsby claims that he's always supported clean air and environmental issues. In a fact check, Burnt Orange Report details thirteen votes on environmental issues last legislative session. In ten votes, Goolsby voted against clean air and clean energy. (Two votes were consensus measures that passed unanimously.) BOR identifies Carol Kent as the "real clean air candidate" for District 102.
It's becoming a trait in this election for Republicans to run ads that present them as 180 degree opposites of what they've stood for in the past (and probably what they'll stand for again if voters are foolish enough to re-elect them). Tony Goolsby is just the latest of these extreme-makeover Republicans.
No comments:
Post a Comment