De Bush Bende 26

Information Clearing House:

'The Republicans Took a Dive.

The whole thing could have been a Frank Capra movie.

An evil cabal seizes control of the Republic through means so ruthless and clever that they remind many of the Nazis' rise to total power in 1930s Germany. They invade countries on false pretenses as a cowering opposition party supports the wars before it opposes them Clause by clause, the Constiution is shredded by Newspeak laws like the "Patriot Act" and the "Military Commisisons Act."

At first, the people were fooled. They believed it when their leaders told them that their safety required endless wars and a police state. But freedom turned out to be harder to extinguish than the evil warmongers had imagined. What began as a still, small voice on the "Internets" was echoed by a few brave comedians and commentators until a deafening roar was heard on an election day "thumpin'" that transformed the fearsome bullies into whimpering cowards.

All that's left is for Jimmy Stewart (or is it Jon?) to utter the closing speech about how good is always stronger than evil.

Or not.

What explains the curious decline from the high--powered Republican machine that could snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in 2000, 2002 and 2004 to the broken down jalopy of 2006 that blew control of both houses of Congress?

More specifically:

* Why did the Republicans leave so many ethically-challenged Republicans in the line-up--people like DeLay, Foley, Sherwood, Weldon, Ney and Burns--until it was too late to even replace them on the ballot?
* Why didn't Republicans use their vaunted Right Wing Noise Machine to counterattack corrupt incumbent Democrats?
* Where was the "Diebold factor" on election day when a mere change of 50,000 votes spread across 20 districts would have denied Democrats the House and a few thousand in Virginia or Montana would have held the Senate?
* Why did George Bush promise that Rumsfeld would remain as Secretary of Defense until the bitter end and then fire him the day after the election when that might have saved the Republican majorities?

There are non-tin foil hat explanations for each on its own:

* Republican arrogance fooled them into thinking they could slip through sleazes like DeLay and Foley.
* Democrats have neither serious corruption problems nor spicy sexual issues.
* There never was a "Diebold Factor."
* Bush is stubborn.'

Lees verder: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article15585.htm