GOP Rep Thomas Davis III: Bush "Has Killed The Republican Brand"

Washington Post :

While all eyes were on the presidential campaign and the demise of New York Gov. Eliot L. Spitzer (D) last week, Republicans on Capitol Hill were suffering a run of bad news that could hold dire implications for the campaign season.

It started with the loss last weekend of the seat held for two decades by former House speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.). It got worse when Republicans lost potentially strong challengers to Democratic senators in South Dakota and New Jersey, and failed to field anyone to oppose the reelection bid of Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.).

The latest blow came with the revelation that the former treasurer of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) had allegedly diverted hundreds of thousands of dollars -- and possibly as much as $1 million -- from the organization's depleted coffers to his own bank accounts.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[Troubledwawa]

"It's no mystery," said Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.). "You have a very unhappy electorate, which is no surprise, with oil at $108 a barrel, stocks down a few thousand points, a war in Iraq with no end in sight and a president who is still very, very unpopular. He's just killed the Republican brand."
----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­--

I disagree.

The "Republican brand" was killed when Republicans such as Mr. Davis gleefully refused to enact the process our Founding Fathers gave us to handle situations like this - impeachment.

I have no idea where the loyalty of such Republicans lies, but I can say it's not to the Constitution of the United States (where it should have been).

[osage]

Bush has destroyed the AMERICAN brand! But thank goodness the political whores and religious/­moral/sexu­al deviants who promoted and enabled his misbegotten lunacies are paying the political and or personal price for elevating and protecting such an unworthy, inadequate and destructively flawed and fundamentally un-American embarassment. May they rot in ignominy, infamy, and many of them in jail, for decades to come as a result of their many failures of character and moral and legal integrity. I want the Machiavellis and jesters in King George's court of greed, deception, incompetence, conspiracy and cover-up to suffer for the rest of their lives as much as the and noble self-sacrificing men and women who have returned from Iraq broken, ignored and forgotten by George W. Bush and his shamelessly loyal miscreants of darkness.

[Bendersky]

And as far as Bush "destroying the republican brand," he did not so much destroy it as epitomize it. George W. Bush is the naturally outcome of the "Reagan Revolution­." To say he destroyed the GOP is to somehow attempt to distance the GOP's boilerplate policies--cut taxes, "small government (whatever the hell that means), ignore the environment, start unnecessary wars--this is what most republican politicians support (albeit sometimes under a different name) and it doesn't work because it can't, because their policies are inherently based on greed and fear and short sightedness.

Obama 2008!

[Trittydi]

It's all about GREED. Power, money and control. It's all they care about.

*

[HippieChick]

"And as far as Bush "destroying the republican brand," he did not so much destroy it as epitomize it."

Very concise statement, Bendersky. Pretty much says it all. The effect of republican policies of greed, fear and short-sightedness fall upon the lives of the citizens of this nation. I often wonder if they truly believed we wouldn't notice our quality of life draining away while they redirected the resources of our country into the hands of a few.

[arvada]

the republican brand is made in china

[willfarnaby]

If the next election is halfway honest, the American people (in spite of the mass of American Sheeple) will manage to dump the ReThugLieCon Mafia, at least down one energy orbital in the gangsters' malevolent access to power.

At that happy moment... start the fair, absolutely complete, absolutely rigourous investigations and, as warranted, vigorous prosecutions of each and every Bush Administration / NeoCon / ReThugLieCon gangster, for their high crimes (including treason), war crimes, torturing, terrorism, illegal spying, corruption, influence peddling and environmental machinations.

[larry278]

Coining the term ReThugLieCon (or posting on HP if you didn't coin the term) is a worth while accomplishment, willfarnaby. Thanks

[AmericaIsATerroist]

I would happily spend the first couple of years in an economic crisis if it meant that the full weight of the Government were brought to bear on these criminals. Nothing would make me happier than the entire nation glued to C-Span for months like it was the O.J. trial as one by one, these fuckers are prosecuted with no one of influence to help them. I'd wager that I could make a HEFTY sum betting on what we did and didn't already know, the length of sentences, how long Dick's ticker will hold out in front of the lights. Mmmmmm. i think I'd give up sex just to watch that.

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

They are not the party of less government, they are the party of George W. Bush. What he says goes. They have aligned themselves with him 100 percent. They are loyal forever. They will not question their king. They will not betray him. They would rather see the party die than ever betray the man whom they think is the greatest human being to ever walk the face of the earth.

They FUCKED UP BIG TIME.

[AmericaIsATerroist]

It was fear of crossing the Bush family, nothing more. There is not one single soul (except Barney) who is loyal to this retard. It is the knowledge that a family like that can make it so you would have trouble finding a job as a garbageman in Alaska if they sought to do so. THAT is what keeps them all in line. The bushes are a cancer on America. The minute that the shoe's on the Democrat foot however, you'll see a dramatic change in attitude as they all try to distance themselves from the whole fucking mess. Georgie had a house party while the adults were away and now all the kids are taking off before they get home.

[larryvgs]

"They will not question their king????" - For someone as bright as you I can't believe some of the things you say. You really need to get out more or read more than what's here on the Huffington Post about Republicans. I listen to O'Reilly, Olbermann, Cooper, Beck, Abrams, you name it, as well as a variety of conservative talk radio hosts (and yes, Air-America people too when they are on TV) and they ALL have been critical of Bush.

And we didn't F--- up big time. Our primary process did. I can see The Democrats' primary process by contrast is doing a great job though. Lol.

[Tom95134]

Bush had lots of help from the likes of Tom DeLay, Dennis Hastert, and all the others in the House and Senate that knew better but put Party before Country.

[nick1936]

YES PARTY BEFORE COUNTRY THAT EXACTLY WHAT THEY ALL DID SOLD THEIR SOULS FOR THE MIGHTY DOLLAR AND POWER AND LOOK WHERE THE DOLLAR IS TODAYBELOW OUR FRIENDS TO THE NORTH AND THE EURO NEXT WE WILL BE ON PAR WITH THE PESAO,KILLED 4,000 OF OUR TROOPS SO GAS COULD BE $4.00 A GALLON BUT FEAR NOT FOLKS THE TROLLS WILL SUPPORT A REPUK AND THE DEM'S WILL ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN.SO VOTE FOR HILLARY EVEN THOUGH OBAMA'S SUPPORTS WILL STAY HOME THEY ARE NOTHING BUT A BUNCH OF BABIES ANYWAY AND WE CAN BLAME THEM WHEN THEY VOTE FOR NADER

[Petwlkr]

Bush didn't kill the party. The throngs of Republicans in every level of society who walked in lock step with the delerious rantings of an obvious madman are the ones who have killed the party. Your blind allegiance to "all things Bush" enabled him to do what he did. Your insistance in branding anyone as a traitor who dared to question him and your willingness to look the other way no matter how obscene the transgressions, are the reasons why we are where we are today. You became drunk with power and caught up in the idea of beating the Democrats at every turn. You put the interests of yourselves and your party above all else, regurgitated the party mantra that "the end justifies the means"; and wallowed in your rightous indignation. The whole time laying claim to some non existent moral high ground. The Republicans have no one to blame but themselves for whatever fate may befall them come November. I can't say as I am surprised that they would refuse to own up to their part in any of it and instead choose to lay the blame squarely on Bush. Don't get me wrong, the Bush administration was undoubtedly the Pied Piper in this scenario; but you were the mindless lemmings who chose to follow him off the face of the cliff and drag the rest of the country along with you. If that ultimately means the death of the Republican Party in this country, I say good riddance. Same goes for the Democratic Party should they choose to ignore the lessons of their Republican predecessors.

[ipitombi]

Gas is at $3.60/gall­on on average, cost of groceries & consumer goods is outrageous, income is stagnant, no medical insurance, my white-collared shirt has turned brown-collared from excessive wear and tear, and the boss knows I can't afford to take a day off. Yet I remain thankful, because it could be worse, or get worse at any time.

I often wonder why Dumbya's mood remain ebullient in spite of all these woeful tales at home and abroad. I am however forced to reflect on the saying: "the people will usually get the leader they deserve." America deserve George W Bush. Russia deserved Putin, the Scandinavians deserve their "good" leaders, Africans deserve their "corrupt & irresponsible" leaders. Christians deserve their wicked charlatan leaders. Arabs deserve their brain-dead selfish leaders. And, New Yorkers figured they deserved better than whore-chasing Spitzer, so they forced him out.

November 4, 2008, America will again get another chance to pick a leader they deserve. Since people tend to fall prey to their worst tendencies, I am not particularly hopeful.

[frappe]

When all is said and done, the blame for the shocking and extensive damage done to America's institutions and principles will be squarely laid at the feet of George W. Bush and his army of Republican "rubber-stampers" in Congress -- the "Republican brand" as it were. And nothing -- and I mean "nothing" -- will change this reality.


No amount of calculated distractions and swiftboating during this campaign season will enable the "Republican brand" to circumvent the central issues facing American voters. And that central issue is this: Who do you trust with your future?


Do you trust the Republicans who have brought nothing but failure, tragedy, and loss or do you trust Democrats who historically have demonstrated an ability to govern in a fair and balanced manner? It was FDR who pulled us out of the Great Depression and gave us Social Security. It was FDR's administration that guided us to victory in our fight against Hitler and fascism. It was the Democrats who, over the objections of Republicans, gave us unemployment insurance. It was the Democrats who fought for the rights and privileges of workers to form labor unions which gave rise to the "middle class". It was the Democrats who fought for and won benefits for its war veterans. It is the Democrats who are pushing for a universal health care bill. It is the Democrats who are pushing for sanity with respect to our policies in the Middle East. It is the Democrats who are pushing for an environmentally safe future.


The only thing that Americans will be able to count on as far as the "Republican brand" is concerned will be for more pushing for a blank check for its corporate masters. And we've seen where that has taken us, haven't we? With their universal emphasis on more globalization, outsourcing, and "free trade" agreements, Americans will continue to suffer the Republican politics of destruction -- a rapid shrinking of the middle class and a further weakening of our economy.


Yes, Americans have come to a better understanding of what constitutes the "Republican brand". And they will register their collective disgust in November when Republicans everywhere will be getting their just reward -- PINK SLIPS.

[oneeyedodin]

"The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings­."


After 9/11 and prior to the illegal invasion of Iraq (Ayerack to Americans) Bush and the Republicans enjoyed unbridled popularity. As the semi-literate Toby Keith blurted out on stage, "George Bush, thank God he's our president" and millions of Americans agreed.
Revenge was the name of the game and Dubya leapt at the opportunity to please gullible Americans. Had the conquest of Ayerack been swift and relatively inexpensive Dubya would now be a hero. The majority of Americans would cheer him as a new Ceasar. Hell's bells 30 percent of Americans still believe Dubya has done and continues to do a 'good job as POTUS.

So Frappe blame Bush or Cheney or Pelosi or even Slick Willie but the ultimate blame belongs squarely on the shoulders of ordinary Americans.
The governed must give their consent to be governed.

[Dovespeace]

What a great truth there is in this post. It is something we should read daily just to keep our foot on the path of change. It is through the knowing that we make courageous and wise choices.

[Tankan]

He couldn't have done it without his fellow warmongers!

[keriheb]

The democrats were raising their hands and voting for the repugs trashy agenda as well. All of these bums need to go and Hillary along with them. All of them have been reaping the benefits of the stealing. They are all in bed together. Hillary has been queen of the Bill Clinton Pimp and Hoe Show and now wants to reign over America and make this a total house of ill repute.

[Tankan]

True!

By their actions shall ye know them!

[oneeyedodin]

If anyone doubts that the basic 'philosophy of the GOP differs from the Democrats they are beyond naive.

The Democrats could have done so many positive things with their majority in Congress. The reason they did not has nothing to do with courage as the trolls would have you believe.
It has everything to do with maintaining a status quo that was designed from day one of the Republic to favour a privileged class.
Both branches of the one political party are the servants of that same upper class.
Yes they will throw a few 'scraps' to a 'middle class' buffer when under sufficient pressure from below but ,make no mistake about their key goal. Power and control. This they will not relinquish without "excitement".
If Nixon did not destroy the GOP no one can. Bill has not destroyed the Dem Branch of the RPPA either.And that , my friends, is an indictment of Americans, not the Party.

[JackSlappyNotYourPappy]

zzzzzzzzzz­zzzzzzzzzz­zz

[oneeyedodin]

You epitomize the problems facing America Jack.
Continue to be a useful idiot for the RPPA. I suppose you have enough scraps to favour the status quo.

[Trittydi]

All true.

*

[montemalone]

The Democratic majority in congress is paper thin, and as such does not have the veto-proof numbers required to override shrub's veto pen. That is part of the reason why so little has been done to undo the damage done by shrub and his cohorts.

[bitabingbitabangbitaboom]

This is not the End; it is (is) not even the Begining of the End; but maybe the End of the Begining.

[JackNasty]

George W. Bush has destroyed every organization that he has attempted to lead. Republicans should not be surprised.

[situationcritical]

They aren't. They're greedy. That's all.

[NChooseK]

Tom Davis, 7 term Republican. Any bets on whether he will be an 8 term Republican? Will any money from the now dead Republican Party brand be making its way into his coffers this year?

[melfy]

poor tom has seen the writing on the wall.his WIFE was defeated last nov.(VA state seat).he thought he would cruise into J.WARNER'S senate seat in nov.(not). this piece of gop crap from VA'S 11TH district has decided to not run again.oh tommy,thanks for your part in turning VA BLUE.i know i'm looking forward to you being gone.what a tool.....

[RoddyMcCorley]

Well boo hoo hoo.

And what was Thomas Davis III doing while Bush worked his magic?

Our Republican friends put party above country, and doomed both.

Mission accomplish­ed...

[01202009]

Keep your eyes peeled...T­hese Republican snakes will steal what they can't win fairly and squarely.