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February 10, 2012
Lisa M. Krieger: Man with defibrillator demands access to his own heart's information
David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
February 9, 2012
Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design
February 6, 2012
Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
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Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
August 31, 2005
/ 26 Av, 5765
GOP, Dems in synchronized funk
By
Tony Blankley
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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Usually, when one of our major political parties is feeling
weak, the other one is feeling strong. But right at the moment, both the
Republican and Democratic Parties seem to be in a synchronized funk.
Republican operatives do not currently anticipate the 2006
election to be a good time for Republican challengers. As a result, as Bob
Novak and others have pointed out, it is hard to get the best Republican
hopeful candidates to risk taking on even weak Democratic incumbents in the
next election.
Meanwhile, Republican incumbent congressmen and senators are
sending signals not to expect many heroic legislative efforts from them
before the election which is still 15 months away. Social Security, of
course, is off the Republican legislative agenda. But so, too, will be other
smaller legislative efforts that might upset even small groups of voters.
I have always found it a curious, if predictable, response of
legislative parties, which fear the public is not satisfied with their
performance that they retreat further into inaction, rather than exert
themselves to re-gain the sagging approval of their natural electors. It is
the instinctive pose of the deer to freeze in place and hope not to be
noticed.
Given that in an off election the legislators are the only
federal incumbents on the ballot, hiding in plain sight may not work too
well. Although it has to be conceded that unless Election Day 2006 is far
worse for Republicans than it currently looks, they are not likely to lose
either the House or the Senate. But when a party, hoping to only lose two or
three Senate seats and a half dozen or so House seats, adopts a hunker-down
policy they run the risk of having no strategy left to play if things are
in fact worse next spring or summer.
Compounding the problem is President Bush's insistence on
pushing for his guest-worker legislation this fall. Unless he agrees to a
full, really-secure-the-border-first-before-addressing-guest-worker plan
this is both political and legislative terrible news waiting to happen. If
the Republicans go along with him, they further alienate the growing part of
the public for whom secure borders is becoming the single issue on which
they will vote. If they oppose the president, they further weaken their own
party's president as well as upset the business and agri-business
interests, which want the cheap labor and make campaign contributions.
The best prospect for the White House's congressional party in
an off election is a popular president. The congressional party undercuts
their own electoral prospects by undercutting and weakening their president.
But sometimes as in 1990, when President G.H. Bush came out for tax
increases it is the lesser of dangers to oppose their president on a
vastly unpopular (and unwise) policy. Insecure borders and immigration looks
to be shaping up as the tax increase tar baby of 2006.
Overhanging Republican anxieties is the war in Iraq which is
not yet a lethal threat to a Republican congressional majority but might
become one.
With the Republican Party thus mired in this bog of despond, one
would expect the Democrats to be as chipper as a roué bouncing up the stairs
of his favorite brothel. But the regular, elected Democrats are more likely
to be playing the song "Blue Monday" on their CD players and reaching for
their razor blades.
That is because the mainline Washington Democratic Party has
been all but possessed by their lunatic, MoveOn.org, Howard Dean, anti-war,
anti religion, anti-pickup truck, anti-normal, activist wing and they
know it. Not only is their left-wing fringe forcing its goofy ideas and
obnoxious, off-putting rhetoric on the party regulars, but they are raising
most of the money.
The Democratic Regulars find themselves similarly situated to
the1970s' British Labor Party, which, though possessing many sensible
members and some sensible ideas, came to be seen as the party of the loony
Left. They lost power in 1979 to Maggie Thatcher and didn't shed their loony
image and regain power until 1997 a full 18 years later.
Once the loons get a hold of a party, it is the devil's own time
unprying their maniacal grip from a party's throat. Thus, currently, the
normal Democratic senators and congressmen know that, to placate their loony
Left, they will have to pronounce various foolish and irresponsible things
about Supreme Court nominee John Roberts and the Iraq War.
Even Sen. Clinton who it had been presumed would get a free
pass from the liberals in order to moderately position herself for a general
presidential election may find that she, too, will have to placate the
loons by feeding them with the harsh and foolish words they demand from
their politicians.
But in this parity of despair, the Republicans have one
advantage over the Democrats. They have the executive branch and legislative
power to actually carry out some good ideas if any pop into their heads.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
Tony Blankley is editorial page editor of The Washington Times. Comment by clicking here.
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© 2005, Creators Syndicate
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