Why The MoveOn Vote Recalls Kerry's "Botched" Joke [View All]

[DrFunkenstein]

Before the 2006 elections, the GOP was struggling with an unpopular war, an economic boost that few outside of the boardrooms could notice, and a stretch of corruption charges as far as the eye could earmark.

All of Bush's political capital was spent on pushing through Social Security reform and the Harriet Myers bid. And it wasn't like the gay marriage amendment was going anywhere anytime soon.

The GOP was dead in the water and looking at another 12-15 years in the wilderness.

So what was their response? Attack Sen. Kerry's comedic timing.

It was sad. It was pathetic. And, yes, Hillary did embrace it with all the love she can muster for someone standing in her way.

So we flash forward to the present.

The Attorney General has dragged out an unwinnable battle, Scooter Libby won't go away, Republican Senators can't stay clear of brothels and airport mens' rooms, the conservative base is visibly appalled by their Presidential nominees, and Iraq is still waiting to turn that corner into its last death throes.

So what is their response?

Attack yet another painfully bad joke.

Yes, the "betray us" number was about as clever as shooting yourself in the groin. But although I find it well deserves reproach, the lady that is the Grand Ole Party doth protest a bit much.

But besides the very real comedy of watching Republicans feign indignation, it heartens me - and should you - that it reveals the sorry shape that the GOP is in right now.

We are talking about getting our troops out of a hornet's nest, they are talking about a lame joke. Unless some major and competely unforeseeable event comes down the road, the Republicans may be in the political wilderness even longer than they initially thought.

And they know it.