Democrats Will Run Against Bush During Midterms, And Here's Why

[babylonsister]

http://washingtonindependent.com/93343/democrats-will-run-against-bush-during-midterms

Democrats Will Run Against Bush During Midterms
By Jesse Zwick 8/2/10 11:42 AM


Never mind that he’s not on the ballot, Democrats are planning on running against George W. Bush during this midterm election season. And it’s no wonder why:

…The main reason that Third Way, a centrist Democratic group, organized this breakfast discussion {was} to unveil a poll done by the Benenson Group (Joel Benenson is Obama’s pollster). Its central finding is the potency of Bush as a negative for the Republicans if the Democrats can find a way to reinject him into the campaign. That’s the good news. The bad news, says Matt Bennett with Third Way, “Republicans have done a spectacular job of removing the albatross of Bush.” When asked if the GOP would return to Bush policies if they gain control of the Congress, even Democrats said no, surely Republicans wouldn’t be that stupid.

But when Bush’s name is tied to the economic ideas that conservatives are promoting, and they are identical, there is a 49-point swing in favor of Obama, the biggest swing Bennett said he’s ever seen in a poll. For Democrats searching for a light to lead them through the darkness, it might help to remind voters that while Bush is gone, his ideas live on in his ideological clones, and voting out the new crowd will only bring back the old crowd.

One issue that might refocus the debate on Bush is the tax code. Obama has pledged to extend the tax cuts initiated under the Bush administration for individuals making under $200,000 and families making less than $250,000, but to repeal the large cuts made for individuals and families making more than that amount.

Republicans like Sarah Palin are busy calling his plan “the largest tax increase in U.S. history” and claiming erroneously it will amount to $3.8 trillion in new taxes over the next 10 years. In reality, the number is closer to $700 billion. Whether Dems can successfully position the issue as a debate about the returning to the policies of the Bush administration seems crucial to their prospects in the midterms.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Exploit that Bush connection!

Hit 'em hard!

Recommended.

[Dawson Leery]

2. They should.

People still have a negative view of him.

[AndyA]

3. Bush...the gift that keeps on giving...hopefully, this time for the Democrats!

The most hated pResident in history, who stole two elections, started two wars based on lies, destroyed decades of goodwill around the world, created MOST of our deficit today due to his policies, outed a covert CIA agent during a time of war, failed to protect us on 9/11 by ignoring the warnings...

and on and on and on.

Bush's policies almost destroyed this country, and his Republican cronies--many of them still in office today--went right along, rubber stamping everything he wanted.

Yeah, I think the Democrats can make the point.

And when the GOP says, "Bush isn't running, so why are you blaming everything on him?"

The Dems can just say, "America is still suffering from his policies, and the Republicans want to continue them if they gain control."

Enough said.

[damntexdem]

4. But the GOP seems to be inviting that albatross birdie right back in:

wanting to keep the tax cuts for the wealthy.

[NorthCarolina]

5. Because what else do they have? eom

[KoKo]

6. Wishful thinking on this one.... n/t

[Rosa Luxemburg]

7. Keep reminding voters - make ads on TV

[newtothegame]

8. I disagree with this. Haven't our policies and actions been good enough to stand on their own?

:shrug: What does that really say about us if our whole focus is on what's bad about someone that hasn't been in office for 19 months, and not what's GOOD about our administration and what we've done in the 19 months?

[babylonsister]

10. I happen to agree with you, but given the distractions

the rethugs are throwing up, including how they support idiot son's policies and 'still' want to follow in his footsteps, Dems probably feel they have to go with what might work.
As for accomplishments during this admin, you'd have to find a m$m who is willing to talk about them, and guess what? All they want to talk about is controversy. Rethugs won't bring up the positives, so I guess the media doesn't feel the need to either.

[SunsetDreams]

9. Babylon, did you post an OP that Republicans were running on his record?

I know I seen that here a few days ago.
This could be the reason for this response. I don't think that is the only thing the Democrats are going to use.

[babylonsister]

11. I did, but here's a link from ProSense I found...

This can't be true: Republicans want to make the 2010 election a referendum on Bush? (updated)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x379054

[bvar22]

12. It makes sense to run against Bush,

because they sure can't run on their record of "CHANGE" over the last 4 years.


"If we don't fight hard enough for the things we stand for,
at some point we have to recognize that we don't really stand for them."
--- Paul Wellstone

[RBInMaine]

13. They are already talking about returning to the policies of the past. Just keep it up, and toss in W