Pressing The Flesh

Monday, January 02, 2006

Here, in no particular order, are the reasons why 2006 has GOT to be better than 2005:

1,113 Days To Go:

Back in November of 2004, Bush said...

"Let me put it to you this way: I earned capital in the campaign, political capital, and now I intend to spend it. It is my style. That's what happened in the -- after the 2000 election, I earned some capital. I've earned capital in this election -- and I'm going to spend it for what I told the people I'd spend it on, which is -- you've heard the agenda: Social Security and tax reform, moving this economy forward, education, fighting and winning the war on terror."

Certainly this little gem of a catchphrase has come back to haunt Bush Jr. in the same way that "Read My Lips: No New Taxes" bit his Daddy in the 1992 Presidential Campaign.

Can Bush Jr. still wreck havoc on the United States? Absolutely. Does he have the same amount of political capital he had at this time last year? Not a chance.

More Importantly, 308 Days To Go:

Speaking of lowering the political capital, the Republican party will be facing the fight of their life on November 7, 2006. According to Zogby:

Asked if they would “definitely” or “probably” vote for the Democrat or Republican in next year’s fall congressional election, 48% said the Democrat would get their support, compared to 40% who said they would vote for the Republican.... The poll shows weakness for Republicans among demographic groups that are typically supportive. In “red” states that favored George W. Bush in the presidential election last year, generic congressional Republicans hold a 46% to 43% advantage over their generic Democratic counterparts. But in “blue” states won by Democrat John Kerry last year, the Democratic lead is much larger – there the congressional Democrat leads by a 54% to 34% margin.

Indeed, this trend is mirrored throughout the current polling statistics. Key match-ups include:

* The Senate seat in PA, where Rick Santorum trails Bob Casey, Jr. by 12 points;

* A vulnerable Tom DeLay fighting to shore up support in TX-22, although few people in the district yet know enough about his potential opponent, Democrat Nick Lampson. Clue = GET TO KNOW HIM!!!

* With Bill Frist vacating his Senate seat, Harold Ford remains competitive in TN, and this Red State race could potentially be a bellweather of 2008.

PTF will obviously be following these races, as well as a host of others as the potential of a changing of the guard in both the House and Senate becomes more and more of a real possibility.

Troops Coming Home:

Look, when it comes down to it, I don't care whether people read it as an admission of failure of the mission in Iraq, or as a political stunt designed to shore up support for the Republican party. This year will see a significant number of troops returning home from Iraq in 2006. And that's good news for anyone who claims to "Support Our Troops" - regardless of political affiliation.

The World IS More Peaceful:

Despite the best efforts of the Bush Administration, a recent report suggests that the world is, in fact, becoming more peaceful. We at PTF pray that the trend continues, and look for the political ways we can work toward creating a more peaceful world in 2006, both politically, and in those simple everyday ways.

Posted by FleshPresser at 3:58 PM /

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