Does The GOP Fear Mid-Term Losses?

Columnist Robert Novak — is he the ultimate insider columnist or the ultimate device to deliver a trial balloon or political message? — reports that bigwig GOPers think the party could lose bigtime in the midterms:

Analysts at the Republican National Committee have sent this warning to the House of Representatives: The party is in danger of losing 25 seats in the 2006 election and, therefore, of losing control of the House for the first time since the 1994 election.



Although some Republicans on Capitol Hill believe the RNC is just trying to frighten them, concern about keeping the present 232-202 edge pervades GOP ranks. The second midterm election of an eight-year presidency often produces heavy congressional losses for the party in power.

May we ask an unseemingly question? We will..so forgive us:



Is it possible that aside from conscience this also has something to do with the frenzy among Republicans in Congress over the wrenching Terri Schiavo case and dilemma?



We can hear the howls of outrage now for even suggesting such a thing — but it certainly seems like party honchos are moving very swiftly and surely to shore up demands from the Christian Evangelical segment of the party’s base..ASAP.



Even as we write this we get news that the Senate has OKed legislation to help prolong the life of this ill-fated woman who was on a feeding tube for years until a Florida judge ordered it detached. Score one victory in the Senate.



The House had balked due to Democrats, so the Senate went ahead — short-circuiting the House:

The plan had been for the House to act first and then the Senate to pass the House version. But with Democrats forcing a delay in the House, the Senate went ahead and passed its own, identical, version by unrecorded voice vote.





That means the House will be acting on the Senate-passed bill, still enabling the legislation to be hurried to Bush for signature into law.

And the President is rushing back from Texas to sign it. How many times has GWB rushed back from Texas during his term to do anything?



This is a complex issue. We did an extensive post on it here with tons of links from weblogs from differing viewpoints on Friday. If you didn’t see it, read it now to get an idea of the varying views.



Then, this weekend, as Congress got involved we posted this post here on Dean’s World…which set off something of an uproar. Read the post AND the all of the thoughtful passionate comments. We have to admit: our view has not changed one iota from what we wrote earlier after reading the interesting comments (including the inevitable suggestion that we just don’t get it because we don’t agree with someone else)…and Novak’s piece tends to reinforce our earlier view.



But then reasonable people can differ over this. Not all Democrats and Republicans agree with their respective parties on this issue, although you’d never know that from news — or blog — coverage which makes you think that all Democrats are saying “REMOVE THE TUBE!” and all Republicans are saying “PUT THE TUBE BACK IN!” Read Richard Bennett’s post. We suspect on this serious issue, there are some who don’t see it as a party preference issue and more as an complex ethical issue…and perspectives will vary on that. Even within individual families.