Cynical Politics

Dick Morris' latest column in the New York Post "Triangulate on Terror" presents a political strategy for Republicans to maintain Congressional control after the 2006 mid-terms.  His advice is to publicly accept the theory that the War in Iraq has no connection with the "Global War on Terror", not because it is true but because it makes for good politics.  Essentially, he argues, because the polls suggest that a majority of Americans do not see the connection, Republicans should quit talking about Iraq as a component of the War and talk, instead, about other security issues such as the NSA international wiretaps issue. 

Mr. Morris' advice is cynical to the extreme and t invites many Republicans to betray their own ideology for immediate political gain. 

Regrettably, Dick Morris may in fact be right. 

Despite the fact that the Iraq war is intricately linked to the battle against Islamofascists, Congressional Republicans have done a terrible job supporting the President in his goal of bringing democracy to the middle east.  They have too often blown with the political winds to the detriment of the cause.  It does not help matters that significant portions of the Press have focused on constant carping and self-serving statements of the Chuck Hagels of the party rather than the strong supporters of the war that are out there. 

Extrapolating from Dick Morris' observations, it may be too late for the Republicans to run on the premise that Iraq is a fundamental part of the larger security issues of our day.  Because they have failed to support the President's case up to this point, they have backed themselves into a corner on the issue and, given the state of popular opinion, may have no other choice but to pander to the majority rather than lose their control of Congress.

If Republicans had been stalwart in their defense of the President's policies and helped the President mold public opinion in favor of the connection between Iraq and National Security over the past two years, they may not have found themselves having to run away from the Iraq war today.  The weak backbones exhibited by many Republicans since the last election has put them in the position of now having to follow Dick Morris' advice by sacrificing ideology for political gain.  And people wonder why Americans have grown so cynical about their politicians.

-Matthew

Comments

[Brian]

Dick Morris is a horrible strategerist.....Clinton only won in 94 b/c of Perot's 13% of the vote and by 96 Dick had already been fired for diddling a whore. And Dick's other claim to strategery fame: he helped get Trent Lott elected in Mississippi.....who couldn't have run Trent Lott's campaign in Mississippi and gotten a victory? Well, maybe Paul Begala - but other than that .......Dick Morris's advice isn't worth the warm pile of spittle he leaves on his chin during his appearances on O'Reilly.