The following is the final two paragraphs from an MSNBC article titled, "Right Message, Wrong Messenger" by Newsweek correspondent Eleanor Clift.
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"Bush is down in the polls because of his policies, not because he?s hit a patch of bad luck.
These are self-inflicted wounds.
Republicans held out as long as they could, but they?ve had enough, too, of a war that?s taking lives and draining resources and government spending that?s out of control.
Just two months after Congress increased the debt ceiling, another hike is needed?the fifth since Bush took office?bringing the amount owed to almost $10 trillion dollars.
Bush has built up more foreign-held debt in five years than all previous presidents together accumulated over 224 years.
The rebellion over immigration has become the touchstone for conservative anger at Bush over a range of disappointments. ?This is where they?re venting,? says Wittmann.
The likely outcome in Congress is that any bill the Senate passes that tilts toward moderation will almost certainly die when it cannot be reconciled with a House bill that says illegal immigrants are felons.
[B]The Republicans will then go into the November elections having failed to act on an issue consuming the country at a time when they control the White House and the Congress, a dereliction of duty in the minds of many if not most voters.[/B]
Neo-Buchananism is on the ascendancy in the Republican Party, and the nativist sentiments unleashed in the immigration debate will end for good Karl Rove?s dream of building a permanent GOP majority, along with Bush?s failed promise to bring the country together.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Bush is down in the polls because of his policies, not because he?s hit a patch of bad luck.
These are self-inflicted wounds.
Republicans held out as long as they could, but they?ve had enough, too, of a war that?s taking lives and draining resources and government spending that?s out of control.
Just two months after Congress increased the debt ceiling, another hike is needed?the fifth since Bush took office?bringing the amount owed to almost $10 trillion dollars.
Bush has built up more foreign-held debt in five years than all previous presidents together accumulated over 224 years.
The rebellion over immigration has become the touchstone for conservative anger at Bush over a range of disappointments. ?This is where they?re venting,? says Wittmann.
The likely outcome in Congress is that any bill the Senate passes that tilts toward moderation will almost certainly die when it cannot be reconciled with a House bill that says illegal immigrants are felons.
[B]The Republicans will then go into the November elections having failed to act on an issue consuming the country at a time when they control the White House and the Congress, a dereliction of duty in the minds of many if not most voters.[/B]
Neo-Buchananism is on the ascendancy in the Republican Party, and the nativist sentiments unleashed in the immigration debate will end for good Karl Rove?s dream of building a permanent GOP majority, along with Bush?s failed promise to bring the country together.

