Bush Focuses on Midterms

The Washington Post reports that the President and his team are looking to the midterms as a chance to revive his agenda and vindicate his Presidency. They give a preview of the issues the White House plans to use to boost the standing of Republican candidates: immigration, tax cuts, same-sex marriage, and a renewed effort to educate the voters on Iraq.

John at Powerline offers an analysis of this with which I largely agree. I would be remiss if I did not add however, that any appeal by the Congressional GOP to the base ought to include spending. Taxes and spending - and by extension the proper role of government in society - is the unifying force behind the Republican coaliton. Indeed, it is the unifying force behind both major parties. The GOP ignores spending at its own peril. And if the Republican majorities survive this election-year test, they will have addressed the symptoms - but not the problem - if they fail to deal with the problem of excess spending.

Finally, Churchill famously said "There is nothing more exhilarating than to be shot at without result." If the Democrats take their best shot at the GOP Majority and miss, this year, perhaps the GOP will learn a lesson: you can't be popular with Democrats by acting like Democrats, so you might as well do what you believe in.

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