Bush Backs Hastert

A Pew Research Center poll finds that the Mark Foley scandal has had no impact on voters. The poll numbers show no effect. The troubling news for Republicans is that the numbers favor Democrats and Iraq will be the central issue in the general elections.



One would imagine that Republicans would blow off the Foley scandal. The problem is when there is a cover up people get nervous and do stupid things. President Bush said, "Denny is very credible, as far as I’m concerned. And he’s done a fine job as speaker." Bush has also stated that Republicans will win the midterms. The President saying things that make him sound delusional is nothing new. If you follow Bush, you know he makes these public statements when things are going bad. Iraq is a perfect example. The White House can't really believe that Bush's low approval rating is going to help Hastert. The problem is that Karl Rove is the Tony Dungy of politics. He only has one playbook and he makes the same bad call on third and one.

Remember how the White House staged a photo-op with Tom Delay when the Hammer was in trouble.



Delay's booking shot was his next infamous photo-op.



Bush's attempted support of Hastert will not work. Neither have the talking points of Democrats have held on to these instant messages and emails. (How about some proof?) What's going on is the White House is scared. John Conyers has already hinted that House Democrats will investigate Bush until the end of his term. The administration supports torture, but they don't want to face the political equivalent of Chinese water torture. Heads will roll. Starting with Rumsfeld.

Forget the loyalty line. Bush is backing Hastert because he is badly miscalculating. He needlessly stepped into a Congressional scandal. Republicans are scared to make campaign appearances with Bush. Publicly staging a photo-op with Hastert is a good way to end a Speakership.