What non-issues will the Republicans use in 2008 to distract voters from the Iraq war?

Answer 1

The question is whether or not the Republicans will actually have a leg to stand on after the 2008 elections bury them into the ground:

A CNN/ORC poll found that 54% of people thought that the administration had deliberately misled the American people about whether Iraq had WMD. An ABC News/Washington Post poll in February found that 63% of respondents did not trust the Bush administration to report honestly about possible threats from other countries. The Democratic Party will use its majority status over the next couple of years to deepen the public's unease about the administration's conduct of the war. As a result, an “R” by a candidate's name could be even more of a scarlet letter in 2008 than it was in 2006.

Mr Bush's mishandling of the war has damaged the Republican Party's two biggest advantages over the Democrats—its reputation for skilful foreign policy and for the unapologetic use of force. The likes of Richard Nixon, Henry Kissinger, George Bush senior and Brent Scowcroft clearly identified the Republicans with mastery of foreign policy. (Bob Woodward asked Mr Bush whether he had consulted his father before invading Iraq. The son replied that he had consulted a “higher father”.) By contrast, the peace wing of the Democratic Party clearly linked the Democrats with being soft on defence.

But the Iraq war has destroyed the Republicans' advantage of decades. The party is losing support even among the once solid armed services. Today only 46% of servicemen describe themselves as Republican, compared with 60% in 2004—and only 35% of them approve of the handling of the war. Voters are now much more willing to listen to the Democrats on war and peace. Barack Obama's statement in 2002—“I'm not opposed to all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars”—is a perfect refrain for a resurgent party.

The Iraq war has also eroded the Republicans' advantage in the “war on terror”, not least because of Mr Bush's success in tying the two subjects together in the 2004 campaign. Many Republicans thought that the war on terror might have the same effect as the cold war, consolidating their party's hold on the executive branch (Democratic presidents had to wait until the end of the cold war to win two terms in the White House). But that now seems unlikely. The Republican Party's gigantic advantage in this area after September 11th has all but vanished. The same February ABC News/Washington Post poll found that 52% of respondents trusted the Democrats in Congress to do a better job of handling America's campaign against terrorism than Mr Bush.

At the same time, the war has taken a huge toll on the administration's domestic policies. After the 2004 election Mr Bush sketched out an ambitious agenda for avoiding the fate of previous second-term presidents and moving the country in a more Republican direction: reforming immigration and Social Security, simplifying taxes and lifting regulations. That agenda has come to almost nothing. Senior figures have been constantly distracted by dealing with the fallout from Iraq. (One reason the administration was so tardy in dealing with Katrina was that Karl Rove was worried he might become a victim of the Plame affair.) In late 2005 the administration concluded that it was impossible to push through big initiatives, such as Social Security reform, in a time of war.

The man who will pay the biggest political price for Iraq will ultimately be Mr Bush. It is hardly surprising that liberal historians debate whether he is the worst president ever. But now conservatives are beginning to play the same game. A recent poll of hard-core conservative activists found that only 3% described themselves as George Bush Republicans, compared with 79% who regarded themselves as Ronald Reagan Republicans. But the damage will not be limited to the party leader. For years to come, the Republicans will be paying a collective price for the “stuff” that happened in Iraq.

Answer 2

I guess immigration isn't exactly a non-issue, but I think it will get a lot of time in the debate close to election time.

The standard non-issue of abortion will get thrown around again. Funny, since no Democrat ever tries to strengthen Roe v. Wade, and the Republicans rarely make an effort to stop it (South Dakota did, so maybe that'll change). I just think its funny how so many voters in the past twenty years have treated it as the most important issue, yet so little has changed in either direction.

The most likely non-issue to come up would be a return to nannygate (politicians hiring illegal workers to watch their kids or cut their lawns and getting busted for it). Even though everyone who hires anyone to work around the house does this--who gives IRS Form 1099 to the lawn guy?

Answer 3

Depending on who wins the Democratic nomination important issues could include:

Hillary has a harsh voice
Hillary defended Black Panthers while in law school
Hillary made money on cattle futures in the 1980's
Obama has large ears
Obama smokes cigarettes
Obama bought his house for 10% under the list price
Edwards lives in a big house
Edwards cravenly went after the sympathy vote
Edwards is good looking so he must be gay

Answer 4

For the 2024 election will Dumocraps still be using the Iraq war as an issue?

Answer 5

Low interest rates-Low inflation rates-Low unemployment rates-Great economy. The same ones the libs can't argue with because they are "non-issues" that have already been taken care of by this administration. Now if we could only get the cut and runners to stand fast for a change, we might even have a shot at winning the war too. Ya think???

Answer 6

It's anybody's guess. Suffice it to say that if any Democratic candidates have received extramarital fellatio, or if any celebrity has a "wardrobe malfunction" during the halftime show of a major sporting event, we won't hear the end of it any time soon...

Answer 7

So far... Obama's inexperience, Hillary's apparent lack of attractiveness and John Edwards' running despite his wife's cancer.

They're still looking for more, though. So if you have suggestions, let them know.

Answer 8

Gay Marriage
Abortion
Tax Cuts

Answer 9

Clinton got a bj!

Answer 10

Dog-Cat marriage?