An Inflection Point: Democrats Take Lead on National Security

by Matt Stoller, Fri Feb 24, 2006 at 11:45:25 AM EST

Taylor Marsh points to this new Rasmussen poll which shows Democrats taking the lead over Bush on national security by 43% to 41%. The hackish Chris Matthews even agrees in his own stupid corrupt way, which means that it's becoming conventional wisdom, though I imagine that hard-headed dumbocratic consultants will pout against this reality so they can continue to whine about us libruls. But anyway.

Americans are pretty reasonable about foreign commerce, which means this isn't about xenophobia but about legitimate security concerns.

Twenty-seven percent (27%) of Americans do not believe foreign firms should be allowed to buy any companies in the U.S. Fifty-five percent (55%) disagree. However, even among those who believe foreign ownership should be allowed in general, 61% oppose the Dubai Ports transaction.
Seventy-two percent (72%) of Americans say they have been following news about the Dubai Ports deal somewhat or very closely.

The fabric of Katrina destroyed the idea that the GOP were competent 'adults'. But this port deal combined with the civil war in Iraq is devastating for the Republican leadership because it cuts into the idea that they are sincere about national security. Matthew Yglesias points out that this isn't just an issue of incompetence, and we shouldn't talk about it as if it is. Bush, the GOP, and conservative Democrats are incompetent, out of touch, weak, and afraid. They endorse illegal actions, they threaten the press, and they whine about people who speak up about their lack of accountability.

This is a fight for the soul of America, and there's been an inflection point over the past week as the myth of principled conservatives in the White House and insider Democrats as smart on anything has been punctured. Bush isn't strong on anything. He's a petty, whiny, stubborn child who is unfit to be President.

Everyone knows it, including the American people.

Taylor Marsh has more.

Tags: National Security, polling, Rasmussen (all tags)

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turning point

Bush isn't strong on anything. He's a petty, whiny, stubborn child who is unfit to be President.

Of course, he still can still count on Lieberman.

Still, this is our one shot. This is our opening. We now have the chance to define ourselves on national security to the electorate and smash the idiotic perception that Republicans somehow "keep us safer."

The sooner James Webb officially announces, the better. We need to drown out the Liebermans.

by tparty 2006-02-24 11:52AM | 0 recs

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Author of IMPOSTER on Fox saturday

Bruce Bartlet, author of "Impostor
How George W. Bush Bankrupted America and Betrayed the Reagan Legacy" is going to be on Fox. On NPR he said that Clinton was a "much much better president than George Bush." Let's see how Fox treats him

by bernardpliers 2006-02-24 11:58AM | 0 recs

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Re: Foreign ownership

What the American people do not realize--and no politician is going to tell them--is that our immense trade imbalance and the fact that we are consuming more than we produce guarantee that foreigners have to buy more and more of our assets with the dollars that we are spending on their goods. They can't just let them pile up in T bonds and bills, so they want to buy other kinds of assets, like port terminals, Rockefeller Center--remember that one?--and American companies. In the '80s it was the Japanese, and petrodollars have been recycled into American stocks for decades. The Congress that cuts taxes and won't do anything about the deficit is contributing to this as well.

by Mimikatz 2006-02-24 12:07PM | 0 recs

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Re: An Inflection Point

Very very well put, Mr Stoller.

by redstar66 2006-02-24 12:19PM | 0 recs

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Re: An Inflection Point: Democrats Take Lead on N

No one should be surprised by the gradual acquisition of the many "old industries" in America, by young countries who have recently industrialized. The middle east will be leading experts in many areas with regard to civil engineering, energy and shipping, since these activities are prevalent in that part of the world. China will absorb much of the manufacturng work - India will absorb the software and financial services work - South American nations will absorb the textile work. Face it, later generations of Americans just aren't interested in doing that work, schools don't prepare Americans for that type of work (with the exception of engineering and financial services) and that type of work, given overseas competition, just doesn't pay. This would happen whether Democrats were in power or not.

by truthiness 2006-02-25 06:33AM | 0 recs