Unhappy party
Across the District on Wednesday, top Republicans expressed their disdain with the state of affairs in the Republican Party.
At a meeting with the Americans for Tax Reform, Ryan Ellis, executive director for the American Shareholders Association, was asked by ATR’s Grover Norquist whether he had any good news about the Democrats’ desire to raise taxes and spending on the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.
“No,” he responded. “No good news until we have another election that we don’t screw up.”
Ouch.
And, at a luncheon with journalists, a senator — who asked to only be identified as a Republican senator — also seemed somewhat dour on the GOP’s state of affairs.
“These are not happy times for Republicans, generally speaking,” the senator said.
When asked whether there was some “Bush fatigue” among Senate Republicans, the senator responded, “Yes. … He doesn’t have much in the way of political support.”
What about embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales? “The way he handled this inquiry is deplorable,” the senator said.
On Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, now under investigation: “It’s not good news.”
On Senate colleague John McCain’s presidential ambitions: “I don’t think that he’ll be successful in getting the nomination.”
On life in the minority: “It’s not easy.”
On the GOP’s chances of taking back control of the Senate in 2008: It’s “very unlikely we’ll get a Republican majority in the Senate.”
