Chávez + Ahmadinejad at UN : Help or Hurt GOP?

[The Vorlon]

You can argue this one either way.

Rangle and Pilosi coming out attacking Chavez might be seen to effectively counter the GOP argument that the Dems are a  "bunch of cheese eating surrender monkeys unable to stand up to foreigners" - which undercuts a key GOP advantage on the terrorism/security issue...

On the other hand...

It's hard to look at Chávez + Ahmadinejad and NOT conclude it is indeed an pretty scary planet and that the GOP's tough stand against terrorism is indeed fully warrented, to the degree this shines alight on them, the GOP likely gains...

Please vote and explain your vote!

[Keystone Phil]

Small help for the GOP

[Moooooo]

No help whatsoever.  Half the people in this country couldnt locate Venezuela on a map, let alone tell you who Hugo Chavez is and what country he represents.

[The Vorlon]

Half the people in this country couldn't locate Venezuela on a map

An utterly crazy statement. 

Saying half couldn't  find Venezuela on a map implies that the other 50% could...

Given the "quality" of US public schools there is no way 50% of Americans could find Venezuela on a map..

[NewFederalist]

I believe a small help for the Republicans although Reps. Pelosi and Rangel really did themselves proud with the statements they made. As you stated, if the American voter looks at these two wierdos and the GOP can make their claim as to being "tougher on terrorism" than the Democrats actually resonate with them, it has to be a net plus for the Republicans.

[opebo]

Half the people in this country couldn't locate Venezuela on a map

An utterly crazy statement. 

Saying half couldn't  find Venezuela on a map implies that the other 50% could...

Given the "quality" of US public schools there is no way 50% of Americans could find Venezuela on a map..

It is ridiculous to blame the 'public' schools for what is a 'failing' of the social heirarchy itself.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

It's hard to look at the Vorlon's posts and not conclude that he is a total Republican hack.

Option 3 of course.

[The Vorlon]

I believe a small help for the Republicans although Reps. Pelosi and Rangel really did themselves proud with the statements they made. As you stated, if the American voter looks at these two wierdos and the GOP can make their claim as to being "tougher on terrorism" than the Democrats actually resonate with them, it has to be a net plus for the Republicans.

Generally speaking, I think Rangel is a bit off his rocker, but yes, he did the right thing.  It was also, I believe, good politics for the Dems.

[Conan]

Doesnt affect anything. Their remarks make all Americans defensive in general though.

[DownWithTheLeft]

Just waiting for a tape w/Chavez endorsing the Democrats

Small help the GOP, every time terror comes to light, Republicans are helped

[minionofmidas]

Don't know anything about Rangel or Pelosi's words. Unlike Chavez or Ahmadinejad, they are not politicians of worldwide influence, and thence don't get reported on much here.

Ahmadinejad looking for allies in South America should tell you (at least one of) three things, which of course interlock:

The old "bloc-free" third world solidarity idea ain't dead yet.

The whole Iranian state ideology is of completely different stripe than that other Islamic Fundamentalism of the Wahhabi school, and is in fact strongly (though not exclusively) rooted in *Western* thought. OBL wouldn't be caught dead cozying up to Chavez - or Ahmadinejad.

Or, alternatively: This world must be a pretty scary place indeed if people run to so apparently distant allies out of fear of those who make it scary - the US.

[NewFederalist]

I believe a small help for the Republicans although Reps. Pelosi and Rangel really did themselves proud with the statements they made. As you stated, if the American voter looks at these two wierdos and the GOP can make their claim as to being "tougher on terrorism" than the Democrats actually resonate with them, it has to be a net plus for the Republicans.

Generally speaking, I think Rangel is a bit off his rocker, but yes, he did the right thing.  It was also, I believe, good politics for the Dems.

Oops! I meant Chavez and Ahmadinejad were the wierdos but I can see how you made the other conclusion!

[Soaring Eagle]

It will hurt the GOP as a whole, but not be significant and won't really change anything. All it shows is that other countries hate us, and they have reason to.

[MasterJedi]

Small help but it won't affect anything though.

[Nym90]

Half the people in this country couldn't locate Venezuela on a map

An utterly crazy statement. 

Saying half couldn't  find Venezuela on a map implies that the other 50% could...

Given the "quality" of US public schools there is no way 50% of Americans could find Venezuela on a map..

I'd argue that parents have far more to do with that statistic than public schools do. If learning things like geography isn't emphasized at home as being of importance, there isn't much schools can do to change that.

If there was no such thing as public schools, methinks that statistic would be a lot worse.

[mgrossbe]

Man i wish i had gone to one of the great schools in albania.  Every day i hear of theamazing scholary work coming from the, wait i can't name the university there, lets go with U of A.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

It'll help Bush's numbers go up a little bit for a short while, but he isn't the one running for election.  No effect on the 2006 campaign.

[Joel the Attention Whore]

Small help but it won't affect anything though.