Infinite Spin

Asia Times Online breaks down American politics better than we can.

Iraq: Trying to spin the unspinnable
By Ashraf Fahim

CAIRO - In the modern age, politicians are accustomed to being rescued from the tar pit of failed policies by the wondrous powers of spin.

The administration of US President George W Bush, for example, when faced with a public outcry over Iraq, has with great effectiveness disseminated expertly crafted, razor-sharp talking points into the ether to persuade voters to believe what they hear and not what they see.

The power of spin is not infinite, however, as the administration is now discovering. The consequences of its invasion of Iraq are now so transparently catastrophic that Republican control of Congress is threatened in the November 7 mid-term elections, in which Iraq is the hot-button issue.

I hope writer Fahim is right in that "the power of spin is not infinite." With Bush's regrettable, and arguable, rise in the polls it seems the spin of the last few weeks is having an effect. The only question remains is one of stamina. Can they keep it up? Can they stay on message? Have the cracks already begun to show?

While some believe, the Senate torture showdown on the GOP side of the aisle is a devilish ploy in order for all to save face. Others believe it is a huge political miscalculation, a crack if you will, on the part of the White House. The focus was supposed to be on the Democrats and their torture stance. It's not. And so long as Powell keeps speaking up the administration will look anything but moderate (this despite Bush's attempt at U.N. moderation yesterday.)

More cracks in the spin can be seen daily coming out of Iraq. Leaving aside the numbing body count news, yesterday we had General Abizaid confirming Bush's stay-the-course plan through at least the spring. And today we have an article in the NYT claiming public and private doubts about "whether Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki has the political muscle and decisiveness to hold Iraq together as it hovers on the edge of a full civil war."

November is approaching fast, and I agree that "the power of spin is not infinite," but it's sprint time. The marathon is over. And if anyone can keep the party focused, and on message, it's Karl Rove. Here's to hoping the cracks become caverns, because if they don't November '06 may just play out like '02 and '04 all over again.

Asia Times Online has more. It's worth the clik.

UPDATE: A forgotten crack -- the FISA bill. Glenn Greenwald breaks it down:

Their failure to get a FISA bill passed at all would be a real defeat for the White House. It would mean that warrantless eavesdropping would still be illegal going into the next Congress. It would mean that various lawsuits challenging the legality of the NSA program would continue undisturbed. And it would mean that the administration's legal liability (both civil and criminal) for eavesdropping on the conversations of Americans in violation of the law would still very much be an open question -- an issue that would provide rich and ample ground for investigation by a subpoena-power-endowed Chairman Conyers, or even a Chairman Leahy.

With only nine legislative days left, this could get interesting.