Rudy Giuliani Shows He's a Master Of Cluelessness In Address To Dispirited And Panic-Striken GOP House Members

Giuliani accesses Republican prospects for November

Noted Republican congressional strategist Rudy Giuliani gave a pep talk to "younger" (like in younger than McCain?) GOP lawmakers and challengers. The group calls itself the "Young Guns"-- after the song that inspired Eric Cantor (R-VA) to get into politics and which he reportedly plays every morning when he wakes up-- and was trying to raise money for multimillionaire Chris Hackett, a Republican extremist who has done something few thought possible: made his right-wing Democratic opponent, Chris Carney, almost look like a moderate. (What a horrible choice voters in northeast Pennsylvania have!) Anyway, the wise words from Rudy showed the depth of original and innovative thinking that have thrust him into the top ranks of GOP leaders.

"It's a tough national environment, but we can win if we individualize races," Giuliani told the Republicans, according to participants at the meeting. The former mayor stressed the importance of staying "positive" and unified, while also urging the younger House Republicans to get on the campaign trail as surrogates for McCain's presidential campaign.

Actually even GOP Old Gun Tom Cole had been telling Republicans to abandon the hated and discredited Republican Party policies and try to win re-election by confusing voters into thinking they are moderates and Democrats. According to CQPolitics latest edition, the strategy hasn't been working. This morning they re-rated electoral prospects in 14 districts, almost all in favor of Democrats. These Republicans don't have to be Young Guns to know they're becoming Dead Ducks:

Chris Shays (CT-04), where Blue America endorsed Jim Himes has caught up with someone whose idea of running away from his 100% record of rubber stamping Bush has been to cling to the hem of the increasingly disliked Joe Lieberman.

Lincoln Diaz-Balart (FL-21), a right-wing loon who fancies himself the future president of Cuba is in the most heavily Republican district in south Florida and running against an indicted political crook but is still losing ground!

Judy Biggert (IL-13), another fake moderate just showed up on political radar as someone losing her political grip in a changing district ready to reject her in favor of political newcomer Scott Harper.

John Kline (MN-02), Minnesota's most radical right extremist-- and in a state whose congressional delegation includes borderline insane Michele Bachmann that is saying a lot-- looks like he could be taken out by Iraq War vet Steve Sarvi.

John Culberson (TX-07) is loaded with corporate "donations" to one of their most dependable shills, but is up against a Democrat, Mike Skelly, who has the funds to compete on an even playing field. A battle between a 100% rubber stamp and an independent minded progressive.

Michael McCaul (TX-10), the most vulnerable of the Republican rubber stamps, is the disliked and ineffectual son-in-law of Clear Channel and faces Blue America-endorsed Larry Joe Doherty, whose is cleaning his clock on a daily basis as McCaul just keeps voting with Bush and against his constituents' interests.

Frank Wolf (VA-10), is about to be swept away in a blue tsunami led by Barack Obama, Mark Warner, and, locally, Blue America-endorsed Judy Feder. This was once considered a "safe Republican" district and nearly 3 decades of abysmal "leadership" from Frank Wolf has undercut that so severely that Judy is looking like she will turn the tables on him in her second shot at the seat.

Shelley Moore Capito (WV-02) has been running around like a chicken without a head, mimicking McCain as she tries shoring up her credentials for her right-wing base while simultaneously twisting herself into knots by running against her own rubber stamp record. Anne Barth looks like she can end Capito's miserable and undistinguished political career.

Any good news for Republicans here? Well, kind of... Nick Lampson one of the furthest right of all Democrats, someone from the Republican wing of the Democratic Party, has had his race downgraded from "leans Democrat" to "No Clear Favorite." He deserves to lose his seat in one of the craziest districts in the country (crazy in a bad way).