Political Insiders Poll-Has Dick Cheney helped or hurt GOP ?

by James A. Barnes and Peter Bell

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Click here to see how prominent political bloggers responded to these questions.

Q: Has Dick Cheney helped or hurt the Republican Party since leaving office?

see reults below…..ssshhhhhhh

Democrats (103 votes)

Helped 6 percent Hurt 92 percent Both; neither; time will tell (volunteered) 3 percent

Helped

"Cheney may be a bad face for the party, but he is getting coverage on some potentially very damaging information on Obama and the Democrats."

"He’s the only one with standing [who is] making the Republican case."

Hurt

"Cheney has emerged as the GOP’s most visible spokesman. And you’re more likely to find WMDs in Iraq than independent voters who like the former vice president."

"As the Republicans try to move beyond the political disaster of the Bush years, Dick Cheney is a surreal public presence that is hurting Republicans very badly."

"Cheney’s comments about [Colin] Powell versus [Rush] Limbaugh will drive moderate voters even further from the party. Republicans need these voters and spokesmen that will attract them."

"Cheney’s disapproval rating is 60 percent: He’s so unpopular that he probably couldn’t get a gig on an infomercial. He’s certainly not the right guy to become the face of a revived and repositioned Republican Party."

"Cheney’s continued presence on the stage makes it harder for the Republicans to turn the page after Bush. And he sucks up all the oxygen in the room."

"No-brainer: The guy opens his mouth, and he creates problems for the Republicans. They so want the Bush era to slide into history."

"He has hurt the party as a whole, but I am sure he is revving up the base. He just looks old and cranky — all about yesterday."

"Cheney represents fear and old thinking. Party needs leaders who represent hope and fresh ideas."

"Cheney offering counsel on politics is like Hoover offering counsel on the economy."

"Cheney is dragging the party further to the right, advocating for leadership from a DJ rather than a decorated general and former secretary of State, and defending the indefensible acts of the Bush administration. He’s hardly the new face of the Republican Party."

"He’s the gift that keeps on giving — an unpopular curmudgeon desperately trying to prove to one and all that he was right."

"Someone should tell him he’s no longer in charge of the Death Star."

Q: Has Dick Cheney helped or hurt the Republican Party since leaving office?

Republicans (100 votes)

Helped 33 percent Hurt 57 percent No effect (volunteered) 5 percent Both; don’t know (volunteered) 5 percent

Helped

"He is the only GOP figure who has put Obama on the political defensive, especially on interrogations."

"He is a target for Democrats, but he helps motivate a base that is in a state of hibernation."

"Helping defend America helps the Republican Party, even if some don’t see it yet. Cheney has the spine to stand up for his informed opinions — a characteristic appearing to be lacking in others."

"The VP is not our best messenger, but defending the Bush administration on the war on terror has benefited the party."

"He’s framed the debate and challenged Democrats to put up or shut up."

"I like him more now than when he was veep: Time to end the free ride for the Anointed One and his people. God knows the media isn’t going to do it."

Hurt

"The message on interrogation techniques is right. The messenger is not."

"He seems determined to vindicate his decisions and policies even if it damages the GOP’s recovery. And it has."

"Anything that reminds the public of the Bush administration harms the party’s ability to turn the page. If he’d had any concern for his public image when he was in office, he wouldn’t have to worry as much about defending his reputation now."

"There is nothing Dick Cheney can say or do to help the Republican Party today. The best thing he can do is disappear for the next 10 years."

"Overall, hurts, but if there is a terrorist attack on the United States, Lord forbid, he will have turned out to be prescient, and the Democrats will be out of power for a long time."

"Let’s face it: The guy doesn’t know anything about winning elections outside of Wyoming."

"Not even a close call. With Cheney out there, Obama doesn’t even need to remind the American people about the mess that was the Bush years."

"He’s advocating for what’s left of the party. We need to expand the party."

"Cheney represents the grumpy intolerance that has come to characterize the GOP. Get off the stage!"

Q: Who among your party’s current crop of governors has the brightest political future?

Democrats (99 votes)

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine 22 percent Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer 19 percent Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm 11 percent Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley 11 percent Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland 6 percent Don’t know; no one 6 percent

Also receiving votes: Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, 5 percent; Delaware Gov. Jack Markell and North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue, 3 percent each; Iowa Gov. Chet Culver, New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, and Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, 2 percent each; and Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire, West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson,1 percent each.

Virginia Gov. Kaine

"You have to pick Tim Kaine, if only because of his current position with the [Democratic National Committee] and his relationship with Obama. [Brian] Schweitzer has the highest upside, but Kaine is the most likely to reach his upside."

"Kaine has helped turn a red state blue and is well positioned to move eventually to a prominent Cabinet position in the Obama administration."

Montana Gov. Schweitzer

"He is pro-green, pro-God, and pro-gun. He appeals to the future without abandoning traditional values."

"Wowed everybody with his convention speech, elected in a red state, popular with voters, from a growing part of the country for the Democratic Party, and extremely comfortable in his own skin: Not a bad combination."

Michigan Gov. Granholm

"A smart, strong, charismatic governor in a hard-hit state, she has the capability of serving her country in a number of different roles."

"If she’s not picked to replace [Justice David] Souter, she’ll be a real contender for the next slot that opens."

Maryland Gov. O’Malley

"Young, smart, with it."

Ohio Gov. Strickland

"Deserves high marks for managing his state in a difficult period."

Q: Who among your party’s current crop of governors has the brightest political future?

Republicans (99 votes)

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal 21 percent Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour 20 percent Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty 17 percent Florida Gov. Charlie Crist 13 percent South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford 8 percent Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. 6 percent

Also receiving votes: Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, 5 percent each; no one, 2 percent; California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, and "Pawlenty and Sanford," 1 percent each.

Louisiana Gov. Jindal

"He has brains, ideas, talent, and youth. Plus, he’s an ethnic minority. He’s just what the doctor ordered to bring us out of the wilderness."

"Despite his State of the Union response, he is still our most successful, substantive governor who represents both youth and diversity."

Mississippi Gov. Barbour

"The incompetence of [Republican National Committee Chairman Michael] Steele makes Haley the real party leader in 2010."

Minnesota Gov. Pawlenty

"If the GOP is ever going to broaden its appeal, it’s going to have to look outside the South. Pawlenty is the real deal — mainstream conservative principles, minus the fright wig."

Florida Gov. Crist

"The antithesis of the Ann Coulter-Limbaugh model Republican. This is the fault line the GOP must confront, and Crist will be one of the primary voices in this debate."

South Carolina Gov. Sanford

"A strong conservative from a reliably conservative Southern state. Sanford’s star is clearly on the rise."

Utah’s Gov. Huntsman

"He focuses on economic concerns and has a moderate (as in ‘tolerant’) viewpoint on many divisive social issues. The question is, of course, whether the party’s rabid zealots will allow him to advance."

National Journal Insiders

Democratic Political Insiders Jill Alper, Brad Bannon, Dave Beattie, Andy Bechhoefer, Cornell Belcher, Mitchell W. Berger, Mike Berman, Stephanie Bjornson, Paul Brathwaite, Donna Brazile, Mark Brewer, Ed Bruley, George Bruno, Deb Callahan, Bonnie Campbell, Bill Carrick, Martin J. Chavez, Tony Coelho, Jerry Crawford, Jeff Danielson, Peter Daou, Jim Demers, Tad Devine, David Di Martino, Debbie Dingell, Monica Dixon, Patrick Dorton, Anita Dunn, Jeff Eller, Steve Elmendorf, Carter Eskew, Eric Eve, Vic Fazio, Peter Fenn, Scott Ferson, Jim Fleischmann, Tina Flournoy, Don Foley, Don Fowler, Vincent Frillici, Gina Glantz, Niles Godes, John Michael Gonzalez, Joe Grandmaison, Anna Greenberg, Stan Greenberg, Pat Griffin, Larry Grisolano, Michael Gronstal, Lisa Grove, Marcia Hale, Dick Harpootlian, Paul Harstad, Laura Hartigan, Mike Henry, Karen Hicks, Leo Hindery, Jr., Harold Ickes, Marcus Jadotte, John Jameson, Steve Jarding, Jonathon Jones, Jim Jordan, Gale Kaufman, Kam Kuwata, Celinda Lake, David Lang, Penny Lee, Chris Lehane, Jeff Link, Bill Lynch, Bob Maloney Steve Marchand, Jim Margolis, Paul Maslin, Keith Mason, Susan McCue, Gerald McEntee, Tom McMahon, Phil McNamara, David Medina, Mark Mellman, John Merrigan, Steve Murphy, Janet Napolitano, David Nassar, Marcia Nichols, John Norris, Tom Ochs, Tom O’Donnell, Scott Parven, Jeffrey Peck, Debora Pignatelli, Tony Podesta, Larry Rasky, Bruce Reed, Mame Reiley, Steve Ricchetti, Will Robinson, Steve Rosenthal, David Rudd, John Ryan, Wendy Sherman, Terry Shumaker, Kevin Shuvalov, Sean Sinclair Phil Singer, Erik Smith, Doug Sosnik, Darry Sragow, Katrina Swett, Sarah Swisher, Jeffrey Trammell, Ed Turlington, Mike Veon, Rick Wiener, Bridgette Williams, JoDee Winterhof, and Jim Zogby.

GOP Political Insiders Dan Allen, Stan Anderson, Gary Andres, Saulius (Saul) Anuzis, Rich Ashooh, Whit Ayres, Brett Bader, Mitch Bainwol, Gary Bauer, David Beckwith, Clark Benson, Wayne Berman, Brian Bieron, Charlie Black, Kirk Blalock, Carmine Boal, Jeff Boeyink, Ron Bonjean, Jeff Buley, Luke Byars, Nick Calio, Danny Carroll, Ron Christie, Jim Cicconi, Cesar Conda, Jake Corman, Scott Cottington, Charlie Crist, Greg Crist, Diane Crookham-Johnson, Fergus Cullen, Mike Dennehy, Ken Duberstein, Steve Duprey, Debi Durham, Frank Fahrenkopf, John Feehery, Don Fierce, Carl Forti, Alex Gage, Sam Geduldig, Adam Geller, Benjamin Ginsberg, Bill Greener, Jonathan Grella, Lanny Griffith, Janet Mullins Grissom, Doug Gross, Todd Harris, Steve Hart, Christopher Healy, Ralph Hellmann, Chris Henick, Terry Holt, David Iannelli, Clark Judge, David Keating, David Kensinger, Bruce Keough, Bob Kjellander, Ed Kutler, Chris Lacivita, Jim Lake, George LeMieux, Steve Lombardo, Kevin Madden, Joel Maiola, Gary Maloney, David Marin, Mary Matalin, Dan Mattoon, Brian McCormack, Mark McKinnon, Kyle McSlarrow, Ken Mehlman, Jim Merrill, Tim Morrison, Mike Murphy, Phil Musser, Ron Nehring, Terry Nelson, Neil Newhouse, David Norcross, Ziad Ojakli, Jack Oliver, Todd Olsen, Van B. Poole, Tom Rath, Scott Reed, David Rehr, Steve Roberts, Jason Roe, David Roederer, Dan Schnur, Russ Schriefer, Rich Schwarm, Brent Seaborn, Rick Shelby, Andrew Shore, Kevin Shuvalov, Don Sipple, Robin Smith, Javier Soto, Fred Steeper, Bob Stevenson, Eric Tanenblatt, Richard Temple, Heath Thompson, Jay Timmons, Warren Tompkins, Ted Van Der Meid, Dirk van Dongen, Jan van Lohuizen, Stewart Verdery, Dick Wadhams, John Weaver, Tom Wilson, Dave Winston, Ginny Wolfe, and Fred Wszolek.