Conservative Columnist Novak: White House Has 'Displayed Incompetence'

By: E&P Staff Conservative columnist Robert Novak had some harsh words for the GOP in a Monday article.

One reason Democrats might succeed in the midterm elections today is because of "an arrogant and politically tin-eared Republican establishment in Washington," he wrote. "In the handling of key issues such as the occupation of Iraq, the response to Hurricane Katrina, and a meaningful follow-through on Social Security reform, the White House displayed incompetence."

Novak added: "Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, Republicans encouraged practices (such as earmarking in the appropriations process) that let corruption run free. When scandal hit, they handled it badly, particularly in the most recent case of disgraced former Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) ... ."

The Chicago Sun-Times/Creators Syndicate pundit predicted that Democrats would gain 19 House seats, two Senate seats, and five governorships in today's elections. "It is a sign of Republicans' sorry state that, at this point, this is actually a very favorable outlook for them," he wrote.

Novak, of course, is best-known in recent years for outing CIA operative Valerie Plame in a 2003 column after Plame's husband, Joseph Wilson, criticized the Bush administration's Iraq War policies.