Posted on 01/31/2005 2:40:48 PM PST by swilhelm73
Fred Barnes has an editorial in the Standard arguing that Democrats have adopted "brutal tactics": calling Condi Rice a liar, Iraq a disaster, and Bush's Social Security plan an attempt to "destroy" the program. Barnes thinks that the Democrats are trying to replicate Newt Gingrich's success in 1993-94, but are misunderstanding the sources of that success.
Here's Barnes's bottom line: "The media tolerate or even encourage Democratic rage. But the White House can't afford to. Senate Democrats have enough votes to block major Bush initiatives like Social Security reform and to reject Bush appointees, including Supreme Court nominees. They may be suicidal, but they could undermine the president's entire second term agenda. At his news conference last week, Bush reacted calmly to their vitriolic attacks, suggesting only a few Democrats are involved. Stronger countermeasures will be needed, including an unequivocal White House response to obstructionism, curbs on filibusters, and a clear delineation of what's permissible and what's out of bounds in dissent on Iraq. Too much is at stake to wait for another Democratic defeat in 2006."
Mickey Kaus writes that the Democratic strategy might not be "suicidal" in terms of fundraising. I suspect that the strategy is based on genuine beliefs that have been adopted, in part, because holding them offers great psychic rewards. It allows liberals to rationalize political defeats as a matter of their superior virtue, and to rationalize viciousness as fighting fire with fire. Many liberals reacted to the 2002 and 2004 elections by concluding, with very little evidence, that they would have won if only they had been louder.
But I don't think Barnes's remedies will work. How exactly is the White House to delineate "what's permissible and what's out of bounds in dissent on Iraq"? Should the White House press secretary declare that people should watch what they say? Any attempt to restore or create a political norm will be treated as a crackdown on free speech. It will reinforce the Democrats' sense of their own persecuted virtue.
Let the Democrats be the stars in issue ads.
Good article for those of us celebrating in the end zone ...at half-time.
We've got to redouble our efforts for 06
Kerry ordered GW to put an exit strategy/date in the State of the Union speech. Kerry thinks he's President. He must be heartened with Hill fainting today. Her 'health' will be an issue when she decides to announce.
Try the fat swimmer for treason, for starters.
Exactly! Newt showed the country that Clinton's liberal policies were wrong, and he offered the Contract with America as the remedy. Today's dems are trying to tell the country (which, by and large, supports Bush's policies) that Bush is wrong. They offer no alternatives to his policies, however.
I don't think he can swim. Sh*t floats.
Like a turd in the bathtub
The White House could put an end to obstructionist tactics very quickly if they wanted to. All they have to do is leak the contents of a "preliminary" list of military facilities to be shut down in the next round of base closings -- a list that would indicate a high priority for the closure of bases in states represented by Democrat senators who are a pain in the @ss.
Is that your famous plan, Ketchup boy? Good thing you weren't elected. Just (ugh!) imagine:
President Kerry: "All American troops will be out by July 1, 2006."
Zarqawi to his chief lieutenants: "Relax--get some rest. We will begin the insurgency on July 2, 2006."
Gotta love pissant. :-)
-It will reinforce the Democrats' sense of their own persecuted virtue.-
This is a pot of poo. Rats have no virtue. It's our reaction to this kind of whining that determines the outcomes, and our side is woefully short of backbone.
I-do-not-care if libs whine. They're children, misbehaving badly, so just let 'em whine about stuff. It's time to send them to their room without their latte, maybe a smack on the behind ('cept they'd probably like it, so never mind), and get the things done we need to get done. Republicans act more like a liberal mother, giving the child candy in order to get a little bit of peace. Well, that doesn't work with children, and it doesn't work for politicians.
If the Republicans take another four years and can't get the judges through; can't make any headway with SS; can't start tax reform or major changes, you can bet we will be abandoning them in droves and we'll have another Rat to deal with for the next 4-8 years. Immigration? I'm not even going to include it - nobody's going to do anything about it.
Simple. Publicly criticizing American policy during war or when our troops' lives are at stake is out of bounds for decent politicians. Period.
Isn't that what the press all shouted when a few Republicans meekly wondered whether clinton's activities in sending missiles flying everywhere had anything to do with his impending impeachment? Or when they questioned his attack on the aspirin factory?
Private citizens have a right to say whatever they want, but politicians either have to support our country in time of war or be held accountable.
The Democrats realize that their base is rabidly anti-war and rabidly anti-Bush. Their actions right now are intended to placate that base. Next year we'll see their big move to the center.
Exactly. I think the best thing we can do is to put together a series of clips of Dems being Dems, Kennedy screaming, Gore screaming, Pelosi screaming, Kerry equivocating and prevaricating, one clip after another in MTV fashion.
I guarantee that the Dems will be complaining, that quoting Dems is unfair. But it will be like a fire hose on the loudmouths.
I really think that we are making an assumption that is incorrect. We all seem to think that the Democratic left wants to disrupt the government so they can be elected. What they really want is to create a totalitarian government here, and they were getting a real toe hold up until the election of 2004. I described that election as being as seminal as the one in 1860. It was as essential to re-elect Bush as it was to elect Lincoln. The fate of the Union was at stake and the conflict has really just begun.
Republicans better get off their a@@ and get things done. Their a@@ is on the line also. We have given the Republicans the Senate, House and the Presidency. Now Move! Attack and get some progress.
Hmmm. How do you know that?
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