Posted on 11/08/2006 11:34:53 PM PST by neverdem
WHY all the glum faces?” President Bush asked at the opening of yesterday’s news conference.
Though the assembled reporters were hardly glum, conservatives of every stripe can console themselves by considering the limited scope of the Democrats’ midterm sweep.
Despite the pervasive weariness with the war and the high tide of irritation at Bush’s steadfastness; despite the general disgust at the policy paralysis and ethical laxity in the wake of muscle-bound one-party control — the result was only the average loss of House and Senate seats of the party in power midway in the second term of a president.
A political shakeup every dozen years is a necessary cathartic for the two-party system. What’s more, the rightward cast of many Democrats in the freshman class is hardly bad news for conservativism. And the heartening victory of Joe Lieberman over the angry far left in liberal Connecticut augurs a renewal of a brief period of bipartisanship at the water’s edge.
Where does our renewed two-party nation go from here?
First, leadership is never weakened by a little humility. After what he called “the thumpin’,” the president showed he got the voters’ message on Iraq: “I recognize that many Americans voted last night to register their displeasure with the lack of progress being made there.” But in acknowledging that “they cast their vote for a new direction,” he didn’t wring his hands: “The people have spoken and now it’s time to move on.”
Months ago, he had made provision for that “new direction” response — a phrase acceptable to hawks provided the direction is not out, quick — in the post-election report to be made by James Baker and Lee Hamilton’s Iraq study group. The report should give cover to increased pressure on elected Iraqi leaders to confront the urgent needs of...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Bush handled himself really well at this press conference. He seemed to take this in stride, presidentially, and with class.
Can't say the same for his adversaries, but that's to be expected...
Uh-oh! I don't know if the author is liberal but do you think the folks that work for this rag have caught onto the fact that we are planning a comeback?
I'm guessing they noticed the results of the ballot-proposals.
I think it's pretty safe to say Safire isn't a liberal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Safire
This will be like shooting fish in a barrel.
On top of it, this Democratic victory was Hillary's worst nightmare. A Dim lose insured the end of Howard Dean and the ascendancy of Hills handpicked cuckold.
Howie is now in till 08 an it sets the table for a bruising Dem infight.
Romney/Rudy/McCain with Steele as a wild card VP possibility.
I don't see McCain going anywhere IMHO. he's a bigger flopper then karey (sp on purpose)
William Safire has been a token conservative columnist at the NYT since the 1970s. He is now semi-retired. He was a speechwriter for Nixon and Agnew.
Safire is as conservative as they come. Im suprised to hear from him again. Its been awhile. One of my favorite things that he wrote was when he called Hilary a congenital liar..!
I thought the President basically took all of the DEM issues and made them non-issues at the conference today.
Rummy resigned honorably - after serving as the longest sec def - New nominee lets figure out a better way
We need to increase min wage - lets talk
No Child left Behind - lets fix it
Social Security - lets fix it
Unfunded Mandates - lets fix it
Illegal immigration - we started lets finish it
The Pres put it all on the table working together, but made the point very definitely that he will not compromise principles. He is heading them off at the pass- the ball has been placed sqarely in the DEM court- stand back and watch!
agreed.. He has the power to keep alot of things down.. just an Clintoon did with EP.. lets see if bush will do it as well
The GOP needs some new ideas that capture the imagination of the voters and they need to continue being civil in their relations with others - being willing to work with those they disagree with. They need to educate the public as to why limited government is in their best interest. If they do those things as well cleaning up their act - developing real character and integrity - they will do fine.
Very true and good analysis.
Even Rumsfeld's resignation he left on his own terms and in a way not open to criticism, with Bush saying he couldn't let the troops think that he was being swayed by politics and kept Rumsfeld's resignation silent until after the election.
Bush was very much the pragmatic, undeterred, no-nonsense Texan today.
The President s normally better at addressing a pressing issue and taking on issues with passion, but he more than held his own today, even with a few gloating reporters.
Thank you... Very good summation.
Very much a leader... "not my first time at the rodeo"
He sure made it clear that he regards Gregory as a Clymer.
This is an interesting piece. I'd like to read more of it, but I'm not going to log onto the NYT's to do it. I'll look forward to reading it somewhere else on the web whenever it leaks its way out.
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