Victor Davis Hanson: Partisanship, Then and Now

National Review Online ^ | February 08, 2010 | Victor Davis Hanson

[neverdem]

merciless, as usual

[ClearCase_guy]

It's hard to see a good solution to this. I don't think the Democrats should get a pass -- that, in my opinion, was George W. Bush's primary mistake: he entered Washington in 2000 seeking "a new tone" and he spent 8 years basically not fighting back against Democrat slurs.

The Democrats from 2000 to 2008 bordered on treasonous as far as I'm concerned. Now we've got a radical usurper in the White House who is intentionally destroying the country. The Democrats need to be slammed for this, and slammed hard.

But at some point I would like to see a return to some sort of civility. I just can't imagine which party will go first -- it would seem to go against the very nature of the modern Democrat party, and the Republicans have already been burned once by trying to be civil. How do we get out of this?

[tet68]

VDH bump.

Those who loudly deplore the new partisanship and acrimony are typically those who in the past were the most partisan and acrimonious.

That covers it.

[La Lydia]

Excellent. Screw the wounded fawn, and screw the hypocritical bastards who are calling for kinder, gentler dialogue. This makes me want to go after them even harder for their incompetence and for their failures.

[Christian4Bush]

VDH bump

[Jabba the Nutt]

"Brennan and Clarke should read the third book of Thucydides on the folly of arrogantly destroying protocol and tradition, and then in dire straits seeking refuge in both."

Yikes!

[bluefish]

Mr. Hanson may write well, I don’t know. I can’t ever read him because I can’t get past the 3 names.

Are there too many Victor Hanson’s in the world, such that Victor Davis Hanson become necessary? 3 names like that make me shudder. It just feels like he is full of himself, before I get past the byline.

Donning flame-suit now, lol.

[TheClintons-STILLAnti-American]

"But suddenly, pundits and politicians have embraced a new gospel about conciliation and the need to restrain harsh discourse — which is fine, but many of these advocates for a gentler, kinder dialogue were bomb-throwers just a few years ago."

And some, like Obama, were bomb-throwers just a few days ago.

[La Lydia]

A return to civility? As you pointed out, civility requires the participation of both sides. When were the Democrats and their nutcase parasite allies in the media and Hollywood and the anti-whatever movements EVER civil to or about Bush? When did they let a minute go by without demonizing Cheney? Bush never struck back and the country is now suffering for it. At this point I expect every Republican with vocal chords to be remorseless — both with criticism and ridicule. No administration has ever so richly deserved it as the smugly incompetent current one. Civility will only return after they have cried uncle.

[henry_reardon]

you might want to try getting past the 3 names, he writes good stuff.

[Bahbah]

(Brennan and Clarke should read the third book of Thucydides on the folly of arrogantly destroying protocol and tradition, and then in dire straits seeking refuge in both.)

I would like to see Ozero have a debate with this man on C-Span. His telepromter might explose.

[Tench_Coxe]

"But suddenly, pundits and politicians have embraced a new gospel about conciliation and the need to restrain harsh discourse — which is fine, but many of these advocates for a gentler, kinder dialogue were bomb-throwers just a few years ago."

In other words, "Oh s**t! We've pissed off the peasants! They apparently have been paying attention to our contemptuous and disparaging remarks. Why just yesterday, my tailor was measuring my neck using a hemp rope."

[Redbob]

The fallacy here is in trying to fight maliciousness with logic...

[circlecity]

They do this every time. Clinton was as hardball as any administration ever has been, but once he caught his tail in the crack it was “Woe me, politics of personal distruction”; Move on; Vast right wing conspiricy, etc. etc.

[I see my hands]

"How do we get out of this?"

You would like... I would like... Everybody would like... But unless there is something new under the sun we will get out of this in a very human fashion.

Good post. CC_g, great points all.

[Reily]

do you have a problem with the name John Paul Jones?

[neverdem]

Don’t judge a book by its cover.

[Ditto]

BINGO!

Great article. If we had an honest MSM, they would smash these people with their past comments and drive them out of Washington.

I am sick of the entire DC establishment and their media hand maidens.

I all for another big time Tea Party. Clean House!

[Ditto]

The Democrats from 2000 to 2008 bordered on treasonous as far as I'm concerned.

People like McDermitt crossed the line by a wide margin.