Chorus of woe won't win election (MA newspaper editorial)

OUR VIEW All the mewling and simpering we're hearing from elements of the left and the Democratic Party over Iraq would be laughable if it weren't putting the lives of American soldiers at risk.

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All the mewling and simpering we're hearing from elements of the left and the Democratic Party over Iraq would be laughable if it weren't putting the lives of American soldiers at risk. The reaction to those words from the commander-in-chief by any soldier in Iraq was likely, "Hoo-ah!" But stateside, it was yet another chance for the left to demonstrate how little it understands America.

The president, said Democratic candidate Howard Dean, "showed tremendous insensitivity to the dangers (our troops) face." Yes, Mr. Dean, that's just what we need in wartime -- more "sensitivity."

John Kerry, whose seeming panic over Dean's surge in popularity has him shouting, "Me, too," every chance he gets, said the situation in Iraq "requires less swagger and more thoughtfulness and statesmanship." Kerry, D-U.N., apparently believes "swagger" doesn't inspire troops to victory, "thoughtfulness" does. If only Gen. Patton had the benefit of Kerry's wisdom, think of what he could have done.

Of course, the very goal of the Saddam loyalists remaining in Iraq is to demoralize our troops with continuous, piecemeal attacks. Their hope is a rising body count will destroy American resolve to see the fight in Iraq through to the finish. The Democrats are doing their part.

But despite the relentless pounding by Democrats of Bush and his motives for fighting the war in Iraq, the public still supports the effort. An ABC News/Washington Post poll released Friday shows Bush's overall job approval rating is 59 percent -- down, but still solid. The poll shows 57 percent of Americans believe the war was worth fighting, down from 70 percent at the end of April. Some 62 percent say they believe the war has "contributed to long-term U.S. security" and 72 percent say it has "helped improve Iraqi lives."

The poll clearly shows the source of some of the falling numbers. Some 84 percent of Republicans and 59 percent of independents say the war was worth fighting compared to 34 percent of Democrats, ABC reported. Bush's overall approval rating is 84 percent among Republicans, 60 among independents but 36 percent among Democrats, ABC said.

The objective of the constant whining is to damage Bush and turn a war that was militarily successful into a political failure. That's the high road the Democrats are taking.

But the poll numbers show they may be preaching only to the choir -- Democrats who opposed the war in the first place.

Lawrence Kaplan, a senior editor at the New Republic, writes in the Wall Street Journal that the Democrats are taking the George McGovern path to victory.

McGovern, you may recall, ran against the widely unpopular war in Vietnam. He lost 49 states to Richard Nixon in the election of 1972.

How, Kaplan wonders, will today's Democrats fare running against a popular war in Iraq?

Ken Johnson is editor of the editorial pages. Please feel free to contact him by phone at (978) 946-2000; by mail at 100 Turnpike St., North Andover, MA 01845; or by e-mail at kjohnson@eagletribune.com.

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The objective of the constant whining is to damage Bush and turn a war that was militarily successful into a political failure.

Precisely. It is also an attempt on the part of the war issue's clear losers to bleat "there's no proof of WMD so we were right all along," which serves the purpose of making them feel good about themselves but is a complete political liability when it is preceded by the ubiquitous (and necessary) disclaimer, "No one is saying they want Saddam to still be in power, but..."

However, with the economy improving that's about the best line they've got, and few Democrats win on the strength of their foreign policy. This one will get dirty, IMHO. "When in doubt, go negative" is still the founding spirit of McAuliffe, Begala, and Carville, and as long as they direct their party's strategy that's the way they're going to go.

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