Put up your dukes, Democrats (Editorial by an ex-advisor to Al Gore)

Newsday ^ | 2/8/06 | ELAINE KAMARCK

[frankjr]

As this week's hearings into President George W. Bush's wiretapping program make all too clear, the war on terror has been running parallel to a war within the Democratic Party.

It's also a war between those who think the Democratic Party has been too quick to accommodate the Bush administration and those who think the Democrats have abandoned the important role of opposition party. The result is a party that all too often seems to be afraid of its own shadow.

Added to this is a near pathological fear of Bush's political adviser Karl Rove. It goes back to the 2002 midterm elections, when Rove performed a nice piece of political jujitsu on the unwitting Democrats by taking their idea - the Department of Homeland Security - and using it to beat the you-know-what out of them.

Now that another election year is upon us, the fear of Rove is back - even though corruption, cronyism and Katrina have combined to erode the Bush administration's popularity. Some Democrats are so freaked by the past they are arguing that members of the party should stay away from one of the biggest issues of the day: the Bush administration's domestic spying operations.

This is a mistake for two reasons. First, if the Democratic leaders stay away from this issue, the activist left will fill the void. The left wing of the party frequently manages to sound weak on defense and weak on terror. Nothing could play more into Rove's hand.

If Democrats get sucked into a debate over tactics in the war on terror, they will lose. But it's hard to see how they lose if they wage the debate over the rule of law and if they show their willingness to amend the law to strengthen the war on terror.

[frankjr]

Karl Rove confuses and frightens them.

The smell of Dem defeat is in the air as their 9/10 mindset continues to stongly roll on.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

It's also a war between those who think the Democratic Party has been too quick to accommodate the Bush administration and those who think the Democrats have abandoned the important role of opposition party. The result is a party that all too often seems to be afraid of its own shadow.

Democrats are afraid of Bush but again and again side with the terrorists.

[frogjerk]

Now that another election year is upon us, the fear of Rove is back - even though corruption, cronyism and Katrina have combined to erode the Bush administration's popularity

Gotta love this...The LIBS have been telling us for ever that everyone hates BUSH...but now his popularity is down?...These DIMS don't know if they are coming or going...

[MNJohnnie]

YEAH! Dems got their butts handed to them in 2002 and 2004 by being seen for what gutless wonders they all are so the trick in 2006 is for Dems to move even FARTHER away from the American mainstream and show their real Hate American First face to the voters!

Republicans should thank God their political foes are even stupider then we had hoped

[ncountylee]

Prior to joining the Harvard faculty, Dr. Kamarck served as Senior Policy Advisor to the Vice President of the United States, Al Gore. She joined the Clinton/Gore Administration in March of 1993 and, working directly with Vice President Gore, created the National Performance Review, a new White House policy council designed to reinvent government.

Gore butt girl to the max.

[Shermy]

""Added to this is a near pathological fear of Bush's political adviser Karl Rove... blah blah ... Nothing could play more into Rove's hand.""

Columnist, heal thyself.

The Rovemania is hilarious. Rove isn't running the congressional races and the Repubs are going to run against Bush on illegal immigration and pick up seats.

[frankjr]

" Gore butt girl to the max."

And we can all see what her valuable advice did for poor old Al. I hope she continues to advise the Democrats in 06 and 08.

[GaltMeister]

White House policy council designed to reinvent government.

Algore tried to re-invent the gummint, but all he came up with was this crazy internet thingy.

[americanMel]

First, if the Democratic leaders stay away from this issue, the activist left will fill the void.

Um, newsflash. The Democratic leaders ARE the activist left. Geesh...they still don't have a clue!

[dead]

[frogjerk]

GORE: "Bill, just because Elaine is wearing a blue dress, don't get any ideas..."

[tioga]

Republicans should thank God their political foes are even stupider then we had hoped.Amen.

[madison46]

AGain, they blame Bush, Rove whoever, but they forget that it was their delay of the Homeland bill over UNIONIZATION that killed them in 2002. Rove used what Dems gave him, not some super brainiac is needed to do that.

[JoJo Gunn]

Democraps are pathological, and they do not care for the safety of the United States. They are for giving aid and succor to our Enemies.

Yesterday (at Mrs. King's funeral) Jimmy Carter etched that belief in stone.

[SF Republican]

You just know when this administration is over in '08 Rove will probably be brought on to ABC as a Political Commentator, much as Clintons pretty boy was. What are you laughing at?

[Road Warrior ‘04]

...those who think the Democrats have abandoned the important role of opposition party.

Has she been living under a rock? The party of "no" (Rats) is not only the opposition party, but the "obstructionist" party.

[oxcart]

Ladies and Gentlemen we have a new mental disorder; (1)

DSM-IV
Associated Problems in PreRoveotic or PostRoveotic Phase;

*Reckless or Impulsive Behavior

*Obsessive Thinking or Compulsive Rituals

*Prolonged Anxiety, Tension or Worry

*Fidgeting, Pacing, or Hyperactivity

*Sad or Depressed Mood

*Irritability or Hostility

*Feeling Worthless or Guilty

*Fatigue (Physically Tired All Day)

*Poor Concentration or Attention

*Sleeping Problem

*Appetite or Eating Problem

*Poor Sexual Interest or Ability

*Overly Dependent Behavior

*Poor Physical Health

(1), Not to be confused with B.D.S. (Bush Derangement Syndrome)

[griswold3]

Need a sign :
No Hatemongers
or
Obstructionists
Allowed

[vpintheak]

The group of people who actually believe this crap are equal in mental ability to the islamofascists who are rioting and killing over a cartoon. Together all of them couldn't put enough power together to light a bulb.

[sportutegrl]

No Evil Genius worth his salt would allow his secret identity to become known. The Real Republican Evil Genius, (Ken Melman) uses a decoy (Karl Rove) as a smokescreen. The Democrats hate and fear Rove and try to get rid of him, (Valerie Plame), never seeing the real behind the scenes genius that keeps the Repubs in power.