Why the sweep? Voters see need for grown-ups

The Charlotte Observer ^ | 11-9-02 | KATHLEEN PARKER

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Living out in the sticks has its advantages. For one thing, there's at least a slim chance that the wildly incompetent person screwing up your life behind the counter may get fired. For another, we're not stunned by election results that demonstrate Americans can think.

When Republicans swept the elections Tuesday, official punditry fell into paroxysms of self-doubt. How did so many get it so wrong? What did we miss?

With hindsight, the answer seemed clear and went something like this: Democrats criticized Republicans but offered no substantive alternatives.

Seems simple enough, but the truer answer may be even simpler.

It's the grown-ups, silly.

Even Democrats, many of whom confess to having voted Republican this time, prefer grown-ups in times of trouble.

With notable exceptions -- senatorial candidate Alex Sanders in South Carolina and gubernatorial candidate Bill McBride in Florida, to name a couple -- Democrats have acted like he-got-a-bigger-cookie brats, throwing tantrums and otherwise behaving badly.

Most recently and writ large, they behaved inexcusably at Minnesota Sen. Paul Wellstone's memorial service. Much already has been written and said about the service, so there's no need to belabor details here. Suffice it to say that Americans got to see up close how not to behave and whom not to emulate.

Most offensive and inappropriate were the ovations for Democratic celebrities -- Bill Clinton, former vice presidents Walter Mondale and Al Gore, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy and the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

It was like a reunion of aging Mouseketeers mournfully singing M-O-U-S-E for a boomer crowd that was thinking only of war and the possibility of sending their own kids to the sickest ends of Earth. In a word: irrelevant.

Serious times demand serious people, and voters, if not pundits, clearly get that.

And then there's the matter of style, which matters. And forgive me, but class. We may not know what "it" is, but we know what it ain't.

Fix again on the Wellstone memorial, which evolved into a ranting, jacket-shedding, foot-stomping political rally.

Now picture the Bush White House reserved, dignified, quietly passionate. Vive la difference.

Tuesday's "stunning" Republican victory was as simple as voters handing the reins of government to the adults.

If you're having trouble with this, return to the list of those applauded at the Wellstone memorial and jot down by each name the first word that comes to mind. And your vote would be?

Americans with war and national security on their minds have wearied, too, of partisan bickering. Sibling rivalry has no place on the battlefield where we either work together or die.

Voting to give the president greater support at a critical historical juncture was as easy as stabbing a chad.

Finally, and not insignificantly, people are fundamentally sick of the continuous bratty assault from the left on the leader of the Free World. That would be their leader. They don't like it. Name-calling is unfair, unsportsmanlike and juvenile.

Besides, beyond the Beltway are millions of people who see George W. Bush not as a bumbling fool, but as a thoroughly nice guy with a good heart and a good-enough brain. So his syntax slips. Whose doesn't except those smarty-pantses on TV? So he misses a few syllables or adds one here and there. Down at the Jiffy Lube at the corner of Snake Fork and Timbuck Lane, people don't much worry about that kind of thing.

They worry: Does the man look you in the eye when he shakes your hand? Does his upper lip sweat? Are his tears for human loss or for cameras?

Bush passes the real-people test, and real people outnumber pundits on Election Day. People trust him. They recognize him. They know he won't try to seduce their daughters or play games that don't involve a ball, a bat or a hoop.

The Republican sweep was something, all right, but it wasn't mysterious. At least not out here in the sticks where, after all, George W. Bush is most comfortable of all.

Kathleen  Parker

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Kathleen Parker is an Orlando Sentinel columnist. Write her c/o Tribune Media Services, 435 N. Michigan Ave. Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60611 or by e-mail at kparker@kparker.com

[looney tune]

Good post!

[OldPossum]

Besides, beyond the Beltway are millions of people who see George W. Bush not as a bumbling fool, but as a thoroughly nice guy with a good heart and a good-enough brain.

The "good-enough brain" part is actually understatement. People with President Bush's academic and other accomplishments (dullards don't graduate from Harvard's Business School, can't learn to fly a fighter jet and don't have a net worth of some $16 million earned by themselves) have very high IQ's.

[OldPossum]

I misworded that a bit. Substitute for "dullards" "people of average ability."

[randita]

Having Jim McDermott and David Bonior implying in Baghdad that they trust Saddam Hussein more than they trust George Bush didn't help the Democrats at all.

[glockmeister40]

This is a little off subject, but keep in mind the huge amount of invective that will pour from the media. They will hate republicans like they have never hated them before. All the more reason to support and communicate with your elected republican representatives.

This country is at war. The adults are back in charge. The dems think that we're just a bunch a racist, anti-poor, anti-homeless, anti-black, anti-minority, anti-queer, anti-welfare, anti-environment, anti-union rednecks. Then it comes to saving the country, all those groups and their incessant "gimmie, gimmie" whining are irrevelant.

[goldstategop]

The Democrats remind me of six year olds complaining that they're not allowed to do whatever they please. That's right and they got slapped on their behinds for misbehavin.' Now its time for them to grow up if they ever want to be entrusted with the serious life and death responsibility of power again.

[The_Victor]

The "good-enough brain" part is actually understatement. People with President Bush's academic and other accomplishments (dullards don't graduate from Harvard's Business School, can't learn to fly a fighter jet and don't have a net worth of some $16 million earned by themselves) have very high IQ's.

Just some food for thought - Which 20th century presidents had/have the highest IQs?

Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon.

Not meaning to slight the intelligent here, but the author says Bush is intelligent enough, and it clearly bears out in the analysis.

[bert]

.....Americans with war and national security on their minds have wearied, too, of partisan bickering.....

The fact is, little changed. the different camps are so even that most of the Congress remained the same as it was.

The Republican attack across the country was focused on those areas where an attack with maximum available resources was possible and given some measure of potential success. Maximum available is different from overwhelming force/resources that was not possible. Some of those focused attacks were successful and some were repulsed.

The success rate was barely adequate. A followon attack will be made in LA to increase the total success.

Where the attacks were successful, the number of minds changed was small. Most voters voted the previously entrenched positions. A few voters were in fact frightened and voted for personal physical security over personal economic security.

The Republicans did not win an overwhelming victory. They gained control and now must act to change the minds of entrenched Rats as well as more of those in the middle with no permanent convictions.

[chiefqc]

Bush passes the real-people test, and real people outnumber pundits on Election Day. People trust him. They recognize him. They know he won't try to seduce their daughters or play games that don't involve a ball, a bat or a hoop.

============================================================

Why is it that even the lowest form of animals learn from their mistakes, yet the Dumb-O-Loser can't learn from theirs?

I believe that they believe that the American voters are all morons and need to be told how to vote.

The same tired,old tricks that worked for the perverted klinton era is still being used. They are allowing this vile, lying, perverted pig to make fools of them while he continues to recieve huge sums of money. They are also setting themselve up to again make the same mistakes by fawning over his also perverted "wife".

They have no new ideas, programs or direction.

I can only recommemnd that all Dumb-O-Loser leadership be required to study the lower form of life, see how they learn from their mistakes and see if they can also learn.

But then again, never mind it's to much fun watching you eat your own and totally destroy yourselves.

[Wonder Warthog]

"Which 20th century presidents had/have the highest IQs?"

"Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon."

You missed one. Jimmuh Cahtah was right up there in the brains department (in fact, Walter Crankcase said that ole Jimmuh was the smartest president he had ever seen, being able to digest and retain huge masses of detail). Of course, Jimmuh was an incompetent president....which just goes to show that leadership ability doesn't necessarily accrue to the smartest lad on the block.

[alnick]

A few voters were in fact frightened and voted for personal physical security over personal economic security.

No. That implies that voting democrat would somehow be good for the economy and voting Republican would somehow be harmful to the economy. That's just a democrat myth.

[ContraryMary]

I couldn't have said it better myself. Having grown up in Minnesota and now living in New Jersey for 16 years, I still see quite the chasm between the East Coast establishment and mainstream America.

[Savage Beast]

"Living out in the sticks has its advantages."

The understatement of the month. --SB (from The Middle of Nowhere)

[M Kehoe]

Bttt.

5.56mm

[bert]

....That's just a democrat myth....

You are correct in this statement but may misunderstand my other point. I am considering the microeconomy of personal finances. Macro economic considerations are irrelevant for the few I think are involved in the recent election.

The challange on the macroeconomy is more fundamental and moves the base. That is, to change the 43% entrenched in addition to the 12% in the middle.

[Crawdad]

Finally! I've been on the kids vs. adults bandwagon for a long time. However, it wasn't until my daughter turned 14 that it really hit home. It is amazing to compare the logic she employs in our discourse with her with that of Mssrs. Clainton, McCauliff, et al. It's exactly the same as what comes from the democrats. They really have become the PPP (Party of Peter Pan) in that they have never grown up.

[LaineyDee]

Just some food for thought - Which 20th century presidents had/have the highest IQs? Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon. Not meaning to slight the intelligent here, but the author says Bush is intelligent enough, and it clearly bears out in the analysis.

Having a high IQ doesn't mean diddly squat without the common sense to drive it. My cousin's IQ is off the charts... but he works at Pizza Hut (40 yrs old). He was one semester away from a Master's in Physics before dropping out of the "establishment". Now......most people I know would call that STUPID. *chuckle*

[Dog]

Spot on article! !!!!!!

[another cricket]

The "good-enough brain" part is actually understatement. People with President Bush's academic and other accomplishments (dullards don't graduate from Harvard's Business School, can't learn to fly a fighter jet and don't have a net worth of some $16 million earned by themselves) have very high IQ's.

Bush is “the millionaire next door” sort of guy. Everyone knows he has it but he acts just like the rest of us. He doesn’t make us feel small or carry even a whiff of an “I am SO much better then you” attitude. Your nice middle class son probably could ask his daughter for a date without daddy getting upset.

To put it in a nutshell, he likes us and we return the favor high IQ, big bank account and all. As opposed to those mentioned who have very high IQ’s (maybe) but give us the impression that they hold us in contempt.

a.cricket

[stocksthatgoup]

Dear Kathleen ........thanks for the wonderful post......
And forgive me, but class. We may not know what "it" is, but we know what it ain't. (And it aint Demorats)

[Cultural Jihad]

Is anyone indexing all of these well-written obituaries of the Democratic Party?

[Wphile]

Another nice article about W!

[ohioWfan]

And true, too! :o)

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Amen!

[joyful1]

It's really odd when a person grows old before they grow wise. That's what is really odd to me about old people who are still Democrats!

[1john2 3and4]

great take on the election results!

there are about 10 kabillion threads here at free republic analyzing the results, so i dont know if this has been said before, or "goes w/out saying".... apologies, BUT

whatever passes for analysis in the liberal media is missing the mark. i think this is a good thing for the republicans, though personally, i get so angry and frustrated with their intentional obfuscation (EVIL)i cant watch much. as soon as i hear that the pubs won because "they spent more money" (to get their message out), or babbling babs' drivel (im in the "let's keep her" camp), i ask; "what IS the dems agenda/message?" seems to me that to get elected, they DONT want their socialist/dancing pig ideologies known. thats why they spinelessly appear to move toward the center. they are like the devil, who, if he appeared and said "hi, im satan!" would cause most of us to flee post-haste! (except mapplethorpe et.al.?) the democrats must DISGUISE their message, commit fraud, ignore LAW to get elected.

im ALL FOR dems getting "their message" out!

[twyn1]

If you're having trouble with this, return to the list of those applauded at the Wellstone memorial and jot down by each name the first word that comes to mind.

Interesting Exercise--here's what I came up with:

• Bill Clinton -- Evil
• Walter Mondale -- Old
• Al Gore -- Tree
• Tom Daschle -- Liar
• Sen. Edward Kennedy -- Drunk
• Rev. Jesse Jackson -- Shyster

[blam]

"Having Jim McDermott and David Bonior implying in Baghdad that they trust Saddam Hussein more than they trust George Bush didn't help the Democrats at all."

How absolutely outrageous that was. Even the commie UN does not trust Saddam! What a contrast.

I've been reading all the explanations of why the Democrats lost.
All of the explanations seem to fit.

[admiralsn]

I posted this a few days ago on another thread, and it sums up my feelings regarding the election, so I am posting it again:

On Thursday, President Bush said, "I don't take cues from anybody, I just do what I think is right." What a great quote! To me, this sums up George W. Bush. He could care less what others think. He only cares what he thinks because he feels he is right. Why second guess yourself when you have the upmost confidence in your abilities? So what if 99% of the press thinks your are a babbling idiot. You know you are right. So what if the Democrats attack you and underestimate you, saying you are inexperienced- you have no "gravitas." You know you are right, and what sweet revenge it will be when they are proven wrong at the polls.

It just slays me to know that the Dems actually thought that Algore was going to be a factor in this campaign- I mean a positive factor. It kills me to think that the democrats actually believed that there was some sort of deep-seeded resentment toward President Bush because of the election of 2000. The Party of "Let's just move on with the business of the country" quickly became the Party of "Let's remember the past." They quit looking toward the future when George W. Bush was announced to be the winner in December of 2000.

It also just floors me to know that they really think that moving Gephardt and maybe a few others out of the way will solve the problems that people like "Bahgdad Jim" McDermott and Saddam Boiner created for their party. Of course I am not going to be the one to tell them that, but they just don't get it. And they say that President Bush is a dummy! Hah! Who decided to roll Bill Clinton's big fat butt through all of those states with tight races as a last ditch effort to save their hides? Who decided to counter the popular President with the bore Gore in the toss-up States? Who decided that it would be a GOOD thing to inject Ol' Fritz Mondale with some sort of Geritol-potion and act as though it was Viagra and run him as a serious candidate? If the Democrats want my advice, they need to fire EVERYONE- past and present- and start over from scratch. The problem (for them, and the plus for us) is that they won't take any advice.

And of course if the Republicans want my advice, I'd say just keep "dancing with the one that brung you."

[NordP]

Thanks for the ping - GREAT article...SO TRUE!

[GUIDO]

Thanks for posting this. I am familiar with Kathleen Parker as we get her column here in the San Antonio Express-News about 1 or 2 times a week. She is one of the few women I read because she tends to lean to the right 90% of the time. This one will be out next week i suppose. But of course I can get it here first on freerepublic.

[blam]

"I'd say just keep "dancing with the one that brung you."

Always good advice.

[gramho12]

Thanks for the ping, W. Enjoyed this article, except that people still don't get how smart this man is. But who needs to be considered smart when you accomplish all your goals?

[Otta B Sleepin]

Great article - thanks for the ping!

[olliemb]

Thanks for sharing the article. Dose tonite?

[goodnesswins]

Another great article....thanks, Wphile....just wish I lived in the "sticks" too......we're surrounded by, well, you know....I'm trying to be polite. LOL.

[chnsmok]

Hi Olliemb! Looks like no dose tonight. Just thought I would look for your posts and say congrats for all the hard work you did. We whooped 'em!

[Libertina]

BUMP for President Bush

[olliemb]

I truly believe that God's work was at hand. We all had faith in God and the realization of what was hoped for and of things not seen. I am humbled before God how much he can accomplished. As Paul said to the Philippians--"I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus."

We all worked hard for this Republican victory--I give thanks to God at every remembrance of this great joy, but I hope that we and the president don't get haughty and lose sight of God's work in progress. We must bring love to all our neighbors and be God's instruments.

I worked the phones, the blocks and did the poll watching and went to Tom Delay's postelection party. The system is a lot of fun and look forward to the Houston mayoral race and finally the 2004 presidential election. I hope I make enough friends to be invited to one of the inauguration balls. My husband just rolls his eyes!!!LOL!!!! Tho he is a Republican, the most he has ever done is voted/ Yet, I think he enjoys my tales of the election.