Posted on 08/06/2004 3:00:01 PM PDT by Libloather
Good, despite themselves
Article Last Updated: Thursday, August 05, 2004 - 12:54:17 PM MST
By DONALD KAUL, Retired Washington columnist, Des Moines Register
The Democratic National Convention got off to a rip-roaring start last week with its parade of Golden Oldies - President Jimmy, Uncrowned Prince Al and, of course, Big Bill.
Taken together, their speeches constituted the best first day of a political convention in memory. The trio managed to offer a scathing critique of the Bush Administration's preemptive-war strategy, as well as his reverse Robin Hood economic policies, without getting too personal about the president himself (although Jimmy Carter can hardly hide his contempt for the man).
Their speeches were mercifully short and lively, even funny.
Al Gore supplied the wittiest crack with his opening: "...you know the old saying: you win some, you lose some. And then there's the little-known third category."
Carter gave the bleakest assessment of Bush's leadership: "After 9/11, America stood proud, wounded but determined and united. A cowardly attack on innocent civilians brought us an unprecedented level of cooperation and understanding around the world. But in just 34 months, we have watched with deep concern as all this goodwill has been squandered by a virtually unbroken series of mistakes and miscalculations."
But it was left for Bill Clinton to demonstrate why he remains the brightest star in the Democratic firmament (and why he would be nominated if he could run again).
He laid out the stark contrasts between the two parties in a masterful speech glazed with irony.
"Democrats want to build an America of shared responsibilities and shared opportunities," he said. "Republicans believe in an America run by the right people, their people ... If you agree with that, by all means re-elect them. If not, John Kerry and John Edwards are your team for the future."
He mocked the tax cut he, as a newly rich man, has received from the Republicans and he pointed out that Kerry, despite his privileged background, had volunteered for a war that he, Clinton, and Bush and Cheney had avoided.
It was red meat to the Democrats in the hall and they roared as they consumed it.
Whether it convinced people outside the hall, undecided voters, is problematic. Basically, that's going to be Kerry's job and it's not entirely clear whether he's up to it. Still, it was a good start.
One should never underestimate the Democrats' ability to screw up a good start, however. Consider, for example, the case of Sandy Berger, President Clinton's former National Security Adviser.
By all accounts a brilliant man, he was acting as an unpaid foreign policy adviser to the Kerry campaign. Until it was learned that he was under investigation by the FBI for removing classified documents from the National Archives without proper authority. He admits doing it while researching an incident that occurred when he was security adviser, but he says it was an accident. He inadvertently swept some papers up with other papers and carried them off, his spokesperson said. But he also admitted sticking some of the material in his coat pockets.
The Republicans are going ballistic, of course. What better way to cast doubt on Kerry's competence (and Clinton's, for that matter) as a national leader?
House Majority Leader Tom (Take No Prisoners) DeLay said: "...it could be a national security crisis."
I doubt that, but the Republicans have a right to suggest it. At the very least it was monstrously stupid of Berger; if not stupid, what? Democrats quickly responded by accusing Republicans of playing politics with the issue. The FBI had been investigating the matter for several months but only on the eve of the Democratic convention was it revealed.
Republicans playing politics? In an election year? Say it ain't so.
But you see what I mean. Democrats seem to have an instinct for the jugular. Their own.
Whether it proves to be a fatal instinct remains to be seen.
At the very least it was monstrously stupid of Berger; if not stupid, what?
No it is a felony, and AG Ashcroft should treat it as such.
The ONLY honest Democrat politician...Zell Miller, has in effect left the party...
The rest couldn't cobble together one honest soul, using body parts from the entire body of Democrats in Congress.
Semper Fi
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.