Four . . . More . . . Years? The Left Contemplates the Unthinkable

The Washington Post ^ | 10/25/2004 | Howard Kurtz

[Utah Girl]

The cover of the Washington Monthly asks the burning question: "WHAT IF HE WINS?"

The outcome of the race remains in doubt, of course, but there are huge implications for the media -- especially its openly liberal branch -- if President Bush is reelected next week. Some are already using apocalyptic terms. The New Yorker is backing John Kerry today in the first endorsement in its 80-year history.

"There will be a period of grieving," says Katrina van den Heuvel, editor of the Nation. "We will continue to fight the good fight during what we think is the dismantling of our democracy."

But her liberal magazine has grown from 100,000 in circulation to 170,000 in the past four years. "Bush has been bad for the nation but good for the Nation," she admits.

From the 36-day recount through the Iraq war and beyond, George W. Bush has been at the center of the political and media universe. He's had a testy relationship with the establishment press: the fewest news conferences of any president in more than four decades, an administration that thrives on secrecy and a vice president who has denounced the New York Times and barred its reporters from Air Force Two. Not to mention a special prosecutor who is threatening to put reporters in jail in the Valerie Plame case.

[Utah Girl]

All about journalists and how they feel burned by President Bush. Waaaaah, big babies.

[mabelkitty]

They are conceding the lawsuits haven't gone their way, and thus, they no they have no chance at victory.

[T. Buzzard Trueblood]

"There will be a period of grieving," says Katrina van den Heuvel, editor of the Nation. "We will continue to fight the good fight during what we think is the dismantling of our democracy."

Easy there, Katrina.

[mabelkitty]

Pauline Kael: How could Nixon win? I don't know ANYBODY who voted for him.

That pretty much sums it up.

[Jeff Head]

I'm calling it for Bush...320 to 218

[reformedliberal]

Mourning? Apocalyptic? What if he WINS? But the paper that printed Kurtz' column told us the Bush campaign was *grim* and *worried*. And the rhetoric has softened a tad: "...what we think of as the dismantling...". A month ago was:"he IS dismantling..."

[Exigence]

I will absolutely love seeing Dan Rather's face as he is forced to admit that GWB has been reelected.

[Fiddlstix]

[Darkwolf377]

"Pauline Kael: How could Nixon win? I don't know ANYBODY who voted for him. That pretty much sums it up."

Joyce Carol Oates, another writer whose politics I loathe but whose writing I love (esp. Kael's--she was one of the few critics who didn't scrape and bow before "brilliant" foreign "art" films) said something very similar recently. It really perked me up--I think certain liberals put on this "hear no evil" thing whenever they're about to go down in flames.

[KoRn]

The left won't be any worse off than they are now. Their pain and hate is only in their own universe of lack of thought and emotion.

[claudiustg]

---a vice president who has denounced the New York Times and barred its reporters from Air Force Two---

Go Cheney!

[WayneM]

A hearty welcome from a fellow software engineer!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Trend looks good.

Even Hawaii may contribute to the Bush total.

[McGavin999]

Even the "Media Watchdog" is confused about what is happening in this country. They think if Bush wins they'll make lots of money......until the public finds out the truth about Iraq and the WMDs, and the press can no longer hide the truth about the Oil for Food scandal.

[mabelkitty]

Some other Kael gems: Regarding Lana Turner in Madame X "She isn't Madame X, she's Brand X"

Kael regaring I don't know who: Her acting skills ranged from A to B and back again.

She was a hoot!

[Utah Girl]

I'm starting to be a believer.

[Utah Girl]

Me too. And Peter Jennings. And Katie Couric. Lots of CNN people too.

[liberty2004]

Jeff, you are assuming the democrats will play fair. I truly fear they WILL STEAL this election. I have no doubt the fix is in. The corruption if probably worse than we even know. The left is consumed with destroying this country. They are as big a threat to our Republic as are the terrorists. I really wish I could share your optimism, but I just don't feel it. The evil left is obsessed with power. I don't think Bush's team understands the evil they are up against. The left seeks to destroy their enemies, not just defeat them. The MSM is truly full of U.S. hating people. I despise them more each day.

[ModelBreaker]

They are conceding the lawsuits haven't gone their way, and thus, they no they have no chance at victory.

Actually, one of the rat's key lawsuits has been spectacularly successful. The PA lawsuit to get Nader off the ballot resulted in all the military absentee ballots being sent too late to be cast in time. That's 10's of thousands of votes for W down the tubes.