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Hating Bush (Cathryn Crawford)
Washington Dispatch ^ | December 5, 2003 | Cathryn Crawford

Posted on 12/05/2003 8:26:01 AM PST by Scenic Sounds

Hating President Bush has become a national pastime. It seems almost funny, how one man can stir up the ire of so many people. There are all sorts of reasons to hate the President. When BestandWorst.com asked their readers why they hate Bush, there were all sorts of reasons, which ranged from “because he fits way too many anti-Christ proficiencies, seriously”, to. “No, the question is - who would let an ugly monkey rule a nation?” Now, these are funny – somewhat because of the ignorance (a President doesn’t rule a nation), and somewhat because of the wording (ugly monkey?).

But, seriously, Democrats – especially those who are running for President in 2004 - love this outpouring of rage, and they’re quick to do their best to channel it. There are “I hate Bush” bumper stickers, t-shirts, underwear. There are myriad websites devoted to the subject. There was even a recent Bush-hating conference held in Hollywood. The Democrats want as many people as possible to think it’s cool to hate Bush, and they’re pushing it as hard as possible.

However, is their policy of hate actually going to win them any votes in 2004? Sure, there are the die-hard, “yellow dog” Democrats, (as we call them in the South). But these guys don’t just hate Bush – they hate Republicans in general. Actually, they hate Independents and Greens and Libertarians, too – everyone but Democrats. A hate-Bush policy isn’t likely to affect them one way or another. They’re going to vote the same way they always do.

Then there is that elusive group of middle-ground voters. This is an eclectic group. Contained here are the so-called soccer moms, the white Southern guys with the Confederate flags hanging in their trucks, the college students who are trying to figure out who is who and what ideology fits them best. These are the people that are truly struggling (for the most part) to make the right decision. Most have already formed opinions about which political party they agree with, and most tend to vote one way or another on a regular basis. However, these are the people that the Democrats are struggling to plug into the electricity of their rage and ire against the President.

Democrats, however, don’t seem to understand how silly, futile and powerless this attitude makes them look. Most people do not respond well to purely reactionary policies, but that’s what the Democrats are using. There doesn’t seem to be a unified plan among them; there’s just a lot of smoke and hot air and rage and screaming. It makes one wonder if the Democrats would exist were Bush not in office. They have become the party of the anti-Bush – the party that isn’t the Republicans.

I have to admit – I’m not one of those people that want the Democrats to just vanish from sight, though I sympathize with those who do. As in economics, a little competition usually improves the quality of the end result. However, Democrats are marketing themselves so badly lately that it’s not even a competition anymore – it’s like watching a big man finally kick the crap out of the dog that’s been nipping its heels. You feel a bit sorry for the dog, but you thoroughly enjoy watching. And so it is now. Politics is about practicality. If the Democrats think that hating Bush is going to win those votes, they’re going to continue to push that policy as hard as they can, even when it means getting kicked. It didn’t work in 2000, it backfired horribly in 2002, but they simply can’t learn their lesson. Maybe they need another kick.

Cathryn Crawford is a student at the University of Texas. She can be reached with questions or comments at CathrynCrawford@WashingtonDispatch.com.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bush; bushhaters; democrats; hate; poorwriting
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Cathryn Crawford's latest!

1 posted on 12/05/2003 8:26:01 AM PST by Scenic Sounds
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To: ValenB4; Scenic Sounds; Sir Gawain; gcruse; geedee; DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet; Chad Fairbanks; ...
Ping for your interest...
2 posted on 12/05/2003 8:27:54 AM PST by Cathryn Crawford (Una edad por lo menos a cada parte.)
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To: Cathryn Crawford
I'll be real honest: the D's and the Left who "hate Bush", as you say, are weak compared to the stuff we use to sling at the Clinton cabal in the good ole days of FR.

3 posted on 12/05/2003 8:30:04 AM PST by JohnGalt (How few were left who had seen the Republic!---Tacitus)
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To: Cathryn Crawford
Thanks for the ping -- keep up the great work :-)
4 posted on 12/05/2003 8:30:38 AM PST by JohnHuang2 (<-----As Neanderthal as they come)
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To: JohnGalt
I'll be real honest: the D's and the Left who "hate Bush", as you say, are weak compared to the stuff we use to sling at the Clinton cabal in the good ole days of FR.

Yes, and it didn't get Clinton un-elected, did it? LOL

5 posted on 12/05/2003 8:32:25 AM PST by Cathryn Crawford (Una edad por lo menos a cada parte.)
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To: Cathryn Crawford
It does seem to be the main policy point..Hate Bush.
6 posted on 12/05/2003 8:34:32 AM PST by MEG33
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To: Scenic Sounds
Good article

Aggie to T-sip bump.

She not an Ag, but she's sharp enough to be one.

7 posted on 12/05/2003 8:34:48 AM PST by The_Victor
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To: Scenic Sounds
Is it hate? Or is it religous persecution?!
8 posted on 12/05/2003 8:36:15 AM PST by airborne
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To: Cathryn Crawford
BTTT!!!!!!
9 posted on 12/05/2003 8:37:06 AM PST by E.G.C.
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To: Cathryn Crawford
Great column, as usual, Cathryn.

I do have a little problem with this part:

"[I]t’s like watching a big man finally kick the crap out of the dog that’s been nipping its heels. You feel a bit sorry for the dog, but you thoroughly enjoy watching."

Do you know what I think should happen to a "big man" who kicks the crap out of a dog? ;-)

Aside from that little slip on your part, the column is perfect. ;-)

10 posted on 12/05/2003 8:37:11 AM PST by Scenic Sounds (Pero treinta miles al resto.)
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To: Scenic Sounds
Bump for Cathryn!
11 posted on 12/05/2003 8:37:22 AM PST by Rabid Dog (formerly Rabid Republican)
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To: Cathryn Crawford
I like it! :-)
12 posted on 12/05/2003 8:37:51 AM PST by TheBigB (Pick-up line made famous by James T. Kirk: "Wanna see the Captain's Log?")
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To: airborne
Is it hate? Or is it religous persecution?!

Either way, it's evil!! ;-)

13 posted on 12/05/2003 8:40:04 AM PST by Scenic Sounds (Pero treinta miles al resto.)
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To: MEG33
I don't know what nation they are talking about. I was born in the USA and adore President Bush. Where are all these people from(must be hollywood types) He is the best thing that ever happened to this country.
14 posted on 12/05/2003 8:41:18 AM PST by RobertM
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To: The_Victor
She not an Ag, but she's sharp enough to be one.

Thanks, I think.

15 posted on 12/05/2003 8:42:17 AM PST by Cathryn Crawford (Una edad por lo menos a cada parte.)
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To: Scenic Sounds
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20)
16 posted on 12/05/2003 8:42:37 AM PST by CovenBuster (Infuriating liberal covens from coast to coast!)
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To: Scenic Sounds
Do you know what I think should happen to a "big man" who kicks the crap out of a dog?

Gee, that's hard to figure out. Taco meat? LOL

17 posted on 12/05/2003 8:43:14 AM PST by Cathryn Crawford (Una edad por lo menos a cada parte.)
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To: Cathryn Crawford
Interesting point of view.

I don't hate Bush at all, but I sure don't like what he is doing as President so far as making government bigger, more powerful, more expensive.....the new LBJ in that regard.

The dems are clearly taking the wrong tack with the hate thing. They would be better off if they criticized him on how much he has expanded government, proving the era of big government is clearly not over....but then they'd be Republicans. Uh, no, wait.....

Hmmm....so who's against big government these days anyhow?
18 posted on 12/05/2003 8:44:00 AM PST by RJCogburn ("Is that what they call grit in Fort Smith? We call it something else in Yell County." Mattie Ross)
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To: CovenBuster
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20)

A lake of fire awaits them!!

19 posted on 12/05/2003 8:44:47 AM PST by Scenic Sounds (Pero treinta miles al resto.)
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To: Cathryn Crawford
Hating President Bush has become a national pastime.

Baseball is a national pastime. "Hating" Bush is practiced by a small, albeit shrill, group of naysayers. Kind of like saying tiddlywinks is a national pastime or an olympic event.

20 posted on 12/05/2003 8:45:05 AM PST by Cagey
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