[Cathryn Crawford]

Ping for your interest...

[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.

[JohnHuang2]

Thanks for the ping -- keep up the great work :-)

[MEG33]

It does seem to be the main policy point..Hate Bush.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[Scenic Sounds]

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. ;-)

[TheBigB]

I like it! :-)

[RJCogburn]

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?

[Travis McGee]

The 'rats are starting to resemble snarling rabid lemmings, who are so blinded by hate that while they think they are attacking Bush in a mighty bonzai charge, they don't see the sea cliff ahead of them.

Good riddance to this party of socialists and commie-loving traitors. I wonder what new party will rise from the ashes?

[anniegetyourgun]

SSSSSHHHHHHH.....be very, very quiet.....let them go on. I want all (especially young voters) to see them for what they are - devoid of anything good and only interested in their own power.

[international american]

"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.

The Dems hatred for Bush is so palpable, so profound that they will once again, kick themselves! Life is good, and so is your article.
Best, IA

[x]

Susan Estrich had an article in the LA Times this week about attending a "hate Bush" party. She doesn't think it will help the Democrats to become too much the party of "Bush Haters."

And, indeed, it usually doesn't help a party, movement, or candidacy to become too closely identified with negative emotions, rather than with positive aspirations. Under ordinary circumstances the public is generally saner and more grounded than true partisans are, so there's usually a backlash. The condecension of liberal gentry and academics towards those they dislike strikes a jarring note and arouses sympathy in the general public. For many who aren't particularly enthusiastic about President Bush, his war and his policies, the old lines about Grover Cleveland apply: "they love him ... for the enemies he has made."

It looks to me like there are three aspects of Bush hatred: 1) the haters disagree with Bush on the issues, 2) they think he doesn't belong in the Presidency, that he didn't earn it, that he's a lightweight, a dunce, or the illegitimate beneficiary of a bloodless coup d'état and 3) they think he really may have the power and ability to change things in the country. The public comes at things from a different angle than the thoroughgoing partisans. What matters to them is how Bush is doing as President, and whether he benefits the country.

[ImpBill]

As usual nice reading your cogent and well presented thoughts.

I think the "Hate Bush" industry is more a media invention than reality. I don't think it has near the steam the "hate Clinton's" movement had, but I am a bit prejudiced and could be wrong. I don't think so.

Personally I like Mr. Bush. I don't like much of his domestic agenda and that bothers me as it brings to question issues that go to just how much integrity does he really have. I want to like him. I need to like him as I do have great loathing for the Democrat party and the vast majority of their elected representatives at the national level.

As I age I become more and more frustrated at the "politics as usual" practiced by both major political parties.

But also, as I age, I get to the point of accepting there isn't much I can do about it from way out here in the bleacher seats. So I, often, just hold my nose and vote for the best viable candidate. Unfortunately these days I find voting for negative reasons out weigh voting for the positive reasons. It is not so much that I vote and support someone or something as I oppose much more the antagonist in the equation.

Long rant, but feel better getting off my chest.

Thanks again for alerting me to your missives. I enjoy them.

[Rebelbase]

Nicely said.

[Amelia]

Contained here are...the white Southern guys with the Confederate flags hanging in their trucks...these are the people that the Democrats are struggling to plug into the electricity of their rage and ire against the President.

Those guys might vote for a third party candidate, but I don't think they are real likely to vote Democratic.

[gatorbait]

Good analysis once again,pretty Cat.

Fabulous.