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Bush-haters do Kerry no favors
Boston Globe ^ | July 25, 2004 | Jeff Jacoby

Posted on 07/25/2004 9:52:37 AM PDT by Kaslin

A POPULAR conceit of the left is that political hatred is a sickness of the right, one to which liberals are largely immune. "Just who are these Clinton haters," asked Time magazine in April 1994, "and why do they loathe Bill and Hillary with such passion?" It answered, in effect: That's just the way conservatives are. The article quoted historian Alan Brinkley: "Liberals tend to value tolerance highly, so there's a greater reluctance to destroy enemies than among the right."

That was a whopper even in 1994, a year when Republican leader Newt Gingrich was routinely vilified as a McCarthyite and a racist. Ten years later, with a storm of Bush hatred raging among liberal Democrats, the notion that the left is too high-minded to savage its opponents is about as plausible as the claim that the moon landings were staged in Hollywood.

The left's bitter fury toward Bush is more than just atmospherics. It is the big political story of the past two years. The visceral revulsion Bush provokes in so many Democrats fuels the passion that has had such a seismic effect on the presidential campaign. From last winter's Howard Dean bubble to the astonishing sums of money being donated to John Kerry, Bush hatred has profoundly shaped the 2004 election. It explains why Kerry is neck-and-neck in his race with George Bush. It may also be the reason he loses.

(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: 2004dncconvention; 2004election; 2004electionbias; antibushrally; bushhassers; bushhaters; clinton; clintonlegacy; election2004; jeffjacoby; kerry; liberalbigots; mediabias; timebias; timelifebias
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Susan Estrich was on FNC last night (I can't remember which program) and on Fox and Friends this morning and said she doesn't think the liberals will bash the president at the convention.

Yeah right. < /sarcasm >

They can't go on w/o bashing the president

1 posted on 07/25/2004 9:52:38 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

That is their party platform.


2 posted on 07/25/2004 9:55:47 AM PDT by ride the whirlwind ("I will never relent in bringing justice to our enemies..." - President Bush)
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To: Kaslin
Liberals tend to value tolerance highly...

Where's the barf alert? Noew I have to get a new keyboard.

3 posted on 07/25/2004 9:56:02 AM PDT by Drango (Stupidity is the only infinitely renewable resource)
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To: Kaslin

I hope that they take control of the Democrat convention and thus educate the voting public. But I get the feeling that the Democrat leadership and the press will lock most of their base into closets and attics over the next week.


4 posted on 07/25/2004 9:58:53 AM PDT by dr_who_2
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To: Drango

Well if that were the title I would have certainly added it.


5 posted on 07/25/2004 9:59:23 AM PDT by Kaslin (All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for Kerry to be elected)
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To: Kaslin

We should time how long before the first hateful remark comes down from the podium.


6 posted on 07/25/2004 9:59:41 AM PDT by gilliam
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To: Kaslin
However intensely it may be savored by true believers, it's a hard sell on Main Street.

They have nothing to sell Main Street. They sell only to Berkeley, Cambridge, and Hollywood.

7 posted on 07/25/2004 10:04:48 AM PDT by Mr. Jeeves
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To: Kaslin

They can't help themselves, like kids forbidden to do something they will do it even more.


8 posted on 07/25/2004 10:07:40 AM PDT by GailA ( hanoi john, I'm for the death penalty for terrorist, before I impose a moratorium on it.)
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To: gilliam

I'd say by Tuesday at the latest


9 posted on 07/25/2004 10:08:05 AM PDT by Kaslin (All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for Kerry to be elected)
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To: Kaslin
I'd say by Tuesday at the latest

The convention begins on Tuesday ;)

10 posted on 07/25/2004 10:08:51 AM PDT by gilliam
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To: gilliam

The first hateful remark directed at whom? Bush, or America in general?


11 posted on 07/25/2004 10:10:14 AM PDT by My2Cents ("Fair, balanced...and unafraid.")
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To: GailA

Exactly. Also you have to remember Susan Estrich was Dukakis' campaign manager


12 posted on 07/25/2004 10:10:29 AM PDT by Kaslin (All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for Kerry to be elected)
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To: Mr. Jeeves

Shhh....As long as they think liberalism actually stands for something, and isn't the bankupt philosophy it actually is, they'll go down in flames. Let's keep it our little secret.


13 posted on 07/25/2004 10:12:12 AM PDT by My2Cents ("Fair, balanced...and unafraid.")
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To: gilliam
Actually it begins on Monday.

The heavy-hitters, Hillary, Bill, Jimmy, and Al, are the evening speakers on Monday prime time.

14 posted on 07/25/2004 10:12:41 AM PDT by Prov3456
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To: dr_who_2
From the article, this is what has some worried, and this they won't be able to control.

"The last thing Kerry needs is to be seen as the candidate of the Hate Party. His campaign has reportedly issued orders to keep the Bush-bashing to a minimum during this week's convention, and the official convention speakers will no doubt comply. But what about all the non-official speakers and activists and sign-wavers and souvenir vendors and interview-givers who will be so visible and audible to the thousands of journalists roaming the Fleet-Center? How restrained is Michael Moore, the nation's premier Bush-hating demagogue, going to be at the rally he and Howard Dean are headlining on Tuesday, for example? How many celebrities will be unable to suppress the kind of X-rated rant that Whoopi Goldberg uncorked at that now-infamous Kerry gala at Radio City Music Hall? How many delegates will be sporting crude Bush-hating buttons, like the ones that say "Buck Fush" or "Somewhere in Texas, a village is missing its idiot"?"

15 posted on 07/25/2004 10:13:16 AM PDT by Indy Pendance
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To: Prov3456

Oh, I guess I will have to miss that, thanks


16 posted on 07/25/2004 10:14:30 AM PDT by gilliam
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To: gilliam
The convention begins on Tuesday ;)

It begins Monday and that's the night the Clintons will speak, therefore the hateful rhetoric (he'll disguise it in a folksy tone, but I expect it to be extremely vitriolic) will begin Monday night for sure.

17 posted on 07/25/2004 10:17:43 AM PDT by cyncooper ("We will fear no evil...And we will prevail")
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To: Kaslin

And what an admirable job she did!


18 posted on 07/25/2004 10:18:27 AM PDT by 7.62 x 51mm (• Veni • Vidi • Vino •)
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To: Indy Pendance
Besides, they can say all day long they are going to be optimistic, foward looking and not bash Bush, but that is exactly what they'll all do, up to and including Kerry.

I actually can't wait to hear his speech in a way...I think it will be what they've been promising: A look at the 'real' John Kerry. And I don't think it will be pretty. Though a substantial portion of the electorate will be thrilled by the hate.

19 posted on 07/25/2004 10:21:15 AM PDT by cyncooper ("We will fear no evil...And we will prevail")
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To: Kaslin

How can she say that with a straight face after the Whoopi incident?


20 posted on 07/25/2004 10:21:33 AM PDT by stylin_geek (Koffi: 0, G.W. Bush: (I lost count))
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