Considering Democrats' hatred of the President, the events today in Iraq must be their worst nightmare. It is the worst of all possible worlds to have to concede that, with a 70%+ turnout, George Bush may have succeeded in demonstrating that Democracy is a greater attractive force than terrorism.
The result is a message that is being heard around the world, one that will change the paradigm of both friends and foes.
What is happening with the Iraqi vote possibly even justifies the effort, and not just in Iraq. This repeats Mr. Bush’s prior success in Afghanistan. It sends the message that he is correct - democracy is a stronger force than hatred. Two wins, no losses.
Further, it lends credibility to those in Europe who believed that France, Germany and the UN were in error opposing the United States on what to do, and why to do it. Tony Blair’s political capital goes up, too. The American success makes the UN look ridiculous; they should have done it, but couldn’t.
Domestically, the vote in Iraq raises the political capital and credibility of President Bush and Secretary of State Condi Rice while it further diminishes the likes of Kerry, Kennedy and Boxer in the eyes of fellow politicians and the voting public.
Democracy won a big one today. And the cynical Democrats lost...big time.
Also - this is the first large scale show that Iraqi police and military can operate successfully. Maybe for the first time in decades Iraqi police helped the people instead of oppressing them.