Seeing Red: Hillary Clinton and Howard Dean rage against Republicans. It's not a winning approach!

OPINION JOURNAL.COM ^ | JUNE 9, 2005 | PEGGY NOONAN

[CHARLITE]

In some key ways in Washington, the most politically engaged individuals in both parties do not understand each other. Democrats think Republicans are mean. Republicans know Democrats are the mean party.

Knowing that, let's do a thought experiment. Close your eyes and imagine this.

President Bush is introduced at a great gathering in Topeka, Kan. It is the evening of June 9, 2005. Ruffles and flourishes, "Hail to the Chief," hearty applause from a packed ballroom. Mr. Bush walks to the podium and delivers the following address.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. I want to speak this evening about how I see the political landscape. Let me jump right in. The struggle between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party is a struggle between good and evil--and we're the good. I hate Democrats. Let's face it, they have never made an honest living in their lives. Who are they, really, but people who are intent on abusing power, destroying the United States Senate and undermining our Constitution? They have no shame. But why would they? They have never been acquainted with the truth. You ever been to a Democratic fundraiser? They all look the same. They all behave the same. They have a dictatorship, and suffer from zeal so extreme they think they have a direct line to heaven. But what would you expect when you have a far left extremist base? We cannot afford more of their leadership. I call on you to help me defeat them!"

Imagine Mr. Bush saying those things, and the crowd roaring with lusty delight. Imagine John McCain saying them for that matter, or any other likely Republican candidate for president, or Ken Mehlman, the head of the Republican National Committee. Can you imagine them talking this way? Me neither. Because they wouldn't.

[Juan Medén]

That's OK. We don't want them to win.

[CHARLITE]

Ping!

[EagleUSA]

This is getting better by the day!!!

These socialist, anti-American morons are the beautiful poster children of the left!!!

** GOOD JOB, HITLERY AND DEAN **

[FormerACLUmember]

Democrat party jackasses braying do not a pretty picture make.

[EagleUSA]

The struggle between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party is a struggle between good and evil--and we're the good.
-----
Right on the money!!!

[firewalk]

rage on...

[cookcounty]

It would be great to "plant" some quotes like this out there attributed to Bush or high elected officials of the GOP, just to watch the firestorm and then make comparisons on the MSM's profound lockstep complicity with the Dems.

[Enterprise]

Peggy is too gracious here.

[Big Digger]

Nice photo. Does Hillary have some new dentures?

[ClearCase_guy]

It could easily be done. Newt Gingrich could go on Meet the Press and just conversationally drop all those quotes on Tim Russert. Make it sound like all Republicans think that way about Democrats.

We all know that MSM would ignite a firestorm.

And then it could be revealed that Republicans don't talk like that -- except when they quote Democrats.

[FormerACLUmember]

Nice photo. Does Hillary have some new dentures?

How cruel of you to insult a fine, hard-working jackass by saying he resembles the hideous Hillary Clinton. The backside of aforementioned quadriped does bear a passing resemblance to Hillary's face, I grant you.

[mad puppy]

Calm. Thoughtful. Mature. Big picture. Long view.

I like Peggy. As much as Bush/Frist drive me nutty sometimes, I'm grateful that they conduct their business in a serious, methodical way that is based, for the most part, on fairly conservative principles. Perfect? Certainly not. But at least they lean toward our constitutions version of what gov't is supposed to be.

I really want to just say something positive and so I will...not...make...any...comparisons.

[Cat loving Texan]

Peggy nails it. Unfortunately the Democrat base has lost touch with mainstream America. Most people don't tune in to the political scene until election time but the pure vitreol of the left is getting through to more and more people and far from being persuasive its turning people away.

[raccoonradio]

Of course, Dims feel Republicans don't win because we're on the side of reason and common sense. We win elections because we're EVIL and rig the ballot boxes. Conspiracy!!

[OESY]

Conclusion by Peggy Noonan:

There is a tradition of political generosity that prevails among the normal people of America, a certain live-and-let-live-ness. That is why Little League games don't break out in fistfights, at least over politics. You don't shun people in the neighborhood because they're Democrats, and you don't inform the Republican in the next cubicle that he is evil, lazy and racist. That just doesn't play in America. There are breaches, exceptions, incidents. We are not angels. But by and large even though we disagree with each other, and even if we come to dislike each other, we maintain, for reasons both moral and practical, decorum. Civility. We keep a lid on it. We don't lower it to the level of invective. We don't by nature seek to divide.

When you have been in Washington long enough and have become consumed by your place in the political struggle, you can lose sight of the American arrangement. You can become harsh and shrill. You can become the sort of person who would start the fight at the Little League game. You can become--how might a columnist, as opposed to a political leader, put it?--a jackass. But not a funny one, a destructive one, the type that can knock down the barn it took the farmer years to build.

The comportment of Hillary Clinton and Howard Dean is actually not worthy of America. Their statements suggest they are in no way equal to the country they seek to lead. And something tells me that sooner or later America is going to tell them. But in a generous, mature and fair-minded way.

[raccoonradio]

>>pure vitreol of the left is getting through to more and more people and far from being persuasive its turning people away.

We actually need to thank people like Howard Dean and Michael Moore for showing us who the true Dims are. Far from helping to elect Kerry, Moore's Fahrenlies 9/11
may have actually helped do the opposite--bringing out the conservative base, as well as moderates, etc.

Some people may have described themselves as "A Democrat for Bush" (hello Zell). Run into anyone yet who calls him or herself a "Republican For Kerry"?

The far left wants to again control the Dems ("we bought and paid for the party"--moveon). And again, they will lose because just enough people see through the lies.

[oyez]

A real jackass sounds better.

[sirthomasthemore]

[Republicans]would find talk like that to be extreme, damaging, desperate. They would understand it would tend to add a new level of hysteria to political discourse, and that's not good for the country. I think they would know such talk is unworthy in a leader, or potential leader, of a great democracy. I think they would understand that talk like that is destructive to the ties that bind--and to the speaker's political prospects.

---

This conduct is the CLINTON LEGACY- it was unprecedented; to wit:

If a President disgraces the WH and the Country by fornicating with an 18 year old intern, he resigns or he's impeached- that should be an inviolative principle. I doubt there is a Freeper who if, GWB ever engaged in such conduct (which obviously he wouldn't)- would not hold that he should resign his office.

After engaging in such conduct, however, Clinton waged nuclear war between the parties to maintain his power. The DEMS placed their desire to maintain Power, over their Duty to the preeminent principle of safeguarding the dignity of the Presidency and this Country.

It was this DEM Betrayal, that represents the etiology of the existing Hatred. The DEMS sold their souls.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Howard Dean as leader of the DNC - the gift that just keeps on giving!