Krauthammer: Democrats as Myopic Doves, Again

Washington Post Writers Group ^ | August 11, 2006 | Charles Krauthammer

[RWR8189]

WASHINGTON -- With the defeat of Joe Lieberman in the Democratic primary in Connecticut, anti-war forces are poised for a takeover of the Democratic Party. Tuesday's exhilarating victory, and the elan and electoral legitimacy gained, may carry the newly energized Democratic left to considerable success in November.

But for the Democratic Party it will be an expensive and short-lived indulgence. The Iraq War will end, as will the Bush presidency. But the larger conflict that defines our times -- war on Islamic radicalism, more politely known as the war on terror -- will continue, as the just-foiled London airliner plot unmistakably reminds us. And the reflexive anti-war sentiments underlying Ned Lamont's victory in Connecticut will prove disastrous for the Democrats in the long run -- the long run beginning as early as November '08.

Consider an analogy that the anti-war types hold dear: Iraq as Vietnam. I reject the premise, but let's assume it for the purpose of following the political consequences of anti-war movements.

The anti-Vietnam War movement had its political successes. They were, as in Connecticut last Tuesday, mostly internecine. One Democratic presidency was destroyed (Lyndon Johnson), as was the presidential candidacy of his would-be successor, Hubert Humphrey.

Like Iraq, Vietnam was but one theater in a larger global struggle -- that struggle against the Soviet Union and its communist clients around the world -- and by the early 1970s, the newly reshaped McGovernite party had to face the larger post-Vietnam challenges of the Cold War. The result? Political disaster.

[jch10]

" If the Democrats take control of congress chaos (impeachment proceedings, military retreat and unimaginable higher taxes) will follow."

Impeachment and high taxes will not matter when American cities are being blown up and we are held hostage in our homes. The democrats don't believe there is a world of terrorists out there who want to kill them as well as all of us.

Look at Israel. The people of Israel, after all they have been through, still do not demand that their government disregard world opposition and annihilate Hezbollah. I fear Americans will follow suit and allow this country to be overtaken by "Islam fascists".

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

I like his reference to:

"Lord, if only I could have talked with Hitler, all this might have been avoided.''

[Verginius Rufus]

The wars of religion in the 16th and 17th centuries didn't end the Spanish Inquisition--Napoleon did when he intervened in Spain and made his brother king of Spain. I forget if any of the later 19th-century Spanish governments (post-1814) tried to revive the Inquisition--apparently a lot of Spanish Catholics still thought it was a good thing to have.

On the other side of the ledger, those Spanish Catholics in the 16th century suppressed human sacrifice in Mexico, which claimed a lot more victims every year than the Inquisition ever did.

[Just A Nobody]

LOL! Yep, and I agree about the 12th! ;*)

[Just A Nobody]

I hope you are right but current polls are showing just the opposite. The American sheeple are following the Dems .....

Current polls (spit) represent NOTHING other than the propaganda those who request them want to cram down our throats. Curious that one who relies on polls (spit) refer to Americans as sheeple.

[uncbob]

The American sheeple are following the Dems siren song of appeasement and surrender at their own peril. I really believe that this is the most important mid-term election in the history of our nation.

Israel since its inception in 46 has always been ONE war away from extinction

America as America is now ONE election away from extinction

[boomop1]

Polls are always rigged.