A LEFTY BOOM

New York Post ^ | 8/29/03 | JOHN PODHORETZ

[Musket]

Since the Civil War? Oh puleeze. Have you not heard of the '60s? Things were much more agitated then, yet I don't remember and "ethinc cleansing" going on. Me thinks you are overreacting just a bit.

[section9]

Dean is smart, even shrewd. But he's not smart enough to contain the anger of his followers.

The present movement is built on hatred of the President and conservatives. There's no overarching positive vision that the Left can offer America. Once, the Democratic Party could offer a look at the "broad, sunlit uplands". But Democrats don't produce men like Kennedy and Roosevelt anymore.

Now, all they have to offer is fear itself.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[Musket]

Whoops. That should be ANY "ethinc cleansing" going on. Sorry 'bout that.

[NutCrackerBoy]

Let's encourage them to follow this route and see how much better it works in 2004, then it did in 2002...better for us that is.

If this vitriolic left is truly one third of the electorate, that is a heck of a sizable chunk. I don't believe it will grow. If Hellary enters the race, she will of course pocket it. After winning nomination, she will promise to continue the war on terror unabated. The Clintons will fashion a straddling message.

The Dean left plus just enough of the center could do it.

[bullseye1911]

There is a palpable political hatred afoot in this country that probably has not existed since the civil war. It is potentially dangerous...for the Left, as the Right have guns and know how to use 'em!

[samtheman]

The Left is developing into a large splinter group that will only succeed in sapping the power of the Liberals. Republicans everywhere should temporarily unite with the Left in that task by voting for Dean in the primaries (wherever they can). A Dean nomination is just what we need to give us a rock solid Republican lock on the House and Senate.

Vote Dean.

[Fester Chugabrew]

Not exactly a BOOM. More like an implosion.

[fightinJAG]

This is a very good analysis. The left has nothing to offer but nebulous criticism, and even that is transparently agenda driven.

OTOH, this is what the left said about US during the Clinton years: all we had was hate, all we offered was criticism. Boy, were they surprised when that "nebulous" groundswell of "obsession" with Clinton resulted in the election of George W. Bush. (Of course, they don't believe Bush actually won the election, so that is another matter.)

My point is this: while I agree that the left is hungry to express its sheer and irrational hatred of George W. Bush and conservatives, I'm still wary that, somewhere in there, a politically significant force is coalescing around Nikita Dean.

Could Dean "come out of nowhere"? Yes.

Is the Hildebeast even now plotting Dean's early demise? Yes.

Then we shall see if the lefty Rat rage will help or hurt Mrs. Clintoon's coming candidacy.

[BushCountry]

The situation is not improving for the Left. They overplayed their hand and the silent majority is starting to stir. Sodomony approved, 10 commandments fall, gay marriages, a shrill voice on Iraq and hatred of America by the left has caused a simmering of emotions and opened some eyes.

[tdadams]

Could Dean "come out of nowhere"? Yes.

What do you mean "could he"? He already has.

[billhilly]

"Since the Civil War? Oh puleeze. Have you not heard of the '60s?"

Heard of them? I lived through them, the first eight years of them in the military. You?

[OldFriend]

Wasn't it Tom Brokaw who said he wouldn't wear a AMERICAN flag on his lapel because it signified support of this administration?

[Musket]

I lived through them, the first eight years of them in the military. You?

We are grateful for your service, but that's not the point. You are forcasting "ethnic cleansing" for the US and I think you are overreacting just a bit. That's all.

[MortMan]

No the left is rising, all right - just like salmonella tainted meat patties over pickled milk.

[billhilly]

Just where in my post did I predict ethnic cleansing? Have you heard of an analogy? I said that in other countries this kind of hatred can lead to ethnic cleansing. I specifically said , in this country it is political cleansing. That is a far cry from ethnic cleansing since both political parties contain all ethnicities.

Now, produce your credentials or leave me alone. I'll compare my political sophistication with anyone on this board.

[Musket]

Whatever.

[proxy_user]

"The only thing they can offers the fact that they never learn and never will....

This assumes that they are the same people year after year. But perhaps it is the case that every year a new crop of angry leftists appear, stay that way for a while, and then get a job, start living in the real world, and modify their views.

The current wave could then be explained by the 'echo boom'. A large number of college-age children of liberal baby boomers have matured, and are now active. In a few years, they will be fed up with large mortgages and high taxes, and ready to join us.

[norwaypinesavage]

"Crossfire has been the testing ground for the hosts of the new liberal talk shows."

Crossfire? I remember that show. It used to be the only place on the dial where you could consistently find a conservative opinion, even though you had to listen through a cacophony of yelling and screaming to hear it. I think CNN (remember them?) mistook the popularity of Crossfire to think that people actually liked the format.
Now that there are a number of saner alternatives, I haven't watched them for years. Are they still on? Is CNN still broadcasting?

[sauropod]

Unfortunately, its not a tiny group. Just go to a Hitlery book signing.

[sauropod]

No they won't. They are moronic and infantile. I have seen enough of them at the anti-war protests. A lot of them are yuppie women.