A Gift to the G.O.P... Herbert, NYT

[fencesitter]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/03/opinion/03herbert.html?_r=1&ref=opinion&oref=slogin

Talk about self-inflicted wounds. The Democrats may finally be stepping away from their circular firing squad. It took them long enough.

There are so many things that the Democrats need to do to have any chance of winning the White House in November, and it’s awfully late in the game to begin doing them.

*********

This was supposed to have been the Democrats’ year. But instead of marching to victory, the party has been at war with itself in some of the ugliest ways imaginable. There was a time, not that long ago, when Democratic voters were crowing about how happy they were with all (or almost all) of the potential nominees.

But the Clinton and Obama partisans spent months fighting bitterly on the toxic terrain of misogyny, racism and religion. It can only make you wonder about the vaunted Democratic claims of moral superiority when it comes to tolerance.

This should have been the year when the Democrats just hammered the Republicans over the economy, the war, energy policy, health care, appointments to the Supreme Court, the failure to rebuild New Orleans, and so on. The list of important issues on which the Republicans are vulnerable is endless.

Instead of running for cover, the G.O.P. is growing ever more confident that it will be tossing inaugural balls for John and Cindy McCain come January.

*******

more!

[islandmkl]

1. woulda, coulda, shoulda??....i doubt it....

sounds like herbert is 'hoping' the primary fight has taken all the starch out of the democrats...

sounds like the kind of 'nice dreams' the right has occasionally...it is a long LONG way to November...

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Given that Herbert is probably the most pro-Democratic columnist on a major paper

I can't understand what you're saying. Here's an analysis of Herbert, how he's so often right, and yet not enough people listen to him: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2007/0710.frank.html

[Captain Hilts]

6. If he's pro-Dem then he should stop peddling lies such as the "White House" vandalism...

by the Clinton Admin. that the Bush folks put out that the FBI and GAO de-bunked.

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. I haven't seen that

and I can't find it in a cursory Google search, either.

[MrModerate]

2. In my opinion, this author has spent way too much time . . .

In GDP recently. There's less to this fissure in the party than meets the eye. I will bet every penny in my pocket (currently AUD 4.70, about $4.35 in US money) that Obama can stitch together the grumpy factions and that Clinton campaigns for the Obama-X ticket with vigor and effectiveness.

The vitriol here and in the blogosphere is going to moderate big time -- and soon.

Just call me Karnak the Magnificent (a reference lost on 75% of DUers).

[Captain Hilts]

7. VERY true, most folks like both candidates. Well said. nt

[bemildred]

3. This guy must have an IV drip for KoolAid. nt

[Captain Hilts]

5. DU, Kos, etc. were the center of the circular firing squad. Enthusiastically so.

And Herbert's ressurecting lies such as those about the "Clinton administration's vandalism of the White House" did not help.

Herbert's been a big part of it.

[Skittles]

9. it's what happens when you let the MSM pick your frontrunners n/t