Over at the Weekly Standard, Bill Kristol has a great post comparing the way then-Senator Edward M. Kennedy and his fellow Democrats in 1987 demonized Robert Bork, President Reagan’s supremely qualified nominee for the Supreme Court, to how President Obama and his minions are attempting to demonize House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan and his plan to control federal spending and reduce the deficit:
The fear-mongering worked in 1987. Robert Bork, one of the great lawyers of our time, playing by the then-customary rules of Supreme Court nominations, didn’t feel he could defend himself, and wasn’t aggressively defended by his political allies. But even though Bork’s nomination was defeated, Kennedy’s assault didn’t work in a larger sense—George H.W. Bush won the presidency in 1988, Newt Gingrich became speaker in 1995, and conservatives did pretty well politically for most of the rest of Edward Kennedy’s life.
One reason Democrats won’t succeed today as readily as they did twenty-four years ago is because of the on expression I highlighted above: “the then-customary rules”. Republicans know that the playbook has long since been altered. This year, they won’t be caught unaware by Democratic efforts to misrepresent and vilify. There is a vast array of conservative organizations willing to raise money, produce and broadcast adds countering Democratic distortions.
Another reason is aesthetics. With his scraggly beard, unkempt hair, and haughty demeanor, Judge Bork looked like he just walked from an audition for the role of Moby Dick‘s cantankerous Captain Ahab. He had spent too many months at sea, away from the manners and mores of the more earthbound landlubbers.
Not so, the neatly groomed, nattily attired and clean-shaven Wisconsin Republican. He had not overstayed his welcome in the secluded groves of academe and facing election every two years, had practice in communicating with the average American.
*the fetching.
A vast… right-wing… conspiracy? /kidding 😉
Obama will never talk directly to Paul Ryan since Ryan will kick Obama’s all rhetorically; all Obama & the Democrats can do is demagogue. Demagoguery is not the way. The Democrats must offer sound alternatives to Ryan’s plan. Thus far, as seen by Obama, Pelosi, & Reid, they offer demagoguery. HopeChange is now FearFlatulance.
First all is meant to be ass. Ryan will kick Obama’s ass.
Now? Always has been. Liberals can’t win on what they really stand for so they have to obfuscate and convince the masses that death is the alternative.
“This year, they won’t be caught unaware by Democratic efforts to misrepresent and vilify.”
This is priceless, coming right above a post from your co-blogger celebrating the looney birthers.
Given that I see no ‘celebration’ in the previous post, it’s clearn Brendan is jumping on the “misrepresent and vilify” band wagon early.
Brendan, do you ever think for yourself? Obama loves organic robots; it’s why he’s promoting public unions.