Peggy Noonan in today's WSJ and David Brooks in the NYT divide up the territory in a two=pronged attack with the same goal.
Both 'start out' by scorching GWB, Cheney, and the rest. Both, apparently, combine hand-wringing and excoriation. And when that happens, as other diaries have pointed out, this admin is toast.
But where does Brooks end up? What does he share with Noonan? (click on the flip)
Brooksie's point-- and he builds up to it with the same sleazy skill he used to sell the neo-con agenda-- is that the Democrats are worse. Thank God. At least, we're don't have to rely on Pelosi and Reid, who are about to "roll out" a utopic tax-and-spend everybody-gets-to-go-to-college-free agenda.
Oh yes, it's desperate. Predictable. The old 'we're bad but they're worse' song and dance. And yet, I wonder, might they not succeed in planting this frame as successfully as they planted "pro-life" (what a crock) or "death tax" and the rest?? What's to stop them?
The Democratic silence is deafening. Isn't it time our guys realized there's a price we pay for that?
GOPers are going to smear Bush and say he betrayed "conservativism," which is not at all to blame for the mess. And if Democrats don't do something, it'll work.
What is our frame going to be? How about "Conservatism doesn't work." "Supply side trickle down economic policy is bullshit." I mean, for openers.
This community is gifted, multi-faceted, informed and smart. Now that we've celebrated Fitzmas & carolled ourselves silly, time to get down to business and, for once, head them off at the pass.
Floor's open. What frames will resonate most? How best can we turn the rage and disenchantment to our advantage?
Iow, what do you think?