Onward and Downward

I don't know why the Republicans are engaged in such political soul-searching as they look for ways to rally against the Democrats.

First of all "political soul searching" is a bodacious oxymoron. But setting that aside, why would the GOP worry about strategies to knock off the Democrats.

They don't really need to do anything when they have such powerful allies.

I am talking of course about the Democrats, the party devoted to snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Therapists could have a field day. If there is such a thing as group success neurosis, that would be the Dem diagnosis. This is a party where "Team of Rivals" is the worst sort redundancy.

This is nothing new, of course. It was Will Rogers who said "I don't belong to an organized political party, I'm a Democrat. "

That has become such a cliche because it has been so true for so long. Since forever, Democrats have been easy pickings for the other side as well as each other.

Witness the newest version of the Congressional Greek chorus. Democratic leaders are still flattened after President Bush rolled over their majority for the last couple of years. Now, in their zeal to fritter away their substantial numerical advantages, they're letting a member of their own party roll them.

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich did everything but raise his finger in the air at them when he named Roland Burris to be his Senate appointment.

It was a regular old food fight, where everyone ended up with egg on his face... except the GOP, which temporarily stopped the introspection, to gloat as the Democrats floundered about.

About all they might have done to make their face saving photo op even more embarrassing was to wear flip flops for the cameras. The leaders didn't exactly display fancy footwork with the way they handled that one.

In one day, they went from the rejecting a "tainted" Blagojevich appointee, Burris, to almost anointed him sainted. Even President-elect Obama got suckered on this one, giving an early hint that he me not be that smoothly invincible after all.

It's amazing how power not only corrupts but freezes the mind. Remember how little time ago it was when Karl Rove was rubbing the Democrats' nose in it and gloating every chance he got by speculating about a "permanent Republican majority" every chance he got.

Rove has gone the way of all those who got everything wrong. He has become a pundit. Now he can get paid big bucks as he watches the other side implode. It's a sure thing they will. They already are.

It is an immutable part of nature, The Law of Gravity, What goes up must come down. But in politics that's only part the story.

Republicans can take heart in the other half: What goes down will come up again. Those on top will make sure they tumble down.

As for all the problems in this country, we can only hope that our leaders find time after their vain, inept stumbling, to focus on them.

Come to think of it, maybe it's better if they don't.

Comments

[Konnie]

the only thing the dems can rally around is "we re not republicans".

and the only thing the repubs can
rally around is blaming the dems for everything wrong in the world.

they have shown they have no capacity to actually govern.
they have shown they have no capability to solve problems.
they have shown they have no capability to improve their own jurisdictions,
much less larger institutions or even the country.

nope they are just nincompoops, - what was that phrase, oh yeah - nabobs of
negativism, and general failures at anything other than lining the pockets of themselves and their
friends. now what is the word for that...oh, yeah CROOKS!

my hope is that the American voter (with the attention spans of gnats), will somehow remember
this in 4 years when Obama, etal, has not solved the systemic problems the repugs have had
30 years to create. one good thing, we here in the tubes will never forget - or allow anyone else
to - ever again!

[JohnFromCensornati]

Of course, this time the Dems have a leader who is bound and determined to play nice with the GOP. I'm sure that they will appreciate the boost.

[RudyV]

Yeah, when Obama turns into Bill Clinton 2.0 and gives the Right everything they want, I'm sure they'll play nice with the Dems the next time they take power.