The Tone of Washington

Watching the wave of euphoria sweep over Washington, and the country, I'm reminded of the last time an emotion this deep and wide settled over all of us: it was war fever, and it happened as the Bush administration whipped up support for the invasion of Iraq. So maybe hope has trumped fear after all, or maybe mass emotions, like everything else, run in cycles.

But it was grandly amusing to see President-Reject Bush, on one of his many legacy-tour interviews, express sadness that he was unable to change the partisan tone in Washington. That was tantamount to Steven Seagal expressing regret that he was unable to raise the aesthetic level of Hollywood movies.

Yet, despite the best efforts of Karl Rove to channel Lee Atwaterism, I think there's a deeper explanation for the poisonous rancor that has gripped American politics for the past couple of decades, and it has a grand old name: illegitimacy. Republicans never thought Bill Clinton was a legitimate President, since he'd won only through the presence on the ballot of Ross Perot. Then Democrats clung to the belief that, thanks to the Supreme Court, the Bush Presidency was born in sin.

There is no belief more corrosive to democratic comity than the conviction that the occupant of the Oval Office arrived there illegitimately.

All through the angst of the LBJ and Nixon years, despite the loathing anti-war folks (like me) harbored for both Presidents, no one questioned the legitimacy of their election, although plenty of people questioned the legitimacy of the entire system. Yet the questions of legitimacy surrounding Clinton and Bush were profoundly personal, and the resulting politics was acidic in the extreme.

So, whatever you can say about the euphoria surrounding Barack Obama -- and, given the President's apparent commitment to an Afghanistan policy of more troops and more money, as if we can do over the truncated invasion of 2001 and avoid the fate of the British and Soviet empires in that land -- the magnitude of his popular and electoral-vote victory means that we have seen the end, for now, of the politics of illegitimacy. And that, more than any efforts George Bush may think he made, will change the tone in Washington.

Comments

[neoprimordial]

Pardon me for saying so, but the Supreme Court DID deligitimize Bush's presidency with that unprecedented precedent-­that-shall­-not-be-us­ed-as-a-pr­ecedent-in­-the-futur­e BS. Why stop the vote-count? So that the Republicans can quit while they're ahead, disregarding the true will of the voters? Or is it because the outcome looked grim, as it did for Republican Norm Coleman before he went down to defeat? (He also at one point wanted to stop the count, when he was ahead of course.)

I was quite concerned over McCain having picked Palin, once it sunk in how much of a lightweight she was, because at that point I was convinced it was over for the Republican ticket and that it would be a cakewalk for the Obama campaign. The fact that the economy cratered made all the difference, because it was crystal clear that that was a serious weakness in McCain's platform, with him having gone so far as to say he didn't understand the economy very well (big mistake, whether it's true or not). If the economy hadn't tanked, I still think Obama would have won big, but not by as large of a margin--maybe by 4% and somewhere under 300 electoral votes, but the question of illegitimacy would have reared its head because of how bad the Republican ticket was. I envisioned complaints of Obama as our first "affirmative-action president." I think we dodged that bullet.

[1sparrow]

i come from the 60's. shearer and adler may remember that we were'nt supposed to get it. we did get it but it was compounded with our poor parents trying to scam us out of drugs and pregnancy. the first never worked the second never will.

[appleknocker]

Will someone please refresh my memory: By how much did the "magnitude of his popular and electoral- vote victory" exceed that of Bush in 2004?

[leopoldmozart]

2004: Bush got 286 electoral votes to Kerry's 252: basically, the difference of one state. Bush got 51% of the votes, Kerry got 48%, and Nader got 1%. So, put Kerry and Nader together and Bush won by 2.5 million votes.

2008: Obama got 365 electoral votes to McCains 173, pretty close to a landslide. Obama got 53% of the popular vote while McCain got 46%, a 7% difference. Obama beat McCain by 8.5 millioni votes.

This is the most convincing presidential win by a non-incumbent since Reagan/Carter in 1980.

[appleknocker]

Thanks!

[blindhog]

I once observed that the floating bloated bodies of New Orleans (not intending any disrespect to those saintly souls) were a metaphor for the Bush administration.

I would have to say the successfully floating plane piloted by a modest former Air Force Academy graduate (they must be so proud) is a metaphor for the administration we are seeing in action now.

America (and the world) has been through a dark night of hell these past eight years. Now we see a new dawn.

[twogunmojo]

two things....­concerning his birth certificate or lack of one...we know governors can be criminals...spitzer and blago this year alone...so how much money would it take for you to lie for the new president about his documentation....i am sure that george soros has a slush fund of a few billion just for this purpose...­.second...­.you had better hope that their is not a viable 3rd party democrat who is father left on the issues...cause if your guy slips up it could be perot/bush/clinton in reverse....and don't forget more than 57 million voted against your guy....you may think he won by a landslide but i can promise you he does not think that way....let me know when a democratic candidate beats anyone the way reagan did....

[rnrh1]

Being originally from Hawai'i I can assure you that very few from there, other than the simple minded plebes, actually consider themselves american. Since the beginning of occupation in the late 1800's, much of our culture and identity was removed. This is possibly reason why some may think that he is not american. I don't consider myself one, as many others from Hawai'i Ne do not. Thankfully, our nation and people continues its rebirth. Slowly but surely. Someday we will have our sovereignty and independence back, something that was taken through trickery and deceit many years ago, but we have high hopes that Obama knows our plight.

Regardless, what I wanted to comment on was how everyone seems to give Obama a pass for not ending the illegal wars in both Afghanistan and Iraq. His continued support for both wars seems to legitimize american imperialism. It's no wonder the rest of the world hates americans. I want them out of my back yard too.

[miamia]

I guess you are unaware of the birth certificate controversy.

[Harry Shearer - Huffpost Blogger]

I'm not, but like the oath controversy, it has almost no political traction. They do reflect the stubborn attraction that legitimacy has as an issue in our recent politics.

[ConfuciusSay-]

Good insight.

[TomTheAlmostUgly]

"I guess you are unaware of the birth certificate controversy."

What "controversy"? The State of Hawaii has his birth certificate. But because the governor of Hawaii hasn't let Rush Limbaugh be alone for five minutes with that document and a paper shredder, the right-wing whackos are going all X-Files on us. Barack is, in that sense, a hundred times more qualified to be president than McCain (born in Panama).

[Social Construct]

We've got the tone ... now, what's the frequency, Dan?
Some of us have to play the role of the creepy schizophrenic, put on our foil hats and ask questions that, no matter how strange sounding, just may lead to answers we all want. The road to transparency may be one towards light and freedom, but it also will reveal just what a bumpy ride democracy can be. And I, for one, got my walkin' shoes on.

[pecospedro]

Truly sad...

[Articulator]

Unfortunately and unbelievably, there are still people that get their information from sources like Rush and Bill O'Reilly who's only goal in life is to keep us divided.

[Wake-up]

Wow... and yours come from...? Let me guess... New York Times, MSNBC, NBC? Hey, I'm here to hear a different side of the issue, where do you go? Nice to know your mind is open < sarcasm >.

Don't be a sheep.

[Articulator]

I read as wide a variety as time permits including the Weekly Standard on occasion and govt documents like NIE reports. A few years ago i'd occasionally catch a talk show on the radio in my car and never knew who it was because I could only listen to about a minute at most before coming to the conclusion the guy was psychotic. I almost fell over laughing when I realized that was Rush. I had listened with no preconceived notion or bias on whether I should like it or not. Rush and Bill have blatantly stated that they have hatred and bias's for anything that does not fit their ideology. They undeniably put all their mental efforts into spinning to keep their ideology intact. If you're looking for entertainment, great, but it is what it is. To think it 's a source of information on world affairs is a sad reflection at best, and I'm not talking about Rush and Bill, they are making money being who they are. Occasionally I hear the BBC and am just amazed at how intelligent that is comparison to the right wing discourse that we hear in this country. You'll never hear weeks of Rev Wright or talk of terrorist fist bumps on the BBC. You will hear opposing viewpoints like those from Palestineans or Iranians. By the way, I used to do the "fist bump" with the 7 year old soccer team I was coaching when they came off the field.

[chromodynamics]

At least you can post here. Ever see a Liberal post on a conservative web site? They are deleted faster than the can type a response.

Oh, and BTW, real liberals do not trust the conservative media examples you gave.

When will the GOP sheep look up?

[rnadna]

Today, Rush Limbaugh, as predictable, stated unequivocably, about our president - " I Wish He Fails!"

Wow! This is the spokesman for the GOP! And that means possibly 50+ Million Americans wish the same thing!

Folks, there is something wrong here! Terrribly, terribly wrong!

Reassure me, and other readers of Huffington, that you Republican PATRIOTIC Americans DO NOT subscribe to this hateful and negative stance! Reassure the rest of America that you are true Americans and do support your President and you do wish that he succeeds! That this success bodes well for our country, our constitution, and the American people.

Wishing that your truly elected leader fails, especially when America at this moment is heading towards a deep depression, is simply nuts!

This hate-mongering and negativism is corrosive and destructive for us all. It has to end.

[lbarnes63]

Rush Limbaugh is NOT the spokesman for the Republican party. He is a radio talk show host who admits that he is an entertainer. His job is to get listeners and to sell advertising time.
While I do not often listen to Rush, and I do not agree with everything he says, I have to wonder why the liberals in this country hate him so. He, like everyone else is entitled to his opinion, even to broadcast it over the airwaves. I disagree with Obama/Pelosi/etc on most things, but I don't hate them. I don't say "Why are they given the opportunity to give their opinions in the press/media?" But I have seen on MANY occasions liberals say that very same stupid thing about conservatives.
Why the hate?

[randomx6]

Thank you for a very intelligent piece of writing. Now let's hope that you are right.

[DaisyDog]

No need to worry that the Republicans will be able to make much of the swearing in goof with the Chief Justice. Obama and the Chief Justice redid the swearing in today. I am sure they were worried about the same thing.

[fogbreath]

as for legitimacy, just today on npr's "talk of the nation" there was serious discussion as to whether or not Obama was really president since the chief justice mangled the reading of the oath and Obama didn''t force him to correct it and so didn't repeat it exactly as written in the constitution.

[island-in-alabama]

That sort of silliness shows just how disconnected from reality the MSM has become in the bubble of the Village.

Inside the bubble they've been captive to the spin and mental gymnastics needed to buy into the corporatists tripe. The problem for them is that the disconnect between reality and their world has grown too large for the majority of Americans to reconcile what the MSM jabbers about with what's going on.

Only the Rush contingent and the MSM chatter heads are oblivious enough to waste their time blabbering about trivia like the oath.

[Car84]

Author says: "thanks to the Supreme Court, the Bush Presidency was born in sin."

Let's say this one more time: There hasn't been a single full-state recount in the 2000 Florida presidential election that concluded Al Gore won that state. And all the U S Supreme Court did was to reject a cherry-picking ploy by the Gore team to steal Florida.

Okay, okay, okay. We can argue whether or not the U S Supreme Court had jurisdiction over the question (and I'd probably win). But to have as a basis for your Bush Derangement Syndrome the core gripe that the U S Supreme Court didn't allow Team Gore to cheat ... Well, that's pretty sad.

[incredulousnyc]

Car84....
You're right, but I think the author said it quite differently:
"Then Democrats clung to the belief that, thanks to the Supreme Court, the Bush Presidency was born in sin."
I don't think Mr. Shearer was asserting that was fact, just that Democrats "clung" to that belief.

[SoonerThought]

Greg Palast has proof it was stolen. www.GregPalast.com

[Zenith1959]

I assume the movie "Recount" used the actual fact that Gore, due to state law, was not allowed to ask for a recount of the entire state, but had to ask for it county by county. I wish I was informed enough to not have to use a "fact based movie" example, but I have to guess that is is true.

[Harry Shearer - Huffpost Blogger]

I had the opportunity to ask Mr. Gore that question in a public conversation, and his explanation for not requesting an all-county recount was that it would have cost too much. It's probably archived at C-SPAN.

[Harry Shearer - Huffpost Blogger]

Let's get facts straight: Gore never asked to "count all the votes", except rhetorically. OTOH, the Supreme Court has a rich and deep history of rejecting cases like this, refusing to enter what one opinion memorably called the "political thicket". This court ignored those precedents.

[neoprimordial]

Of course. I couldn't believe it when I found out, because it was a blatant politicization of the Court. For a while I didn't even want to look at Sandra Day O'Connor. It was just unreal. Likewise, once the Republicans gained control of the House and Senate, suddenly issues where supporting state's rights (their mantra in their minority years) would be to their disadvantage, suddenly they're for federal government intervention. It's still galling.

Thank you for an insightful take on this issue of legitimacy. It deserves more discussion.

[oldgeek1]

Hopefully yesterday ended the tone of arrogance and the lack of respect for others.

Now if someone could please explain good manners to Rush Limbaugh.

[Skye1er]

Rush Limbaugh had to say he hoped Obama failed because, just like Ann Coulter, he only thrives on negative publicity. We would be really surprised if he did otherwise. Sometimes people like this provide a blatant example of how mean spirited some conservatives can be and how ugly it really is. Colbert does the same thing but in satire.