A Brief Study In Contrasts

First, how elected Democrats are actually behaving, per Byron York in The Hill today:

Quick: What do you call President Bush’s decision to recess-appoint John Bolton as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations?

“Abuse of power,” says Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV).

“Abuse of power,” says Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA).

“Abuse of power,” says Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean.

Then, the advice of Boston Globe lefty columnist Joan Vennochi:

It is time for Democrats to stop moaning about John Roberts and John Bolton and start doing something productive - such as figuring out how to win elections.

Even though Democrats continue to resist the outcome, George W. Bush won the 2004 presidential contest. His reelection triggered a time-honored cliche: To the victor, go the spoils. Bush selected a Supreme Court nominee and an ambassador to the United Nations who reflect his philosophy. Any Democratic president would do the same....

This week, Bush bypassed the Senate and installed Bolton as emissary to the UN. In doing so, the President broke no law; he merely used a procedure that allows him to fill vacant positions when the Senate is in recess. If Bolton is as unsuited for the position as opponents insist, that will become clear soon enough. Ultimately, any failure on Bolton's part will help Democrats in what should be the party's main goal: winning back the voters who now view them as the powerless party of the petulant.

And powerless the Democrats will remain - unless more of them win office. [emphasis added[

Having set forth the symptoms, Venocchi offers a stunningly (for a liberal) on-target diagnosis:

Democrats continue to fight the last campaign, while Republicans are planning for the next two. While the Democrats are busy bashing Bush - a second-term president who is not running for anything - the Republicans are working on their strategy for victory in 2006 and 2008. Ken Mehlman, the Republican National Committee chairman, continues the GOP outreach to Latino and African-American voters. Dividing up the Democratic base and conquering even a small piece of it helps Republicans in future elections and hurts Democrats. [emphasis added]

And the prescription?

Democrats should spend more time in places like Ohio, and it should be quality time. They should be listening, for once, to what voters are thinking, not telling voters what is wrong about their thinking and their past choice on election day.

Will any Donks pay heed to this counsel? If Paul Hackett had, he might just have won that state's congressional special election on Tuesday, and his party would have something genuine to be celebrating beyond the boundaries of the Land of Make-Believe.

I think he really is symptomatic of what is ailing the Jackasses, though. Bushophobia is a powerful mania of which the minority party just cannot let go. Florida 2K did something to their collective psyche that is just irreparable. Despite their now ludicrously ironic slogan, they are simply unable to "move on," and I suspect that they'll continue flailing around poisonously and futilely until Hillary sweeps to victory in '08 and finally dislodges that mental blockage of rage, bitterness, and paranoia and replaces it with a fresh injection of smugness, arrogance, and condescension.

And if Hillary doesn't win?

Forget it. They'll still be bashing Bush, years after President Allen has built handsomely on his accomplishments. It's what they did after Ronald Reagan rode off into the sunset.

Perhaps if the aforementioned (or which ever other GOP successor, if there is one) falls on his face, as Bush41 did, the page will finally turn.

Until then, "ABUSE OF POWER!" will continue to be one of the few printable Democrat slogans.