Learning the Rules

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In his day Bill Clinton got demonized by the DC thumbsuckers about his aggressive, sometimes brassknuckle campaign tactics. And Mike Kinsley had the most apt take on the phenomenon: The rules of the game are that Republicans pioneer the hardball tactics and Democrats must wait until the following political cycle to use them for themselves. In other words, political rectitude is Republicans being able to do anything they want and Democrats having to play by Marquess of Queensberry rules. Or use the hardball tactics after 2 or 4 years has made them soft and ineffective. But Clinton decided to use the hardball tactics first. And that was wrong.

Needless to say, Kinsley had a way of saying this more wittily and clearly in one sentence. But that was the idea.

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