TPM Reader JS reacts …
I agree with you that Bush’s remarks today at the Knesset were disgusting, not to mention historically inaccurate. For me, it brought to mind your bitch-slap theory of politics. It seemed like the Democratic response in this instance was fairly direct, quick and unanimous in condemning the President’s speech. Thus, on one-level, they avoid being bitch-slapped. At the same time, I worry that simply complaining that the President’s remarks were disgusting or “malarkey” or “absolutely outrageous” might just be another example of the Democrats playing into the bitch-slap theory once again — wherein they look like complainers while the President looks like an attacker.
Which is it? Do you think that today’s response represents an effective new level of solidarity and backbone for the Democrats, or is there some better way to respond that plays less into the bitch-slap theory?
For me personally, the best response is one that makes it clear upfront that Bush’s Iraq War has strengthened Iran and thus put Israel in greater danger. I’ve seen this argument buried in a few of today’s repsonses, but I’m not sure that that is the message that is coming across to the public.
On balance I’d say that each time President Bush shames his office by transgressing the unwritten rules of the American polity, it’s incumbent on everyone to rebuke him. As a political matter, though, it doesn’t amount to that much. Every time the president does something like this, the Democratic nominee needs to point out again that President Bush bungled the country into a disastrous war that has damaged America, failed to find Osama bin Laden, funded it all but driving us further into debt to China and various Gulf sheikdoms. And McCain supports it all 100%.
Always stay on the offensive.
