March 21, 2003

WE INTERRUPT THIS WAR TO BRING YOU PARTISAN POLITICS (via Robert Musil):

DNC asks party to rally behind Daschle (Washington Times, 3/21/2003)
The Democratic National Committee is asking party members to defend Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle's criticism of the way President Bush has handled the Iraq crisis even as U.S.-led forces invade the country....

[T]he DNC sent e-mails to its grass-roots activists that said "Democratic leaders are standing up to Bush; Make sure you stand up for them!"...

Mr. Daschle and his Democratic counterpart in the House, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, have vowed to continue to speak out on the war...


I noticed yesterday that Daschle's criticism of the President was proudly displayed on the DNC's website:
"I am saddened, saddened that this president failed so miserably at diplomacy that we're now forced to war. Saddened that we have to give up one life because this president couldn't create the kind of diplomatic effort that was so critical for our country." [Daschle comments to AFSCME, 3/17/03]

This leads me to wonder: do we know for sure that Daschle and McAuliffe are not French? Posted by Paul Jaminet at March 21, 2003 8:27 AM
Comments

No, but we know for sure that they don't want the Presidency in Democrat hands in 2004. Or 2008. Or 2012...

Posted by: Chris at March 21, 2003 9:23 AM

Paul,



I caught Daschle's act on Fox News (very early) this morning. When the reporter asked Daschle "So at this point you stand behind the President and our troops", he he smiled, flashed those dead eyes of his, and replied, "Absolutely".



Afterwards, Bill Kristol remarked
, "I think Senator Daschle is retreating faster than the Iraqis".



Ed

Posted by: Ed Driscoll at March 21, 2003 10:15 AM

Yes, I saw David Gregory, NBC's White House correspondent, this morning repeatedly emphasize that "as soon as the war started, all the Democrats gave 100% support to President Bush." Apparently McAuliffe gets his strategy briefings a day late.

Posted by: Paul Jaminet at March 21, 2003 10:50 AM

The DNC is kneeling down in front of the D_9 Cat of public opinion.



It's their own damn fault if they get run over.

Posted by: nordic at March 21, 2003 11:08 AM

I am saddened, saddened that Daschle and the DNC can't discriminate between coherent argument and empty froth.



No. Saddened...not quite right. How about "sadly unsurprised..."

Posted by: Regards, Jeff Guinn at March 21, 2003 11:17 AM

I'd pay good American greenbacks to see the following TV Spot -- :25 loop of Daschle's exact words with :05 white-over-black font tag at the end "Daschle for President?". What a bomb that would be in the 2004 presidential campaign "air" war.

Posted by: John Resnick at March 21, 2003 11:44 AM

I think you're pretty safe, Chris.



This morning, the writer of our editorials and the one other guy in the newsroom who takes politics seriously, were lamenting that the war was going so good that Bush "is unstoppable."



There goes abortion and here comes vouchers, etc.



Well, I'm not sure the American voter has any greater feelings of gratitude than the average Muslim -- namely, none -- but he's sitting pretty now.



Just my luck, I get my First Amendment rights back on peaceable assembly for the first time in 18 years, and now I'm gonna lose them on supporting religion.

Posted by: Harry Eagar at March 21, 2003 7:25 PM

I haven't witnessed such political incompetence since Trent Lottt.

Welcome aboard Mcauliffe and Daschle. But wait, Kennedy and Pelosi may save the day. Heh!

Posted by: Genecis at March 21, 2003 9:26 PM
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