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The Democratic Strategist

Political Strategy for a Permanent Democratic Majority

De-energized Conservatives

I ended my last post on the Republican presidential contest by stipulating a lack of excitement among GOPers about their current options. That was before I spent some time roaming around the content-rich National Review site, an official Romney for President precinct (though some of its writers have dissented). If this is most enthusiasm these folk can muster in the wake of Mitt’s survival in MI, they’ve got a real problem.
The NR Editors briefly celebrate Romney’s win, before lecturing him about shortcomings in his economic message. NR’s online editor, Kathryn Jean Lopez, allows as how the Romney staffers don’t quite sound like zombies any more.
John J. Pitney, Jr., pens an “electibility” article that begins by acknowledging Mitt’s terrible showing in general election trial heats, and then reviews the even more problematic general election credentials of the rest of the field.
And then there’s a Symposium that centers on the transcendent need for conservatives to beat McCain and Huckabee.
Compare that with what you’d read in virtually any progressive outlet, where there’s enthusiasm for favorites and broad acceptance of the other major candidates, and you begin to see why Democrats are in much better shape at present. There’s so much nose-holding among Republicans right now in expressing a candidate preference that they may be excused for failing to notice a smell of rot surrounding their party as a whole.

2 comments on “De-energized Conservatives

  1. edkilgore on

    BEW:
    I know what you’re talking about, but aside from a Naderite fringe, all the objective signs are that Democrats will unite in a general election campaign. The vast gulf between the two parties on so many issues will guarantee that over time.
    Ed Kilgore

    Reply
  2. BEW on

    “Compare that with what you’d read in virtually any progressive outlet, where there’s enthusiasm for favorites and broad acceptance of the other major candidates, and you begin to see why Democrats are in much better shape at present.”
    Perhaps it is just the blogs I read but it seems that more and more commenters (in the comments section)are becoming plainly anti-Clinton, particularly since Barack Obama won Iowa. Many, but not all, of Barack Obama supporters are saying that if Barack Obama is not the nominee they will vote republican! The commenters used language remarkably similar to republicans to denounce Clinton. I hope it is just thier enthusiasm getting the best of them…

    Reply

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