The Dumb One, Part XIX

The Dumb One, Part XIX - Compare this article by Andrew Sullivan to Dinesh D'Souza's observation that Ronald Reagan preferred to let his opponents consider him a dolt.

Both seem to realize that not only does it disarm those who are on the fence and cause your enemies in general to underestimate you - but that they were dealing with electoral opponents so awash in hubris they beleived they had to outclass the simple Republicans!

And in both cases, the liberal detractors were wrong. In ways, disastrously so for their own electoral chances:

this electoral victory also reveals his mastery of domestic politics. you can see this most dramatically when you compare the Tories with the Republicans. Bush has rallied, united and corralled a once-fractious coalition. One thing Bush would never have done is force his party to split over an issue like gay adoption. His base in the dwindling religious right is still secure. The victory in Georgia - in the Senate and governor's race - was a coup for Ralph Reed, the religious right strategist. At the same time, Bush is gay-inclusive, counting Northeastern liberal Republicans among his closest allies, installing a pro-gay moderate, Marc Racicot, as party chairman, and avoiding any difficult showdowns on the subject. Ditto his subtle outreach on race, both in backing popular policies among African-Americans, like school vouchers, and appointing some of the most high-profile black officials in American history. One reason the Democrats lost last week was that their black base didn't show up. They didn't respond to the alarms that liberal Democrats have sounded about nefarious racist Republicans. And Bush is one reason they don't buy it.

I'll admit it. I didn't support Bush until he was nominated - and then only grudgingly so. Then as now, I had a lot to learn.

Glad to see I'm not alone!

Posted by Mitch at November 11, 2002 06:59 PM