The Wonders Bush Hath Wrought

In 1980, most Democrats were firmly Keynesian, and thought that it was government's place to spend in deficit. Today, they are all budget hawks. Hawks, I tells ya (except, of course, in places like Minnesota where spending is actually being cut, wonder of wonders).

In 1983, most liberals thought the Soviet Union was here to stay. Today, they all knew it was doomed all along, yessirreebob.

In 2000, most Democrats thought "Libertarians" were mouth-breathing gun nuts who never trimmed their long, shaggy beards. They thought "strict constructionism" was an intestinal disorder, and the "Federalist Papers" were something you rolled to make a spliff. The Clinton drug, crime and terrorism bills were the most noxious assaults on liberty in my lifetime. But the minute John Ashcroft was nominated, they all became fierce civil libertarians. At least as long as it didn't involve religion, political speech or guns, anyway.

In 2002, most Democrats associated "States Rights" with confederate flags and pointy hoods. They sent SWAT teams with gay abandon on trumped up chargest after wackoes in the woods, cultists in their hide-outs, and, in a shameful episode, a little boy. With the Schiavo case, suddenly they're all about enumeration of powers.

Who knows. They might soon figure that the Bill of Rights has ten amendments.