A Summer of Discontent For Democrats
By Lisa Fabrizio
April 22, 2004

As evidenced by the raking fire laid down by their media division this week, the Democratic Party is launching their Tet Offensive on George W. Bush. From the laughably biased White House press conference--where the morning headlines should have read, "President Bush refuses to answer whether he still beats his wife"--to the deployment of veteran windbags, Ted Kennedy and Robert "Sheets" Byrd to beat the drums of Vietnam, things are heating up.

In a week that saw the increasingly worthless 9/11 Commission hearings degenerate into a partisan point-fest, followed closely by Tuesday's prime-time quest for a presidential mea culpa, the left has definitely succeeded in making the Administration uncomfortable.

But in doing so, they run the risk of making another group of Americans uneasy; the so-called moderate, or Reagan Democrats. Talking to a few friends who fall into that category and who voted for Al Gore in 2000, produced a surprising result. Instead of feeling anger at the Bushies, they instead were annoyed at the harangues inflicted on Condoleezza Rice, John Ashcroft and the president himself.

The Vietnam association is, of course, an intrinsic part of any left-wing battle plan and one that will also serve them badly with the moderates. Those not old enough to remember the war have only recent U.S. military successes with which to compare, while most of those who lived through it reserve their contempt for those who disgraced the memory of the brave soldiers who served there. The twin images of John Kerry in each of these roles only reinforce that of him being on both sides of every issue.

The four-year contest to control the White House is now condensed into a six-month sprint and the summer holds some interesting challenges for the Democrats. While the current violence in Iraq bodes badly for the President, certain events in the coming months will lesson the damage to his chances.

Transfer of civilian power to the Iraqis on schedule is the best way to quell the terrorism and the June 30 handover date should bring a greater measure of peace to the country. No less a thug than Al Qaeda's Abu al-Zarqawi has said, "If, god forbid, the government is successful and takes control of the country, we just have to pack up and go somewhere else again, where we can raise the flag again or die, if god chooses us."

Due to be completed and released in May, an audit of the U.N.'s Iraqi Oil for Food program will surely serve to further tarnish that organization's reputation at a time when John Kerry cannot complete a sentence without paying them homage. When it becomes clearer to voters that this corrupt, America-hating bunch of vipers was benefiting from Saddam's brutal regime, Kerry's endless calls for our subordination to them will ring even more hollow.

Speaking of Saddam, he will, sooner or later, be emerging from his rathole to testify at his upcoming trial. Legal experts from all over the globe have gone to Iraq to aide in his prosecution at the hands of his victims. Jacques Verges, the French lawyer who defended Klaus Barbie will reportedly represent the butcher of Baghdad--a fact that will no doubt lead to renewed American Francophobia--not good news for a certain French-looking candidate.

Also bad news for the donkey gang is the upcoming release of Bill Clinton's book. Originally scheduled for springtime but expected sometime this summer, it's sure to suck out the humid Boston air from the party. One can only grin with glee when imagining the price the Dems will have to pay to get him to delay it until after the elections. Hillary on the ticket? A keynote speech for Bill? Renewal of Terry McAuliffe's DNC contract? Either way, the Clintons and not Kerry, are in the driver's seat.

Fitting nicely between the Democratic and Republican Conventions will be the Summer Olympic Games. Whatever bounce John Kerry may get from his coronation will surely be trumped by the fervent patriotism engendered by the Games, especially in wartime. Contrary to what some of them say, the sight of hordes of flag-waving, USA-chanting Americans is repugnant to the left and it will be that much worse for them when the Pubs drop their gavel only one day after the closing ceremony.

This is not to suggest that President Bush will have smooth sailing from now to November, but his supporters should be riding a very nice wave once the leaves begin to turn. Autumn in New York is usually associated with October victory, but this year November may be the month that brings the ultimate triumph.

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Lisa Fabrizio is a freelance columnist from Stamford, Connecticut. You may write her at mailbox@lisafab.com.

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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA.