INSULARITY II
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James Joyner | Monday, August 4, 2003 |
The insularity/groupthink meme idea is getting a lot of attention today. In additon to Megan McArdle’s post, Kevin Drum and Josh Marshall independently bring it up, with Daniel W. Drezner posting a rejoinder to Marshall. Dan’s point here is especially noteworthy:
Marshall is absolutely correct on the animus parallels. However, he whiffs in failing to mention the logical conclusion of this parallel — that if the Democrats keep this up, they’ll be out of power for the next five years.Clinton-hating did not serve the Republicans well. Yes, the GOP took both houses of Congress in 1994, but that more to do with the combination of low voter turnout, the Contract with America, and the Clinton administration’s early missteps than efforts to make Clinton look illegitimate. In 1996 and 1998, the Republican encouragement of the anti-Clinton hysteria achieved less than zero in terms of electoral results.
Say what you will about Bush’s policies — most of the public has a favorable view of him. A campaign dominated by over-the-top attacks on an incumbent president will likely alienate far more voters than it will attract.
Marshall is correct to point out that the Dems are not the first party to get bent out of shape about the sitting president. He should also have pointed out that Republican critics are neverthelesds correct in saying that this is not a good thing for the Dems’ electoral chances.
Yep.
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and infant daughter.
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