Noonan: Republicans "Busy Dying"; Democrats "Busy Being Born"

[On the Road]

Yes, THAT Noonan.

This is an interesting piece on both parties from a stock analysis site (I have found many of these sites to be perceptive and evenhanded.)

It's Not As Neat And Tidy As It Looks
by Dr Joe Duarte
May 19, 2008
http://www.decisionpoint.com/TAC/DUARTE.html

Quotes from Peggy Noonan:

Most (Republican) party leaders in Washington are stupid – detached, played out, stuck in the wisdom they learned when they were coming up, in '78 or '82 or '94. Whatever they learned then, they think pertains now." In fact, she implies that the top of the GOP is out of touch with reality, including "Hill leaders, lobbyists," and "party speakers."

The have become "successful, well-connected, busy and rich. They never guessed, back in '86, how government would pay off! They didn't know they'd stay! They came to make a difference and wound up with their butts in the butter. But affluence detaches, and in time skews thinking. It gives you the illusion you're safe, and that everyone else is."

The bottom line according to Noonan is that "A party can lose its gut this way," and that the GOP "Many are ambivalent, deep inside, about the decisions made the past seven years in the White House. But they've publicly supported it so long they think they . . . support it. They get confused. Late at night they toss and turn in the antique mahogany sleigh bed in the carpeted house in McLean and try to remember what it is they really do think, and what those thoughts imply.'

and Maureen Down:

Interviews with West Virginians leaving the polls showed some profound weaknesses that could haunt the Illinois senator in the fall. More than half said they would be dissatisfied if Obama was the nominee. Half believe he shares the views of the Rev. Wright, and more than half said he does not share their values. More than half also said that he is not honest and trustworthy. Just under half of the Clinton voters said they would not support Obama in the fall."

Indeed, Dowd thinks that Obama has lots of work to do in changing people's perceptions, and that he ought to review film and historical data about how JFK was able to defuse the fact that he was Catholic in order to win.

[madmax]

1. For once the woman got it right!!!

I listened to Obama this a.m. I love the way this man speaks but, not only the way he speaks but, the what he says. He has a fire in his belly, he's charasmatic, he's smart, he gives me hope, he's pretty much a free agent being that he hasn't been in politics his entire life - he's his own man. And I think we can all agree we WANT CHANGE and we want it NOW.

Of course, he wasn't my first choice. I weighed the 'electibilty factor' I WANT TO WIN!! Edwards was my first choice, Hillary second then Obama. I'm fully committed to Obama and have been for several weeks.

on edit: not that it matters unless you're a pundit or poll taker. I'm 58 white/female.

[electropop]

2. Interesting perspectives.

I'm glad to see the GOP is so desperate that some of them have even contemplated the possibility of thinking.