Politics and Culture

Well, it was fun while it lasted, but the 2008 Democratic primary is now over. Some thoughts:

1. In-fighting did hurt the Democrats- that's what I mean by "party over" for the GOP; it was a once-every-forty-year gift (1968) from the Dems to the Republicans. The fraction of my life that cares about politics is both nervous and slightly down at the Dem primary's resolution. Nervous because we have to really go at it now- with a zeitgeist disadvantage for the GOP. Down because I won't get to read liberals attack other liberals.

2. I think Obama's win had something to do with Democrats wanting the contest to be over. If the primaries started over again and Hillary didn't lie about Bosnia, Hillary would be the favorite.

3. The Democrats have begun their devious, dishonest attacks (It's a Stalinist who suggests that only Republicans have an attack machine [below]). For instance, Obama attacked McCain "for running a sleazy campaign based on 'fake controversies' and 'distractions.'" Infuriating! First, Wright is relevant to Obama's character and "judgement" with which he claims, because of his 2002 Iraq speech, that he is especially endowed (If McCain called Fred Phelps his "mentor," Obama wouldn't care?). Second, Obama admitted that it's a legitimate campaign issue himself. Third, McCain actually condemned the North Carolina Wright ad- Obama should be thanking him. His "beyond politics" appeal shouldn't work this time.

4. It's Democrats who are lying about McCain with their "100 years" ad. Democrats are the less self-aware party by far.

5. McCain has 20 times the moral credibility of wimpish Obama. Hopefully, McCain can do to Obama what he did to Romney after Romney went negative.

Attack machine.