Factional Wars
Michael Barone looks at the various political factions that are clashing in the two parties right now over at Real Clear Politics. He points out that all this has been seen before.
The presidential selection process is supposed to enable the parties to come together, to agree on a widely acceptable nominee. But so far, the process has separated the parties into separate and hostile factions. One faction of the Democratic Party is relatively upscale, well educated, young. This faction is supporting Barack Obama. The other faction is relatively downscale, less educated, old. This faction is supporting Hillary Clinton.
This is not a new split in the Democratic Party. If you put John Edwards' votes aside, the New Hampshire primary results last week look very much like the New Hampshire primary results in 2000, when Al Gore narrowly defeated Bill Bradley by almost exactly the same percentage margin by which Clinton defeated Obama……
…..There is some irony here. Bill Clinton came to the presidency after a campaign that appealed most to the upscale faction. But the two candidates who ran as, in some sense, his heirs, Gore and Hillary Clinton, have appealed to the other side. The Clintons' theme song in 1992 was "Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow." Their theme song this year might turn out to be "Yesterday."
I'll send you over there to get his read on the Republican landscape. Barone thinks the Democratic contest may be effectively over by super duper Tuesday on February 5th. It does not look quite as settled on the Republican side. Not that this is really a new take on things. Many people have noticed how wide-open the Republican race is this year. If the Republicans are smart, though, they will refrain from the same factional warfare that is tearing the Democrats apart.
UPDATE: I set Right Wing Prof off bigtime with this post. Go read it.
Other Links to this Post
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Enough! — Right Wing Nation — January 12, 2008 @ 12:43 pm
By rightwingprof, January 12, 2008 @ 1:39 pm
No pingbacks?
By Gaius, January 12, 2008 @ 1:52 pm
I have to approve anything with a link in it before it appears.
By rightwingprof, January 13, 2008 @ 3:55 am
Oh. You didn’t really set me off — you didn’t say anything objectionable. I’ve been teetering on the edge of this for quite some time now. You just gave me the impetus.
By Gaius, January 13, 2008 @ 7:09 am
Oh, but I liked what you wrote. Set off meant in a good way.