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Democrats’ comfortable self-delusions

In today's New York Times, David Brooks argues that the Democrats are self-worhsipping and self-deluding, and "have done a maginificent job in maintaining their own self-esteem".

Brooks is right on point, and it's worth quoting him at length:

For example, Democrats and their media enablers have paid lavish attention to Christine O’Donnell and Carl Paladino, even though these two Republican candidates have almost no chance of winning. That’s because it feels so delicious to feel superior to opponents you consider to be feeble-minded wackos.

On the other hand, Democrats and their enablers have paid no attention to Republicans like Rob Portman, Dan Coats, John Boozman and Roy Blunt, who are likely to actually get elected. It doesn’t feel good when your opponents are experienced people who simply have different points of view. The existence of these impressive opponents introduces tension into the chi of your self-esteem.

Similarly, the Democrats and their enablers have paid lavish attention to the Tea Party this year. It’s nice to feel more sophisticated than those hordes of Middle Americans, who say silly things like “Get government off my Medicare.”

On the other hand, Democrats have paid little attention to the crucial group in this election — the independent moderates who supported President Obama in 2008 but flocked away during the health care summer of 2009 and now support the GOP by landslide proportions.

Exactly. Which made me think: where have I heard such good sense before? Oh yeah, in my spiked article at the end of September. For instance:

And so, the tremendous attention paid to the Tea Party results in a distortion of political discussion. It also means that Democrats are ducking some uncomfortable realities. For example, polls indicate that majorities oppose many of the Democrats’ favorite policies, like healthcare reform. In some swing states, like Ohio, establishment Republicans (that is, not Tea Party) are leading Democrats by big margins in congressional races. Instead of facing up to this, Democrats prefer to shadow-box the Tea Party.

Or, in a blog post I wrote a couple of weeks ago:

In becoming obsessed with the Tea Party, the Democrats in particular are avoiding having to face up to the reality of mundane, sedate Republican candidates cleaning their clocks in seats around the country.

Great minds, etc.

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