August 29, 2004

A Vulnerable President

John F. Harris and Mike Allen of the Washington Post ask:

As President Bush heads to the Republican National Convention in New York this week, the man who stood astride the political world in 2002 is a distinctly more life-size figure. With the election just 65 days away, there is a puzzle: How did a leader who was so formidable become so vulnerable?

Series of Misjudgments Cost President His Lead. It's a good question. They say its because Bush is running on the War in Iraq and is perceived to be more partisan than presidential. I think it's because folks are figuring out he's as much an opportunist as any other politician -- for instance, resisting the 9/11 Commission and then refusing its recommendations until suddenly reversing himself.

But in this election, I still believe that in a choice between two flip-floppers, the electorate will "dance with the one that brung 'em." Kerry is much more of a chameleon than Bush, and despite anger at Bush he won't translate that into a winning margin unless he makes a stand on principle. Unlikely, but sadly not unexpected.

 Posted by glenn

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