A couple of thoughts:

In a New York Times Magazine essay about compromising Democrats and inflexible Republicans, James Traub writes:

... while George Bush may well be the most conservative president in American history, he is more popular than, say, his conciliatory father was for most of his presidency.

The Republicans used to be the party of the First Methodist Church, and the Democrats of the great unwashed. Now the Republicans are the hellions, and the Democrats are the ones you want to bring home to mother. The G.O.P. is making such inroads among younger voters for the same reason that Fox News is making inroads among younger viewers. We live in a culture that values brazen certainty and loud conviction, no matter how wrongheaded.

THE FIRST EXCERPT: Is it now commonly agreed that George W. Bush is "the most conservative president in American history"?   We think that's the case - at least among presidents since 1900 - but if it's becomming conventional wisdom that Bush is "the most conservative", isn't that likely to be a handicap politically? Especially if the economy continues to decline.

THE SECOND EXCERPT: Makes us think about Ann Coulter.

posted by Quiddity at 7/06/2003 08:32:00 AM