If Democrats get a spanking at the polls today, it's not because American voters are trending conservative or are frustrated with the direction liberal Democrats are leading the country, but because the electorate's disdain for the former Bush administration has abated.
That according to liberal PBS "To the Contrary" host and U.S. News contributing editor Bonnie Erbe.
From her November 2 blog post (emphasis mine):
Tomorrow, two states, including my own, will elect governors. President Obama has campaigned for both Democratic candidates, and the question is whether his efforts will pay off for them. At least in Virginia, there's not much hope for Creigh Deeds.
[...]
I would like to add, however, that one reason President Obama slid into office was due to his incredibly lucky timing: Anyone but Bush was going to win the '08 presidential elections.
If President Bush had not mangled his job for eight years, and if the country had not finally awoken to that fact, President Obama would not have been able to win office. As a result, any coattail effect President Obama produces is dependent on anti-Bush sentiment. American voters have very short memories. President Bush has been out of office for almost one year (and if you recall, President-elect Obama started acting like the president even before he took the oath of office, again due to anti-Bush sentiment).
That said, with anti-Bush sentiment waning, President Obama's coattails are frayed and weak.
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Comments Policy
Erbe is full of
Tue, 11/03/2009 - 11:50 ET by NewsbusterbrownErbe is full of it.
“There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)
Erbe Is...
Tue, 11/03/2009 - 12:47 ET by GeneralAlErbe is illustrating a bit of remorse. The fact is, she knows that the blame Bush song has played out. Its now blame Obama time and the academy dooley promoted to Commander - in - Chief can no longer vote present! Hows it feel, Bonnie baby? You guys took us in this direction, now man up and take your knocks!
Oh, geeze
Tue, 11/03/2009 - 11:53 ET by DEVILDOCMOMhow late do they stay up to create these lame excuses...obviously SHE thinks the Republicans will win.
You have to admit, Erbe has
Tue, 11/03/2009 - 12:24 ET by motherbeltYou have to admit, Erbe has taken it to a new level...blaming the voters for forgetting that they hated President Bush, or at least for no longer holding a grudge against him....
You really can't make this stuff up...
Yeah, fine.
Tue, 11/03/2009 - 11:53 ET by Red JeepWhatever Bonnie.
BLA BLA BLA blame bush BLA
Tue, 11/03/2009 - 11:57 ET by ninerdogBLA BLA BLA blame bush BLA BLA Its Bushes fault.
These liberal clowns will ...
Tue, 11/03/2009 - 11:59 ET by SentryDanThese liberal clowns will continue to blame former President Bush until the end of time. When God renders His final judgment these Bush haters will still claim that it was the fault of Bush and not theirs.
The trouble with liberal claims is that their fingerprints are all over the evidence against them. Remember folks the democrats/liberals have owned Congress since the 2006 elections. And the electorate need to be reminded of this fact. Things didn't start going down hill until after these liberals took office in 2007. The liberals are to blame not Bush. Although Bush could have slowed down the process a little, I doubt that he could have stopped it.
Remember folks, Freedom isn't Free. It was bought with the blood and sacrifice of the men and women who are serving and who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
For those who fought for it, Freedom has a flavor that the protected will never know.
Also remember folks, that the way to SUPPORT THE TROOPS is to support their mission. Anyone who says that they support the troops but don't support their mission is lying about supporting the troops. And if you want to know, yes I do have a dog in the fight, he is a United States Marine.
BDS Waning?
Tue, 11/03/2009 - 12:13 ET by IgnatzJFahrquarNot with the Whitehouse.
Plus, I love how these type stories talk about the waning effect yet fill up the print with "Remember when Bush ...", "During the previous admin ..."
Just can't let it go, can ya???
"You should always tell the truth, because if you tell the truth you make it the other person's problem." Sean Connery
With Libs
Tue, 11/03/2009 - 12:52 ET by ahussermentioning BDS is like mentioning McCarthy or blacklisting or the race riots in Oklahoma in the 1920's, or racism or Bush stole the 2000 election every five minutes. It will never end. It is BDS forever in the liberal mythos pantheon.
"Somehow, I told you so, just doesn't quite say it." Will Smith in 'I, Robot.'
"Anyone but Bush was going
Tue, 11/03/2009 - 12:30 ET by Red Jeep"Anyone but Bush was going to win the '08 presidential elections." Bush was not running Bonnie...did you know that?!?! Did you proofread what you wrote?
For one thing a lot of
Tue, 11/03/2009 - 12:38 ET by MidAmericaFor one thing a lot of the country was disgusted with President Bush but they didn't fear him or congress. Now people are just plain scared of their government.
Considering that Obama only
Tue, 11/03/2009 - 12:56 ET by G. MayConsidering that Obama only has to lose 2% of the people who voted for him to lose his majority and probably 4% to lose his plurality, it looks like there wasn't that much BDS to begin with.
And he certainly isn't gaining support.
Oh, horrors...
Tue, 11/03/2009 - 13:30 ET by cjbreisch...the Dems have finally run out of elections where they can run against George W. Bush.