Party before country
If Democrats are divided, as Republicans gleefully note, about what to do in Iraq, Republicans have reacted to last week's Supreme Court decision striking down the administration's military tribunals in a way that makes clear that they themselves are divided about the rule of law in America.
The Democrats are concerned with such quaint and obsolete concepts as the rule of law. None of that for the Republicans; they're too tough and realistic.
And so, when Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi had the temerity to welcome the court's decision, Republican House leader John Boehner responded with a press release that attacked her for advocating "special privileges for terrorists."
Echoing Boehner, the talk-radio thugocracy could speak of little else.
So Republicans have a choice. Working with the Democrats, they could craft a legislative response that incorporates both halves of the court's decision, guaranteeing the legality of the new procedures -- but forfeiting a major opportunity to demagogue against Democrats between now and November. Or, as they do roughly 100 times out of 100, they could simply choose to go for the politics.
The Democrats are concerned with such quaint and obsolete concepts as the rule of law. None of that for the Republicans; they're too tough and realistic.
And so, when Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi had the temerity to welcome the court's decision, Republican House leader John Boehner responded with a press release that attacked her for advocating "special privileges for terrorists."
Echoing Boehner, the talk-radio thugocracy could speak of little else.
So Republicans have a choice. Working with the Democrats, they could craft a legislative response that incorporates both halves of the court's decision, guaranteeing the legality of the new procedures -- but forfeiting a major opportunity to demagogue against Democrats between now and November. Or, as they do roughly 100 times out of 100, they could simply choose to go for the politics.
- Harold Meyerson.
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