More Journamalism From David Broder (Why Oh Why Can't We Have a Better Press Corps?)
Today, March 25, 2007, David Broder says that the Bush administration is so discredited that there is no point for Democrats to take testimony demonstrating that when the Bush administration fired "underperforming" U.S. attorneys, their "underperformance" was that they had prosecuted too many corrupt Republican politicians and not investigated enough Democratic ones:
David S. Broder: The survey... conducted in December and January, depicts a dramatic shift... since George Bush took office in 2001.... The... collapse of support for the GOP... Democrats lead 50 percent to 35 percent... disenchantment with Republicans, not a burst of popularity for the Democrats.... In January 2001, when Bush took office, 55 percent of those polled said they were satisfied with the way things were going in the country. Now that number is 30 percent.... Between mid-November 2001 and now, the percentage of those who said they were basically content with the federal government fell from 53 percent to 21 percent....
If all this suggests that political opportunity is beckoning the Democrats, then the candidates at a forum in Las Vegas this weekend can take heart. But a word of caution is in order.... It seems doubtful that Democrats can help themselves a great deal just by tearing down an already discredited Republican administration with more investigations such as the current attack on the Justice Department and White House over the firings of eight U.S. attorneys...
A month ago, on February 16, 2007, David Broder said that the Bush administration was far from being discredited: that it was "impressive," "forceful," showing "renewed energy" and "regaining the initiative":
Bush Regains His Footing: President Bush is poised for a political comeback.... Bush has gone through a period of wrenching adjustment... [and] now shows signs of renewed energy and is regaining the initiative on several fronts. More important, he is demonstrating political smarts that even his critics have to acknowledge....
Bush has been impressive in recent days. He has been far more accessible -- and responsive -- to the media and public, holding any number of one-on-one interviews, both on and off the record, leading up to Wednesday's televised news conference. And he has been more candid in his responses than in the past.... forcefully making his points... repeatedly outlined areas -- aside from Iraq -- where he says [he and the Democrats] could work together on legislation: immigration, energy, education, health care, the budget...
Such a mendacious month-to-month inconsistency requires great skill and effort to accomplish.
As best as I can see, David Broder has no private defenders left inside the Washington Post newsroom. "Let's talk about something else..." is what they say to me now.
