Fred Barnes: Journalist, Apologist, Magician?

Published: August 21, 2007, 3:02 pm

Tags: politics u s, iraq, social insecurity, katrina, 2008 presidential election, republican pundits gone wild, poverty, 2008 congressional elections, immigration issues

Fred Barnes, in an editorial at the Wall Street Journal, offers his manifesto for Republican resurgence. Unfortunately, from my perspective, the piece is a textbook demonstration of the degree to which GOP insiders haven’t a clue with regards to the concerns of ordinary Americans as well as the existing political realities. Even worse, much of the piece is an exercise in the “if only” mentality one might expect to find in the Harry Potter world of fantasy and magic. The following excerpt is wholly illustrative. Clearly the war hurt, more than a little. Just as clearly, a turnaround in Iraq would help enormously. But even if the “surge” is as successful as it appears it might be, there’s a problem. While public support has increased recently, the war still faces deep-seated opposition. There’s a widespread view that its cost in lives, money and national prestige has been too high. This won’t change overnight. Public opinion isn’t

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