Short-Term Gain, Long-Term Pain

by Charles Krauthammer - August 11th, 2006 - Washington Post

With the defeat of Joe Lieberman in the Democratic primary in Connecticut, antiwar forces are poised for a takeover of the Democratic Party. Tuesday's exhilarating victory, and the elan and electoral legitimacy gained, may carry the newly energized Democratic left to considerable success in November.

But for the Democratic Party it will be an expensive and short-lived indulgence. The Iraq war will end, as will the Bush presidency. But the larger conflict that defines our times -- war on Islamic radicalism, more politely known as the war on terrorism -- will continue, as the just-foiled London airliner plot unmistakably reminds us. And the reflexive antiwar sentiments underlying Ned Lamont's victory in Connecticut will prove disastrous for the Democrats in the long run -- the long run beginning as early as November '08.

There are times when I think that Charles Krauthammer is a brilliant predictor of the future. Other times I merely pray that he is. This is one of those times when I am praying.

It is clear that the Democratic Party is controlled by a large element that is dedicated to socialism. Along with that dedication to socialism is a dedication to the elimination of free enterprise. That causes atipathy to America because America does not embrace socialism. I have been sharing with friends this problem with the party ever since I returned to North Carolina two years ago. However the number of long time Democrats who do not want to see what their party has become is still quite large here in Eastern North Carolina. They simply hold on to the historical view of their party and do not accept it has been taken over by extremists.

The defeat of Joe Lieberman has got to have some effect in waking them up to the modern reality. Control of the Democratic Party is clearly in the hands of extremists and the party of Kennedy and Roosevelt is gone.