Byron York illustrates why he was such a loss to National Review and such a great pickup for the Washington Observer.
What’s truly striking in Greenberg’s poll is the degree to which the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have fallen off the progressive radar. I attended the first YearlyKos convention, in 2006, and have kept up with later ones, and it’s safe to say that while people who attended those gatherings couldn’t stand George W. Bush in general, their feelings were particularly intense when it came to opposing the war in Iraq. It animated their activism; they hated the war, and they hated Bush for starting it. They weren’t that fond of the fighting in Afghanistan, either.
Now, with Obama in the White House, all that has changed. Greenberg presented respondents with a list of policy priorities and asked, “Please indicate which two you think progressive activists should be focusing their attention and efforts on the most.” The winner was passing comprehensive health care reform, with 60 percent, and number two was passing “green energy policies that address environmental concerns,” with 22 percent. Tied for eighth place, named by just eight percent of respondents, was “working to end our military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Remember when every pundit in the world said the war was what broke George W. Bush? Remember when the fact the Obama was going to stop it was the main reason for electing him?
Many observers have remarked that Obama’s decision to escalate the war in Afghanistan, and also to escalate the campaign of targeted assassinations using drone aircraft, both in Afghanistan and Pakistan, will cause him trouble on the political left. Indeed, some members of Congress have suggested that the president has just a year to show significant results in Afghanistan before lawmakers begin to pressure him to pull back. But if the Netroots Nation results are any indication, Obama may have more room than previously thought on the war. Not too long ago, with a different president in the White House, the left was obsessed with America’s wars. Now, they’re not even watching.
I think the left didn’t mind losing the war as long as it could be blamed on a Republican administration. Now suddenly as we are on the offensive in Afghanistan and casualties are up the left doesn’t notice or care.
I’m reminded of the old story during Clinton inauguration when someone on the left commented disapprovingly on the military display of Fighter Jets passing above. A person from the administration answered with a smile that they were “our jets now”.
I guess the military is the “netroots” military now.
Funny we on the right always thought it was our American military, and we still do.
Via Glenn.
Update: Powerline and Newsbusters notice.
