Well, I do know why Bush doesn't just walk down the driveway and deal with That Damn Woman. I could be wrong, but it seems obvious to me, looking at it from the point of view of his "base" (a very apt word for them).
Bush supporters, in my experience, have no problem if you do something wrong as long as you a) show no emotion and b) get away with it. Admit it? That's okay... sometimes. But admit that it matters? Are you kidding? Are you out of your mind? You want to be like Carter and his "malaise" business -- not to mention the rabbit! That would be like admitting that gut-shooting a deer after downing a few six-packs with the guys was causing the deer to experience a slow, agonizing death. You may be feeling sick about it; you know know that if you were alone you'd make sure you got a straight shot to the head before heading back to the truck, before tying the marker on the tree. But jeez! Don't take palliative measures with the guys watching!
The "base" didn't care that Reagan had never actually fought in WWII. They knew he'd only been in WWII movies, in spite of his claim. That's okay with them. He was the kind of person who would have fought well in the war, they imagine. He really thought he was a hero; it's useful to have him as a hero; so hey, he's a hero!
Bush I could do all kinds of godawful things in other countries and get away with it -- except one. We liberals think he lost support because of his tax raising after "read my lips." His lips were involved for sure -- but it was the vomit he allowed to emerge from them in public. You can be sympathetic with a good American throwing up rotten foreign food, but you don't do it in public like that if you're going to look embarrassed for god's sake. The only way to deal with a moment like that is to shout at the waiter, accuse your host.
Now Clinton's problems -- they were no-brainers. The woman weakness. When conservatives have a little on the side -- and believe me, they do, and with any available gender -- they do so with great care OR they flaunt it, nothing in between. No mea culpa, honey. No one should make you look weak, least of all a woman.
The key is never to appear as though you recognize that you're imperfect. The moment you do, the rest of the dogs in the pack turn on you.
Walking down that driveway would be like sending a signal that war involves people's maiming and death, that your policies were responsible for thousands of unjustifiable deaths, and that you're actually affected by it. That's something this administration realizes is too much of a political no-no to even think -- particularly given that the majority of those deaths were suffered by no 'count people of another ethnic persuasion.
Real photos of real president weakening enough to "feel the pain" of Cindy Sheehan? What the hell do you think they threw Bill Clinton out of office for? The blow-job? Come on! That was just an excuse. No sir. It's that godawful liberal mushiness. Sympathy.. caring. And worst of all, ambivalence!
Doesn't sell well to the base, pal. You know that.
