Bush Renews His War on the "Democrat Party"
On Sunday, President Bush left his self-proclaimed "bubble" in the White House for a little Democrat bashing over at his Fox News safe haven. Comically daring Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama to attack him during the 2008 campaign, President Bush returned to his childish mispronunciation of their party's name. Yes, a year after acknowledging his infantile gambit, President Bush has renewed his war against the "Democrat Party."
A staple of Republican taunting since at least the time of Reagan, the "Democrat Party" jab has been part of George W. Bush's rhetoric from the inception of his presidency. Even after promising a spirit of cooperation after the GOP got its "thumpin'" in the 2006 midterm elections, Bush continued with the slight in his 2007 State of the Union. During a February 2007 meeting with the House Democratic Caucus Issues Conference, Bush offered Democrats an unpology by attributing the taunt to his legendary verbal incontinence:
"The last time I looked at some of your faces, I was at the State of the Union, and I saw kind of a strange expression when I referred to something as the Democrat Party. Now, look, my diction isn't all that good. (Laughter.) I have been accused of occasionally mangling the English language. (Laughter.) And so I appreciate you inviting the head of the Republic Party. (Laughter and applause.)"
But appearing on Fox News today, President Bush simply couldn't help himself. With his approval rating mired at 30% and Democrats pledging to make the election about Republican support for a third term, Bush returned to his trademark petulance:
"If the Democrat Party feels like they can win an election by focusing on me, I think they'd be making a huge tactical mistake. But I hope they do that then because our candidate will be able to talk about the future."
President Bush did not stop there. He again put his "Democrat Party" swipe to work in fear-mongering over both FISA and taxes:
"But there is a big part of the Democrat Party that is against giving our intelligence officers the tools necessary to protect America."
"Most Americans feel overtaxed and I promise you the Democrat party is going to field a candidate who says I'm going to raise your tax."
Heading a party that is slightly more popular than the Ebola virus, President Bush can offer the American people little more than schoolyard name games. (Judging by Mitt Romney's "Obama Osama" sign and John McCain's Chelsea Clinton slur, Bush's would-be successors offer little hope for improvement.) Nothing if not consistent, even as he shuffles off the stage George W. Bush will doubtless continue his global war on the Democrat Party.
For more on the lengthy history of the "Democrat Party" taunt in the Bush White House, visit here.
Please, somebody make him stop talking.