Yah or Boo?

http://community.nytimes.com/article/comments/2008/04/27/opinion/27rich.html

For no particularly good reason, I was reading the comments attached to this article about Republican 'woes' in Pennsylvania, unnoted by the rest of the media for good reasons- theres no story. Frank Rich seems to think that stats from a dead rubber Republican primary have some bearing on what will happen in the general election. Rarely have flimsier straws been snatched at.

But reading down through the comments brought to mind why I believe the Democrats are losers in the grandest sense. Most of the comments were bitter, hate-filled and larded with grotesque hyperbole about how awful things are. As myriads of political observers have noted down through history, there are basically two political stories- Yah! and Boo :(

Yah! politics is hopeful, open-handed, positive and life affirming. Boo :( politics is pessimistic, mean, negative and nihilistic. Much as the Democrats shout that their platform and policies are yah! average Americans are not convinced. In fact, to many millions, they all sound pretty much Boo :(

Lose the war in Iraq voluntarily? Boo :(
Pay more taxes for new government programs? Boo :(
Join up with an internationalist eco crusade? Boo :(
Create trade barriers and annoy the US's trading partners? Boo :(
Cosy up to Americas enemies because they are pissed off? Boo :(
Constantly talk America down and adopt its enemies language? Boo :(

No matter how many times you scream that you represent Yah! if you don't, eventually people call you on that. Compare that with McCain- he really is Yah! This is a man who has survived terrible personal traumas and yet STILL wants to spend his precious remaining years serving his country in public office. He is straight up and down- there is no side; and his genuine compassion for his countrymen is deeply touching.

So, not only are most Republican policies Yah! policies, their candidate is absolutely a Yah! politician.