Bush critics must learn lessons from such a bad year

Sunday, January 02, 2005
Bush critics must learn lessons from such a bad year
E.J. Dionne / Syndicated columnist
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. — Except for the glorious victories of the Red Sox and the Patriots, 2004 was a disappointing year. But bad years offer useful lessons. Here are a few:
Relentlessness pays off. President Bush won re-election by ignoring the conventional wisdom that vicious attacks on your opponent don't work and turn off voters. As soon as John Kerry won the Democratic nomination, Bush's campaign went on the attack and never stopped. It worked.
Kerry got painted as arrogant and privileged compared with an arrogant president who was far more privileged.
Kerry was made out to be a flip-flopping liberal, and never mind asking how someone can be both a flip-flopper and an ideologue. Kerry, who shot people in battle and got wounded himself, was painted as less strong than Bush, the guy who said he supported the Vietnam War but was not willing to fight in it.....