Faith Based Politics

For those who don't know, Tom Delay suggested that Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi are traitors. Salena Zito has written an article on the incident, picked up by Townhall.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi "are getting very, very close to treason," DeLay said in a meeting with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

"We have people dying," he said. "Not just our soldiers, but innocent citizens dying in Iraq and Afghanistan at the hands of these evil people, and you have your elected leaders making these kinds of statements that embolden the enemy. It's unbelievable."

This is sad but predictable. For one thing, Delay used to be a big cheese, and now he's, at best, a moderately sized cheese. That has to be frustrating. For another Conservatives are succeptible to making these kinds of wild allegations right now. Because reality has failed to conform to their faith. They can't accept that their faith might have been in the wrong, so they are casting about for why their plans have failed. And well they've always disliked Democrats. But as the evidence becomes more and more clear, they will lash out more and more, the rhetorical equivalent of putting their fingers in their ears and saying "Neener neener I can't hear you!"

The biggest question facing Democrats over the next year is what to do about President Bush. Do you continue to honor the man who brought you to this point? Or do you cut him loose and work on building up your new guy? I suspect a lot of that will depend on who they end up putting up as their person. McCain can't afford to cut Bush loose (as his foreign policy promises to be more of the same) but Guiliani probably could.

For those interested in more reading on Republican Faith Based politics, check out Garrison Kiellor's latest over at Salon.