There’s an interesting effect where the conservative Republican magazine, National Review, and the liberal Democratic (it should be further to the left, but lately it’s been hewing toward the party) In These Times have covers which could be exchanged, with articles covering the same period of Obama’s career: Chicago “Community Activist” — the In These Times feature narrow cast to his “Get out the Vote” electoral strategies — which makes the National Review cover probably a more apt cover than the one In These Times uses as it shows Obama before his slogan for his registration drive, the National Review Article spanning the period and pooh-poohing the whole enterprise as exercises in liberal ineffectualism.

But reading through some articles in the National Review, I was struck by one sentiment.  A googles search shows it was not the first time expressed, as it was in March on the “Corner” here:

Remember when we were hearing about the need to purge Michael Moore and the MoveOn crowd from the Democratic Party?

I believe the more recent iteration has it in the not passive voice — putting the sentiment on parts of the Democratic party.  It is part of the narrative which shuffles the latest Democratic candidate as the most Liberal Ever, and post election the need to “move center-ward”.  But it is a narrative which, in the case history being woven by the National Review regarding the 2004 election, does not cite the only “Democrats” who came out and made the case.  Peter Beinart of the New Republic, and Al Frum of the Democratic Leadership Council, the first losing readership and the latter losing membership.  And Joseph Lieberman, when he was not trying to figure out how to win the Democratic Party nomination in 2006.  And that’s about it.

None of which is to say these battles wage — what rank and file Democrats will have to come to terms with is the increase in “Blue Dog”s which will greet any Democratic success down-ticket in 2008, some from Blue Dog districts and others unfortunately not (serves as an excuse to Pelosi and Hoyer for things like FISA) — but it is tiresome to see the one partisan side pick at these spots in declaring favorite and unfavorite members of the other partisan side.

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