I've read National Review on and off for a quarter century or so (yes, I'm old.) During that time, of course, the conservative movement has faced a lot of disappointing results in both primaries and general elections, but they've always handled it like adults. Maybe it's just the nature of the blogosphere, but I really feel like they could use an infusion of adults over there. The incessant namecalling and endless vituperation against John McCain is something I've never seen any candidate endure at the hands of the NR masthead. Then there's just shrill hysteria such as this:
Governor Romney, you've got money ... use it! Governor Huckabee, please go! Now.
If your plan for victory includes begging a guy like Mike Huckabee to voluntarily bow out to clear the way for your guy, you've got real problems. Unfortunately for K-Lo and friends, however, this poll (warning: PDF) shows a five-point boost for McCain if Huckabee were to bow out. I'm beginning to think it's all over but the crying.
To be fair, I feel NR's pain. They're probably every bit as dispirited and demoralized as I was in 2000. It's their turn now, not mine. I just hoped they'd wear it a little better. Instead, my former mentors have stooped to the maturity level of... well, me.
On a related note, I caught a few minutes of the hysterical Ann Coulter on Sean Hannity's show last night, elaborating on her much-publicized vow to campaign for Hillary Clinton if John McCain wins the nomination. She made the case that Republicans are panicked, and have been seduced by the siren song of "electability," just as the Dems did with Kerry in 2004, and she predicted it would end with similar results. It's a reasonable argument to make (for Ms. Coulter, at least) but I have a problem with the inference she draws. Sean Hannity should have asked her, "Do you think the Democrats would have fared better with Howard Dean?"
