One of the most enduring false myths of the Clinton years is that it was solely Dick Morris' triangulation strategy that revived Clinton's fortunes after the 1994 election disaster. I think the data makes clear that more than Clinton's triangulation (which did have a role of course, the role of removing negative branding opportunities for the GOP), it was the appearance of a political adversary easy to demonize - namely Newt Gingrich.

I believe the data makes clear that Clinton's popularity really jumped when he stood and fought Gingrich in December 1995 on the budget:

As we go to press President Clinton is locked in a battle with Congressional Republicans over next year’s budget. The President has vetoed much of the budget sent to him by Congress and has twice allowed the Federal government to "shut down" in the absence of an actual budget or a stop-gap spending measure that would allow full governmental activity. The sudden appearance of the President’s backbone has won him some high praise from congressional Democrats and liberal pundits as well as a dramatic shift in his approval ratings from the American electorate. Clinton’s positive ratings eclipsed the 50 percent mark for the first time in two years in the wake of his first veto. Concurrently, Newt Gingrich’s standing in the polls has fallen below the 30 percent mark as the public becomes increasingly dismayed with a man whose veneer of sincerity is so thin as to be nearly transparent.

As Lincoln and FDR before him had successfully done, Clinton successfully placed the extremist imprimatur on his political opponents. And this branding had lasting power:

The failing of Dole's campaign is that it has not clearly addressed who, exactly this Bill Clinton fellow is. It's not just Dole's problem, either - a recent New York Times/CBS poll found that while 43% of voters consider Bill Clinton a liberal, 36% see him as a moderate, and 12% (the Communist delegation, perhaps?) think he's a conservative. Moreover, 50% of self-identified moderates voters say President Clinton is one of them. Meanwhile, 53% of the voters claim Dole's a conservative, and the crucial moderate voters agree - a large majority feel that Dole stands to their right.

I have written on the paranoid style in American politics and that I think the central battle of politics is:

And that is FDR's lesson for Obama. Politics is not a battle for the middle. It is a battle for defining the terms of the political debate. It is a battle to be able to say what is the middle.

It is unfortunate that our politics does not allow for rational intelligent debate of the issues where the parties demonstrate mutual respect. It is nice that Broder, Klein and Obama want us all to play nice. It's wonderful that the American people say they hate partisan politics and negative attacks.

It's too bad that the paranoid style has been richly rewarded by ELECTIONS in the United States. And in real life, ELECTIONS, not pundits tsking tsking, has a real effect on people's lives.

In his two years in the Senate, Barack Obama has developed a tremendous reputation with the pundits. He is charismatic, charming, brilliant and exudes the bipartisan reasoned approach they adore. His effect on actual results has been nil. He has been involved in almost no fights, though he performed well in the habeas corpus debate.

I am duly impressed with Barack Obama's political talent and intelligence. I am wholly unimpressed with the brand of politics he has practiced the last two years. With the Dems on the cusp of victory, due in large part to NOT following Barack Obama's lead, to instead fighting hard and pinning a negative brand on Bush and the Republicans, I am extremely worried that some might think that Obama's presecription for Dem politics is worthwhile. In my view, it is not. And it is for that reason, that I have taken a good deal of time criticizig Obama's rhetoric and approach. He is an important figure who could hav a great deal of influence in Democratic circles, particularly on stylistic questions.

Thus, while Obama's talent and potential are undeniable, it is also true that Obama poses a threat to a newfound Fighting Dem spirit. In my mind, it must be pushed back.