From Noonan's column today. The column includes these observations on the differences between Democrats and Republicans explains quite well why it often seems that, in politics, the Republicans keep bringing a knife to a gunfight.

(Boldface mine)

...Clearly we are at the beginning of a new Democratic foray. Mr. Bush's political enemies will make as much of the story as they can. James Carville yesterday told the ABC News Internet column "The Note" that the question is "What did the President know, when did he know it and what did he do about it?" He is echoing the famous Watergate question in hopes of replicating the famous Watergate disaster.



Why wouldn't he? Playing political games is what Mr. Carville does as a partisan, as an operative, as a holder of the banner of the opposition. It's not only a game but a lucrative one. And it's not terrible, it's show biz--occasionally funny, often colorful.

And the Democrats happen to be better at it than the Republicans. Democrats on talk shows tend not to be shy about boring in, talking over guests, hectoring, murmuring sarcastic asides. They may not be courteous but they pound their points home. Republicans, in part because they represent the tougher views of the tougher party, often try to be reasonable and sweet, or intelligent and clever. They are no match. When they realize this halfway through the program they tend to try and bark back. But they bark badly, like Chihuahuas who know their yelps won't deter a burglar.

Why are Democratic operatives more effective? Because they see politics as total war. When you see yourself as a captain in a great unending struggle you not only fight harder, you rationalize fighting meaner. Why are Republican operatives less effective? Most of them don't believe politics is total war. It's only about government, it's not as big and important as life. If they thought it were that big they'd fight as if it were total war, but they wouldn't be Republicans; they'd be people who think government is everything.

Another problem for Republicans: Some of them are actually dignified and reasonable. A few of them are actually nice. And a lot of them are trying to avoid being stigmatized by the press. If a GOP operative--a nervous, please-like-me Scott Reed, a well-meaning and courteous Alex Castellanos--attempts to be as crude and manipulative as a Paul Begala, and actually succeeds, the press will not say he is a worthy opponent. The press will paint him as dark-jowled and Nixonian, a hater, a hammer. The press doesn't like rude Republicans.

There is also this problem for the Republican Party on TV: Their most spirited battlers are either in the White House (Mary Matalin, Torie Clark) or not Republican. Ann Coulter could eat her lunch off Paul Begala's head and use his tie as a napkin, but Ms. Coulter is not a Republican, she is a conservative. She'd knock Mr. Bush harder on pork and tariffs than Mr. Carville would.