Hope Trumps Anger (Barfed as: Anger Trumps Hope)

Wall Street Journal ^ | January 6, 2004 | AL FROM/TO

[OESY]

As the fight for the Democratic presidential nomination begins in earnest, it's important for the candidates and Democratic voters to remember that the real prize is the White House, not the nomination.

So far, candidates have focused on winning the party faithful who vote in the early primaries and caucuses. That's understandable, but it's feeding a new conventional wisdom that all the candidates need to do to win is to turn out their base. That's a dangerous strategy for Democrats because the numbers just don't add up. About a third of all voters are Democrats. So even if every one of them marched to the polls, we'd still need a healthy slice of swing voters. To win next fall Democrats must persuade, not just energize. That's why Democrats need to make this election about the future. We must offer Americans a vision that tells them what we'll do for the country that George W. Bush won't. We can make a powerful case.

[OESY]

Democrats need a plan that puts country first -- that increases security, expands opportunity, demands responsibility, and fosters reform.

Finally, a Democrat that recognizes the Naive Nine have no plans for America -- something we've known for a while now -- stemming from their debates #1-#93.

Democrats need to show that leadership means thinking of the future, not just the present.

Come on, be honest. This was dumbed down to an eighth grade level so they would get the message, wasn't it?

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[2banana]

as the tough-minded internationalism of Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy and Clinton proved.

Like bombing asprin factories?

Like Nixon in 1972, President Bush has stimulated the economy to create an election-year bubble, not laid the foundation for long-term growth. But he's squandered the 1990s Clinton prosperity

Yea, the 1990s - the dot.coms, Enron, Global Crossing - the foundations of long term growth

[randita]

To: From

There is no common sense in the Democrat Party any more. You're wasting your breath.

[evad]

Yea, the 1990s - the dot.coms, Enron, Global Crossing - the foundations of long term growth..

Yes, yes...and in every way, quite Clintonesque. Full of hot air, corruption and greed.

The dimocratic base always has it's fundamental to fall back on though, mindless, relentless hate.

[SkyPilot]

Democrats won't win just by tapping anti-Bush anger or hoping for things to go badly.

[dawn53]

But the capture of Saddam Hussein and the recent spurt of economic growth should make it clear to even the most avid Bush haters that Democrats won't win just by tapping anti-Bush anger or hoping for things to go badly

There he said what so many of us know. The democrats are hoping for America to fail, just so they can win the next election.

[jtminton]

Democrats won't win just by tapping anti-Bush anger or hoping for things to go badly

At least he's honest about the Dims being happy when things are going bad for the country.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Democrats know how to be strong and make friends at the same time -- as the tough-minded internationalism of Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy and Clinton proved.

Much history suggests that FDR's "tough-minded internationalism" was aimed at protecting "Uncle Joe" rather than America.

Truman's "containment" strategy worked only in the sense that the country averted outright defeat by the USSR long enough to come to its senses and elect someone who believed in victory--and was bold enough, and prudent enough, to win it.

Kennedy got us into the no-win war in Vietnam, and Johnson had half-a-million baby boomers trying to play defense forever. "Containment" didn't work so good in that locale. . .

Is there some reason it's not alledged that Carter knew " how to be strong and make friends at the same time? Like Iran?

Clinton knew how to be so "strong" that his legacy is that a murderous enemy grew dangerous on his watch--while our military forces were cut agressively.

[Redbob]

This is the latest salvo in the war between the DLC and the Howard Dean.

Dean has called the DLC "Republicans-Lite," and From & Co. have called Dean, well, what he is, a raving whack-job who threatens to destroy the Dimocratic Party for his own amusement.

Go Get 'Em, Howard!