How About a Little Country Twang? (Dems think a Southerner'll do it in '08)

The Washington Post ^ | November 10, 2004 | Harold Meyerson

[The Loan Arranger]

Listen closely. That silence you hear is the sound of Democrats not recriminating.

We are, to be sure, post-morteming like nobody's business. It could scarcely be otherwise after the most heartbreaking defeat just about any Democrat can recall. But this year, I sense, there is a little more consensus than conflict -- and a lot more confusion than either -- Democratic ranks about what went wrong and where we go from here.

To begin, there's a genuine respect for John Kerry that will spare him from the kind of morning-after rage that many Democrats directed at Al Gore four years ago. Kerry, and Kerry alone (well, with some help from George Bush), put himself back into contention with his three debate performances. They did not win him the White House, but they won him a respite from the kind of backbiting for which we Dems are justly famous.

[The Loan Arranger]

Spin it, Harry!

[rocksblues]

To begin, there's a genuine respect for John Kerry

Respect from socialists and communists not shared by the rest of America!

[Time is now]

"To begin, there's a genuine respect for John Kerry"

Respect? Just when you thought it was safe to read the Washington Puke again....

[Gustafm1000]

Dems keep talking about Mark Warner. But he is A) a tax-raiser and B) won't even carry VA if George Allen is on the ticket at the top spot (as I would like) or the veep...

More likely, Hillary will spend the next four years trying to act conservative and get the nomination...

[beyond the sea]

How About a Little Country Twang? (Dems think a Southerner'll do it in '08)

This is when Hillary will try to convince America that she's a sweet southern lassie from Arkansas and not a witch from suburban Illinois.

[mdittmar]

How About a Little Country Twang?

[Freepdonia]

Hey! How about John Edwards?

(snicker)

[RexBeach]

They lost. It's as simple as that. They lost. It happens in life. Sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you.

How is that these people cannot understand this?

2 is more than 1. 59-million is more than 55-million.

Speaking as an extremist(I am a practicing Roman Catholic), I think this broad-ranged whining is pitiful. The voters have spoken. It is done. Over. Finis.

Next!

It is time to get on with the business at hand. Just like every Monday morning in America.

[Hardastarboard]

To begin, there's a genuine respect for John Kerry that will spare him from the kind of morning-after rage that many Democrats directed at Al Gore four years ago.

Dude, you need to visit a little slice of hell known as democraticunderground.com. You'd publicly and immediately retract this statement.

[RockinRight]

I don't think he could carry Virginia anyway, truth be told.

[Shermy]

Twang?

"Can I get me a hunting license here?"

[Calvarys_Soldier]

From the article but not cited:

"George W. Bush and a sputtering economy had concentrated the Democratic mind."

It is true: Say something at least three times in Washington, it becomes a fact.

In all seriousness, Democrats STILL don't get it. They still think some cosmetic choice like picking a southerner will work. The truth which the Dems won't admit is that they are out of touch with America. The truth that liberals won't accept is that America has figured out a few things. Americans have figured out, after only thirty years of empty threats about Republicans taking away Social Security checks, THAT THEY STILL HAVE THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS! They have figured out that when Republicans give "tax cuts to the rich" that they get a new or a better job and therefore they get more money in their paycheck. The American people are still waiting for the Democratic warnings of doomsday due to Republican victory to materialize. After thirty years, they got the point.

Democrats, I'm sure you won't listen to me because I am using funny words like "logic" and "common sense" but I'm just going to try anyway. GET A NEW PLAYBOOK! Scare tactics aren't working. The last time you won the White House, it was with a man who campaigned as a moderate! You haven't controlled the Senate through an election since 1994! People don't buy it! Try SOMETHING new. Move back to the days of FDR and Kennedy. Otherwise, you might as well run Hillary Clinton and add her to the list of losing candidates who we only remember due to the title "First Woman Nominee" next to Geraldine Ferraro. Because you guys haven't got a worthwhile candidate now, and the chances you have one in four years is not happening.

[Dan from Michigan]

They stated the obvious. Kerry isn't "one of us".

In an election when the economy is shaky, the job situation in key swing states still sucks, and a war when the media only shows the bad news, this could have been won by the dems if they had a good candidate and good campaign.

A Massachusetts liberal who called US troops war criminals is not the guy. A poser "hunter" who is a gun grabber is not the guy. A "Catholic" who tries to pass off bullshit to other Catholics is not the guy. An elitist is not the guy.

If I was running the 2004 democrats campaign. My ideal nominee would be a pro-gun, pro-union, pro-choice(keep the base), ANTI-OUTSOURCING, somewhat anti-war(but no America bashing) Midwestern governor.

I'd concede Iraq to Bush and hammer away on Outsourcing and Jobs 24/7. Keep the message simple and stick to it.

[bigbob]

Aw, cain't we have another Massachusetts Liberal, pulleeeze?

[jocon307]

LOL, Shillary should have gone back to Akansas after all.

[okie01]

Kerry managed to get nearly the entire antiwar vote in any event; he probably would not have upped his totals -- he most probably would have downed them -- had he called for flat-out withdrawal.

In other words, Meyerson is admitting that Kerry's position on the issue of war was solely a matter of political calculation -- without reference to either principle or the national interest.

I would've expected no more from a modern-day Democrat.

[skikvt]

They might stand a chance if they nominated Zell Miller....... Bwahahaha!!!

[Plutarch]

To begin, there's a genuine respect for John Kerry...

Yeah, respect, find out what it means, John. The same kind treatment for you as afforded Dem losers Mc Govern, Mondale, Dukakis, & Gore.

Ignominy.

[Angry Republican]

Didn't they try this with Al Gore and John Edwards?

[JimSEA]

Fritz Hollings or Robert Bird in their prime would have lost even worse than Kerry for all their down homie'ness. Joe Lieberman was by far the toughest candidate the Democrats could have fielded. So much for the allegations of shallowness from the left. Ideas and positions on the issues won this election. There was no Bill Clinton-like rock star in this election. Even Clinton would not have won without his fax-republican agenda.