WhereWe Went Wrong [View All]

[DemocratSinceBirth]

I came across a good article in Washington Monthly... They assembled a panel of political analysts to do a postmortem on election 2004...If you think the election was stolen there's nothing I or anyone else can do to disabuse you of that notion but if you think there are things we can do better in 2006 and beyond I suggest you read it...


I find James Pinkerton's comments particularly interesting... Some times your enemies are the only ones who will tell you the unvarnished truth... It's like asking your husband or wife if he or she likes your new hairstyle...


"The Democrats had won seven of the nine presidential elections from 1932 to 1964 because in the view of the voter they had a better model—the New Deal, unions, redistribution. But the Republicans came up with a counter model, and it worked well in the eyes of most voters. I think seven of the last 10 presidential elections have been won by the Republicans. That is a strong model, and I think it is stronger than consultants, it is stronger than spin, it is just a basic thing."


I also like Paul Glastris' prescription of how American can build a safety net that confrorms to American values of individual repsonsibility and initiative

"What the Democrats would never say, but I think the smarter ones believe is: We want to move the country somewhat closer to the social safety net you have in Canada and Europe, but to do it in American fashion. Which means being more focused and more market-oriented, but where these extra added programs and benefits don't suppress innovation, don't suppress the urge to take risks, don't suppress the work ethic."


Here's the link to the whole article

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2004/0412.roundtable.html