Beginning to Believe Again(Democrats pump life into their liberal mojo

[papau]

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-raines30jul30.story

Beginning to Believe Again
The Democrats pump life into their liberal mojo.
By Howell RainesBeginning to Believe Again
Howell Raines is the former executive editor of the New York Times.

July 30, 2004

For nostalgic Americans of a certain age, the political conventions were television's original "reality shows" — quadrennial opportunities to watch amateur actors in contrived situations. This year, more or less live from Boston, the Democrats continued that tradition, cobbling together a fascinating combination of "Star Search" and a modern morality play.

To be sure, everyone arrived reasonably content that the prolix John Kerry would get the party's nomination, and Kerry exceeded expectations with an exceptionally well-crafted speech. But when it comes to star power, the real entertainment value has been in the talent auditions featuring Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards.

As for the morality part, what we are seeing is a party trying to revive the social conscience it tamped down throughout the greed festival that began with Ronald Reagan's election in 1980 and the timid triangulations that followed during the Bill Clinton presidency.

The declaration by Edwards, the vice presidential nominee, that it is "immoral" for a nation as rich as the United States to have 35 million people living in poverty must sound archaic to New Democrats schooled to boast that their hearts are not so liberal after all and certainly never bleed before the cost analysis is completed. Who knows what the undecideds — nearly one voter in five, according to the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg poll — make of that kind of talk? The Democrats haven't consistently spoken that way since Fritz Mondale lost 49 states by challenging Reagan on "compassion" and "the fairness issue" in 1984.<snip>

[Union Thug]

1. YES!

"As for the morality part, what we are seeing is a party trying to revive the social conscience it tamped down throughout the greed festival that began with Ronald Reagan's election in 1980 and the timid triangulations that followed during the Bill Clinton presidency."

YES YES YeS!!!! It's about time we full scale, 180 degree spin back to being party of social conscience and lofty ambition!

Another world is not only possible, it's an imperative.

Onward revitalized liberals everywhere! Victory is within our reach! TAKE IT!