Al From bunts a softball on WP Forum

[BurtWorm]

http://discuss.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/zforum/03/sp_politics_from072903.htm


New York, N.Y.: First, let me thank you and your staff for putting on another wonderful and informative national conversation. It proves that even if we are not able to win the White House in 2004 we sure have a great group of up and coming Democrats who would make great future candidates for President, US Senate, and Governor.

My question is how do we as Democrats break through and close the gap on national security and terrorism in order to get to the issues that Bush is truly even weaker on and on which we could win such as the economy and jobs?

Al From: Thanks for your kind words about the national conversation. I thought it was pretty good too. For the complete answer to your question, I urge you to go to our website www.ndol.org and take a look at our Blueprint magazine which outlines our critique of Bush, our strategy for beating him, and our ideas for offering Americans things he won't, including on security and economic issues. Also on that site, we have streaming video of our conference.
Now, to the shorthand answer. I think we have plenty to talk about on security -- how we can improve and coordinate our intelligence agencies in ways the President hasn't, how to modernize our military, how we can provide the support that the president has resisted for policemen and firemen and first responders on the front lines. You know it was the Clinton military that won the war in Iraq. So Democrats do not have to be shy about engaging the president on security issues. On the economy we need to make the president run on his record. And, we need to put forth a growth strategy that includes fiscal discipline, investment in innovation, technology and the work force, and expanded trade.



Does anyone see anything original or inspiring in this bit about "national security?" I don't.

[el_gato]

1. they will probably be all softballs

I bet WP won't have him answer any of our questions.

[Cha]

3. My question to al from....

"What are you thinking?
Whatever it is it's wrong!
You are trying to divide the Democratic Party with your dictorial submissives regarding the candidates who are speaking out about the bush disaster. We will not be silenced by you. You have only made us more determined to defeat bush and anyone who thinks like him (read lieberman).
The dlc stands for democrats/lose/constantly
..and that is not going to happen with Real Democrats who stand for the Democratic Principles and don't adhere to the bush lite tactics"

...hoisted from an earlier thread :kick:

[HFishbine]

2. The Problem

Is that From has conceeded to the Bush paridigm. He's essentially saying that he conceeds the "threat" Bush says we're under, but that he'll come up with a better plan for making Americans think they are safe.

What he doesn't get is that there are pleny of us who don't buy Bush's view of the world. I'm looking for a candidate who can articulate principles of peace, who believes that America is at its strongest when we are actively engaged in international diplomacy and when we lead by example (kidnapping women and children in Iraq, is not such an exmple).

From wants to out Bush Bush. I'll support a candidate who envisions a new path.

[CWebster]

6. Simple and well said.

.

[HFishbine]

4. From not of our party

more from the WP interview:
-------------

Washington, D.C.: The DLC was openly supportive of the war in Iraq. Now that the tide is turning, do you feel that your organization is facing the same predicament that Richard Gephardt is currently faced with? Can you attack Bush for something that you supported? Likewise, how can you justify the DLC's support of the war as anything other than blatant populism in an effort to make inroads into GOP voting coalition?

Al From: I thought the war was right before we went to war. I'm proud of the way our military conducted it - a military built by Bill Clinton, I might add. I still support the war.
--------------

Fine, Al. You are certainly entitled to your opinion. Please realize though that your approval of the war is at odds with the majority of democrats. Tell me again how appealing to the "center" is going to be a winnable strategy if your party base loses interest?

[Capn Sunshine]

5. Burt, you're right

The lack of any substantive answers, especially about Dean, made this a non-event.I have to agree with you about this "national security" mantra. It's a non starter. I think it came from a focus group of soccer moms who have husbands working in Manhattan.

Gov Dean emphasizes in his speeches that due to consistent underfunding and withdrawal of Fed support at the state level, the Bush administration has made us LESS secure.

THAT is taking the fight to them not the same old " We're for Homeland Security , too" nonsense.

So while I may be a DLC member, I don't agree with From. He's a little too beltway for the organization IMO.

Which, above all else, is supposed to be about moving the debate beyond "right vs. left"

[BurtWorm]

7. You're right, too, Cap'n

This does sound like focus-grouped language. Empty calories.

And you're also right about a reasonable Democratic response, which is that what Bush calls "security" is putting us all in danger.