Dialogue On the Left
A particularly pathetic feature often found among cacooned (academic) liberals is the persistent belief that electoral losses occur because they "just haven't explained themselves enough." The last thing that would ever occur to said liberals is the horrible idea that the majority of Americans might just disagree with them. It's never about the issues themselves - it's always about how liberals just haven't clarified themselves enough.
Sometimes, a perceptive liberal will come in and try to unwind the cacoon. Here's William Saletan, giving the Left a much-needed talking-to about connecting with all those people that they insist are dumber than they are:
But if you're dissatisfied with Bush—or if, like me, you think he's been the worst president in memory—you have a lot of explaining to do. Why don't a majority of voters agree with us? How has Bush pulled it off?...
In 1998 and 1999, Republicans cleared the field for George W. Bush. Members of Congress and other major officeholders threw their weight behind him to make sure he got the nomination...
Do what they did. Give Edwards a job that will position him to run for president again in a couple of years. Clear the field of Hillary Clinton and any other well-meaning liberal who can't connect with people outside those islands of blue on your electoral map. Because you're going to get a simple president again next time, whether you like it or not. The only question is whether that president will be from your party or the other one.
And here's Kos, totally ignoring that advice. Apparently, the problem with this election was not that there was a massive, undetected surge in voters who made "moral values" a priority (voters who broke 4:1 for Bush). It was that the Democrats "didn't have a message" - because it couldn't have been that people just disagreed with the message that they actually did have!
While McAuliffe was an artful fundraiser, the party continued to lack the ability to develop a clear message or properly frame the political debate. And it's been killing us.
Even if Kerry can pull off the victory, it's clear the Democratic Party as currently constituted is on its deathbed. It needs reforms, and it needs them now. Quite frankly, the status quo simply won't cut it.
Howard Dean for DNC Chair.
Yes. The Democratic base's answer to their massive failure to connect with Americans is to put Howard Dean in charge of their platform. They're going to pin their hopes on Howard Dean's ability to relate to voters in the South and Midwest. It won't happen, obviously - but wouldn't it be funny to watch?
UPDATE: Jonah Goldberg agrees with me. By which I mean, of course, that I agree with him (even though I posted 10 minutes before he did... )
Sometimes, a perceptive liberal will come in and try to unwind the cacoon. Here's William Saletan, giving the Left a much-needed talking-to about connecting with all those people that they insist are dumber than they are:
But if you're dissatisfied with Bush—or if, like me, you think he's been the worst president in memory—you have a lot of explaining to do. Why don't a majority of voters agree with us? How has Bush pulled it off?...
In 1998 and 1999, Republicans cleared the field for George W. Bush. Members of Congress and other major officeholders threw their weight behind him to make sure he got the nomination...
Do what they did. Give Edwards a job that will position him to run for president again in a couple of years. Clear the field of Hillary Clinton and any other well-meaning liberal who can't connect with people outside those islands of blue on your electoral map. Because you're going to get a simple president again next time, whether you like it or not. The only question is whether that president will be from your party or the other one.
And here's Kos, totally ignoring that advice. Apparently, the problem with this election was not that there was a massive, undetected surge in voters who made "moral values" a priority (voters who broke 4:1 for Bush). It was that the Democrats "didn't have a message" - because it couldn't have been that people just disagreed with the message that they actually did have!
While McAuliffe was an artful fundraiser, the party continued to lack the ability to develop a clear message or properly frame the political debate. And it's been killing us.
Even if Kerry can pull off the victory, it's clear the Democratic Party as currently constituted is on its deathbed. It needs reforms, and it needs them now. Quite frankly, the status quo simply won't cut it.
Howard Dean for DNC Chair.
Yes. The Democratic base's answer to their massive failure to connect with Americans is to put Howard Dean in charge of their platform. They're going to pin their hopes on Howard Dean's ability to relate to voters in the South and Midwest. It won't happen, obviously - but wouldn't it be funny to watch?
UPDATE: Jonah Goldberg agrees with me. By which I mean, of course, that I agree with him (even though I posted 10 minutes before he did... )
