Random Thoughts
Posted by Atrios
Some of these are culled from various things I've read over the weekend, but I'm too lazy too hunt some of them down so if I'm ripping you off apologies...
Anyone who thinks that Democrats lost Senate seats because voters perceived that Tom Daschle was an "obstructionist" is a fool.
Going forward, the only way for the Democrats to pick up substantial seats in 2006 is a) if everything is a disaster (possible, but not something I hope for) or b) they manage to convey to voters how they are different than Republicans. This difference exists, but rhetorically the Democrats have been more interested in blurring the lines than making them clear. Clear differences do not always mean extreme differences - this is not about lurching left or right or whatever, it's just about making the differences clear in an easy to understand fashion.
New York Times columnists railing against the Right's favorite liberal strawmen should be ignored.
If "values" are the new battleground, which I mostly doubt, then I say bring it on, Larry Flynt-style. Let the scarlet A's be handed out, the closet doors swung open, and weekly church attendance records of members of congress and the administration be compiled. If sinning godless heathens are the problem, then let's be clear about who the sinning godless heathens are.
Our side is going to have to get used to the fact that "opposition" does not mean "obstruction." It's nice to imagine that the filibuster can solve all of our problems, but even with strong willingness to do so by all of the Senate Dems (there isn't), it isn't. Opposition is going to mean laying out the case clearly and forcefully for our side, voting against the worst of what the other side opposes, and having clear responsibility exist for the consequences of legislation. We aren't going to win too many battles in the next couple of years. Deal with it.
I'm not holding my breath, but the media needs to reevaluate its role when we have entrenched single-party rule. More on this later.
If, as news reports claim, Chenron is pushing for some version of a flat income tax, or consumption based tax, and the Democrats are unable to convince the vast majority of voters that this will in fact constitute a tax increase for them, then all is hopeless.
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