Reply #6: The problem for Democrats, [View All]

[Totallybushed]

as I see it, is that many of them assume that because a certain program, or stand on an issue, in in their self-interest, it must be the right, and only right, position.

But this is just not so. We cannot tell someone else what his stand should be on his own self-interest. This is something that he, alone, can know and determine. Not us, or anybody else. What we can do is try to formulate our arguments for our own positions in such a way that the majority of the voters will see it our way. Telling them they are stupid is a sure fire way to win their votes. NOT!

This is something that the Dem leadership has consistently failed to do, for whatever reason. I don't know, but if pressed to the wall, I would say that Democrats are generally nice people and hesitate to offend anyone. Thus, they won't tell certain people certain facts that may cause them to not vote for them.

Who these people are, and what the facts are is not for me to say, and is irrelevant to my argument anyway. My point is simply this: you cannot sit on the fence for the important issues of the times and expect to be taken seriously. And these are serious times; serious candidates are required.

Look. The conservatives aren't going to vote Democratic, anyway. The moderates might, but they instinctively distrust someone who won't say exactly where he stands on the issues. The liberals and the left consist of many disparate groups who often have little in common. I think the same phenomenon works with them, too. It's one reason the Greens have been such a pain in the butt to Democrats in recent years. Even when a mutual distaste for GWB should have held them together.

This election, and in 2008, GWB is not running. So I foresee further splintering on the left, and a lot of Democratic voters sitting at home. I kid you not.

Does that mean that I think we aren't going to win? I don't know. I hope not. But I don't believe the polls mean any thing right now. I don't believe Bush-bashing is enough to win. I don't believe that you can beat something with nothing.

So what DO I believe? I believe that the Democratic candidates must clearly define their goals and policy positions for the electorate. I believe that they must take a stand, even a wrong stand, on all the issues. I believe that they must not only point out where Bush has screwed up, but how and where they will do it better.

If they do this, we have an excellent shot at winning. Otherwise, I afraid we will receive all the joy of this election season as we did from Fitzmas. I.e., none.