From John O’Sullivan of the Chicago Sun-Times:
What makes this internal paralysis so dangerous to the Democrats is that they are even more out of touch with ordinary Americans than they or the pundits realize. There are two political spectrums in America today — an elite spectrum and a popular spectrum.
The elite spectrum has the Democrats in the center, the voters on the center-right, and the Republicans on the far right. No one ever outlines this structure of opinion as clearly and explicitly as that. But it is regularly implied by the establishment media or centrist pundits in the course of their commentaries.
The popular spectrum of political opinion has the Democrats and liberal elites on the left, the Republicans in the middle, and the voters further out to their right.
Of course, not all issues fit into the popular spectrum comfortably. On some economic issues, for instance, the elite spectrum represents reality better. Thus, the voters are instinctively closer to the Democrats than to the Republicans on Social Security — which is why the congressional Republicans are distinctly nervous about the reform program proposed by the Bush administration.
What makes the Democrats’ task of recovery so difficult is that many of the issues that most concern voters — for instance, national security and gay marriage — fit into the popular spectrum better. But because the Democrats think in terms of the elite spectrum — and are encouraged to do so by elite institutions such as Hollywood and the media — they never realize their vulnerability.
A lot of talk is given to homosexual issues. The problem for the democrats is that this fad is fading. Will & Grace is off the air. Gay correspondents are no longer new and interesting (e.g. Queer Eye for the Straight Guy). I think it is a classic case of overreach. Prior to this fad the general public’s attitude was laissez faire, and the attitude coming out seems to be the same.
As far as the war is concerned, I think democrats need to tweak more than anything else. Pre-emption is a doctrine that invites legitimate criticism. I’m not even sure the democrats have to come up with an alternative. As a Monday Morning Quarterback, I would say that Kerry could have won if he would he have advocated getting out of Iraq.
I have gabbed about this elsewhere, but why not run it up the flag again here?
It’s early, but just for fun take a look at the republicans queueing up for 2008.
Up to now the game has been to collect as many debts as possible from politicians whose axles you have greased in various ways over the years. Stage two of the game started the day after the 2004 election, and involves getting all those in your debt to talk you up to the people who count: journalists, other pols, and most of all, people and groups with money.
Who is being talked about? [OFFENSIVE REFERENCES TO VARIOUS POLITICIANS DELETED. IF YOU WANT TO NAME NAMES, FINE. BUT DON’T COMPARE POLITICIANS TO “NEW ORLEANS WHORES ON FAT TUESDAY.” KEEP IT CIVIL.]
WHERE ARE THE PRO-LIFE REPUBLICANS? The only name I hear bandied about is that of Rick Santorum. I hope not, but I suspect that Santorum is doomed to be the Dick Gephardt of early 21st century republican politics.
To put it simply, the elitist spectrum is dominant with democrats, AND with a significant block of republicans — and, unfortunately, this block is the one with the power. They loathe us as much as their more demonstrative democrat brethren, and regard us about as highly as those brethren regard black voters: which is to say, they despise us for our loyalty. We are the republican party’s [OFFENSIVE RACIAL EPITHET DELETED, AND NO, IT WASN’T THE “N” WORD].
I have gabbed about this elsewhere, but why not run it up the flag again here?
It’s early, but just for fun take a look at the republicans queueing up for 2008.
Up to now the game has been to collect as many debts as possible from politicians whose axles you have greased in various ways over the years. Stage two of the game started the day after the 2004 election, and involves getting all those in your debt to talk you up to the people who count: journalists, other pols, and most of all, people and groups with money.
Who is being talked about? [OFFENSIVE REFERENCES TO VARIOUS POLITICIANS DELETED. IF YOU WANT TO NAME NAMES, FINE. BUT DON’T COMPARE POLITICIANS TO “NEW ORLEANS WHORES ON FAT TUESDAY.” KEEP IT CIVIL.]
How about the doubtlessly very devout but unfortunately pro-choice Catholic governor of New York, George Pataki, who has displayed a wondrous degree of vivacity and sincerity in conversing with various political people, so wondrous that he has been compared to very friendly ladies in the very very friendly city of New Orleans on the very very very friendly day before Lent. How about Rudy Giuliani, a very fine man who may or may not choose to display his doubtlessly devout Catholicism in a public way, but is also unfortunately a pro-choice Catholic republican. Or, most unfortunately of all, how about Arnold Schwarzenegger, that fine young man who, doubtlessly for lack of good catechesis, has led, if I may be so bold, a naughty naughty naughty life and now defends mommy’s right to have her baby killed, and has a properly humble and subservient California congressman asking nicely if we could change the Constitution to allow him to be President.
WHERE ARE THE PRO-LIFE REPUBLICANS? The only names I hear bandied about are those of Rick Santorum and Jeb Bush. I hope not, but I suspect that Santorum is doomed to be the Dick Gephardt of early 21st century republican politics. As for Jeb, I believe America, red and blue, has had just about enough of the fine fine members of that most excellent family running for president.
To put it simply, the elitist spectrum is dominant with democrats, AND with a significant block of republicans — and, unfortunately, this block is the one with the power. They loathe us as much as their more demonstrative democrat brethren, and regard us about as highly as those brethren regard black voters: which is to say, they despise us for our loyalty. We are the republican party’s [OFFENSIVE RACIAL EPITHET DELETED, AND NO, IT WASN’T THE “N” WORD] nice plantation helpers.
Microsoft beefs up push to small businesses
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