Democrats Should Spend Four Years Voting “Nay”

One of the difficulties with large voter turnout is the massive misunderstanding of just what an election in a democratic society means. Many of John Kerry’s first-time voters feel defeated and may withdraw from political participation. That would be as foolish as withdrawing from a football game after losing the coin-toss. The game of politics only begins now that the election is over.

There is no greater satisfaction in politics than winning an election, and there is no bigger headache than governing thereafter. Conversely, losing an election hurts, but there is an immense amount of fun in being the opposition. Without any budgetary constraints or any real danger of having one’s proposals enacted, the opposition politician can spend his entire day attacking the ruling party for its foolishness, ineptitude and cruelty. It makes no difference whether one is on the left or the right. In politics, there are only the “ins” and the “outs.”

The American people have seen fit to give Mr. Bush a second term, and this one promises to have all the Yosemite Sam charm of the first. The “rootin’est, tootin’est, shootin’est galute in the West” will continue to smoke out the evil doers (just where is Usama bin Laden?) with all the grace and dignity of Warner Brothers cartoon. With working majorities in both the House and the Senate, he can do just about whatever he wants.

The siren call of bi-partisanship, one will note, is only coming from the Democrats who want Mr. Bush to govern their way (which will never happen) and Republicans who want to force Democrats into complicity with their plans. Bi-partisanship is not always a good idea. After all, at some point bi-partisanship becomes a one-party system.

The Democrats can pick their battles with Senate filibusters, but by and large, they are going to be out-voted. Fair enough. But they shouldn’t contribute any votes to the defeat of their own agendas. If the GOP is really wrong about its policies, to sign up in support of them is stupid. And if the GOP is right, “me, too” won’t win re-election.


© Copyright 2004 by The Kensington Review, J. Myhre, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent.


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