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Democrats 2004 |
September 2002
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The Party of Petain
The Democrats will prove in the upcoming Congressional elections whether they are a party in opposition, or a party of collaboration. They have got two of the biggest issues possible going for them -- the first attack American territory since 1941, and a bear market in stocks. And it looks like they won't use either one. They could teach Petain and Quisling about selling-out their people.
The riskiest, but potentially most effective, attack on the GOP is the September 11 attacks. It happened on Bush's watch. He had 9 months in office to prepare. It might not have been his fault (but don't bet on it), but there is no way it was the Democrats' fault. The canard that Clinton's negligence allowed it to happen backfires on the GOP. Remember their "Wag the Dog" accusations? And if he were distracted by impeachment, what's Bush's excuse, save for intellectual laziness?
The other great issue is Wall Street corruption. Here they can play defenders of the free market by upholding current regulations, securing the prosecutions of the fraudsters, and restoring funds to those who were victims of the theft.
Opposition is most effective when the party out of office can steal the issues and jargon of the party in office. The Dems can be the upholders of American defense by pressing GOP military spending on the wrong things (e.g., our SDI tests are rigged failures), and pro-business by distinguishing between honest businessmen and fountain pen-wielding criminals.
They will probably let these issues slide for fear of being portrayed as unpatriotic (a possibility for the party that gave us a draft dodging president) and for fear of alienating wealthy campaign contributors. If they do, it will prove that America is a one-party state -- it's only our addiction to one upsmanship that gives it to us in stereo.