Here's a post I wrote at LindyBill's place which I think gets close to the heart of why the Dems did so poorly this cycle:
>>>Read Kristof's latest and most revealing piece here:
nytimes.com
He is unbelievable. But he does shed a bit of light on the Dems foibles.
According to Kristof, Demos need to reconnect to the heartland, i.e., the waitresses, truck drivers, etc., who voted for Bush against their own interests.
He has inadvertantly put his finger on the Dems problem: They arrogantly believe that the voters, no matter what their station in life, are unable to discern where their interests lie for themselves. In other words, the Bush voters are stupid.
So long as this kind of thinking predominates, the Dems will never win a dogcatcher's race in Fargo against a convicted GOP felon. This arrogance is the key to the GOP's victory and the key to the Dems defeat.
Kristof's piece also points to a profundly non-democratic way of thinking which is alien to the Nation's culture and values.
Arrogance is never, ever a way to attract votes.
Kerry and especially Edwards reeked of eau d'arrogance. Until the Dems find a way to somehow discard the notion that they know better what is good for a voter than the individual himself, which is a core tenet of current liberal thought, they can kiss national politics goodbye. |
