And a hello to you, Michael.
Before I do particulars in my response, Michael, one summary judgment. You've written a statement about what the Dems would need to do to get your vote. And, in essence, they would need to become the noble, rational, forward thinking human beings you think the Reps are. It won't surprise you that I don't agree with this analysis.
On the leadership issues, I'm not surprised you see no credible leaders among Dems. It's rather as if I said I see none among right wing Republicans. Won't carry much weight.
At the presidential level, to repeat myself, we are still a 50/50 nation. The problem's not at that level. If you look then at the Senate and House, we would need some sort of neutral panel to decide relative credibility. Unlikely to happen. I, for instance, only see maybe five, perhaps six, reasonably credibly Republican Senators but a great many more Dems. No doubt, that's quite different from your perception.
On the ideas front you mention the social security debate, but the Dems are definitely ahead in that debate at the moment. I'm not surprised you don't like their arguments. I certainly have no use for the privatization arguments floating around.
For you to invoke Marx is, of course, to show how you have to stretch to get your argument. You've been listening to only one side of the debate. It looks as if, however, that the country prefers keeping a social insurance program, sticking with a program which almost eliminated the problem of poverty among the elderly. One of the most successful social programs ever.
Finally, on the "reaching across the aisles" argument, it's hardly worth going into details on this one. Bush has been the most divisive president in my memory. And that includes Nixon. Perhaps there have been presidents who were more divisive in the history of the country. None leap readily to mind.
As always, Michael, you write a good sentence and you seem a friendly enough guy. I wish you well. But politically, we are about as far apart as it's possible to be.
We need to talk strategy rather than what the Dems would need to do to get your vote. |
