If the Democrats' biggest problem is vulnerability on national security then it seems inevitable that a relative move to the right is required there.
Speaking as a bona fide member of the progressive crowd, even "shrill" at times to pick up your label, I'm not clear what "a relative move to the right" actually is.
A part of the problem is confounding the public's view of the Dems and their positions. I was talking about the public view. I gather you are talking about their positions.
If I'm right about the latter, then the problem is which views and just who we are talking about. There is a very wide range of opinion, as you know, among the elected Dems. And, moreover, much of this will have to do with what happens in Iraq. I don't see how it can be other than the major foreign policy issues of the election. Unless something, god forbid, happens with Iran.
I would expect that Murtha's position is most likely to come close to being the position of the party. Though some of the old Clintonites, including Hillary are to Murtha's right on this one. Are you saying they should move to Hillary's position?
I don't see any upside between now and the 08 election to Iraq; only a down. Given that and given that we are likely to see many more revelations about opposition to Bush's policies--warrantless surveillance, torture, Iraq occupation--coming from members of his administration, then I suspect, if that's on the right wing, the defenders may well be few and far between.
And with prominent neocons like Fukuyama saying I'm not one, they are leaving the ship.
So, just rambling, my guess is that it's less about going to the right than it is about portraying strength; trying to bring the country back to its traditions of protection of human rights (opposition to torturing, respect for privacy, etc.); a commitment to working with other nations through genuine multinational groupings whether NATO, the UN, or what; and more serious use of diplomacy with the stick in the background.
Clinton did that, despite all the Rep hollering, in the 90s. He didn't start there, but he got there. |
