Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Kerry needed some Tip O'Neill lessons. .
I kept waiting for John Kerry to turn into an Irish Catholic Democrat from Massachusetts; unfortunately, he never did. He needed some Tip O'Neill lessons.
Not so bleak. Democrats have to keep in mind that the election this year was decided by post-9/11 anxiety - the fact of no subsequent attacks to this point; & results in a number of states - most certainly Ohio - were affected by anti-gay marriage referendums, placed on the ballots as part of the overall GOP strategy. A number of Democratic senators overcame Bush majorities. Tom Daschle was specifically targeted by the National GOP. I think New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio, New Mexico, Iowa can all be won in 2008 with reasonable circumstances & an excellent candidate, & that Colorado, West Virginia, Missouri & yes even Florida can be put back into play. Democrats have to learn that there's a difference between the obvious caadidate - a John Kerry - & a winning candidate - a Bill Clinton or even Jimmy Carter 1976. Back in 2000, the GOP reached over some obvious Washingtonian possibilities to a popular but mediocre Texas governor who had name recognition & creative neocom advisors. This team had essentially "packaged" George W. Bush in order to unseat a colorful, equally blunt-speaking incumbent who likely would have defeated any other GOP contender. In 1996, Clinton overcame his weaknesses with a booming economy & an opponent who wasn't the strongest the GOP could offer. Bush overcame his with 9/11 ... & an opponent who probably wasn't the strongest the Dems could offer.
In Jersey, I hope the Democratic establishment recognizes that the state GOP isn't going to remain moribund forever - there's another Kean in the wings - & starts learning from machine-generated disasters like Torricelli & McGreevey; even looks past Corzine (who might as well run for governor since he's not going to be such a popular guy when the new Dem senate caucus convenes). The Democratic Party in this state occasionally produces aJeff Van Drew who successfully got himself elected as a Cape May freeholder then an assemblyman from a Republican district. How did Van Drew do it?
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"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." Thomas Jefferson
Not so bleak. Democrats have to keep in mind that the election this year was decided by post-9/11 anxiety - the fact of no subsequent attacks to this point; & results in a number of states - most certainly Ohio - were affected by anti-gay marriage referendums, placed on the ballots as part of the overall GOP strategy. A number of Democratic senators overcame Bush majorities. Tom Daschle was specifically targeted by the National GOP. I think New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio, New Mexico, Iowa can all be won in 2008 with reasonable circumstances & an excellent candidate, & that Colorado, West Virginia, Missouri & yes even Florida can be put back into play. Democrats have to learn that there's a difference between the obvious caadidate - a John Kerry - & a winning candidate - a Bill Clinton or even Jimmy Carter 1976. Back in 2000, the GOP reached over some obvious Washingtonian possibilities to a popular but mediocre Texas governor who had name recognition & creative neocom advisors. This team had essentially "packaged" George W. Bush in order to unseat a colorful, equally blunt-speaking incumbent who likely would have defeated any other GOP contender. In 1996, Clinton overcame his weaknesses with a booming economy & an opponent who wasn't the strongest the GOP could offer. Bush overcame his with 9/11 ... & an opponent who probably wasn't the strongest the Dems could offer.
In Jersey, I hope the Democratic establishment recognizes that the state GOP isn't going to remain moribund forever - there's another Kean in the wings - & starts learning from machine-generated disasters like Torricelli & McGreevey; even looks past Corzine (who might as well run for governor since he's not going to be such a popular guy when the new Dem senate caucus convenes). The Democratic Party in this state occasionally produces aJeff Van Drew who successfully got himself elected as a Cape May freeholder then an assemblyman from a Republican district. How did Van Drew do it?
Add YOUR comments here
