TIZReporter
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- Joined
- Nov 16, 2005
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- 128
June 17, 2006
by James Murray
Are the Democrats Destined to Lose?
You can not beat a plan with no plan
The Republicans might be down in the polls right now, but the GOP leadership is setting the course for the November elections, and the Democrats are walking into their trap.
The Democrats appear angry, and disorganized. The GOP is busy painting them as unpatriotic and 'un-American'. That combination doesn't encourage voters.
The Democrats are relying on the growing anger against the war in Iraq, and their perceived weakening of support for the war on terror. They appear to believe that frustration will result in gains in the House and Senate this fall.
The problem for the Democrats with this idea is that most Americans are not tuned in to the daily C-Span feed or most news issues. The GOP realizes that most people only pay attention to politics during an actual campaign. Even then, almost 45% of Americans don't vote, even during a Presidential election.
What the Republicans are preparing is a campaign which will question the patriotism of the House and Senate Democrats. Likely, that campaign will hit hard, during the days before the November election. Combined with a few wins in the war on terror, and the GOP plan can be said to be working.
Most people have forgotten that President Bush said, in September 2001, "Americans should not expect one battle, but a lengthy campaign, unlike any other we have ever seen. It may include dramatic strikes, visible on TV, and covert operations, secret even in success. We will starve terrorists of funding, turn them one against another, drive them from place to place, until there is no refuge or no rest. And we will pursue nations that provide aid or safe haven to terrorism. Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists. From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime."
It appears, when it comes to real issues, neither party has any solutions. In fact with the report from the Department of Homeland Security which states that only 11 states are well prepared for a major disaster, many Americans might wonder what the House and Senate have been doing over the past five years.
The incidents of lost personal information at the Department of Veteran's Affairs placing the records of all military personnel at risk exemplify a lack of leadership in setting policy in all branches of the federal government.
The Democrats are in a rebuilding mode. Howard Dean writes, "It boils down to this: participation politics. We're building an entirely new kind of political party -- one where every single person matters as much as the next, where each one of us has the power to take our future into our own hands. It's a new way of operating, but we know it will work because we believe in the extraordinary potential of millions of Americans united in common cause to make our country better.
"We are at a crucial moment in our party's history, and it's up to us to show that the 50-state strategy has the financial backing of ordinary Democrats across the country. But we're going to do it in a new way -- we're going to count the number of people donating on our web site, and reveal the amount at the end."
Yet despite all of the stumbles and low polling numbers the GOP and President Bush have been getting, the Democrats are not surging forward. If there are perceived gains, or victories in the war on terror between now and November, or heaven forbid, a terrorist attack on America, the President will see a surge in support.
Hillary Clinton, seem by many as the frontrunner for the Democrats for their 2008 run at the White House is raising as much fear as she is hope.
One of the biggest problems Hillary Clinton faces is the still massive popularity her husband, President Bill Clinton, still commands. Hillary, compared to Bill suffers from a massive personality deficit. Glenn Thrush from Newday wrote, "Jennifer Stephens had never seen Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in person before the senator strode into Adelphi University's commencement, oxblood robes billowing in her wake. Stephens walked away from the late May ceremony at Nassau Coliseum with her admiration for Clinton intact, but she was a bit unsatisfied, as if she'd witnessed the collision of Hillary reality with Hillary hype.
"I love her and hope she runs for president, but ... " Stephens, 23, trailed off. "That voice, you know, it sort of gets on your nerves. I wouldn't want to have her as my mom, to have to hear that voice all the time."
At the memorial service for Coretta Scott King, the contrast between Bill and Hillary, both speakers at the service, was clearly visible. Bill is comfortable around people, Hillary by contrast often appears ill at ease with people.
The Democrats seem to have forgotten the political adage, 'any plan is better than no plan'.
The GOP appears to have a plan, and although many Democrats will complain about that plan, until the Democrats start to offer new ideas, hope and leadership to Americans, they might end up disappointed by the November elections.
by James Murray
Are the Democrats Destined to Lose?
You can not beat a plan with no plan
The Republicans might be down in the polls right now, but the GOP leadership is setting the course for the November elections, and the Democrats are walking into their trap.
The Democrats appear angry, and disorganized. The GOP is busy painting them as unpatriotic and 'un-American'. That combination doesn't encourage voters.
The Democrats are relying on the growing anger against the war in Iraq, and their perceived weakening of support for the war on terror. They appear to believe that frustration will result in gains in the House and Senate this fall.
The problem for the Democrats with this idea is that most Americans are not tuned in to the daily C-Span feed or most news issues. The GOP realizes that most people only pay attention to politics during an actual campaign. Even then, almost 45% of Americans don't vote, even during a Presidential election.
What the Republicans are preparing is a campaign which will question the patriotism of the House and Senate Democrats. Likely, that campaign will hit hard, during the days before the November election. Combined with a few wins in the war on terror, and the GOP plan can be said to be working.
Most people have forgotten that President Bush said, in September 2001, "Americans should not expect one battle, but a lengthy campaign, unlike any other we have ever seen. It may include dramatic strikes, visible on TV, and covert operations, secret even in success. We will starve terrorists of funding, turn them one against another, drive them from place to place, until there is no refuge or no rest. And we will pursue nations that provide aid or safe haven to terrorism. Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists. From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime."
It appears, when it comes to real issues, neither party has any solutions. In fact with the report from the Department of Homeland Security which states that only 11 states are well prepared for a major disaster, many Americans might wonder what the House and Senate have been doing over the past five years.
The incidents of lost personal information at the Department of Veteran's Affairs placing the records of all military personnel at risk exemplify a lack of leadership in setting policy in all branches of the federal government.
The Democrats are in a rebuilding mode. Howard Dean writes, "It boils down to this: participation politics. We're building an entirely new kind of political party -- one where every single person matters as much as the next, where each one of us has the power to take our future into our own hands. It's a new way of operating, but we know it will work because we believe in the extraordinary potential of millions of Americans united in common cause to make our country better.
"We are at a crucial moment in our party's history, and it's up to us to show that the 50-state strategy has the financial backing of ordinary Democrats across the country. But we're going to do it in a new way -- we're going to count the number of people donating on our web site, and reveal the amount at the end."
Yet despite all of the stumbles and low polling numbers the GOP and President Bush have been getting, the Democrats are not surging forward. If there are perceived gains, or victories in the war on terror between now and November, or heaven forbid, a terrorist attack on America, the President will see a surge in support.
Hillary Clinton, seem by many as the frontrunner for the Democrats for their 2008 run at the White House is raising as much fear as she is hope.
One of the biggest problems Hillary Clinton faces is the still massive popularity her husband, President Bill Clinton, still commands. Hillary, compared to Bill suffers from a massive personality deficit. Glenn Thrush from Newday wrote, "Jennifer Stephens had never seen Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in person before the senator strode into Adelphi University's commencement, oxblood robes billowing in her wake. Stephens walked away from the late May ceremony at Nassau Coliseum with her admiration for Clinton intact, but she was a bit unsatisfied, as if she'd witnessed the collision of Hillary reality with Hillary hype.
"I love her and hope she runs for president, but ... " Stephens, 23, trailed off. "That voice, you know, it sort of gets on your nerves. I wouldn't want to have her as my mom, to have to hear that voice all the time."
At the memorial service for Coretta Scott King, the contrast between Bill and Hillary, both speakers at the service, was clearly visible. Bill is comfortable around people, Hillary by contrast often appears ill at ease with people.
The Democrats seem to have forgotten the political adage, 'any plan is better than no plan'.
The GOP appears to have a plan, and although many Democrats will complain about that plan, until the Democrats start to offer new ideas, hope and leadership to Americans, they might end up disappointed by the November elections.