Quote:Say what you will about the Republican Party and its leader, our regrettable president, but give them credit for this much: They know what they believe and they know how to package it in the simplest, most attractive way: traditional values; fighting terrorism; tax relief.
Granted, some of us think it would be more accurate to describe the foregoing in terms somewhat less simple and attractive [..]. But you know what? Tomato, to-mah-to. The Republicans have their vision, and it works. By contrast, can anybody tell me what the Democratic Party stands for?
Yes, I know that's a setup that will have the GOP faithful slipping in their own saliva to offer a punchline, but leave it stand. Because if anything has characterized the Democrats in the years since George W. Bush won the 2000 election, it's an inability to articulate a coherent competing vision. It is not enough to be the anti-Republicans. Those who are so inclined already know what they are voting against. It is incumbent upon the other party to offer an alternative people might want to vote "for."
This, the Democrats have, for six years, failed to do.
You hear this tack a lot. Mostly from mocking Republicans, often from disgruntled liberals.
I've never quite understood it.
Yes, of course I would have liked the Dems to come up with more forceful as well as appealing candidates than Kerry, Gore and Hillary - and yes, I would like it to engage in self-confident opposition rather than cautious muddling-through.
But seriously; is there really anyone out there who simply does not know "what the Democratic Party stands for" - like, period? In as rough and basic terms as outlined for the Reps above?
I think the "nobody knows what the Dems stand for" line is mostly used, on the left, as frustrated shorthand for "I wish they spoke up louder and more brazenly, like the other side". Whereas in reality, of
course it's not hard to come up with a trinity of Dem values in contrast to Bush's.
Here:
Republicans: traditional values; fighting terrorism; tax relief.
Democrats: inclusive society; working with our allies; "it takes a village"
If you dont like the Hillary reference, replace "it takes a village" with "community", for example, or "common responsibility". Same thing.
<shrugs> I mean, am I missing something?
