How To Effectively Lose An Election

The Democrats running for President this year seem to be making a real effort at losing this election before they even get nominated. Every time they open their mouths they show themselves to be out of touch with the values and beliefs of the average American.

It's pretty bad when even the liberal commentators are saying that this year's election is starting to look like McGovern or Mondale against Reagan. It's bad when they point out how Dean could very well be positioned by the Bush campaign as a combination of McGovern and Mondale all rolled into one arrogant, distasteful package. At least Gephardt doesn't have the McGovernite smell to him.

But why is it like this? Why can't the Democratic contenders get it together to create, as Bob Graham (not exactly my favorite person, but pretty observant in this case) said, "an 'optimistic' set of alternatives to Republican policies"?

Well part of the reason is their latent anger. Rather than come up with positive policies, they try to out-hate each other on President Bush. Rather than to propose an optimistic agenda, they wallow in the morass of the recount fiasco. Rather than to come up with a winning strategy they whine about how Gore "should" have won in 2000.

Now given a choice would you prefer to vote for someone who has proven that they have the strength of conviction (whether you agree or disagree with that conviction) and has helped to lead - not to guide, not to steer, but to lead - the country through a very difficult coming of age for a large segment of the population or would you prefer to vote for a hateful, whiner, who is preaching doom and gloom, and who is a waffler whose most concrete stance is repealing the tax cuts?

The Democrats this time 'round have no plan; they have no core set of beliefs with which people can make reasonable decisions about whose positions they most agree with. They are assuming, in a very elitist manner, that the American people are capable of being swayed with a message devoid of content, but full of negativity.

If they persist in this course, McGovern and Mondale may end up looking like winners at the end of this election. Even DC might decide that Bush isn't all that bad a choice.

Hate is not the path to victory.