Howard Dean talks straight

[tw]

Originally Posted by lookout123

for once, i agree with tw - dean is not the problem with the democratic party. ... the average american is sick of being a part of a D party that looks and sounds like T Kennedy and Daschle

The latter is a classic example of literally a 'piss poor' politician. He had no underlying strategic objective. He was a peace maker at all cost - even supporting the president on an unjustified war in Iraq. He even blindly believed propaganda that contradicted underlying facts. But more damning, Daschle only sought compromise even at the expense of a strategic objective. In doing so, he abandoned fundamental principles that made America work and that made the Democratic Party so successful. I would not be surprised to learn Daschle thought Saddam attacked the WTC, Pentagon, and field in PA. Daschle had no grasp of issues. He only wanted the safe and easiest solution rather than first identifying what was and was not needed.

A benchmark example is the debt. Both George Sr and Clinton solved debt problems - literally confronting the various stock market meltdowns, the S&L crisis, the 1990 near banking disasters that almost bankrupt CitiBank, the hedge fund disaster (especially Long Term Capital Management) and numerous other financial and economic problems. In some cases these two men did so by following the advice of their subordinates rather than follow their own feelings. Both men also had competent subordinates.

But now we have the same problem all over again. And what was Daschle's response? Let them do it. Pick and choose the battles rather than pick and choose which principles that Democratic Party stood for. Make decisions based upon political expediency rather than upon facts.

The current Social Security debate is a classic example. A well lead Democratic Party would be making bumper crops over the scandalous way that Social Security is being run into the ground and will be undermined by the Repulican agenda. Any money removed by the Treasury to pay government bills is replaced with a Treasury Bond. Entire SS (highway trust fund, and FAA trust fund) problems solved. But Democrats instead cry as if SS was only some third rail. Even Democrats are playing politics rather than addressing issues.

Another issue being left for a 'graveyard' mentality is identity theft. Until it gets so massive as to threaten most everyone, the Democrats are just sitting on their asses - letting Republicans instead pass laws to empower government (ie Patriot Act) rather than let the consumer protect himself. Don't worry. The government will give you papers so that government can monitor you. And government will prosecute the identity theif AFTER he has done the damage. Meanwhile, the problem with identity theft - a defective system based upon driver's licenses and SS numbers - remains in place with no solution.

Perfect example of a strategic objective that a responsible Democratic party could campaign on. A system so that you - and not the government - can prove who you are, and so that you can protect your identity. Functions also necessary to protect personal freedoms are ignored even by the Democratic Party. Meanwhile, Republicans advocate a system equivalent to the Nazi version of "Show me your identity papers". Passports with electronic data so that government can protect itself first; the people second.

Is there anyone in the Democratic Party who could campaign for the personal freedoms such as identity protection and who could campaign for a return to economic prosperity (currently stifled by massive government deficient spending)? No. Not one. Clinton understood a strategic objective when he said, "It’s the economy stupid". Clinton targeted problems of that time. Currently few Democratic leaders do that today.