David Ignatius: A golden opportunity for Democrats

[question everything]

DAVID IGNATIUS THE WASHINGTON POST

A golden opportunity for Democrats

April 14, 2005

(snip)

The DeLay follies mask the deeper disarray of the Republicans. As conservative commentators have noted, there's a growing gap between the party's libertarians, who abhor government social engineering, and a more authoritarian strain that favors it so long as conservatives are the engineers. There are also growing tensions over foreign policy between the GOP's neo-Wilsonians, who embrace Bush's rhetoric of global democratic transformation, and the cautious realists and isolationists who form the party's traditional base.

So how can the Democrats steal a march on their disorganized rivals? My answer is that they must show the country they are ready to tackle the nation's toughest economic problems. They must present themselves as the party of responsible government. To adopt the shorthand used recently by columnist Michael Kinsley, they must cast aside a generation of Mommyism and become the "Daddy Party."

A sensible Democratic leadership would gather this very weekend to begin formulating a plan to address America's looming economic crises. They would develop specific proposals to reduce the trade and budget deficits that are spooking the financial markets. They would gather experts who have been warning that we're heading for a financial crack-up – people such as former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, former Fed Chairman Paul Volcker and investor Warren Buffett. Bolstered by their good advice, the Democrats would work cooperatively with the administration and Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan to reassure markets if the dam begins to crack.

Rather than trying to take political advantage of the president's stumbles on Social Security, these New Democrats would do the right thing. They would reject Bush's half-baked plan for private accounts, but at the same time they would give the president political cover to do what's necessary to begin matching future benefits to future revenues. For Democrats in the wilderness of opposition, it's a chance to become the party of stand-up guys. Not the usual role for Democrats, but one that the duck-and-cover Republicans are handing them.

The Democrats don't deserve this makeover opportunity. On economic issues, they've mostly behaved as irresponsibly as the Republicans since 2000 – looking for cheap shots and short-term gains. And sadly, they're often as slavishly supportive of their special-interest friends as is the GOP. Do the Democrats have the leadership and political guts to seize the moment? Probably not, but they're fools to let it slip.

Ignatius can be reached via e-mail at [e-mail].


Find this article at:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050414/news_lz4e14ignatiu.html

[Demeter]

1. No, I Don't Think So

First we have to expose all the GOP criminality, then prosecute it, then repair all the damage. To fix the damage first just gives them a chance to do it again. Watergate got short-circuited when Ford pardoned Nixon, Iran-Contra was a farce--everybody got pardoned.

It has to be done, and if feelings get hurt, that's too bad. The South will just have to get over the Civil War, and the GOP over its crimes by taking its medicine!

[Clark2008]

4. What does the South and the Civil War have to do with this piece?

The only thing most Southerners can't get over is folks like you who think we're all backwards and, well, can't "get over the Civil War."
Personally, I don't think about the Civil War much - and, when I do, it's historical.


Screw this "new Democrat" crap. What Dems have to do is show the country that it can be the "Single Parent" party: tough on national security, fair on foreign policy and compassionate on social issues. I've learned how to do this, why can't the Party?

[coloradodem2005]

2. I agree with him about the Republicans.

Though the Republicans haven't deserved anything that they got. I think the Dems are not to blame for anything since 2000, except for folding to the Republicans.

[Clark Bayh 2008]

6. RW message is wearing thin, but we need more likable messengers

[BillZBubb]

3. This is FRIGGIN BULLSHIT!

The writer is a DLC moron. The absolute worst thing the Democrats can do for the nation and themselves is to give Bush any leeway on Social Security and the deficit problems. It's a recipe for disaster, both political and economic.

Cooperate in any way with the Repugs and we will be linked with them as partners in crime. This writer apparently never learns that basic truth. Just remember the S&L debacle? The Dems foolishly went along with the Reagan era deregulation. When the bottom, as any fool could have predicted, fell out, the Dems shared the blame equally with the Repugs.

The Democrats will succeed by being a true opposition party and offering the public a real alternative. The will continue to struggle if they endorse any Repug plans.

[KoKo]

5. "the Democrats don't deserve this Makeover Opportunity"????

Give me a break here.. He got these "talking points" from the DLC and didn't even bother to rewrite them. Sounds like a Jimmy/Jeff for the DLC.

I won't even bother to read the rest of the article at WaPo...it's so disgusting. Democrats should work with Bush and Greenspan...Oh puleeeeeze! :nuke:

[enki23]

7. jesus christ, more "mommy/daddy" bullshit

i can't take this schmuck seriously