One of these are already posted, but the four belong together.
PAUL KRUGMAN (the great one) reminds everyone that the election was close - 51% to 48% - and this hardly calls for such pessimism among Democrats. He urges them to stick with a strong message, rather than slide towards the center.
ANDREI CHERNY (a Kerry speechwriter) says that the Democrats need to give a broad vision of what the party stands for, rather than just a laundry list of issues. He says that there is little a speechwriter can do to add pizzazz to a list of issues.
(Hmm... I think the vision is there. America as a responsible world leader rather than a go-it-aloner. A fight on terror that respects human rights, rather than abuses them Abu-Ghraib style. An economic policy that values work, not wealth. A sense of personal responsibility rather then credit-card spending by the US government. How's that?)
THOMAS FRANK ("What's the matter with Kansas?") argues that the 'culture war' against the Dems is important - but that the Dems should not give in, should oppose it with an equally agressive "class-war". (Yeah! Imagine if every time someone talked about values, Kerry or Edwards shot back that the Republicans have 'Halliburton values'?)
NICHOLAS KRISTOF argues that the Dems need to make a compromise with the evangelicals, and that is not just a matter of style - they need to change policy positions that offend fundies.
(I disagree of course. He made a better case on 11/3 - that the Dems. need candidates who can talk to working-class people, including evangelists. Show 'em respect. This was an Edwards strength and a Kerry weakness. But pander to their positions? No. PLEASE MAKE THIS DISTINCTION. (1). They're republicans, screw 'em. (2) Convert the moderates, show some respect. (3) Compromise on positions. I'm with #2.
These are the four positions, and I think a synthesis would provide a good guide to the future.
KRUGMAN: No surrender (posted earlier)
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/05/opinion/05krugman.htmlCHERNEY: Why we lost.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/05/opinion/05cherny.htmlFRANK: Why they won.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/05/opinion/05frank.htmlKRISTOF: Time to get religion (not as good as 11/3)
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/06/opinion/06kristof.htmlKRISTOF: Living poor, voting rich (Good, but posted earlier.)
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/03/opinion/03kris.html