The Elections
I've seen a lot of celebration on the left after the most recent elections. I suppose after suffering dozens of defeats over the past decade-plus the results would seem like a reason to celebrate.
For the Republicans the most important lesson to learn is that bad ideas and bad candidates lost. It may seem trivial to say that, but Republicans have been operating in "who needs ideas?" mode for quite some time now. Patriotism and the war on terrorism will only get you so far.
People are looking ahead and they want to know what you are going to do to ensure that a continuing energy crunch will not send the economy back into 1970s style stagflation. Greenspan's race to hike interest rates is already stoking that fire.
As I have mentioned before, the Democrats finally seem desperate enough to adopt a good idea of their opponent: a contract with America. Of course, they'll call it something different, and promise the world to voters provided through increased taxes on the evil rich. It should be a non-starter, but if the Republicans don't have any good ideas to motivate people to vote, then they'll vote for a comforting lie instead.
Forewarned is forearmed!
For the Republicans the most important lesson to learn is that bad ideas and bad candidates lost. It may seem trivial to say that, but Republicans have been operating in "who needs ideas?" mode for quite some time now. Patriotism and the war on terrorism will only get you so far.
People are looking ahead and they want to know what you are going to do to ensure that a continuing energy crunch will not send the economy back into 1970s style stagflation. Greenspan's race to hike interest rates is already stoking that fire.
As I have mentioned before, the Democrats finally seem desperate enough to adopt a good idea of their opponent: a contract with America. Of course, they'll call it something different, and promise the world to voters provided through increased taxes on the evil rich. It should be a non-starter, but if the Republicans don't have any good ideas to motivate people to vote, then they'll vote for a comforting lie instead.
Forewarned is forearmed!