I was hoping this wouldn't happen - I was hoping he might implode!
But David Brooks has a powerful piece in the NYT today that (to me) really gets to the GUTS of our situation: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/13/opinion/13BROO.html
Republicans are united and Democrats are divided by [well, please go see].
This is my own take on the ultimate home run
(1) These are troubled times and - as always & understandable - the Regular Folks will incline to the more calming, trust-daddy kind of figure and platform.
(2) The "troubled times" have two vast components: security and the economy. If you read "global economy" or "Arab economies" for "economy" they are utterly intertwined.
(3) Those who feel insecure head right. Those who are enraged by the global leveling down that is the effect of Bushonomics are naturals to head right.
(4) If Dean, Clark, et al, want to displace Bush as the calming, trust-daddy kind of figure, they are going to HAVE to have a breakthrough answer on the economic front that resonates wall to wall.
(5) A COMPETING VISION in fact, fleshed out for 5, 10, 15, 20 years in advance, with a multi-multi trillion dollar difference clear in the bottom line.
(6) And piecemeal approaches to this (it's trade! it's China! it's taxes! it's regulation!) are sure-fire bankable losers - both economically and politically.
(7) Replace the Anger Meme with the Vision Meme - and I suggest we are home and dry.
[more to follow]