The most glaring story coming out of Iowa tonight is that we've got mojo and the Republicans do not. With Democrats doubling Republican turnout, and with new candidates thumping old ones, the press can now tell the country what we already know: Americans are starving for change.
Worse, it's really all downhill from here for the GOP. The Club for Growth is even now preparing to unload on Mr. Huckabee. The two Republicans who have momentum coming out of Iowa, Huck & McCain, both have an extremely tough row to hoe within their own party. Both have internal party issues with immigration (the No. 3 GOP issue) and where Huckabee is weak on foreign policy, McCain is weak (to the GOP) on social issues. In 2008, conservatives will not have an inspirational candidate to rally behind.
These angsts with the crop of GOP candidates manifested itself tonight in the very low turnout on their side. Meanwhile, Democrats brought new voters and independents to the caucus, a strong sign of a party that is growing and expanding rapidly. Hat tip to Mr. Bush for that.
But now is not the time to become complacent. Now is the time for us to finish what Bush has started: the complete implosion of the Republican party. Kossacks now need to drive these truths into the mainstream media:
- The GOP is demoralized.
- The GOP is fractured and consumed with internal fighting.
- The GOP cannot raise money.
- The GOP owns the Bush legacy, every last bit of it.
Democrats will expand their majorities in both houses, win the White House, AND re-unite a divided country and reauthorize our Constitution.
Keep these memes in mind for the coming year and November will be a truly transformational election.