I know, Kerry won, Dean is done, get over it. The latest job numbers and the inevitable short-term economic recovery we can expect to see in the coming months will change our political fortunes. With that in mind, a quote from Dean keeps bouncing around my brain, "politicans who promise you everything".
My argument assumes the economy will continue to expand and job growth follows. Given that the lack of jobs has been a key attack point for Kerry, what happens if this issue is neutralized?
Attacking Bush on his economic record appears sound, up until recently it has been a glaring weakness. However, putting one's political fortunes on the state of the economy is risky business indeed. In the short-term, most economists believe we are poised for strong growth and an improving job marked. The latest numbers on jobs and manufacturing illustrate that we may lose the economy as a forceful argument against Bush.
So what does this have to do with Dean? I always believed that Democrats should focus on the deficit, it being the true achilles heal. Betting on the economy is a calculated risk, the deficit however, an unwavering, dependable issue come November. So if the economy is marginalized as an effective attack on Bush, does Kerry have the credibility to go after Bush on fiscal matters? Can Kerry argue that he can put our fiscal house in order and guarantee long-term economic fortune?
Dean always warned about promising too much and not being able to deliver. Kerry has promised to slash the deficit in half, which sounds great but a close look at Kerry's website reveals a litany of spending initiatives on almost every issue imaginable:
*education
*health care
*homeland security
*prescription drugs
*environment
*child care
*college
*disabilities
*veterans
*agriculture
*technology/worker training
*infastructure
*crime
Couple all these bold programs with the state tax relief measure, middle class taxcuts, small business taxcuts and tax relief for schooling and day care and you are left with the impression that Kerry can't possibly deliver. How can Kerry credibly attack Bush on fiscal grounds when his own agenda is vulnerable to charges of fiscal irresponsibility?
I want Kerry to win, make no mistake, but reading all these untenable promises causes my bullshit detector to short curcuit. Dean was rock solid on his commitment to eradicate the deficit, so much so it cost him politically. With the economy in rebound, I fear the deficit issue may too be lost with Kerry as our nominee. I am not attempting to smear Kerry, but as a former Dean supporter I can't help but think we married the wrong guy.
