As a political news junky (and especially as a true-blue Democrat and social conservative), I regularly read several different blogs from both ends of the spectrum. I've been noticing a disturbing trend over at drudgereport.com.
As one would expect from any political (and entertainment) news outlet, Drudge only reports that news that best serves his personal motives. But something has been changing. Up until a couple months ago, the only Bush related news either made him look like a super man or made his opponents look like idiots. The same is true, of course, for the war in Iraq, the GOP policies, and all things conservative.
Have you been watching lately?
Something's changing.
Right now (3 Aug 2005, 9:30 AM PST) there is a stroy about President Bush's record setting vacationing. Another about the 14 Marines killed this morning (which wouldn't be so unusual except for the included links & details that explain how really bad it's getting over there). There is a link about the obscene spending bill that the Republican-held Senate just approved.
These alone wouldn't be remarkable, but this is becoming a trend for Mr. Drudge and other "conservative" figures.
Are conservatives finally starting to see President Bush for the dolt that he is? Are they starting to get weary of our optional war? Are they starting to recognize their representative's hypocracy?
Well, yes. But that's not surprising. What's surprising is that they are actually talking about it. Again, they wouldn't be talking about it (and neither would we, mind you) if it wasn't aiming at some specific goal. I think I know what that goal is.
The 2008 Presidental election.
I beleive history will remember this President for his egregious mistakes. More immediately, I think the voters will start to see them as well. Basic politics: How do you convince Independant voters to sway if they can't see what your party has done for them? By nominating a candidate who doesn't resemble the person they're replacing.
For republicans, that means someone who is sick of President Bush's (Karl Rove's?) brand of politics. Someone who is war-weary. And someone who is actually willing to cut spending and propose bills that will actually help the American people.
Remind you of anyone? It reminds me a lot of John McCain.
The republicans are getting used to winning elections, but if they expect to win the next big one, they'll have to nominate someone who lands squarely outside their comfort zone. I think political conservatives are starting to recognize that (even if party faithfuls are unwilling to see it). Matt Drudge is getting ready for war.
Now, I don't want to start attacking Senator McCain. The fact (and the problem?) is that I like him. Attacking him would actually turn voters against us. As Democrats, I think we need to start talking about change. Change, change, change. America is ready for a change. Clearly that's the case or John McCain wouldn't look like a viable candidate.
The change we should be talking about is a change of politics. No more "with us or aganst us". No more pretend bi-partisanship. We should be readily able to agree to disagree and move on with the conversation. We should be talking about helping people with they're problems, not create new problems for them to think about.
And here's the kicker: We should be willing to stop talking about President Bush except as a joke. Setting him up as the great evil or "worst president ever" only feeds the fire that Karl Rove created. His politics demands a good and an evil - a black and a white. If we start attacking Senator McCain, it means we have learned nothing and have only fallen into the hole that Karl Rove dug for us.
Being forward-thinking means we can and will climb out.
However, politics demands that we pick and attack. The unfortunate truth about politics is that fire spreads faster than honey. So I'm not suggesting that we get soft. I'm suggesting that we talk and yell and argue about change itself. Attacking a person or a single ideology is easier, but useless. Take a stand on an issue, but raise your voice for the whole. Politics breeds politics. let's start talking like regular people again.
Change, change, change.
John McCain (or whoever gets the nomination) can offer a different person in the Oval Office, sure. But we need to make sure that the country understands that we're offering actual change. They're answer to the question, "Can't we all just get along?" is emphatically, "No." Republicans are only offering more fear, more spending, more war, and more of the same. We should help voters and Americans in general feel powerful again. The greatest streangth in America is the individual. And that's exactly what we offer.
Added Note:
Some people seem to think I'm saying we should be supporting John McCain... Please read carefully. I'm saying that McCain isn't an actual change, only the appearance of one. We can put forth a candidate who offer REAL change. For a change.
