With the war in Iraq wrapping up, former President Clinton derides the failures of Dubya’s amateurish diplomacy. “Our paradigm now seems to be: something terrible happened to us on September 11, and that gives us the right to interpret all future events in a way that everyone else in the world must agree with us.” He also takes time to call out the recently-lowered but still-lousy Dubya tax cut. Hopefully, this’ll serve notice to the other Dems (besides Kerry) to get off the fence and release the hounds.
Tag: Democrats
Rallying the Troops.
“The Republicans have tried to make a practice of attacking anybody who speaks out strongly by questioning their patriotism. I refuse to have my patriotism or right to speak out questioned. I fought for and earned the right to express my views in this country.” John Kerry presses the attack against the gaggle of GOP flaks (with no military experience) casting anti-American aspersions his way, and as a result is now screaming back up the Murphometer. Unlike Daschle, Kerry seems to have learned not to back down after stating the obvious. Let’s hope it’s the start of a trend among Democratic Presidential candidates. Update: Salon posts the text of Kerry’s speech: “I don’t need any lessons in patriotism from the likes of Tom DeLay.” Fellow Dems, this is cause for hope.
Unconscientious Objectors.
On the question of war, it seems that, Dennis Kucinich notwithstanding, the Dems have basically decided to lay low for the time being. It’s the Iraq vote all over again…when is our party going to get its act together? Be they pro-war or anti-war, Democratic reps should be actively involved in the public debate on Iraq, not running scared from the underhanded smears of the administration. Get in the game, people. Update: Perhaps this is the beginning. At a Q & A today, John Kerry argued that the world will only trust a new president after the experience of this war. Y’know, I think he’s on to something.
Only 22 Months to Go…
Election 2004 Update: While the Dem field try to figure out who’s going to go after Al Sharpton, Karl Rove and the White House set their sights on John Edwards. It’s getting ugly early, folks.
Let the Groveling Begin.
The 2004 hopefuls prepare to kowtow before the DNC in what’s being billed as the “first big test” for the Democratic field (minus Kerry, who’s still recovering from prostate surgery.) Anyone else want to jump in before we get this party started? Feingold? Bradley?
Treading Lightly Amid the Palmettos.
John Edwards and the rest of the Democratic field try to figure out how to manage the NAACP boycott of South Carolina. Sigh…between Bob Jones University and the Stars ‘n Bars, it’s always a bit embarrassing to hail from South Carolina in an election year. Hopefully a day will someday come when the post-Strom Palmetto State will finally get its act together.
Chip off the old Block.
James Fallows on Bill Clinton on John Edwards, coming soon in The Atlantic Monthly. (In the meantime, you can peruse Fallows’ annotated version of Dubya’s State of the Union address.)
The Terminator.
Should the Dems cultivate their own Jesse Helms? Hopefully, we can do better than that.
Joining the Fray.
To noone’s surprise, Lieberman’s in for 2004. As long-time readers will know, he’s easily my least favorite of the candidates so far. In fact, he’s barely a Democrat…more like Diet Republican.
Fighting Mad.
Emboldened by Dubya’s dividend fiasco, the Dems get ready to fight back against the White House on both the dividend tax plan and the renomination of Pickering. I’m surprised Dubya endangered passage of the rest of his program by shoving Pickering down the Senate’s throat again. But, nothing fails like success, it seems…and the dauphin must get what he wants.