Where Do Democrats Go From Here?
Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) is my favorite politician. I saw his analysis of the national elections and what should happen next at Instapundit and it seems spot on to me.
Congressional Democrats should make this statement required reading for all of their new office holders. It is time to change the way things are done in Washington DC. My favorite part of Tuesday evening’s election coverage here in Utah was watching Jim Matheson on each of the different TV stations proclaiming that night a victory for “blue dog” (conservative) Democrats. If Democrats can become the party of social liberty and fiscal conservatism they will maintain their hold on power and expand it because these stands resonate with Americans. If they allow their rhetoric to devolve into garbage like this they’ll lose big time in the next election and they’ll deserve it.
We need to prove we really can represent most Americans who have shown time and time again that they support limited responsible government. Americans showed in 1994 that they dislike big government liberalism. In 2006 they’ve shown an equal amount of dislike for big government conservatism. Hopefully Democrats can show America we’ve learned from the past and are willing to give Americans the limited government they desire.
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Well said, Jeremy. The One Utah post you referred takes vitriol to a new level.
How does the Democratic Party become what you envision with Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House? Why wouldn’t the Democrats put in a Blue Dog as speaker?
Comment by Tyler Farrer — November 9, 2006 @ 10:13 am
Tyler, Pelosi became minority leader fair and square. By using her organization to win this election, she has earned the right to retain her leadership position as her party becomes the majority in the House. It happened the same way with Gingrich in 1994. But Gingrich’s conservative bent was too abrasive. He soon made many enemies and eventually became a hindrance to the agenda he was elected by his fellow GOP representatives to promote. Pelosi could easily make the same mistakes on the liberal side, but for the good of the country, let’s hope she doesn’t.
Jeremy, you’re analysis is spot on! If the Democrats achieve what you hope they will, you could even see a shift among the main voting bloc in red Utah.
Comment by Reach Upward — November 9, 2006 @ 1:55 pm
Jeremy, I couldn’t agree more. BTW I’ve had to move One Utah into its own category: Comedy. Poor Cliff Lyon has allowed the lunatics to take over his site.
Tyler, I too am wary of Nancy Pelosi, but her agenda for the “First 100 Hours” doesn’t seem so scary…no mention of raising taxes or impeaching Young Mister Bush et al. If raising the minimum wage means my Big Mac and fries goes up a buck, that’s OK with me…that will provide the incentive for me to kick that habit (seriously…that’s how I finally gave up smoking…when the outrageous taxes drove the price up over two bucks a pack).
Comment by Part of the Plan — November 9, 2006 @ 2:02 pm
Right on Jeremy! The Democrats have a real opportunity to become the majority party for a while if they are wise and don’t follow the silly advice of the partisans on One Utah.
Comment by Daniel — November 9, 2006 @ 8:50 pm
You put it well, Jeremy.
I hope that it doesn’t turn to mudslinging and vengeance in congress and senate.
That link– hoooly cow. That was real? Not sarcastic?
There are some craaazy people out there.
Comment by Sare — November 9, 2006 @ 8:50 pm
Jeremy, you are right with this analysis, especially in the context of Utah politics. I do not believe Americans want one form of extreme partisanship based on small-vote majorities replaced with a different form of extreme partisanship based on different small-vote majority. Utah is another case; most of the state seems fine with partisanship on the Republican side, though Democrats are right on message when they decry Republican tactics (closed caucuses, tax cuts, Medicaid, etc). Good job.
Comment by brett — November 10, 2006 @ 10:56 am