Tom Oliphant's Back Of The Hand

Blithely ignoring what will undoubtedly be the substance of three senate races in 2006, Tom Oliphant, writing in the Boston Globe today, not only demonstrates his pettiness, but inadvertantly exposes the lack of ideas in the party he supports.

AT LEAST for a few days this month, Democrats have had a chance to wonder if divisions on the conservative right might not dwarf their own problems. In three of the country's most populous states with pivotal Senate races next year, the right dominated the news in ways that strengthened the positions of progressive incumbents who in other settings might be vulnerable to defeat or embarrassment.

At least he admits his own side does have some issues.  Of the three he mentions, however, I would have listed only Sen. Nelson in Florida as "vulnerable."  The fact that he mentions the others may well mean he recognizes danger for Democrats.

In Florida, Representative Katherine Harris stepped all over her announcement message against Senator Bill Nelson, again claiming that the press had doctored photos of her during the infamous presidential recount in 2000 to make her eyeshadow especially blue.

Well, now he's veering from the party line.  Tom, didn't you get the notice?  It's all about her body, not her eyeshade.  And Tom, although I couldn't confirm it one way or the other it is possible that it occurred.

In New York, the tightly scripted and disciplined nature of Republican campaign tactics was on stunning display, regardless of the embarrassment to Westchester Country DA Jeanine Pirro's debut as one of three GOP longshots seeking to oppose Senator Hillary Clinton. Rather than wing it when she discovered one of the pages from her announcement statement was missing, Pirro stood mute for a good half-minute until the otherwise forgettable collection of words was retrieved.

Granted, you'd like to put your best foot forward during a campaign kickoff, but really, missing a section of your speech when you're a relative political newcome could stop you.  I'm sure Democrats will try to spend the race trying to lampoon her continuously over this misstep.  And the fact that they will do so speaks to the empty vault of Democratic ideas. 

And in Michigan, there was another minor-figure exit from the race to replace Senator Debbie Stabenow, emphasizing the continued absence of a widely known player.

Patience, patience.  Mr. Oliphant then launches into a diatribe against President Bush, deriding his time since re-election as "squandered,"  insisting that the Iraq war and Social Security reform work against him.

He is missing a cause or a good idea, and with both Iraq and Social Security in wretched political shape, the president looks more like a money machine than a political force.

In Oliphant's mind I'm sure they do look wretched.  I wonder if he'll have the same opinion if Iraq has a constitution and additional thousands of battle ready troops, and 'insurgent' cleanups continue to improve the situation before the election next year.  And Social Security needs private account reform - even his side has said so in the past.  Now, back to poking fun at oppostion candidates.

I had not realized how much Katherine Harris saw herself as the victim of a conspiratorial press as she went about her self-perceived duties as a Republican rubber stamp in 2000.

"Self-perceived duties as a Republican rubber stamp in 2000?"  For enforcing the election laws as written in Florida Ms. Harris gets this characterization?  For not allowing the Gore campaign unlimited selective partisan hand recounts?  We now know what happens when that's allowed.

In New York, Jeanine Pirro did not know what to say, and so she just stood there and said nothing. I never claim that I have seen it all in politics, but there she was, in front of the querulous Eighth Wonder of the World, as the New York press corps truly is, saying absolutely nothing...

With all due respect, Mr. Oliphant, if you think this is the pinnacle of political farce perhaps you should go back and look up the meaning of the word 'is'.

This is the recruiting season, and so far, the conservative movement is going with more fringe figures than expected. It is also a bit light on the ideas front, giving Democrats a rare opportunity to speak to voters seriously about the future instead of about their odd opponents.

It's not the "conservative movement" that is recruiting candidates, it's the Republican party.  Will he talk about the "socialist movement" when referring to Democratic candidates?  I didn't think so.

For the record, Mr. Oliphant, every time a Democratic politician opens his mouth it is an "opportunity to speak to voters seriously about the future."  What's rare is when they actually take advantage of the opportunity. It is therefore no surprise that voters do not think the Democratic party has ideas.

Democrats need to counter the perception that they are a party without ideas. A recent poll by Democrats James Carville and Stanley Greenberg found that just 44% — scarcely anyone beyond diehard Democrats — think the party has any ideas for addressing the nation's problems. If party leaders can't offer ideas on Social Security, it's hard to challenge the public's perceptions.

Perhaps that's because when they talk to voters they do so with selective presentation of the facts.  Most Americans recognize that Social Security reform is necessary, and that private accounts should be considered; most Democrats don't, but did.  Even their former leader recognized the "looming fiscal crisis."

And most Americans do not want to pull out of Iraq before the situation is sufficiently stabilized.  Most Democrats I suspect do.

So, Mr. Oliphant, giggle all you want.  But Americans, including New Yorkers, Michiganders, and Floridians, will want ideas and acknowledgement of reality.  I'm waiting for the Democrats to catch up with the rest of America.  I suspect that you are, also.

8/14/05 1040: Wizbang's COTT XXIV

8/14/05 1700: Irrelevent scandalmonger comment from an illigitimate email deleted.  I could have answered it, and almost did, but I didn't want to run through the sewer.

Comments

[Alexandra von Maltzan]

Giacomo - Loved your quip: "...Tom, didn't you get the notice? It's all about her body, not her eyeshade." and thought you'd enjoy my post "Have we lost our Gallant Heroes?", hence the trackback. BTW, thanks for the kind words.

[Mr. Snitch!]

Hello there. I arrived here via Alexandra von Maltzan's blog... she trackbacked me as mysteriously as she did you. Just want to say that any blog with my favorite movie line and a pic of Danny Kaye up top is all right with me.