Posted by
stevo on Thursday, August 23, 2007 1:02:06 AM
Hillary Clinton might be vindictive and power-hungry. Barack Obama may often appear naive and even at times incompetent. John Edwards' hair might receive more attention than the effects of his populist policies. Give the Democrats credit, though, in that they have accomplished a feat that seems incomprehensible to Republicans--presenting Presidential candidates who don't resemble poster children of the Good 'ol Boys Club.
It is not like Democrats have employed a policy of political Affirmative Action either. Hillary, Obama, and Edwards all happen to be the strongest candidates on the left side of aisle (which is now largely run by the extremist blogosphere).
Do Republicans not realize how much the Blue states hate the thoroughly Red South and Midwest? Sure, that hatred is arrogant and ignorant and displays the stubborn and unreflective mentality often charged to those in the Red states, but the progressive, "I invented culture" snobs on the Coasts still represent a good 50% of the electorate, and include within their ranks many of the independents who are instinctively conservative but reflexively liberal. Those "purplers" within their ranks are willing to vote for a Republican, but he or she must be one who appears to belong to and even represent the 21st century.
We must consider the "Bush Effect" as well. Despite the reality of the matter, most people--even many Republicans--have the perceptions of President Bush as an old-money, uneducated, outdated, and politically-naive politician. I strongly disagree with all of those perceptions, but they are perceptions nonetheless. Often politics becomes petty, and principles are lost amongst the fog of perceptions.
As much as I hate the irrational animosity of many on the Left toward certain regions of the country and the current President, they are able to dictate popular attitudes. Until conservatives are able to counter this ability and change popular perceptions, they must be willing to play on liberal turf.
What that means--no more cookie-cutter Republicans! For all of you who have been jumping on the Thompson bandwagon, as good of a candidate as he is, jump back off! Will he really be able to win Reagan Democrats and propel himself to the White House, or will he wither under the charge of being another relic of the past who wears the same size boots as our current President?
Where is our storehouse of young, energetic visionaries? Where are our rhetoricians?