This piece is a fair analysis of where the Democrats find themselves today. Kerry and Kennedy are too far to the left. Biden is a loudmouth showboat. Dean is an an egotistical amateur. I really like Liebermann because he seem like an honest, God-fearing man trying to do what's right, more statesmanlike than the others. I think he'd make a better Republican than Democrat. On Bayh, I have no opinion because I haven't been following him.
Now, Hillary is a savvy politician, but an untrustworthy leftie, trying to lean towards the center in preparation for 2008. I don't know which Democrat is likely to surface as the candidate, but I'd bet on Hillary. The real question is who will the Republicans run against her?
As for the theme of Goldberg's piece, I think the Democrats will make a serious blunder if they think their party can be reinvigorated by 'unbranding,' a slick marketing campaign or relabeling. Their real problem is that many of their core beliefs and values in the social realm would put, in fact are putting, this country on the road to fiscal ruin. Unless they are willing to join in fixing the big 3 'entitlement' programs SS, Medicaid and Medicare, we have a dismal future. The Republicans share the blame for some of this country's irresponsible spending, not including the war on terror and homeland security.
I am absolutely convinced that we need to get ourselves more into the "Ownership Society" that Bush is now talking about. That Greenspan is supporting that notion gives me some confidence, too. The value in this is keeping the dollars out of the political hands of Congress and in the personal hands of Americans. That's why tax cuts are good, why personal SS accounts are good, why health savings accounts are good. What's not good for the long term health of the country is to allow the drift into socialism that we have seen since WW II. It will bankrupt the country if left unchecked. If I had my way, federal spending in any year would be limited to a fixed % of the last 5 years' GDP.
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