What Voters Want

Do Democrats need "big ideas?" Do they have to show voters that they can govern? Do they need a well-articulated platform?

While it would be good to have all of those--and at least the last two will be necessary in 2008, for the current campaign, the answer is "no."

Democrats should make the issue the utter incompetence of this administration in everything from national security to the economy and protecting the environment. Then all they need do is to point out that W is going to be President for over two more years (sigh), and that he needs someone to keep him honest. That someone is going to have to be the Democrats, because it's clear as day that his own party won't do it.

Republicans have been backpedalling from Bush so fast that they are falling all over themselves, but can they answer the question "How will you ride herd on Bush?" I don't think so.

Off-year elections are supposed to be a referendum on the party in power. It's high time to make 2006 just that.