I have it on good authority that it may be a month before I can get a clear read on how many votes I received for Governor. Granted, I was never a threat to Tony Sanchez or Rick Perry, having started a write-in campaign 10 days before Election Day. Of course, the fact that I spent $0.00 on my campaign probably didn't help my cause, either. At least I can point towards 2006, when I'll be tanned, well-rested, and ready to kick some butt.
In the meantime, I think I can help Democrats figure why this election cycle turned into such a cl*sterf*ck. Mi compadre Rob Humenik also has some sage advice, particularly this, which is the single sanest piece of analysis I've heard since election night:
"It's all about being ruthless, calculated, and most importantly centralized. Hire pit-bulls like Carville."
While I'm not going to repeat Rob's excellent piece, I think I can expand on it just a wee bit. First, figure out why the Republicans won so handily across the board. There is no reason those tactics and strategies cannot be adapted to the Democratic message. The Republicans figured which strings to pull, and then they pulled them incessantly until the message became The Truth. Democrats could learn a thing or two from that. Josef Goebbel's "Big Lie" may be an abhorrent concept, but there is an element of truth in the underlying message. Repeat something often enough and it really DOES become the truth. For example...
JACK IS A GOD
JACK IS A GOD
JACK IS A GOD
JACK IS A GOD
JACK IS A GOD
You see...it's working already....
Next, Democrats need to stop accepting the Republican canard that "Liberal" is a four-letter word. Embrace the roots of the Party, and then begin educating the public as to why Liberalism is not the root of all that is Evil. We need to call Republicans on the carpet when they begin to spit out the word "Liberal" as if it is the moral equivalent of a pejorative. Force Conservatives to explain why being a Liberal is a bad thing. Too often the "Liberal Ideas, Bad Ideas" mantra is allowed to pass unquestioned. I'm guessing that if you call their bluff, you'll be greeted with a blank stare and dead air. They've taken it as fact for so long that they seem to have forgotten why they believe that crap in the first place.
Then, find candidates we can rally behind, and then use the Democratic Party mechanism to SUPPORT them. Al Gore and Hillary Clinton, while they still have a great deal to offer, simply come with too much attached baggage. There are plenty of Democrats, who, if given the opportunity and the exposure, are prepared to lead. One advantage that the Democrats have is in the number of women who could be put forward as high-quality candidates: Patty Murray, Barbara Boxer, Diane Feinstein...it's a truly impressive roster. Democrats would do well to take advantage of this strength.
Next, recognize that for the next two years, Democrats are the opposition party. Learn how to be a loyal and effective opposition. Studying the role of the Opposition in the British Government might be a good place to start. Though Democrats might not have the numbers in Congress, they can and should carve a niche as the moral conscience of the American government. Sure, you're not going to win a lot of battles as the minority party, but there is no reason that Democrats should not make their presence felt.
The next two years could well become a case of Democrats turning lemons into lemonade. The opportunities are there. Now it's time to see if the Democratic leadership is as intelligent and creative as they think they are.
