|
|
Monday, May 19, 2008VJP: Can the tent become too big?Hampton Roads area Democrat Vivian Paige asks the tough question about coalition building: That the Democrats with the majority can’t get stuff done is a problem. I understand that universal health care has been in the party platform for decades but does anyone think that such legislation could pass our current Congress?The answer is yes, depending on how big a circle you draw. Take the 2000 Virginia Republican majority... what did it accomplish, other than to throw the Democrats out of power? Hence the lesson, one that I am afraid national Democrats have yet to learn. The less simplistic answer to all of this is that "big tents" aren't difficult to establish, so long as those inside understand what the long poles are. For the GOP, it used to be that the long poles were less government, pro-life, pro-family, and pro-2nd Amendment. For the 1994 Contract with America, there were 10 key votes and an overwhelming anti-Clinton sentiment. In 2006, it was anti-Bush sentiment (not anti-war sentiment -- as the current Democratic majority is demonstrating) that drove the train. Mission accomplished... and now the Democratic majority will have to squabble between its progressive and liberal wings for vision while the Republicans shift gears into a minority party with which they have long been comfortable. The tent built by the Democrats in 2006 was pretty darned big... but when the edifice comes crashing down, my bet is that it will occur with plenty of warning, just as the conservative base cautioned in 2006 and continues to warn the GOP leadership heading into 2008.
|
|
JEFFERSONIAD POLL: Whom do you support for Virginia Attorney General?1) John Brownlee2) Ken Cuccinelli AboutShaunKenney.com is one of Virginia's oldest political blogs, focusing on the role of religion and politics in public life. Shaun Kenney, 30, lives in Fluvanna County, Virginia.ContactThe Jeffersoniad
ArchivesMarch 2002 April 2002 May 2002 June 2002 July 2002 August 2002 September 2002 October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 April 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009
|
|
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Home