The most excellent Brad DeLong posts Robert Reich’s essay on what’s wrong with American politics. This paragraph jumped out at me. #

What’s Wrong with America’s Politics?: Archive Entry From Brad DeLong’s Webjournal #

As we head into the 2004 election, Democrats should pay close attention to what Republicans have learned about winning elections over the long run – lessons that may be useful for New Labour as well. First, it is crucial to build a political movement that will endure after elections. Second, any movement derives its durability from the clarity of its convictions. #

This is exactly what I’ve been saying about the Democratic race for President. If the Democrats try to build a platform out of the one plank that says “Get George W. Bush out of office,” one of two things will happen: a) they will lose or b) they will win. #

If they lose, it will be because running a campaign based on a negative doesn’t generate enough energy with the fence-sitters. The large numbers of thinking Conservatives who are disturbed and disgusted with the Bush presidency still need something to vote for. They need a Democrat that they can at least stomach, one who offers enough that is palatable to them that they can turn their backs on Republicans and still save face. #

If, however, the Democrats win based on “Get rid of W,” the sole aim of their campaign will have been achieved by the time the polls close in November, and they will face a miserable four years trying to define the Kerry presidency in retrospect. They will be doomed to failure because no one – not Democrats, Repulicans, nor the rest of us – will trust or understand their policy decisions. #

The campaign is the time to define the agenda, and to sell it to the American public. I still don’t know what John Kerry stands for, only what he stands against. That isn’t even enough to get a liberal like me energized. #

Kerry and the Democrats – and, by extension, all of us – are doomed if they don’t figure this out. #

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Wednesday, May 5th, 2004 @ 4:27 pm Politics Matters
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