THE THIRD WAY [TO OBLIVION]:

Democratic ranks cry for leadership on elections (Donald Lambro, 10/14/02, THE WASHINGTON TIMES)

There has been widespread grumbling for months among the Democrats' rank and file that its leadership has done little to enthuse and excite the party's base to turn out in large numbers in next month's elections.

The AFL-CIO's political director, Steve Rosenthal, tells Democratic audiences that he will "buy dinner for anyone who knows what the Democrats' agenda is." Donna Brazile, the Democratic National Committee's chief turnout strategist for the black vote, says "no one is talking to us, no one is addressing our issues." Entertainer Barbra Streisand, who helps Democrats raise millions from the movie industry's biggest donors, scolded party leaders for not standing up for anything.

Even a loyal Democrat like Sen. Ernest F. Hollings of South Carolina says his party has been strong on complaining but weak on solutions. "Our problem is the Democrats whine and whine. The question is, 'what's the solution?' Republicans say the trouble is spending. We say the reason for the trouble is 'we don't know,'" he told the Hill newspaper.

This is the Democrat Party that Bill Clinton left in his wake. After eight years of saying you're for tax cuts, balanced budgets, free trade, getting tough on welfare, crime, and war, keeping abortion rare, providing free health care, and preserving Social Security, all you're left with is the last two. They either gain traction or you are toast. No one believes the Democrats have a health care plan and no one believes Mr. Bush is going to take grandma's Social Security check. Now what? Posted by Orrin Judd at October 14, 2002 2:06 PM