BUSH V. BUSH

How to beat Bush (Al From, 8/17/03, The Seattle Times)

As strong as President Bush seems today, he's not invincible. But there's only one way any Democratic candidate can defeat him in 2004. That's by asserting a clear sense of national purpose - by getting the big things right and by convincing Americans that he can provide our country better leadership than Bush can.

But there are any number of strategies that won't work for Democrats. [...]

Democrats won't win by polarizing the debate. Bush is a staunch conservative, not the moderate he claimed to be in the 2000 campaign. But Democrats who believe the way to counter his conservatism is by moving left to sharpen the contrast - to offer, in the words of failed presidential candidate Barry Goldwater, "a choice, not an echo" - are wrong.

A recent Gallup poll revealed that on social issues, 37 percent of Americans identify themselves as conservatives, 23 percent as liberals. On economic issues, it's 43 percent conservatives, 15 percent liberals. Running to the short side of the field is not a winning strategy. [...]

As the campaign begins in earnest, Democrats need to remember that their party has had its greatest successes when it has championed great national purposes.

It means dedicating a presidency to fighting the war on terrorism and keeping our country safe. It also means building a strong, growing 21st-century economy that expands opportunity, creates jobs again, raises incomes and secures retirement - all the things Bush has failed to do.

The candidate Mr. From has described here is, unfortunately for him, George W. Bush. Perhaps Mr. From should consider joining the GOP where his ideas are commonplace. Posted by Orrin Judd at August 18, 2003 4:51 PM