I just wanted to get this down..my theory of the holy grail of electoral politics.
It's rather simple. For a long time, Democrats have relied on the "Big Tent" strategy...pulling enough voters away fromt he GOP for victory. Trying to sweettalk our way in.
The problem with this, is that for every battle we win...we take a couple of steps back in the war. For every batle we lose? brrr
What war?
The long-time mantra of the right, of course, the culture war. Like it or not, it exists..as a matter of nature. Some ideas thrive and become common, some ideas wilt and become outcasted.
So what SHOULD it be about? Elections should be about education and trying to change the way people think and feel. Elitest? Maybe. But it's all we can do to win this war.
That's what I like about the Dean campaign. The ideas of restoring community, are key to this, I think. Of having normal people, convay the message instead of ads and talking heads is what we need to do. Money, no matter what the politicos say, is rather unimportant compared to the power of having a devoted grassroots orginization, and a powerful meme saying that your campaign is socially acceptable. (Don't underestimate this. In some parts, voting Democrat makes you a leper of sorts)
The fortunate thing is that we're moving that way..in some cases kicking and screaming...however..
My whole idea, is that winning with a "weak" candidate, would be better than Bush, of course..but what about 2008 when the GOP are able to walk away with it with an even more extreme candidate.
Not good...
However, if we play it strong...if we lose, which I think is unlikely (BushCo is a house of cards, in reality.), a more motivated public has a greater eye on it. To be honest, Bush can only bury himself.
However...if we win...
I'll be blunt. The presidential election is a must win for the GOP. We win? The Reagan/Bush SR papers are opened. The whole ugliness about Iran-Contra comes back...linking back to both the Taliban/Bin Laden and Hussein...not to mention October Surprise.
The end of the GOP as we know it? Yes, I strongly believe that. '
If we win..and strongly..we'll have the public support to open all this up. To throw it open. To finally get this all into the real light.
Watershed election? Very much so. For many reasons..