Legal Commentary

The Democrats' Realignment Opportunity

By Big Tent Democrat

The Democratic Strategist is publishing a series of white papers on Democratic electoral goals in the near future. Ed Kilgore (PDF) discusses the prospects for 2010. It is a good piece but, imo, buries the lede:

The “reaction versus realignment” debate over the implications of this year’s Democratic victory continues to percolate through the mainstream media and the blogosphere. For the record, I agree with Paul Starr’s assessment that it represents a “realignment opportunity” that could either succeed, fail, or hang in suspended animation, depending in no small part on the Obama administration’s governing ability (in conjunction with a Democratic Congress).

(Emphasis supplied.) No small part? Kilgore is the master of understatement here. It is, in my view, almost entirely dependent on the performance of the Obama Administration and the Democratic Congress. Obama will either be FDR or Jimmy Carter politically, imo. I doubt there is a middle ground. More . . .

Kilgore concludes his piece correctly in my view:

Ultimately, of course, Democratic governance, in Washington, and around the country, will have at least as much of an effect on Democratic performance in 2010 as any set of strategic goals, however well thought out and pursued. And it’s too early to tell if the positive results of the 2006 and 2008 campaigns strengthened or accelerated favorable demographic trends that will be resistant to political adversity. With George W. Bush and Republican control of Congress finally gone, however, and with the full burdens of governing on the shoulders of Democrats, nothing will come easily. .We won’t have the option of subsuming our strategic shortcomings or disagreements under a simple message urging rejection of the status quo. It’s time for Democrats to think strategically, and give the 2010 elections the extraordinary efforts they will demand.

(Emphasis supplied.) My take on how to think about 2010 strategically is govern well and sell that governance well. The Democratic brand depends upon it. It is for this reason that discussion of Obama Administration policy is imperative now. Policy success will dictate political success for the Democrats now.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on December 15, 2008 (boomark / email).