A sf chronicle article online today about the current administrations' machinations and deceits....

SF Gate

[ December 08, 2002: Message edited by: bryan d. ]

I don't look forward to that.

The salient point of that column to me is that NO ONE -- least of all the Democrats -- seems to care much...

It seems to me that the Dem's are waiting it out...almost letting this administration self-destruct. So far, Bush and Gang have handled the initial days after 9/11 well but other than that, they're screwing up this country big time. There's simply too much dogma and baggage motivating them. Out of one side of their mouths comes talk of faith-based programs, out of the other side comes harsh war talk against Irag without provocation? Now, finally, there's some focus on our disastrous economy which at least distracts from the "wars." I sense that some Dem's are just going to let the Republicans' play out their agendas until the 2004 campaign begins...and then the country will be so tired of feeling awful about everything, we can get this horrible "Bush Chapter 2" over with...

I tend to disagree with the current concensus that the current administration has done a good job at responding to the 9/11 crisis or with handling foreign policy in general.

Using far more artillery, the recent bombing of Afghanistan has probably come no closer to "getting" Osama Bin Laden than the previous administration did. It is questionable whether it has caused a decrease in terrorism or the likelihood of it. The tendency toward secrecy makes it impossible to know.

Relations with South Korea are becoming incresingly strained as covered in an article in today's NYTimes. We are largely ignoring a part of the world (the far east) that is becoming more important, economically, every day.

And the Middle East continues to teeter toward disaster while we fiddle with Iraq.

We are way overdue to reexamine our attitudes toward the rest of the world.

[quote]Originally posted by bryan d.:
It seems to me that the Dem's are waiting it out...almost letting this administration self-destruct.

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Bryan D. et al., I hope the Democrats cease being so passive, though, because no matter how awful things get under Bush, he still usually seizes the rhetorical ground and shape the public discourse so that the issues are painted in ways favorable to him.

Just look at Homeland Security: Democrats (Lieberman) proposed it, he said no, Democrats pushed, he said no, he flips and then is able to draw Democrats as being obstructionist on "special interest" grounds. All the while, several national reviews, including Hart-Rudman II, show that nation still is woefully underprepared for further attacks despite the increasing abrogration of our privacy rights under Ashcroft.

So long as Bush makes appealing public gestures, sticks to his mantras and creates Potemkin Villages, he'll be okay, because the media are definitely on his side. He can then do whatever he wants, whether it's gutting regulations for air cleanliness or escalating preparations for his war in Iraq. The Democrats and progressive parties in general must articulate forcefully, clearly and repeatedly how and why this administration is failing in many areas. Passivity and waiting for the other shoe to drop are NOT going to work this time around.