Washington Post misses the forest for the trees (still)
In July, the [Post] political staff came up with a list of eight questions that would frame the campaign. Over the past four months, individual articles -- which remain online here -- looked at races where the bellwether questions were most vividly on display.
I give the Post credit for intellectual honesty. Unfortunately, it appears they have trouble reconciling the data with their preconceived notions. They also have trouble counting to eight, so maybe we shouldn't expect too much too soon.
Here's the point they keep dancing around: We have a mandate. Unlike the "moral mandate" of 2004, this mandate for change is broad, but not deep. If we deliver real change, we can make this durable. Since this is Sunday, I will stick to clickable graphics. This one is from The New York Times and shows the Senate victory adjusted for population. There are plenty more below the fold....
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Icarus says "bipartisan," Americans say "Bye partisans!"
55% of Americans voted against Republicans running for Congress.
59% of Americans voted against Republicans in Senate contests.
62% of Americans voted against Republicans running for governor.
Adding insult to injury, Independents broke 3 to 2 for Democratic candidates.
This thumping will leave a mark. Bush might have avoided Icarus' fate if he had spent more time in the reality-based world. The Decider Icarus can make all the noise he wants about bi-partisan intentions. No one is listening. Here's the beauty of this victory: Armed with a popular mandate that spans the nation, our job is simple. We have to keep the Corrupt Bastards grounded in reality. Below the fold are a few suggestions that should help put cement shoes on the neo-cons, their apologists, shills, and cronies.
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Make Impeachment the Platform
Of course, there's little or no truth to this perception. Democrats stand for what they've always stood for: fair wages, access to health care, equal rights, and a decent concern for the environment.
Republicans stand for their traditional values: incompetence, corruption, and the idea that there's something intrinsically patriotic about screwing the average person.
But there's little doubt that, not matter how unfair, the Democrats have been tagged by the media as the party without a message. To get past that label is going to take something big, something decisive. Here's an idea: vote for Democrats, and we will kick Bush out of the White House.
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