Democratic Malaise-You Can't Be an Anti and expect to Win.

Republican pollster David Winston talks about a key victory of the Bush Administration regarding the debate over Social Security. Bush, by arguing that there is a problem that needs to be addressed has successfully changed the debate.

Previously Democrats would argue that there was no problem. But as Winston points out, most Americans believe a problems exists in Social Security, including the Democratic leadership. The problem for the Democrats now is that the only position they have is anti-Bush plan. They have no plan of their own, which is why they are the minority party.

Among my Democratic friends, we often talk about Bush policies and Democratic policy proposals. But of late, the discussion has moved from arguments about proposals to arguments about Bush policies only. This trend, given that it occurs among a wide swath of Democrats, indicates a fundamental shift in Democratic thinking. While I was not a fan of Al Gore, at least he had policy proposals. Right now, I cannot think of one policy proposal of John Kerry. His campaign was not about ideas for making hte country better, but about being against George Bush's ideas for making the country better.

Ever since the State of the Union and the full force effort by the Administration to debate and consider reforming Social Security, the only Democratic response has been, "No." At first, it was, "there's no problem." Now, "there's a problem, but we won't talk about the Bush proposal."

It seems as though the Democrats fear losing and thus won't play in the game. I have no doubt that what ever final solution Congress produces, it will not look like Bush proposal--that is the nature of politics. But you can't delay and ignore and expect to win in 2006 or 2008.

Democrats seem to be falling into a funk where they cannot come up with original ideas and revert back to treating voters like idiots. Voters can make decisions about policy; voters can choose among competing ideas. But voters will not chose no idea over someone with an idea. Through some realistic ideas out there and you can be assured that there will be some dialogue, but if you don't come to the table, you don't get to talk.

In Social Security Talks, Democrats Ask for Seat at a Separate Table