| Bill Clinton is one smart fish. | | | | The American voting public has become witness |
| He refused to take the bait. The Single Issue bait. | | | | to a most disturbing political phenomenon-the |
| The former President recently commented, "We | | | | Reps had single issues all along! When in the |
| ought to be whipped if we allow our differences | | | | minority, the GOP circled their wagons and |
| over what to do now over Iraq divide us." | | | | harnessed the issues dividing their party in order |
| Such a comment incited old school Democrats to | | | | to regain the majority. Now back in power for a |
| blog disbelief. How could Clinton even suggest that | | | | few years, heady with majority leadership. those |
| the war in Iraq be so unceremoniously dismissed? | | | | issues, so very tightly Rep reined, are loose and |
| To borrow from Clinton's 1992 campaign slogan | | | | running wild....right to life, privacy rights, spying on |
| regardng the economy, "It's the Single Issues, | | | | regular Americans, economic class warfare, etc. |
| Stupid." | | | | etc, etc. |
| The media casts the single issue hook as expertly | | | | The Dems have to get a grip. |
| as L.L. Bean. And the old school Dems bite down | | | | Stop jumping at the shiny nightcrawler. The |
| HARD. The Republicans love to reach inside the | | | | current administration's track record speaks for |
| old creel for the best lure, usually a high | | | | itself. Stop reacting. Dare I say? Stop TALKING. |
| maintenance Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, or Gloria | | | | The beltway media wants one thing. A great |
| Steinem lure, and lovingly, almost reverently, bait | | | | story. Stop caving to these guys. STOP. |
| the single issue....hook, line, and sinker. The media, | | | | Concentrate on the message that the outside |
| the GOP, lean back, push their favorite fishing hat | | | | just needs a chance to get inside. And that |
| down over their eyes, and wait for a tug on the | | | | means every talking Democratic pundit that the |
| line. | | | | public associates with left to the left to the left |
| That's how politically predictable the Democrats | | | | has to collectively concentrate. It can be done. |
| have become. | | | | To continue to be reactive, instead of proactive, |
| The Republicans paint the Democratic party as a | | | | places the party in one bad position. Defense. |
| school of blowfish that can't immobolize past the | | | | As a lifelong Democrat, I have my own single |
| single issues that draw the party together as | | | | issues. But after years of watching the tired |
| representatives of the people. On the other hand, | | | | game be played, I know in order to address |
| the Republicans themselves have harnessed their | | | | those issues, we as a party, must play the game |
| own single issues so well, Americans have | | | | differently. |
| become confused about the Bush administration's | | | | Otherwise, as Lewis Black so eloquently states, |
| tendency to act "unRepublicanlike". | | | | we are "Red, White, and Screwed." |
| What's up with that? | | | | Just another smashed frog. |