Bad News. So What?

The political analysts are all commenting about how this is a bad week for President Bush. I'll admit to enjoying it a little in an 'I told so' sort of way.

That doesn't really satisfy though. It would seem a lot more meaningful if there was a Democratic Party that was pushing an aggressive policy agenda. I have pretty much given up hope it will happen anytime soon. The Democratic leadership is waiting for the next problem to arise so as to gain some mileage from the news cycle. I doubt that will get the job done during '06 Congressional elections.

Issues such as the Iraq War, the deep economic problems raised from the hurricane disasters, and the blatant attempt by the Religious Right to set the agenda for sexual rights and politics get a little lip service during the evening news sound bites, and that's it.

People say the Democratic Party is out of tune with the American public. You can't be out of tune when you are playing no tune.

The Democrats could win next year's elections on the Iraq War alone, but they need to crank up the volume now. Nobody is buying the 'stay the course' rhetoric except the firmly entrenched believers, the President, and Congress.

I reread the Iraqi constitution this morning. In light of all the glowing words contained in it, the U. S. policy seems at best cynical. U. S. troops staying in Iraq after valid elections in December will make us look even more hypocritical.