Rarely has an opposition party come up with such a brave and brilliant policy to win an election as has the democratic party for the midterm elections of 2006. They have come together as one to announce to the world their election message to the American people: “We are not Bush.”
On the issue of Iraq they have not stooped to challenge President’s Bush announced policy of “standing down as the Iraqis stand up,” of staying until “victory has been achieved,” of reducing troops only when the commanders in the field advise them to do so. Rather than speak clearly on these issues the democrats have stood solid with their brave and brilliant message: “We are not Bush.”
Occasionally a democrat will somehow manage to deviate from this mantra and say something. An obscure but respected Congressman from Pennsylvania has been saying for half a year now that the military strategy in Iraq is a total failure, that victory is not possible, and that the U.S. should immediately withdraw its troops from Iraq and get them into countries where they will not be killed on a daily basis. When democrats hear such a clear articulation of an alternative policy they come together in a huddled mass and announce to the world: “We are not Bush.”
About the problem of forty million Americans not having health insurance and of the cost of medical coverage and prescription drugs rising twice as fast as inflation, the democrats are brave and clear: “We are not Bush.” Whether any of them believe in government-run universal coverage for all Americans, a program similar to that of all the other developed nations of the world, the democrats are clear and forceful: “We are not Bush.”
Beyond that clarion call not one is willing to go.
About the problem of the cost of military and home security and spy budgets rising at more than ten percent a year, so that budgets are unbalanced as far as the eye can see, and the building of things that actually improve people’s lives keeps falling, and the condition of our hospitals, health care, schools, roads, and bridges (except in Alaska) keep deteriorating, the democrats have come up with a foolproof policy: “We are not Bush.” Some democrats are willing to go beyond their favorite mantra and say not only “We are not Bush,” but that in terms of spending on the military and homeland security and spy agencies their policy will be to be “More Bush than Bush.” Their policy will permit budget deficits not only as far as the eye can see but even further.
What will the policy of the democratic party be in regards to rebuilding New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina? The answer is silence, except for four little words: “We are not Bush.”
As for the incredible power of money and lobbyists over Washington politicians, do the democrats suggest policies that might actually reduce the power of money and lobbyists in Washington? Such a policy clearly might offend some lobbyists and the democrats are intelligent people. They stick to their guns: “We are not Bush.”
The nation can thus be hopeful for its future. We can joyfully look forward to that day in 2009 when the newly inaugurated democratic president will stand before a joint session of Congress and deliver the State of the Union Address. With that dignity and gravitas that all presidents are able to summon for the occasion our new democratic president will be able to tell the world where he (or she) stands:
“I am not Bush.”
And the war will go on, and the bloated military and homeland security budgets will rise, and Halliburton’s stock will rise, money and the lobbyists will prevail, and Americans will continue to impoverish themselves paying their health bills while the pharmaceutical companies charge $30 a pill for one that costs them 22 cents.
And democratic and republican politicians will live happily ever after.
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