And the Democratic Party had something to do with the outcome of these
elections. The Dems, it seems, have learned from their earlier defeats. Did
you notice the number of military men (Joe Sestak, Chris Carney, Jim Webb)
on the Democratic ballot? Also the number of social conservatives,
squeaky-clean types, and pro-business candidates?
This isn't your daddy's Mondale-Dukakis party any more, it's becoming Harry
Truman's again. See the satisfying triumph of Joe Lieberman in Connecticut -
not exactly a peace-at-any-price candidate.
The day after getting kicked in the teeth, Republicans could only sigh and
wish John Kerry had given just one more speech or two. It might have made
all the difference in an election as close as this one. But he didn't.
Instead he disappeared from view after only one disastrous appearance. And
you'd scarcely suspect that somewhere Michael Moore and George Soros must be
still around. Who says Democrats can't learn?
Of course, Iraq had something if not everything to do with Republican
losses, just as the late unpleasantness in Korea had a lot to do with
Democratic setbacks in the congressional elections of 1950.
It's not that Americans are against war; we're just against long,
unsuccessful ones - and administrations that can't seem to find a way to win
them, or just a way out.
Wednesday morning, George W. Bush demonstrated that he's educable, too. He
finally, finally accepted Donald Rumsfeld's offer to resign. It had dawned
on him American politics abhors the same old same old in any administration,
at least if it keeps producing the same old stalemate.
If victory can't be guaranteed, and it can't ever be, Americans will at
least demand change. As they used to say in the service, Do Something Even
If It's Wrong.
Another Republican president, at a far more trying time, didn't just stick
with the same course and the same commanders and hope for the best. Abe
Lincoln ran through commanding generals like a thresher, changing them after
every defeat and even after a less than complete victory like Gettysburg.
Until change brought victory.
This is, and always has been, an ever-changing country that demands dynamism
in its leaders, or at least the appearance of it. And both parties are
catching on. Which is just the way a two-party system is supposed to work.