Archive for Friday, December 3, 2004  Decline may spawn
new party  December 3, 2004   Mindful of George Santayana's
comment that those who forget the past are condemned to repeat
it, consider the following scenario. As the election approaches,
one of the major parties is in disarray. With voter support
slipping and without clear positions, it uses the time-tested
strategy of running an authentic war hero. By focusing on the
man's wartime record, a clear contrast can be made with his
opponent, whose military record is mediocre. In this way, the
candidate's otherwise undistinguished public career can be
glossed over.  While all goes well at first, the candidate is
caught unprepared by the opposition's aggressive campaign, in
which both his courage and honesty are attacked. When the votes
are counted, the candidate loses decisively. The party soon
falls apart, never winning another presidential election.  Is
this a description of the aftermath of the 2004 election for the
Democratic Party?  Perhaps, but it is st