Bumper Sticker Principles

Another view of Dem clueless with their unveiling of their "6 for '06" campaign. Six popular but pale issues to mirror the Repubs' "Contract on America" in '94. In and of itself, it's not that bad, like a national pabulum platform, but it shows not only that the Dems are still playing on Repub turf with Repub rules but also that they still don't get what their problem is. Senator Schumer (D-Schmuck) says people want to know what the Democrats stand for and now they will. Well, Chuck, anyone who pays attention already knew Dems were for a higher minimum wage, and those who don't pay attention . . . uh, won't pay attention to "6 for '06" either.

The problem isn't knowing what Dems say when they claim to stand for things but what they do. The problem is the perception, an accurate one in this proud Independent's opinion, that standing for anything is so hard for Dems, the party that could have stood against Roberts/Alito, the bankruptcy bill, bankrupting tax cuts, and, oh, yeah, Iraq. If a party refuses to stand for its ideals just because they might lose, if it only "stands for" something that has a focus grouped and opinion polled chance of winning (like tired and hackneyed gimmicks like "6 for '06" that remind people of bad sales--"Two for Tuesday!!", "Five for Five Dollars!!!"), then it's clear they talk but don't walk.

Given the choice between Repub talker/walkers off cliffs and Dem talker/no walkers who go nowhere in troubled times, voters might be a tad burned out and cynical and not all that thrilled or motivated. (Sound familiar?) Leadership and proving you believe in something even if it might lose ("Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," anyone?) might change that. "6 in '06," on the other hand? Uh . . . .