Kristof ain't pissed-off...

Gag... That title is going to strangle this blog in its crib. But it does seem to reflect Nicky's attitude in his latest column... he's not upset; he's apologetic!

In short, he comes up with the brilliant, never-thought-of-before idea that the Dems should aggressively court the middle instead of scaring it:

So what do the Democrats need to do? Here are four suggestions:

• Don't be afraid of religion. Offer government support for faith-based programs to aid the homeless, prisoners and AIDS victims. And argue theology with Republicans: there's much more biblical ammunition to support liberals than conservatives.

• Pick battles of substance, not symbolism. The battle over Georgia's Confederate flag cost Roy Barnes his governorship and perhaps Max Cleland his Senate seat, but didn't help one working mother or jobless worker. It was a gift to Republicans.

• Accept that today, gun control is a nonstarter. Instead of trying to curb guns, try to reduce gun deaths through better rules on licensing and storage, and on safety devices like trigger locks.

• Hold your nose and work with President Bush as much as you can because it's lethal to be portrayed as obstructionists. Sure, block another Clarence Thomas, but here's a rule of thumb: if an otherwise qualified Supreme Court nominee would turn the clock back 10 years, approve; back 25 years, vote no; back a half-century, filibuster.

My reaction to all this was something along the lines of "Are you freakin' high?!?" (That's not just a rhetorical question... Kristof travels all over the world, and you know he has to be sampling some of the local fare. But I digress...)

What Kristof is advocating for is for the left to simply lie down to the Republicans... separation of church and state? Might as well live with it... it's what Jesus would do! Gun control? Redefine your strategy... a tax break for buying a flak-jacket! Ignore the fact that some 74% of Americans favored the renewal of the assault weapons ban! A reactionary Supreme Court? Just so long as it doesn't rescind women's sufferage, it's OK to roll over like wussies... American voters have shown they love wussies!

Moreover, in making this case he is lying down to the characterization of the left by the right, rather than looking at the reality of the politics involved. This is fighting the battle on their rhetorical terms, which in itself is one of the big problems that the left has right now. Despite the fact that the Dems have been moving rightward for years due to the DLC influence and its grab-the-middle thought, Kristof parrots the RNC talking point that they are simply on the loony-left and are out of touch with America. (BTW, there are many who have spoken on the importance of language in politics... one of the places you could start is here)

Perhaps the ultimate insult is the assumption that the Dems need to be more bipartisan and willing to compromise... this is honestly enough to make your head explode, given the nature by which the right has rammed through its radical agenda and marginalized the left. Why are we the ones who have to compromise? Does Kristof think No Child Left Behind is some sort of glowing example to follow? What evidence it there that the right has always been so friggin' willing to meet us part way? Apparantly their shit doesn't stink... and it's not like we control the House, Senate, Supreme Court, White House, or even a majority of the Governorships... what do we have with which to obstruct?!? Kristof is acting more like a battered woman who makes excuses for her abusive husband than someone who is seeking to offer constructive advice on the situation in which the Dems currently find themselves.

I will note that Kristof does have a few good ideas buried in the muck of his column, but they are hardly unique to him and will be addressed in a later post...