It is shaping up to be a bad morning for Democrats. And we have no one to blame but ourselves.
Americans are yearning for leadership, and after witnessing the mincing of President Clinton, the mediocre incompetence of President Bush, and the spectacles that have been called the Democratic Debates, I fear that there is no leadership on the horizon for 2004. . .and beyond.
So here it is, the gauntlet: Sen. Dole asked "where is the outrage?" Sen. Byrd echoed him in floor proceedings on Iraq. Searching for that vein of anger that can give birth to upheaval.
But let's flip the coin. "Where is the leadership?" is the most important question for us to ask.
Before we run to the respective campaigns, sign up, and drink the local kool-aid; before we give so much as a dime to the faltering Democratic Party, I suggest that we spend time discussing what constitutes political leadership in a broad sense. That has to include a discussion of third-rail issues--the ones this crop of candidates doesn't want to touch.
Only a positive vision will yield positive results.