|
|
Voice |
|
|
|
Democracy works pretty well in America. With the general concept of two major parties vying for power, the splinter parties can be spoilers or assets, depending on your viewpoint. At least the minor parties put something into the game to make the leaders pause and reflect. Sometimes they swing the election. Who can say what difference Ralph Nader and the Green Party made on the 2000 presidential election? George W. Bush failed to get the popular vote. That went to Al Gore, who was not the most charismatic candidate to run. But he had the government experience and credentials. What Gore didn’t have was a party behind him. The Democrats didn’t even carry his home state of Tennessee, a slap at Gore and the party. Neither of the presidential candidates had a very impressive style during the campaign. While Gore was busy inventing the Internet, Bush was walking with a bounce and hesitant in his speech, often fluffing his answers. That’s changed now. President Dwight Eisenhower was the first president to take drama coaching. Actor Robert Montgomery helped him use the TV camera to his advantage. Somebody has been helping George W. Bush. Anyone looking at a film clip of him during the campaign and now wouldn’t recognize the same person. His stride today is firm, determined. His speaking would make a John Wayne proud. Each word is delivered forcefully with emphasis. He looks and acts like a world leader. When the mid-term congressional elections came in 2002, the Democrats had a chance to take control of both houses. Tradition, as well, favored them. Instead of roaring like a line to attack the Bush administration, they squeaked like a mouse and hid their message so well Sherlock Holmes couldn’t have found it. They lost control of the Senate and didn’t come close to increasing power in the House. Tennessee probably represents the national average in political thinking. Most people are moderate middle-of-the-roaders. The average voter doesn’t care for the extremes of either party. While some will vote the straight party line if the proverbial “yellow dog” is running, most will jump party lines over an issue or for a candidate. The gubernatorial campaign was an example of that. Republican Van Hilleary had positioned himself so far to the right with conservatives that he lost the moderates and swing voters. Phil Bredesen won with only three percent of the votes, but that was enough. When Zach Wamp ran for congress the first time, he faced the popular incumbent Marilyn Lloyd, and lost. When she retired two years later, he had a tough campaign against Randy Button. He won and hasn’t had to look over his shoulder since. Chuck Jolly, Will Calloway and John Wolfe faced him in successive campaigns. All are talented individuals but did not have the charisma or the party support to go against the experienced campaigner Zach has become. Anyone who was with Zach in the 2004 campaign, as Ted Bedoit and I were, had never seen a harder worker. When we drove into Pikeville, Zach jumped out of the car and began stopping motorists to shake hands. “I’m going to Congress,” he said, and he did. His promise was to run for six terms and step down. That would make him ready for the 2006 seat which probably will be vacated by Sen. Bill Frist. He may face some able Republicans including Hilleary, Ed Bryant and Bob Corker. Point is the GOP has no shortage of energetic candidates on the local, state and national level. Look at the opposition lining up to take on President Bush next year. Joe Lieberman wasn’t even a strong vice-presidential candidate. In debates with Dick Cheney, he spoke more like someone at a sewing circle than a candidate in a tough campaign. John Kerry is too close to Ted Kennedy, many who oppose extreme liberalism think. No one has shown the kind of glamour it will take to beat George W. Bush. Bill Clinton would like to run again, but can’t. A recent poll of popularity of American presidents put Abraham Lincoln on top. Jack Kennedy was second. And—Bill Clinton and George W. Bush were tied for third. Despite his tainted reputation, Clinton is still popular. But who else is? Democracy works best with a balance of power. If one party controls everything, there is no room for dissent. The Democratic Party is going to have to reinvent itself. If someone tries to be everything to all people, they wind up being nothing to everybody. Maybe somewhere there is a leader with fire in his belly to crank up the Democrats and teach them to speak louder than a whisper on something, anything.
|
