MB Civic

http://select.nytimes.com/2006/10/22/opinion/22rich.html?pagewanted=print

Re the midterm elections, Rich says, “The tough question is not whether the Democrats can win, but what will happen if they do. The party’s message in this campaign has offered no vision beyond bashing Mr. Bush and pledging to revisit the scandals and the disastrous legislation that went down on his watch.” I would add that, as other pundits have noted, even if the Dems win both houses, we will still have a sitting president with a veto pen.

Re Obama, Rich says, “The more important issue is not whether Obama will seek the presidency, but what kind of candidate he would be. If the Democratic Party is to be more that a throw-out-Bush party, it can’t settle for yet again repackaging its well-worn ideas, however worthy, with a new slogan containing the word ‘New.’ It needs a major infusion of steadfast leadership.” And while Rich believes Obama might be able to provide that leadership, he adds, “The Democrats may well win on Election Day this year. But one of their best hopes for long-term viability in the post-Bush era is that Barack Obama steps up and changes the party before the party of terminal timidity and equivocation changes him.”