Black is White, Day is Night

In 1964, famed political trickster and professional Nixon baiter, Dick Tuck, ran for a state Senate seat in California. Suffering a heavy defeat, Tuck stepped before cameras and uttered the words that have been ringing in my ears all night: “The people have spoke - the bastards!”This election was a sweeping victory for the Republicans, no question about it. But it wasn’t a victory in terms of success in building a majority of devoted supporters who believe in the cause. Rather, it’s been a success in spreading fear and confusing the public. Mark these words: if and when the bastards -- er… the people -- figure out the extent to which they’ve been snowed, there will be hell to pay.Or, there would be, if these people gave a damn.What am I talking about? A poll by the Program on International Policy Attitudes suggests that a majority of Bush supporters do not have a very firm grasp on reality, at least insofar as their beliefs about what their President says and stands for.For example, 55% of Bush supporters still believe Iraq was supporting al-Qaeda; 72% believe Iraq had weapons of mass destruction; 69% believe Bush supports the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty; 60% believe most experts believe Iraq was supporting al-Qaeda; 58% believe that the Duelfer report concluded that Iraq had either WMD or a major program to develop them; 57% believe that the majority of people in the world would prefer a second Bush term; 55% believe the 9-11 Commission Report concluded Iraq was supporting al-Qaeda; 51% believe Bush supports the Kyoto treaty; and 20% still believe Iraq was directly involved in the attacks of September 11, 2001.While we wait for the Bushies to wake up and smell the coffee, the Democratic party has a much bigger challenge facing it. We have conclusively demonstrated that trying to stick to the middle of the road is the quickest way to wind up losers. As they say in Texas -- where President Bush spends more of his time on vacation than any other president in modern history -- the only thing in the middle of the road is a yellow line and dead armadillos.It’s time for Democrats to reclaim our liberal heritage, and to articulate to the majority of our fellow Americans that, whether they know it or not, they are liberals too. If Karl Rove can concoct a siren song that convinces the public that up is down, black is white, and day is night, then I am confident that we can convince them of the truth.That effort begins now...…well, after we get some sleep.