Get In The Game

Apparently Barack Obama flunked the sixth-grade composition class where the teacher told you to "show don't tell". I've never seen a politician say "what Democrats need to say" more without ACTUALLY just saying it. Maybe he doesn't like speaking for Democrats; well, then maybe he should consider not being one.

One issue the Democrats absolutely need to be vocal about is this detainee treatment bill. Sen. McCain and Stephen Hadley were making googly eyes at each other on the Sunday chat shows, hinting at some compromise that will bring the whole team together for a big victory. Digby has the details. So at some point, the last line of defense between the President and the supreme executive power to torture, and convict in kangaroo courts, and secretly imprison indefinitely, and let torturers off scot-free retroactively, will be the Democrats. Too many of them are acting like that will never happen.

Some Democrats (particularly Sen. Levin) have spoken out, but the media is going to cover the internal pie fight no matter what. However, WHEN (not if) the "grand compromise" is reached it's time to oppose if it's unacceptable. Force Bush to "shut down the program" and assail him for valuing his ego over the protection of the American people.

In one-party rule, it's going to be impossible to intrude on that narrative sometimes. The message for campaigns should be "Do you want to keep hoping there's a principled Republican willing to buck his party? Or would you rather throw in your lot with those fighting Bush on ALL of these issues?"