Should We Be Nice Guys?

I think the strongest weapon Democrats have in their arsenal is the fact that the Republicans have failed so miserably.

Iraq: Republican failure.
Afghanistan: Republican failure.
Osama bin Laden: Republican failure.
Taking care of men and women in uniform: Republican failure.
Katrina: Republican failure.
International relations: Republican failure.
Energy policy: Republican failure.
Global warming: Republican failure.
Clean government: Republican failure.
Efficient government: Republican failure.
Apolitical bureaucracy: Republican failure.
Torture: Republican failure.
Respecting the Constitution: Republican failure.
Uniting the country: Republican failure.

Everywhere you look: Republican failure.

It really does go on and on. It's so obvious, even Republicans see it! It is no wonder they are having trouble finding people willing to run for office at the state level. These are all clubs Republicans should expect to be battered with.

I support Obama for many reasons but have a concern: if he is the nominee, these clubs will be left on our shoulders. Being reasonable and respectful of people who disagree with him is intrinsic to who he is and the campaign and country he wants to run.

I fear that -- as a result -- we will not be as effective as we could be in building strong Democratic majorities in Congress. It's probably better for the country if Democrats don't run an angry campaign, but it's better for the country if we throw out as many Republicans as we can, too! And face it, the Republicans are not going to change; their campaign will be an in-the-gutter, Willie Horton type. Oh, McCain will try to hold himself above it all, and tut-tut the slime merchants, but somehow they'll just do it anyway. [Update: whaddaya know?]

If Hillary is the nominee, I have no doubt she will be using the clubs of Republican failure every day of the campaign. It's intrinsic to who she is and the campaign and administration she wants to run. The campaign part of that appeals to me on a very elemental level.

So do we substitute "Bush" for "Republican," let Republicans think we still respect them, and allow them the fiction that Bush isn't the natural result of their "values", or do we let them have it? It's a problem.