Politicians crying? How many votes is that worth?
Robert Byrd is nothing but a clown who is politisiziing the war for votes. How relevent are issues of character and integrity when politics are involved?
This is an article that briefly questions why Democrats are taking stances. Notice that I try to be a little more objective the others when I chose my articles. Besides, I don't want to flood the board with pro-war rhetoric.
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news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/2409761.stmBy Steve Schifferes
BBC News Online
The narrow Republican victory has already triggered a fundamental debate among Democrats about their future electoral strategy.
Although the margins are small, the fact that the Republicans were able to increase their majority in the House - and win the Senate - is highly unusual in American politics.
The weak economy did not help the Democrats
Usually, dissatisfaction with the party in the White House leads to gains for the opposition party.
But this year, President Bush was unusually popular - mainly because of 11 September - and he persuaded many voters to rally round his party by his aggressive stumping on the campaign trail.
But the Democrat's problems go beyond the difficulty they will now face in 2004 when President Bush stands for re-election.
Fundamental rethink
They also may need to reconsider their fundamental strategy, brilliantly implemented by former President Clinton, of shifting towards the centre, and embracing business.
In 2002 this strategy made the Democrats indistinguishable from their Republican rivals.
Now, some Democrats, most notably the losing candidate in the 2000 Presidential election,
Al Gore, have urged the Democrats to take a stand - against the extension of the war on terror to Iraq, and against the excesses of corporate America. [/b]
The war could boost Bush's popularity
This was the opposite strategy to that pursued by the Democratic leadership in Congress in the mid-term campaign.
Senator Tom Daschle, reluctantly, and House leader Dick Gephardt (aggressively), supported President Bush's Iraq war resolution.
The Iraq war
Mr Gephardt is likely to resign shortly to pursue his presidential ambitions, leaving the Democratic house leadership to the more radical Nancy Pelosi, a San Francisco Congresswoman.
But if the Democrats take a more left-wing position, will they alienate the middle ground?
Should they consolidate their base among strong Democratic voters by opposing the war in Iraq, tax cuts, and corporate malfeasance?
