To Scotland...

Leaving tomorrow for a few beer on the Millenium Footpath and the Kingsway before a date with destiny and TFI Friday at the Strathclyde Union in Glasgow. Plenty happening politically, none of it surprising and most of it depressing. Three random thoughts to mull over during my escape for the weekend: (1) A surprisingly convincing argument from Andrew Sullivan on the proposal for a flat tax. I would say that Republican special interests make this a mere pipe dream - and I have long been opposed on progressive grounds - but how can you deny the truth of this quote: "The politician who allows every citizen to fill out her tax form on a postcard with a simple calculator will become one of the most popular in history." This idea, if combined with some type of consumption-based tax that would still hit the wealthy might be something we hear more of in the decades to come. (2) No surprise in any of the Bush Cabinet resignations/appointments. Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty. I admire the trait, but honestly, in a country that large I think you have to be willing to include experts who you or your family don't know from days in Texas. And if you want to run as the "War Time President" you think that some type of bipartisan effort would at least be attempted, especially with control over all 3 branches. "I serve at the pleasure of the President" was always a favorite West Wing line. Are Bush and Co. so insecure (or so damn righteously certain) that the very notion of dissent from their worldview is seen as horribly misguided, or worse, unpatriotic. I have never understood the fuss over Condi, Powell's resignation comes far too late, and you can easily predict the same type of mistakes will last well into the future. Why not, if competence is no longer a prerequisite for the jobs? (3) Kos - on fire lately as usual, especially on the future direction of the Democratic party. The continued attacks on Dean and his supporters as too "liberal" or "radical" must be infuriating for those on the ground-floor of the attacks. The Dean v. Vilsack race is just another example of the victory of small-minded, conservative (in the sense of completely risk-averse) elements in the party failing the historic traditions of their party. Check out recent posts here and here and here. My favorite of the many money quotes:

I always, always laugh when I hear one of these insiders talk about the "disaster" that a Dean chairmanship would wreak on the party. I mean, disaster compared to what? Being shut out from all levers of government? From the White House, Supreme Court, House, Senate, majority of governorships and majority of state legislatures? How about the disaster of three straight losing election cycles? That's not a freakin' disaster? Dean means reform. Simon Rosenberg means reform. There are probably other dark horse candidates out there who would mean reform. And that's what we need. Reform, not status quo. The status quo is untenable. I'm tired of losing, and that's the only thing the current gang has delivered.

I would be interested to know your thoughts on these points, Cooper, especially the last. Isn't it time Democrats started standing unabashedly for something again, instead of not being too scared to appear slightly to the left of the mainstream on some of these issues. I mean look at the success of the Republicans, despite their failures and the extremism of some of their stated policies. If you want to compete on the values question, you have to start favoring things, maybe even unpopular things, and be perceived as fighting FOR them. I am not optimistic about the upcoming DNC chairman outcome, but let's hope the Doctor prevails.