The Decline?

Frank Gaffney Jr. laments the decline of the Democratic Party in terms that seem quite humorous to me. He comments on Terry Elkes, long time liberal who supported President Bush's many boneheaded and illegal acts. A Lieberman Liberal, more or less.

How far Terry Elkes’ party has disenfranchised voters like him who long were the backbone of its membership – social liberals but hard-headed internationalists in the tradition of Franklin Roosevelt, John Kennedy and Henry “Scoop” Jackson – is evident at the moment in the fight underway in Congress over electronic intelligence collection.

In the wake of the 9/11’s deadly acts of war, George W. Bush did what one would hope any President would do: He strove to prevent follow-on strikes and brought to bear every available instrument for that purpose.

Even if you grant that President Bush's motives were pure, it's hard for me to see how his actions have been effective. And Gaffney's subject, the illegal wiretapping, is a clear violation of the law.

On primary day, here in Florida, I'd like to comment that all of the Republican Candidates have committed themselves to the same kind of madness we've seen under President Bush. Some might be worse, others not quite as bad, but there's not one among them, save Ron Paul, who's willing to change course. McCain, Giuliani, Huckabee, and Romney will be just as bad as President Bush and in some cases worse.

And say what you will about Clinton or Obama or Edwards, they will change course.