Memo to Dems: Hope is not a plan

The Independent has a round-up of the truly crappy week the British-American conservative axis is having (its concern is primarily foreign policy, so it doesn't mention Foley). The whole thing's worth reading, just to be reminded of what news sounds like that's not driven by Karl Rove's talking points. It ends with this observation:

In America, too, the political game may be up for Republicans. Democratic strategists believe the unpopularity of the Iraq war, and a growing public belief that it has been mishandled, outweighs any criticism Republicans may hurl in their direction about being "soft on terror".

This last bit points to my main worry about the upcoming elections: At the grass roots level, there's a lot of energy and action, but at the top levels--particularly the Democratic leadership in Congress--the plan seems to be simply to wait for the Republicans to implode, as if they weren't capable of imploding and still winning elections.

It reminds me of a classic SNL sketch--one of the best from an otherwise unimpressive era, in fact:

Sam Donaldson: Vice-President Bush, there are millions of homeless in this country - children who go hungry, and lacking in other basic necessities. How would the Bush administration achieve your stated goal of making this a kinder, gentler nation?

George Bush: Well, that is a big problem, Sam, and unfortunately the format of these debates makes it hard to give you a complete answer. If I had more time, I could spell out the program in greater detail, but I'm afraid, in a short answer like this, all I can say is we're on track - we can do more - but we're getting the job done, so let's stay on course, a thousand points of light. Well, unfortunately, I guess my time is up.

Diane Sawyer: Mr. Vice-President, you still have a minute-twenty.

George Bush: What? That can't be right. I must have spoken for at least two minutes.

Diane Sawyer: No, just forty seconds, Mr. Vice-President.

George Bush: Really? Well, if I didn't use the time then, I must have just used the time now, talking about it.

Diane Sawyer: No, no, Mr. Vice-President, it's not being counted against you.

George Bush: Well, I just don't want it to count against Governor Dukakis' time.

Diane Sawyer: It won't. It will come out of the post-debate commentary.

George Bush: Do you think that's a good idea?

Diane Sawyer: You still have a minute-twenty, Mr. Vice-President.

George Bush: Well, more has to be done, sure. But the programs we have in place are doing the job, so let's keep on track and stay the course.

Diane Sawyer: You have fifty seconds left, Mr. Vice-President.

George Bush: Let me sum up. On track, stay the course. Thousand points of light.

Diane Sawyer: Governor Dukakis. Rebuttal?

Michael Dukakis: I can't believe I'm losing to this guy!

Lovitz's delivery of that line--an exquisitely-timed pause,then part stunned disbelief, part outrage--is priceless. But it pretty aptly captured the dynamic of that race, too, and the reason you don't find much today when you Google the phrase "first Dukakis Presidential administration."