Or: How the Democrats can lose big.
The single big state bright spot for the Republicans this November was Schwarzenegger's 12 point win in California. Schwarzenegger is
"Socially moderate, progressive on the environment, but rabidly opposed to raising taxes, Schwarzenegger is a radical centrist, a near-perfect fit for the California electorate." (See link to the Sacramento Bee below). I would add that this combination of positions is a near perfect fit for 60% of the national electorate as well.
Quoting further from the Bee:
"The Democrats, after an expensive and bitter primary, nominated Treasurer Phil Angelides, a partisan slasher who identified himself as the "anti-Arnold" and pushed a tax increase that appealed to his party's left wing but almost no one else." This is the obvious recipe for a GOP comeback in '08. Run anti-tax, pro-business, pro-environment, socially moderate, foreign policy moderate candidates and win. Especially if the Democrats run a candidate that appeals to the left.
Giuliani has filed his White House exploratory committee papers. McCain will be next. These could be the glory days for the centrist wing of the GOP.
My link to the Bee article does not work well.
Google "Daniel Weintraub: A winning transformation"
The Wall Street Journal has a similar opinion piece today, discussing the lessons learned in California, but it is subscription only on line.
Jim
