The Democratic Party is one sick puppy. When betraying national security secrets becomes an active goal of a major political party, we are approaching a kind of civil war. This is not good.  Prominent Leftists like Soros and Chomsky seem to passionately believe that national defeat in Iraq is desirable, just as they thought defeat in Vietnam was a good thing —— disregarding tens of thousands of desperate boat people fleeing Vietnam after the US withdrew, and in spite of the killing fields of Cambodia next door.

For Leftists, what's good for the United States is bad for the world, and vice versa. The true loyalties of the Left are to internationalism.  American defeat has therefore become a barely hidden goal for too many Democrat activists.

This is not good for the Democratic Party, because tens of millions of voters see them as disloyal. Their message must therefore be disguised: lying and demagogy become necessary for political survival. It's bad for the Dems, and it's worse for the country.

The Democrats desperately need a generation in the wilderness to rethink their basic ideas. It would be healthy for them to lose several more national elections until they come to their senses. There's nothing like rejection to make a party think.

To be sure, the GOP can also use greater clarification of its basic values and policies. But of the two parties, the Dems are much, much sicker. Voters should consider giving this puppy a good long vacation until it begins to act like its traditional self again.

James Lewis    10 22 06