Centerfield

''For too long a period of time, the Democratic Party, unintentionally . . . seems to have sent the message that people of faith weren't welcome and weren't respected,''
-- Senator Lieberman (D)

“All these issues that put us into the extreme and not the mainstream really hurt us with the heartland of the country. Even I have trouble explaining to my family that we are not about killing babies.”
-- Donna Brazile, Al Gore's presidential campaign manager

I have to confess a bit of bewilderment on how this and many other blogs debate the rightness or wrongness of a politician's politicking. "Is it wrong for Bill Frist to speak to the Religious Right?", "Is Hillary making a play for the moderates by questioning abortion?". This reminds me of sport talk radio, "Should the Dodgers have let Shawn Green go?", "Was Manning a good first round pick for the Giants". Isn't the game played on the field? If Frist is making a "play for the base" in preparation for a run in '08, isn't the bottom-line the actual votes he gets? Hey, I may think this move is foolish for Frist but he's a big boy, he can make a good or bad decision without my second guessing.

I guess I'm a little frustrated with politics as a spectator sport. I thought politics ultimately was to lead to elected officials in office addressing problems and getting things done. By our focusing on the game ("who's running", "Is that a smart strategy?")and not the outcome ("Will this help the economy?", "Is Medicare better off for this change?") we encourage this mindset.

OK rant is over, please proceed.

c3,

Excellent points.

However, the game is fascinating, and hard to ignore.

(I still haven't gotten over the Dodgers letting Mike Piazza go.)

c3-

You've pretty much articulated the main frustration I've had with political blogging that I have not been able to put my finger on until now.

And yeah, sports-esque analysis is a lot of fun and all, but quite frankly it's meaningless noise. Usually fun and interesting noise, but noise none the less.

Those quotes from Susan are interesting. It could also be said that the Republican Party, whether intentional or not, has made those who aren't Christians feel unwelcome and disprespected as citizens.

Frist seems to be saying now that anyone who doesn't back Bush's judicial nominees hates the Baby Jesus, too.

His attendance at the Family Research Council's next War on the Judiciary Meeting isn't helping, either.

I think both parties have done a fine job of making non-extremists feel unwelcome.

I really need someone to tell me exactly what "jumping the shark" means.

Please feel free to send your answers to Carla@PreemptiveKarma.com.

LOL

During an early campaign speech given at a home in Los Angeles, Howard Dean was asked about the Vermont Republican party saying they didn't need to run a gubernatorial candidate because Dean was already running. (Pointing out how went against his own party a number of times and supported Republican legislation.) They asked if he would be as willing to work with Republicans at the federal level like Santorum. He replied "I have to get elected first." It took a long time for me to realize how that answered the question and I think it cost him the support of moderates. I would say it's something Frist should consider.