Whistling past the graveyard

Tapped linked a story from the American Prospect called “Hard Money, Harder Races” about the Democrats’ plans to retake Congress in 2004. Coming from the left-leaning American Prospect, the tone of the article is hopeful as Senator Jon Corzine (D-NJ) and Rep. Robert Matsui (D-CA) detail their carefully-crafted strategy to regain control of the legislative branch.

Here’s the whole plan: get more cash.

I thought for sure that after the embarrassing losses of the 2002 mid-term elections, the Democrats would have jettisoned DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe. But the Dems are a party so deep in denial, so delusional, and so desperate (is that what the “D” stands for?) that Svengali McAuliffe has convinced them that it wasn’t the absence of a message that led to defeat, it’s that there just wasn’t enough money.

Corzine, a freshman senator who largely funded his own campaign, says his main challenge is raising money under the new laws that ban soft-money donations. In the past, Democrats have relied on large donations to stay competitive with Republicans who have a broader base of donors.

At least there’s one glimmer of honest self-appraisal:

As pollster Celinda Lake said about the economy, "After 2000 and 2002, voters aren't even clear about what the Democratic alternative is."

And I defy you to find it in this article, as well.

The two men are certain that more voters agree with the Democrats on issues; the party just need to do a better job articulating and promoting its message.

Whatever that is.