The Democrats Don't Have a Plan, They Hope

WaPo columnist Michael Kinsley wants us to vote Democratic. But he hopes Nancy Pelosi was kidding when her party released "A New Direction for America" a few months ago. Fortunately for America, few Democrats have built their campaigns around this document. However, if it represents the lowest common denominators of Democratic politics, we'll be running back to the GOP like scalded dogs in 2008. Kinsley notes:

The document is full of bromides, of course, and like all good bromides, they come in threes. The Democrats promise "security, prosperity, and opportunity" in "diverse, safe, and vibrant communities." Not to mention "integrity, civility and fiscal discipline." They will "protect Americans, secure our borders, and restore our country's position of international leadership" through "homeland, energy, and diplomatic strategies." And we're only up to Page 3...

Democrats call for ending the "Disabled Veterans' Tax" and the "Military Families' Tax." The what? There cannot be any such thing as a Disabled Veterans' Tax. It is a label dreamed up by people wanting special treatment, like the Republicans' brilliant "death tax" for the estate tax. Maybe they deserve it, maybe they don't. But why can't we leave this bullying-by-terminology to Newt Gingrich?...

"New Direction" quite rightly denounces the staggering fiscal irresponsibility of Republican leaders and duly promises "Pay As You Go" spending. But in the entire document there is not one explicit revenue-raiser to balance the many specific and enormous new spending programs and tax credits...

Maybe "A New Direction for America" is just a campaign document -- although it seems to have had no effect at all on the campaign. My fear is that the House Democrats might try to use it as a basis for governing

I found it difficult not to quote the entire editorial. The rest of it includes an incisive discussion of the problem with tax credits - they're like a pork giveaway, but without the accountability. Go read it.