Campaigning on change

Back in 2004 I remember showing up as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, looking forward to John Kerry's promised unveiling of a new campaign strategy. I was so disappointed when the new strategy turned out to be waving the flag and acting militaristic. Soon Democrats all over the country were campaigning as "Republican lite," telling voters they can be just as fearful and greedy as the other guys, only not as extreme and with better hair.

Needless to say, that didn't work. Voters saw right through it. No one believed Kerry was going to be a militaristic leader, because his party has never stood for that kind of leadership. The obvious lack of candor left Kerry wide open to "swiftboating". The untruthful "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" managed to draw blood, not because they had facts on their side, but because voters already suspected that Kerry's militaristic campaign presentation wasn't an accurate picture of how he would govern as president.

Now we can see the same thing happening this year, only it's the other side doing the masquerading. In debate after debate, Republican presidential candidates are claiming to represent "Change." The public believes our nation is heading in the wrong direction, and wants things to change. Republican candidates are saying, "sure, you want Change, I can do Change."

So they stand on the debate podium, each giving his own version of how he plans to be the Candidate of Change. Some of the candidates say they can Change things by being even more fearful than Mr. Bush, more belligerent in their rhetoric. Others say they can Change things by saying "Ronald Reagan" more times in the same sentence. A few candidates say they represent Change by being even more greedy than Mr. Bush, because everyone knows greed is common sense. At least one Republican candidate represents Change by having better hair. All the Republican candidates are distancing themselves from Mr. Bush by saying they'll do exactly the same things, only more so, and this time it will work.

Does anyone think voters will buy this?