European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 13, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Tuesday August 13, 1991 the stars and stripes Page 13 commentary Tom Wicke floundering democrats could till be Tough sen. Jay Rockefeller d-w.va., has dropped out of a presidential race he never really wanted to make. Coming on the heels of the decision of rep. Richard Gephardt d-mo., not to run this new departure caused a predictable �?1 but not necessarily warranted a chorus of moans and groans from democrats hankering for a candidate. Rockefeller has built a career in West Virginia that seems inevitably pointed toward a presidential bid. But he had not planned to make it this Early in his career has plenty of years left and successfully resisted party pressures to Force him into what at Best would have Een a Long shot Campaign. It seems Ever clearer that gov. Mario Cuomo of new York who has issued another disclaimer also will sit this one out. Sen. Albert Gore d-tenn., like Gephardt a loser in 1988, must think Long and hard before risking another defeat even if this time As party nominee. This line of speculation a its on a that a suggests the possibility that the democrats might turn to their 1988 vice presidential candidate Lloyd Bentsen of he is not elbowing his Way to the front either but he was generally praised for his Campaign four years ago particularly his debate Victory Over Dan Quayle and it would be hard for him to turn Down his party Scall after accepting it in 1988. The reluctance of acknowledged leaders to run also keeps open the possibility of a a new face a someone from outside the accustomed Field of speculation perhaps outside the party political scene. Shortly before Rockefeller opted out for instance a a draft commit teen circulated a letter urging support for consumer advocate Ralph Nader. Nader has made about As Many enemies As friends with his infighting skills and tenacity in Washington. But he has never run for office and the draft committee could say with a straight face that he a is not a that a usually a Republican line and May be an asset in a year when the Public seems More than usually turned off on confessed politicians. The new Republic also chose last week to run an attack on Bill Moyers the former White House aide turned television journalist whose name causes much excitement among democrats taken with the idea of a new face. If he a drawing fire without even being a candidate someone must take him seriously. Sen. Tom Harkin a Iowa who does seem eager to run would qualify As a new face in presidential politics also because he a one Democrat apparently unafraid to claim new Deal heritage or to Call himself a Liberal. Gov. Bill Clinton of Arkansas whose views Are More a centrist a also would be a newcomer to presidential though not to democratic party politics. But the new face the democrats most need to see Leslie h. Gelb would be one for George Bush who now looks unbeatable and whose presumed Campaign issues a Victory in the desert and opposition to quotas a now seem insurmountable. By november 1992, however its not too far fetched to suggest that that face of invincibility May look More like a map of economic administration has been talking bravely about recovery from the recession but the Federal reserves a beige books a an economic review prepared by its 12 regional Banks a tells a different Story. It reports continued weakness in real estate lagging retail sales in major markets and Overall improvement Only at a a slow uneven acting on this picture of an Economy that might be about to drop Back into recession the fed again reduced the rate at which Banks lend one another Money to 5.5 percent. The beige books gloomy picture May cause even fur ther interest rate reductions this fall since the demand for business Loans remains weak. Most unhappily for Bush unemployment continues at about 7 percent and a loss of 51, xxx jobs was reported in july. The Only improvement has come from people dropping out of the work Force a hardly an encouraging sign. State and local government layoffs forced by recession and the loss of Federal Aid Are just beginning to have economic effect. Not even the most ardent Democrat could wish for Victory in 1992 at the Cost of an economic collapse. But with Bush displaying so Little ability to take action against a continuing perhaps worsening recession or to comprehend its effect on so Many americans he May no longer be wearing the face of an easy Winner by mid-1992. In that Case the democrats will have Little trouble putting on a Good face of their own a new or old. C the new York time democrats must convey leadership to voters the reason sen. Jay Rockefeller bowed out of the presidential race a he was not a a ready a suggests Why americans do not think democrats Are ready for the White House. It recalls the announcement by sen. Bill Bradley a few years ago that he would not run because he needed More Contact with the country a through unhurried do these Guys want to do memorize the social Security regulations and spend another dozen years preening in Congress Ronald Reagan did no to know his multiplication tables when he ran for president in 1980. But he knew How to Lead and what he wanted. George Bush also looks like More of a Leader than any of the present democratic challengers. Americans had Confidence in president Reagan because he had direction conviction and ideas. Most of his beliefs turned out to be a disaster for the country. He and Bush abandoned the needy Middle and lower classes for the greedy. But the Middle class went along mainly because the Rea Gan Bush team More than democrats seemed to know where it was going. Democrats have fallen by the presidential Wayside not because they Are liberals but because they seem to have no coherent philosophy no Central thrust to bind their proposals nothing to Mark their leadership. Beginning with president Kennedy and with the Brief exception of president Johnson a great society programs democrats deserted the Liberal Faith a government As the prime instrument to tackle National problems a for a muddled pragmatism. It has been downhill from there. Democrats started to look like technicians. They presented themselves As the party that could provide specific answers to real problems a the five Point plan for this and the seven Point program for that and the 16 things wrong with reaganomics. Everybody went to sleep. Most people do not vote for platforms but for presidents for leaders and for general ideas. Leaders Clear paths for specific solutions by creating majorities and knocking Down obstacles. The most cogent programs for education or health or whatever falter unless embedded in a convincing political philosophy. Winston Churchill Charles de Gaulle and Franklin Roosevelt instinctively grasped that they must generate Bow Waves not blueprints. President Carter was a Brilliant detail Man whose accomplishments suffered for Lack of policy and purpose. Michael Dukakis sprang from a similar compas Sless pragmatism. Today democrats like Bradley and Rockefeller convey tentative Ness and self doubt. Others like sen. A1 Gore Paul Tsongas and rep. Richard Gephardt come across As smart legislative mechanics not As leaders. Sen. Tom Harkin is a Strong Liberal with an unformed personal image. Mario Cuomo has been a governor of great talk and Little action. Without the Power of conviction and direction democratic presidential hopefuls have been unable to resist the demands of special interest groups. Democratic majorities in Congress reinforce this impression of democrats As special leaders. In the process the parties somewhat reversed historic roles. Democrats traditionally the party of movement and ideas appeared to become advocates for entrenched interests. Republicans traditional defenders of the status quo and suspicious of activism emerged As the party of change and creativity. Reagan campaigned on reducing the Federal governments role in dealing with social problems. The voters forgetful of governments triumphs and tired of democratic Protection of the poor and Black signed on. Conservatives still dominate debate with ideas such As using government to free up Market forces for private solutions to Public problems. The Success of these Republican ideas cannot be dismissed As merely the fruits of better television packaging. Political ideas have always required simple if not simple minded presentation. Franklin Roosevelt found the right words when he told depression Era americans that they had a nothing to fear but fear itself a and that Washington could and would help them. Above All his words were rooted in palpable conviction. Democratic hopefuls would do Well now to reflect on what they really believe. The american people will not place More Faith in democrats than democrats place in themselves. Voters can smell self doubt and muddle and they can smell that no Democrat seems ready yet for prime time. C the new York times
