If the Dems want to get back in office, they'll need something other than redistribution as their theme. See below:
NY Times
January 26, 2006
Op-Ed Columnist
Dollars and Sense
By DAVID BROOKS
The Greeks used to say we suffer our way to wisdom. The Democrats have been doing most of the electoral suffering, and these days the wisest political analysis comes from Democrats who are trying to figure out what went wrong.
Over the past few decades, Democrats have generally conceived of America as a society divided between comfortable haves and insecure have-nots. Having read thousands of gloomy articles about downsizing, outsourcing and wage stagnation, they've tried to rally the insecure working majority against the privileged minority — or, as Al Gore put it, the people against the powerful.
But since this strategy has notably failed, some analysts are thinking maybe there is no frightened majority longing for government succor.
Last year, the liberal economist Stephen Rose posted an essay on the Emerging Democratic Majority Web site in which he observed, "It is an occupational hazard of those with big hearts to overestimate the share of the population that is economically distressed." Rose concluded that only 19 percent of males and 27 percent of females are poor or working poor — a percentage that is "probably much smaller than most progressive commentators would estimate."
Furthermore, he wrote, the percentage of Americans with reasonably well-paying corporate jobs has expanded over the past few decades: "Contrary to what some on the left might think, the share of bad jobs fell significantly as more workers with postsecondary education moved into an expanding set of managerial and professional jobs."
Rose calculated the household incomes for people between 26 and 59 and found that the average annual family income is somewhere around $63,000 a year — an impressive figure. Opinion polls consistently show that people at these income levels feel as if they're doing quite well and don't feel oppressed by forces beyond their control.
This suggests that liberals have adopted an overly negative view of reality. Barbara Ehrenreich's books are well and good, but if you think they represent the broader society, you'll get America wrong.
Smart Democratic analysts are also taking another look at values issues. There has been a tendency in Democratic circles to regard values as a sideshow that Republicans use to fool the working class into voting against its self-interest.
But over the past year the Democratic polling firm of Greenberg, Quinlan, Rosner has noted that voters don't separate values issues from economic issues. They use values issues as stand-ins and figure the candidates they associate with traditional morality are also the ones with sensible economic policies.
In the current issue of The American Prospect, Garance Franke-Ruta also notes the interplay between values and economic issues. "Traditional values have become aspirational," she writes. "Lower-income individuals simply live in a much more disrupted society, with higher divorce rates, more single moms, more abortions, and more interpersonal and interfamily strife, than do the middle- and upper-middle-class people they want to be like."
With these sentiments, Democrats seem to be moving away from materialistic determinism. In past decades, Democratic political campaigns have been based primarily on appeals to economic interests. But especially in the information age, social values and cultural capital shape a person's economic destiny more than the other way around.

Hey Chris,

It sure looks like you are slapping Senator Chafee upside the head for his position. You have very little in your column to counter the negatives you have thrust at him.

Do you really think that in a progressive state such as Rhode Island, given Chafee's previous pro-choice poiition, not to mention his distrust of Bushco's overreach of presidential power, that this vote is a surprise?

What is truly surprising is to find a moderate Republican who actually votes his/her conscience. This is something the 2 senators from Maine should be thinking long and hard about.

For the record, Rhode Island is not 'Red' Island. Senator Chafee did right by his constituents with his vote of conscience.

That is something to be applauded, not condemned.

Why is it when someone does the right thing he or she is criticized for it? Those who express shock that Chafee would actually vote his conscience have said very little when Arlen Spector votes against his. It is Chafee who is the honorable man, Spector and those few other moderate Republicans who are the ones who should be criticized.

Have to agree with the above comments not because of anything that Alito said but because of the example he sets: say nothing and you will be confirmed based on politics. These senators aren't voting one way or the other based on anything the candidate said. Why bother to have these hearings if they are of no import?

My gut feeling is that Alito will be a fine SC justice and will (as in many previous cases) issue rulings that greatly annoy many of his current backers. However, I'm just guessing as is everyone else. He should be voted down simply on the basis of noncompliance with the process. This sort of behavior would be construed as contempt of court in the real world.

Bravo for Chafee! Any "pro-choice" or "moderate" Republican that votes for Alito should never use those words to describe themselves again. Amazing that only one Republican will actually vote on principle but I guess the rest of them are just too spineless.

And thanks for reminding everyone what a wanker David Brooks is, Marshall. Should we all agree with him that it is a good sign that 1 in 4 Americans are poor? Keep on voting Republican, since they are so GREAT on those "values" issues.

Wow! A moderate Republican who has a conscience, and still has the courage to vote it! Gives one hope -- congratulations to Sen. Chafee. May a few more of his kind come forward.

Chafey is not a Republican. Also, he is not a moderate, he is a liberal and since he is voting against Alito, well he isn't even a liberal he is a left-wing out of the mainstream politico such as Kennedy, Kerry, Clinton, etc.

I hope Mayor Laffey beats him well in September and if not, then the Dem might as well win since we don't need him on our side.
Get a clue, the majority of Americans favor Alito's confirmation. The American Bar Association gave him its highest rating.
NOTHING in the committee hearings was uncovered to prove that Judge Alito was unqualified or inexperienced to serve on SCOTUS.
He is a conservative justice he will find according to the facts and the law, simple as that. He will not vote to outlaw abortion but rather allow each state legislature to determine whether it wishes to allow or outlaw abortion. What did Reagan say about "voting with your feet?"

Give Judge Alito an up or down vote AndMove.on

scootmandubious and nyrunner:

Cillizza isn't "criticizing" Chafee, he is describing the reaction of people on the ground in his state. As I understand it, that is the purpose of this blog. If you just want to read blogs that endorse your point of view, go to the DailyKos.

"Should we all agree with him that it is a good sign that 1 in 4 Americans are poor?"

Maria, if you really cared about statistics, you'd know the figure is more like 1 in 7 or 1 in 8. In any case, Brooks is merely suggesting that a campaign based on the assumption most Americans are going to hell in a hand-basket isn't going to resonate.

"I hope Mayor Laffey beats him well in September and if not, then the Dem might as well win since we don't need him on our side."

Hey VivaBush, there is a recipe for making your party the minority in Congress.

Chafee is a decent senator, I hope he gets re-elected, regardless of how he votes on Alito.

Chaffee's "no" vote would be a lot more impressive if it either put Alito on the Court or denied him the seat. If Chaffee were serious, he'd vote to sustain the Democractic filibuster. As it stands, this is a CYA move to remain in liberal good graces, given the upcoming election, while not costing the right a thing. Were this were a cliffhanger, Chaffee'd fall right in line.

I dont understand your claim that the poverty figures are 1out of 7 or 1 out of 8. 19% and 27% work out a lot close to 1 out of 4. Could you please clarify?

To JoMama,

I dont understand your claim that the poverty figures are 1out of 7 or 1 out of 8. 19% and 27% work out a lot close to 1 out of 4. Could you please clarify?

Hey conservatives, there's bipartisan opposition to Alito.

JoMama: By your logic, Brooks should also point out that running a campaign based on scaring the crap out of America by invoking 9/11 and the Forever War on Terrorism at every turn isn't going to resonate either. Talk about going to hell in a hand basket!

Oh, but wait. That's Karl Rove's central theme! They certainly can't run on the economy. Or "ethics". Or the great response to Katrina. Or the budding Islamic Theocracy of Iraq that will cost us 2 trillion dollars.

Believe me, I was once a registered Republican, but I never voted for these clowns.

I hope we see some more moderate Democrats who have a conscience and the courage to vote for Alito.

Chafe is a decent and fair minded Republican. That's a rare breed these days as the Republican Party continues to impose their reign of indecency on the country.

http://www.intrepidliberaljournal.blogspot.com

It is difficult to have a straight opinion on this; I very much respect Chaffee for voting his conscience, in this vote and in many others. He has shown himself to be a courageous senator (most of the time). As a Democrat, I hope that either Whitehouse or Brown will win the seat in November. I think what I would like most would be to have Chaffee beat Laffey in the primaries, and then I doubt that I would be too concerned with the results of the general election.

It's time one Republican has the ethics to actually vote his conscience. It's amazing to me that Arlen Spector, who I held with some modecum of respect, is so afraid of the Facist Republicans, that he voted for Alito. The fact that Alito failed to answer any questions of some gravits, should lead anyone to deeply question his ability to weigh evenhandedly the serious questions that will be posed in the immediate future. Most importantly, the need to challenge an Executive that is acting unconstitutionally.

It's time one Republican has the ethics to actually vote his conscience. It's amazing to me that Arlen Spector, who I held with some modecum of respect, is so afraid of the Facist Republicans, that he voted for Alito. The fact that Alito failed to answer any questions of some gravits, should lead anyone to deeply question his ability to weigh evenhandedly the serious questions that will be posed in the immediate future. Most importantly, the need to challenge an Executive that is acting unconstitutionally.

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesman Phil Singer said Chafee's decision is another reason why the Rhode Island Republican should be voted out in the fall. "This is a lifetime appointment to the Court and he hid in the political shadows,"

Hmmm... Based upon our good friend Phil's logic, the DSCC is in full support of four of its incumbent Democratic Senators being defeated in the fall: Byrd, Conrad, Nelson, and Lieberman, all of whom support Alito's nomination.

If this clown thinks Chafee should be removed from office for opposing Alito then certainly these four Democratice Senators should not only lose their seats but be forever banished to that tropical island with the rest of the castaways from "Lost".