Calling Machiavelli and Sun Tzu - An Early Post Mortem

It’s a truism that how we are in defeat is an indication of who we are, but it’s one of those truisms that holds. People repeating the canard that “Bush is a very simple man” only make themselves sound simple. A party not gracious when it has clearly lost only alienates more voters. As one who voted for a Republican for president for the first time in a long life, this only makes me think my vote was correct. They should want me to feel guilty.

I am also considerably less impressed with John Edwards than others are. I voted for him in the primary, but not think he added much if anything to the campaign. He was not ready for prime time and is not likely to be in 2008. What could he say that he stood for if things go wrong? What could John Kerry say he stood for? Not much that I could discern. It’s extremely early to ask the Democrats to morph into a party that really stands for, rather an against, something. But lacking grace in defeat is not a good start. They should reread their Machiavelli and Sun Tzu. They may not have paid as much attention the first time as “simple” Bush.