The message out of Washington DC the last few weeks has been loud and clear: <\/p>\n
The Democratic Party is bigger than Barack Obama.<\/p>\n
Unlike the Republicans, who have doggedly pursued a stripped-down, ideologically pure platform — one that offers scant welcome for moderate Republicans — Dems have made it clear that their party is a coalition.<\/p>\n
That means compromise, it means some factions will lose occasionally, and it means Mr. Obama won’t get everything he wants.<\/p>\n
The lesson that Democrats are taking to heart is the experience of parties under the last two administrations.<\/p>\n
Bill Clinton and George W. Bush both left their respective parties in shambles. <\/p>\n
Republicans and Democrats saw their majorities evaporate, thanks in large measure to the behavior and leadership of the Commander in Chief.<\/p>\n
The question will be whether Dems can keep their disparate coalition together, finding ways that true liberals can co-exist with Blue Dog conservatives.<\/p>\n
If they manage that trick, the formula could be a tough one for Republicans to crack: <\/p>\n
A truly centrist political movement, one that’s competent and eager to make government work efficiently while also reflecting the broad, sometimes clumsy and contradictory aspirations of the American people.<\/p>\n
Or Dems could disintegrate into warring and dwindling factions as the Republicans have done. Stay tuned…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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