I want to watch the governors for a while, and take the measure of them. That may be our best source of executive material at the moment.

In the meantime, it's important to rebuild the legislative infrastructure. This electoral defeat is so classically Wendell Wilkie it's painful.

I disagree that the Democratic party is essentially socialist. I find it remarkable that the conservative voices I hear speak so clearly in defense of financial investments want so little to do with investment in human capital. Humane treatment of the poor, the expectation of health care adequate to stave off catastrophe, and accessible education are essential if the nation is to preserve even a semblence of the promise of upward mobility. The opportunity to mow the grass of a captain of industry is better than nothing, but I don't want to support better-than-nothing as a laudable goal for my nation.

I do believe that too much political capital has been squandered focusing on individual groups rather than attempting to focus on the big principles -- free speech, equal opportunity, the right to be left alone -- that make the inclusion and defense of those groups important. But this has been a Democratic problem for decades.

The Democratic party still has a message. What it hasn't got is focus or leadership.

Regards--
Mary Anne