April 20, 2006 11:29 PM

Joe Klein makes the point in his new book, Politics Lost, that Democrats have been operating on pessimism ever since Pat Caddell became obsessed with it during the Carter administration. Reagan brought a message of optimism, and well, the rest is history.

I don't know any liberals who ever talk optimistically about anything... if I look at myself, the only thing I get excited about is technology and its potential....other than that I'm a downer on everything.

We need more optimistic talk about the future... how America is leading and thriving in the global economy. Technology, energy, cloning, stem cells, biotechnology, the internet, etc...

So what are you optimistic about?

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Tom from Madison: NEW

I'm optimistic that there will be a sea change in national politics. Republicans have handed Democrats and third parties a chance to do right for the majority of Americans. While the wheels of justice turn slowly, we are slowly but surely throwing the corrupt scoundrels out of office and bringing them to justice.

There is even some accountablity being enforced on our corporate criminals. I'm only guardedly optimistic about that at the moment. Ken Lay deserves to be behind bars--as do Bush and Chaney. I'm heartened that we have a special prosecuter on the job. Karl Rove has even slipped a notch or two.

Fri Apr 21 2006 5:39 PM

Paul: NEW

Wha?! As long as I can remember, Republicans have been the ones with the vicious biting sarcasm, while Democrats have been wide-eyed naive optimists.

I'll refrain from saying what I really think about Joe Klein, since this post is about optimism.

Sat Apr 22 2006 3:10 AM

Jim Gilliam: NEW

Paul-
He actually makes that exact point (the first one, not the part about what he thinks of himself)

The Democrats talk pessimistic but are ideologically optimists, while the Republicans talk optimism, but are ideologically pessimistic.

Sat Apr 22 2006 12:56 PM