Editorial of the day

Every now and then, somebody comes up with an assessment of the current political scene that really nails it. Today, it is Daniel Henninger.

Here is a little sample for your consideration:

"Ideology isn't popular in Washington. The American press abhors it, going so far as to make "ideologue" a term of political opprobrium, if not suggestive of mental illness. Ronald Reagan, an ideologue, was a "cowboy." The press prefers "pragmatists," politicians who win elections then set ideology aside to "get things done."

Looks to me like the pragmatists are running out of covering shade. Ideology is back at the center of American politics. It is going to stay there through the 2008 presidential election. This is what happens when the reigning political class abandons ideology--as now."

While most of this editorial is about the Democratic Party's ideology, I think a point needs to be made about the Republican ideology. If they don't return to the ideology that got them where they are, they will lose power.

If both parties don't return to their ideologies, they may both lose out to a third party.

Political ideology is like a philosophy of life: It is a roadmap to get to where you want to go. You can take little shortcuts here and there. But if you divert too much, you run the risk of not accomplishing your goals. In politics, that gets you run out of office.