Where is the Democrat's Willkie?
The WSJ ran a book review today of the new Charles Peters book titled Five Days in Philadelphia. The book examines the nomination of Wendell Willkie in 1940 to run against F.D.R. Peters believes that Willkie, unlike the isolationist Republican candidates Taft and Dewey, gave F.D.R. the leeway to support the British in the early stages of the war.
If an isolationist Republican had been nominated, F.D.R. may not have had the political flexibility to help keep Britain afloat during the critical stages of the Battle of Britain. Even after the election Willkie supported the war effort and gave F.D.R. the cover needed to get us involved and defeat fascism.
So where is the Willkie of the Dems today? Beyond Joe Lieberman, has there been one leader of the party who has stood by the President? Most Dem leaders have either been against the invasion of Iraq from the beginning, or those who initially offered support have questioned every leadership decision for political purposes.
The behavior of the Dem leaders has cost, and will cost, the party dearly, and if they do not find a Willkie to lead them quickly they will lose all credibility.
Politics
If an isolationist Republican had been nominated, F.D.R. may not have had the political flexibility to help keep Britain afloat during the critical stages of the Battle of Britain. Even after the election Willkie supported the war effort and gave F.D.R. the cover needed to get us involved and defeat fascism.
So where is the Willkie of the Dems today? Beyond Joe Lieberman, has there been one leader of the party who has stood by the President? Most Dem leaders have either been against the invasion of Iraq from the beginning, or those who initially offered support have questioned every leadership decision for political purposes.
The behavior of the Dem leaders has cost, and will cost, the party dearly, and if they do not find a Willkie to lead them quickly they will lose all credibility.
Politics
posted by SCP at 4:18 PM
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