[A-List] UK ideological state apparatus: The Guardian

["Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>]

A-listers permit me the indulgence of flying lots of different kites, and I
assume the lack of artillery fire is because you are either bored with or
ignoring what I say; or that in fact there is some truth in my musings.
However the UK's apparently manic aping of the US proceeds much faster than
I can keep up, in that reality is fast outpacing satire. Here's the most
pathetic effort yet at cosying up to Blair by the Guardian, which has opted
for the grotesquerie routinely served up to readers of the New York Times by
the uniquely repulsive Thomas Friedman:

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Blair for US president

Thomas Friedman
Thursday December 19, 2002
The Guardian

With Al Gore now out of the presidential race, everyone is giving the
Democrats advice on who their candidate should be. All I know is that
whoever the Democrats choose needs to keep in mind a few basic rules that
Democrats have forgotten in recent years.

Rule one: People listen through their stomachs. The key to the success of
any presidential candidate is to convey to voters - in a way they can feel
in their gut - that you as a leader know what world they're living in.
George Bush Senior lost to Bill Clinton because he failed to convey to
voters in their gut that he knew what world they were living in - a world of
rising economic insecurity.

Mr Clinton's campaign conveyed through one phrase, "It's the economy,
stupid", that he knew exactly what world people were living in; and because
of that, they were ready to overlook his foibles. Connect with people's gut
concerns and they'll go anywhere with you - without asking for the details.
Don't connect, and you'll never be able to show people enough details to get
them to follow.

George W Bush has conveyed to Americans in their gut that he understands
exactly what world they're living in now - a world threatened by terrorism
in which, as the former national security council adviser Sandy Berger put
it: "National security is now personal security." In this new world, Mr Bush
has been a warrior without mercy. No Democratic leader has - yet - forged
such a gut connection with the American people on this issue.

Rule two: Never put yourself in a position where you succeed only if your
country fails. The Democrats can't just wait for Mr Bush to fail in Iraq, or
hope the economy collapses, and assume they will benefit. People want to
hear a positive alternative agenda. There can be a hard-nosed Democratic
alternative. It is one that would say: "Yes, let's win the war on terrorism,
but that requires a multi-pronged approach that addresses all our
vulnerabilities, and levels with the American people."

Right now the Bush bumper sticker reads: "You Can Have It All: Guns, Butter,
War With Iraq, Tax Cuts & Humvees." This is nonsense. America has never won
a war without the public being enlisted and summoned to sacrifice. Is there
a Democrat ready to push for a crash oil conservation programme and
development of renewable energy alternatives - that would also respond to
European anger over Kyoto? Is there a Democrat ready to take on our absurd
farm subsidies and textile tariffs that help keep countries such as Pakistan
poor by keeping them hooked on aid, not trade? Is there a Democrat ready to
take on the far-right Bush forces, which are now trying to undermine all US
support for global population controls? (Just what we need: more failed
states with exploding populations.)

Is there a Democrat ready to say we don't need more long-term tax cuts,
which will only produce chronic large deficits that will reduce resources
for both homeland security and the "head start" programme aimed at the
underprivileged? And our economy doesn't need more short-term tax stimulus
either - it needs a successful war on terrorism. The economy is recovering
slowly on its own. What's holding it back now are fears about terrorism and
war with Iraq, which keep oil prices high and investment low. The minute
those are resolved, you will see consumers ready to spend and companies
ready to invest.

Rule three: Get a candidate people like. I don't know George Bush, and I do
not like his domestic policies. But I find him hard to dislike. The
"likability factor" is hugely underestimated in politics.

Rule four: Get a candidate who can give a fireside chat. In these confusing
times, people crave a leader who can explain why we're doing what we're
doing and how it will lead to a better world. That is what the Democrats
need. Mr Bush conveys a lot of sincerity, but he lacks the emotional or
intellectual depth to really reassure people. I'm convinced that one reason
for his high poll ratings is projection. We desperately want to believe that
he knows what he is doing, and that he is always acting in the best
interests of the nation - and not on naked political considerations -
because if he isn't, we're all sunk.

Right now there is only one Democrat who could live up to all these rules:
the British prime minister, Tony Blair. Maybe the Democrats should give him
a green card. He's tough on national security, he has an alternative global
vision, people like him and he is a beautiful, reassuring speaker. He's Bill
Clinton without baggage. I'd say he's a natural.

· Thomas Friedman is a columnist on the New York Times