Jake the Goat

The American Prospect has a story on the Democratic Party's potential strategy this fall called Winning Like Losers.

Last week, a lapsed Democratic friend was explaining to me her theory http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifof why it would be better if Democrats did not win back control of the Congress this fall. In its simplest form, it goes like this: Things suck and theyÂ’re going to get worse; as the deterioration accelerates, the people in charge are going to be the ones blamed for the mayhem. They will be punished by the voters in the next presidential election, in 2008. So let the Republicans have this mess and the consequences that flow from it.

That strategy would make sense if it weren't for Republicans. Their strategy involves winning at all costs, declaring a victory mandate, and spinning any social and political ills as all the more reason why we need to keep voting Republican.

It looks like a lose-lose situation. Which it very well could be this fall.

But in 2008, there is a choice. I am volunteering to be the scapegoat. The Democratic party can escape blame for the current woes without the horror of losing to the conservatives. Republicans can blame all of the problems they have saddled this country with on me as the new commander-in-chief without the worry of appearing weakened by a Democratic victory. That's right, it can all be MY fault! And whoever wins in 2012 can blame everything on my insane policies. It's win-win-win!