This book is not about winning local elections. It’s about winning national elections. So, the skeptic in me says when the two most influential political consultants of the early ‘90s write a book in 2006 about the future of the Democratic Party – watch out: Carville and Begala must have another Clinton in their future.

It’s easy to read this book and succumb to the notion that it’s a blueprint for Hillary Clinton in 2008. Carville and Begala, in essence, want Democrats to act conservative in order to win elections. Likewise, Senator Clinton’s recent statements on illegal immigration are not designed to appeal to her liberal base. As you read through the Begala-Carville prescription for Democrats, they go out of their way to turn a cold shoulder to traditional liberals who have been loyal supporters of Democrats through the years.

Let’s explore the authors’ conservative leanings. Guns, for instance. As they point out, during the last election campaign, John Kerry bore his guns to Ohio for a little goose hunting. Hooray, say this duo – they’ve been for guns since childhood. They further point out, “We recall Hillary Clinton telling us about her one foray into Arkansas duck hunting. If Hillary Clinton can be comfortable with talking about wielding a twelve-gauge, so can you.”

Begala and Carville try to plow new ground on the religious front. They believe too many Democrats are afraid to discuss their religion, and that if a Democrat speaks about religion at all, it’s normally in the context of an elite view of religion. The authors’ view is that there must be a way for Democrats to wrest the religion issue from Republicans. Let’s offer to the voters the alternative idea that Democratic values like universal health care, protecting the environment, and a right to a job with a decent wage and retirement are moral values.

For emphasis, the authors quote liberally from the Bible, not to ponder religious values, but to demonstrate they have a handle on biblical quotes too, like the Bush-flavored evangelicals do. I submit that it’s dangerous to have a president who believes God put him in office – I don’t care how many quotes you use from the Bible to identify with conservative Christians.

Maybe I’m being too critical here. Much of the book is great stuff. Solid ideas, backed up by solid examples and facts. I agree with the authors that the Democratic Party should be a big tent. Parts of their chapter called Progressive Patriotism flow like a stirring speech, quoting here from the book:

• Lincoln appealed to “the better angels of our nature.” Today’s Republicans devise “wedge issues” to divide America.

• Bush Republicans say you’re on your own. Progressive Patriots say we’re all in this together.

• Bush looks at economic stagnation, social divisiveness, and international embarrassment and says we’ve never had it so good. Progressive Patriots say we can do better.

• The unifying theme of so much of what President Bush stands for is selfishness.

• His tax cuts have bankrupted our Treasury while enriching privileged elite.

• His deficits have driven us deep into debt, mortgaging our economic security to the tender mercies of Communist Chinese central bankers.

• His Social Security proposal would be a boon to Wall Street but a bust for the millions of Americans whose benefits would be cut.

They make further excellent points about health care, education, national security and the environment.

Democrats can govern better than Republicans, more honestly and openly. We don’t put our presidents in a bubble. Democrats can provide opportunity for everyone. Democrats won’t pile debt upon debt for future generations to handle. Democrats want to fix health-care costs.

And Progressive Patriots must be able to tell the country that the war in Iraq is a failure, and that this would not be an admission of disloyalty to the nation, but of loyalty to the truth. And we all know who has had a problem with the truth the last six years: George W. Bush, prevaricator-in-chief, current head and soul of the Republican Party.

Contact Craig Allen