The American Spectator

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br> -- J. N. Webb br> Nashville, Tennessee /p> p> CONCORD GRAPES br> Re: William Tucker's Democratic Moderates in Exile : /p>

William Tucker's article, "Democratic Moderates in Exile," rests on an embarrassingly poor appreciation of the budget deficit. There is no need to view Bush's deficit crisis as the result of an untenable level of Social Security claims. After all, money is fungible within the budget. Why not blame foolish programs and policies like SDI and agricultural subsidies that cost hundreds of billions and make the country (and the world) worse off. And if you must blame anti-poverty programs, why not finger Medicare (whose extension seems to cost more every month just from putting new OMB accountants on the case)? Tucker's attempt to blame Democrats for the deficit crisis accordingly rings hollow. Democrats have opposed such wasteful spending consistently, but have been overridden by the loose-walleted GOP majority. (Does anybody at your outfit remember the Clinton surplus?)

p>Meanwhile, Tucker's cheap-shot at Dean is also misguided. Dean has better Concord Coalition credentials than 90% of the Republicans on the Hill (probably 98% if you take away the New England, blue state GOP contingent). His accurate criticisms of the costly and unnecessary Iraq War may have earned him the permanent ire of the Right Wing Press, but he is essentially a New England moderate cut from the Tsongas-Rudman cloth. Those who adhere to the Concord Coalition's ideals should root (or pray, if that's more one's approach) for Dean's success. br> -- David Simon br> New Haven, Connecticut

topics:
Taxes, Trade, Economics, Business, Social Security, Constitution, Law, Military, Iraq, Conservatism, Neoconservatism, Medicare