As a moderate young Republican/former administration official/capitol hill flack I've lately become very interested in your book and work in the New York Times Magazine on the Democratic Party's transition and debate during the Bush wilderness years. I realize you've picked an area to focus on-the post clinton Democrat party and naturally want to focus on continuing to watch the party transition and develop.
That said, there's another story and it's one I'm familiar with in my career and life and it's a big deal right now. It's the story of what our party once was and why for example in places like New Jersey which you wrote about this week, Virginia which you've written about in the past (warner), Illinois, New York and other areas, where the party is mentally dead and ideologically exhausted. For all the coverage of the christian right, there's been very little explored into why the moderates have disappeared without a fight and why the party can't find new leaders in those places.
I realize you are busy, but to me there's nothing more exciting in politics right now than the fight and debate over the future of the GOP in blue America and given the barrels of ink your op-ed page spills complaining about the unchecked power of the right in my party, it might be worth some of your time and fine reporting.
Keep up the good work.
Thanks, Dave. You know, I'm actually not continuing to focus on Democrats exclusively. I did for a while, while I was writing the book, but not anymore. In fact, I did a long cover piece on Newt Gingrich and some of the themes you're describing last spring. (I also wrote about Senator McCain and and Rudy Giuliani during the campaign.) Your idea is a good one, but sadly I think it's for someone else. I'm a big believer in never trying to do the same thing twice, whether through mirror images or sequels. But I'll certainly keep looking for opportunities to write about the chaos in the Republican world for the magazine. Many thanks again.
on October 23, 2009
