Symposium: What Happens If the Democrats Win

During the Cold War, Democrats were regarded as weak on national security. From Lyndon Johnson's departure from the White House in 1969 to Bill Clinton's post-Cold War return there in 1992, a Democrat served as president for only four years — and that, thanks to a Republican scandal. Out of power, many Democrats have emphasized politics over policy. Should the Democrats take back congress, they will have a two-year window to put forward their serious and credible voices. Or they can play to the base and the blogs; that would be deleterious for both the party and the country. I'm optimistic —but cautiously so.