Them Dems just don't get it

You get the feeling they don't really have a strategy to win a war ... or even an election. A growing group of a dozen Iraq veterans are running for political office next year -- most as Democrats. The New York Times ran a profile of Maj. L. Tammy Duckworth, a helicopter pilot who lost both legs and partial use of her right arm. She has decided to run for Congress in the west suburban 6th Congressional Distric to replace retiring "Representative Henry J. Hyde, a powerful Republican, in a swath of suburban Chicago that has lately become more Democratic."

According to the article, here is everything she brings to the table:

* She has done a lot of reading about American schoolchildren "losing our competitive advantage" with China.

* She has pondered inequities in America's health care system.

* She had opposed the invasion of Iraq from the start, even though she volunteered for deployment.

* And sounding very much like other losing Democratic candidates, she does not favor the quick withdrawal from Iraq that some Democrats seek. "I think we broke it and we need to fix it," she said.

As for other talking points, here's why we should vote for her:

* "I had my legs blown off in Iraq ... I'm not going to get my legs back, and that's fine, but if that gives me a platform to talk about the things that are important to me, like education and jobs, that's great."

* "My role in the Army gives me the courage to make the tough decisions."

* "Those of us who've served on the ground have a unique perspective on the war and on what it means to serve in combat."

None of this inspires me to vote for her. In fact, the Democrats' reliance on these one-issue political novices with little knowledge of the system and zero experience almost assures more Republican victories in coming elections.

The Tribune ran a piece on Duckworth that pretty much echoed the Times story. In it, U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Oswego says, "I think she's given a great contribution to her country, obviously, and she's a great patriot. But you know, just to bring those people in wholesale to run in districts because of the popularity issue, I wish the Democratic Party would rethink that."

It's weird that Hastert is the only one with good political advice for Democrats. They should listen.