Here we are on a Saturday afternoon that feels more like evening because it gets dark so early these days. I haven’t posted in awhile, because, frankly, how often can you say, “Fuck Bush”? Not that there isn’t a place for this weblog in a Bush world, and not that politics won’t rise again to capture the public imagination, or whatever. But I think we’re heading into some apolitical times. We’re just too damn tired after the election.

That said, here’s my take on the current situation (for what it’s worth). I happen to have working knowledge of my community’s Democratic and Republican parties. The Republicans are young, slick and devoted. They move where they’re needed and spend tens of thousands of dollars ferociously contesting state-level races in the hopes of expanding their parties state house majority. They’re great at what they do, and they’re having a great time doing it.

Local Democrats are old, naive and arrogant. They believe they’re right, and dismiss everyone else. They leave important local offices uncontested and offer no resistance to our Republican congressman, state senator or assemblyman. They don’t organize. They’re not diverse. They have no money. They’re annoying to talk to. There’s just no life there. (Think about it: Who are the political stars of the moment? Bush, Cheney, McCain, Schwarzenegger … would a Democrat crack the top 10? Maybe Hillary and Obama — I’m sure they’ll play well in the red states.)

I speak all of this as the critic outsider — a despicable role to be sure — but Democrats have proven their inaptitude over and over. They just ran two failed presidential elections based on “anybody but the other guy.” The party allowed Al Gore and John Kerry to be completely defined by Bush, et al. As Democrats search for their direction, people keep asking the question: Now where do Democrats go? My guess: Anywhere Karl Rove wants them to, unless they can invigorate the local parties. The difference between the parties is the young Republican in a suit working 80 hours a week for a property tax ban, and an unkempt Democrat blaming “rednecks” for Kerry’s defeat. One side actually does something, while the other side whines and laments.

Of course, this isn’t everyone. But in my community, a mid-sized city in the Midwest, it’s certainly the case. The Democrats here are sick, and it may be spreading.