In recent
blog posts and email, Randy Kuhl isn't shy about criticizing Congress. Recalling a race from 60 years ago, Kuhl uses Harry Truman's term, "Do Nothing Congress", to describe the workings of the first year of the 110th Congress. Kuhl proudly
links to articles with headlines that begin with "GOP not budging...". Though most of the links in his
newest post try to pin the blame on the Democratic leadership, Kuhl is not afraid of articles that paint his party as obstructionist.
While it's too early to draw any conclusions about the impact of the primaries on the race in the 29th, the lopsided turnouts in New Hampshire and Iowa have shown one thing: independents are overwhelmingly voting for Democrats.
As they did in 2006, Democrats claim that a vote for them in 2008 is a vote for change. Kuhl's rhetoric is aimed at showing that the Democrats' oversold their ability to change in 2006, so voters are suckers to choose them again in 2008.
Polls certainly agree that the public is disgusted with Congress. But Kuhl's strategy is a double-edged sword. Since he isn't presenting a positive program, voters will wonder if he's part of the problem rather than part of the solution. Massa has a list of positive goals, most of which are shared by the Democratic presidential candidates. Even if voters don't agree with every detail of Massa and the Democrats' platform, they may well choose it over the prospect of more gridlock. As the saying goes, something is better than nothing.