What stands between Democrats and the White House

Political science professors Samuel Popkin and Henry Kim issue a thoughtful warning to Democrats:   winning the White House in 2008 isn't going to be easy.

Democrats cannot overplay their hand the way Republicans did in 1995 after taking both houses and Democrats did in 1987 after taking the Senate. To win the presidency, Democrats must use their control of the legislative agenda to keep Republicans divided and build a unifying record for 2008.

They have some good suggestions and some (I think) not so good.  That's because they seem to be overlooking a strong urge in both parties for reform of government and its closest partners.  "Use hearings to restore confidence in government, not to attack Republicans" makes sense, but it makes a bit more sense to "attack corruption" on both sides of the divide while standing up for social insurance programs.

Committee chairmen should be able to show beforehand just how their hearings will benefit regular people by improving government performance.

Popkin and Kim counsel that "Americans (and people almost everywhere, according to polls) believe that a good society has floors below which no one should go, but they don't support ceilings -- limits on how much anyone can have." 

Good point.  But we increasingly dislike and distrust growing income disparities, the outrageous pay scale for corporate CEO's, and the political and social heft of the corporations themselves.  I don't think Popkin and Kim have taken in the extent of unease felt by Americans about the partnership of government and big business.