Two aesthetics

"This fall's presidential contest will turn on many things, but one of them will certainly be the parties' contrasting aesthetics: the comforting bromides of conservative cheerfulness versus the disturbing sobriety of new liberalism's cold glare. But while it may be foolish and even dangerous to view the world as anything but tragic, doing so isn't a very promising way to win votes. Twenty-five years ago, conservatives stole liberal optimism, and George W. Bush, currently bumping from one disaster to another, is relying on it to pull him through this election. He may succeed -- unless liberals can rediscover their Rooseveltian sense of hope and convince Americans that they again have a rendezvous with destiny. That is both liberalism's tradition and its traditional appeal."

Neil Gabler on the need for liberals to regain -- and convey -- their optimism. I'm not sure that Kerry's steeled, "gloomy New England" demeanor can capture JFK's or Roosevelt's sunny optimism. But if he can convince voters that Bush is the candidate of fear and Kerry is the candidate of expansiveness -- with our allies and with all Americans, rich or poor -- than he will have gone a long way towards achieving Roosevelt's and Kennedy's visions of hope and confidence.