Daniel Henninger, writing for the WSJ Opinion page has a nifty summary of how shallow and depressing Democratic candicies have become:

They do indeed have a vision, and it's the one that has fired every Democratic candidacy since 1932. Fundamentally, nothing in their worldview has changed in 70 years.
John Edwards's "Two Americas" speech needs no introduction. The U.S. is still stuck in the same grim ditch dubbed "Two Societies" by the Kerner Commission in 1968.

Back when the Democratic idea was young and vital, a problem in America had to be truly dire to deserve federal intervention--a depression or racial segregation. Now, any need is excuse enough to enroll people in Uncle Sam's club. Visit the Kerry speeches and Web site:

"No one should have to live in fear that they are one doctor's visit away from financial ruin." "Half of all schools have at least one unsatisfactory environmental condition, such as polluted drinking water or soot-filled ventilation." "John Kerry will work to make early education available and affordable for every American child." "John Kerry will ensure that small businesses have all the federal support that they need to grow and thrive." Somehow all this stuff will restore our "values."

For many Democrats, the vision of a city sliding down a hill is the continuing reality of America. In the version being tried for this election, economic growth is possible in a globalized world only if the middle class gets shafted. "We're moving backwards"--John Kerry, April 2004.