I was playing poker with the boys last week. Buck a hand. Ante up. I bit a pretzel and looked at the TV. There was Tom Daschle, leader of the Democrats, blaming the recession on yet-to-take-place Bush tax cuts. Then, Bush appeared, wondering in amazement what economic book Daschle was reading from. Das Kapital comes to mind.

America just went through 20 years of unprecedented capitalist expansion. Yet in the high stakes of national elections, Tom Daschle is playing the Commie Card. This is the best Daschle’s got? I looked at my deal: a pair of threes, 7 high. My hand looked better.

I’m sure Daschle remembers the 92 election, when Democrats pulled an economic bluff. Back then, "the house" in political poker was run by the liberal press. They dealt the cards, anointed the winner and made up the score. When they helped Clinton cheat by perpetually trumpeting the "worst economy in 50 years" canard, Senior Bush folded his hand and went quietly home.

But today, the internet, talk radio and cable TV have taken over the pit and crushed the liberal stranglehold. The game is up for grabs. Daschle can’t rely on liberal dealers to stack the deck. And Junior Bush is no wuss. He’s a better player. And he’s looking at his hand…

ACE 1 - WAR - America loves how Bush is handling the crisis.

ACE 2 - BALANCE - Bush has maintained a very moderate, popular domestic agenda.

ACE 3 - THE CABINET - Bush surrounded himself with exceptionally talented people, who act like adults.

ACE 4 - PERSONALITY - People like Bush. After eight years of Bill Clinton, America appreciates a straight shooter.

These Aces are face-up, yet Daschle foolishly upped the ante by attacking Bush’s domestic agenda. A few days later, Bush "saw" Daschle and raised him, plunking down four Kings: Ted Kennedy, George Miller, John Boehner and Judd Gregg. He put these partisan warriors together on the Hamilton High School stage and signed the education reform bill, proving Bush can assemble a coalition of anyone who really wants to solve America’s problems. But the event didn’t stop there. The entire entourage proceeded to New Hampshire and Massachusetts to complete the signing, a fat cherry for Gregg and Kennedy. Presidential magnanimity doesn’t get any greater.

Meanwhile, in a pathetic bid to drive political wedges into the American heart, the petty Daschle continues to obstruct tax cuts needed to kick-start the economy, despite the support of 52 Senators. Bush pounced. He "called" Daschle, demanding he stop playing politics in the middle of a national crisis.

Mmmmm…raise ya ten House seats, Tommy…

On one hand, Daschle may as well bluff when he’s got nothin’. But you can’t bluff when the cards are on the table, and you got junk. Besides, the anti-business play cost Al Gore a cakewalk election. Yet Daschle has done everything but unfurl the old hammer and sickle, and wave it high over the Capitol Building. Even big liberal Democrats like Diane Feinstein are publicly wondering if Daschle is playing with a full deck.

The Democrats still hold the race-baiting wild card. Sadly, they’ll whip it out at some point, but there’s no winner to pair it with. Besides, we aren’t playing the race game right now. We want unity. Bush will trump with "Why are Democrats trying to divide Americans?" Daschle is in a box. Every move costs Democrats political capital.

Except one.

Like the song goes, you gotta know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em. Instead of upping the ante with a bad hand, Daschle should toss it in and go on a beer run, praise the wonderfully balanced and cooperative Congress, then politely request we keep it that way. Thus, he can hold his purse till 2004 and get a new deal. Instead, Daschle is foolishly bluffing and raising while Bush holds Aces and Kings.

This entire scenario is somewhat surprising, if you think about it. Democrats are known for political gamesmanship. Daschle has always been a polite yet rabid partisan. But sticking to principle is easy. It takes a sharp player to understand the nuances of principle and manipulate them into political advantage. Who expected this good ol’ boy from Texas to play Daschle into a corner? And who thought a clumsy Daschle would stumble through the predicament?

Folks, we are observing a real Texas poker player in action, working his way to a fat pot in December.

Ante up, y’all.

Tom Adkins

You can e-mail your comments to Tom at Coolhair1@aol.com.

About Tom Adkins.

Tom Adkins is publisher of commonconservative.com

Copyright © 2002 by Tom Adkins.
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