A new piece by Bill Adair, the St. Petersburg Times Washington Bureau Chief, urges the Dems to “steal the playbook.” Better bumper stickers instead of position papers. Better hardball – “attack early and keep it up.” Finger on the pulse – got to grok the God and NASCAR crowd. Talking points and party discipline – stay on message, even if you’re asked to address important issues that aren’t on your agenda.

In other words, out-GOP the GOP.

Well, there are at least two ways of looking at this. On the one hand, this does seem a better strategy than what the Democrats have been employing – if you believe that the only thing that matters is winning. And hey, in some ways that is all that matters, I guess.

The other angle is a little less pragmatic, but if you’re like me, it’s a compelling thing to ponder. We’re talking about strengthening campaigns by talking less about the issues. By pandering to the lowest common denominator. By exalting sloganeering over rational discussion. By treating the electorate like morons (this point, at least, may be defensible).

If you’re educated, intelligent, thoughtful, and truly moral, don’t you have to step back and ask yourself, honestly, is a nation that governs itself in this fashion worth saving?