(CNN) When Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis ran for President against George H. W. Bush in 1988, he made competence one of his major campaign themes. Instead of claiming to be a visionary politician or a champion of liberalism, Dukakis highlighted his technocratic managerial expertise. It's not about meaningless labels; it's about American values -- old-fashioned values like accountability and responsibility and respect for the truth." While Dukakis promised competence, Bush painted him as a radical "card-carrying member of the ACLU" who would allow Americans to burn flags and let dangerous criminals out of prison. Millions of Americans are still out of work, and the US' global standing has taken a hit over the last four years.

Source: The Nation February 20, 2021 22:41 UTC